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International Consultant to support stakeholders’ engagement for Beijing+25 review

Home Based - May require travel

  • Organization: UNWOMEN - United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
  • Location: Home Based - May require travel
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women's rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.  

The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, represented a critical turning point in the world’s focus on gender equality and the empowerment of women. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in Beijing, is a global commitment to achieving equality, development and peace for women worldwide. In its resolution 2018/18, as of 12 July 2018, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) decided that at its sixty-fourth session, in 2020, the Commission on the Status of Women will undertake a review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, including an assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform for Action and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and its contribution towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The regional economic commissions in partnership with UN Women are undertaking regional reviews based on comprehensive national-level reviews of the progress made and challenges encountered in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the opportunities to strengthen gender equality and the empowerment of women in the SDGs. The outcomes of intergovernmental processes at the regional level will feed into the March 2020 global review to be undertaken by the Commission on the Status of Women at its sixty-fourth session.

In line with these recommendations, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has planned a Regional Intergovernmental Meeting on the 25-year review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and its alignment with the 2030 to take place in Geneva, on 29-30 October 2019. For UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECA RO) support to Member States for the Beijing+25 review process is a key priority for 2019 and 2020.

UN Women also strongly prioritizes mobilizing the CSO, women’s and feminists’ organizations and activists on the ground to ensure their full participation and involvement in, and contribution to national-level reviews, enabling them to advocate and press for accountability and urgent action. Towards this end, UN 

Women will support and convene regional, sub-regional and national consultations of civil society, from a leave no one behind perspective, to facilitate innovative forms of engaging civil society and other actors in the Beijing+25 review process.

On 28 October 2019, a Civil Society/Stakeholders Forum (further Forum) will be organized at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) as a preparatory event for the Regional Review Meeting, bringing together civil society organizations and networks of experts and practitioners, youth and youth organizations, academia, feminists, gender equality advocates, and other stakeholders to strengthen their contribution to the common objective of gender equality. Prior to the Civil Society Forum, three sub-regional expert consultations will be organized to cover UN Women programme countries of Western Balkans and Turkey, Central Asia and Eastern Partnership countries. The sub-regional consultations will provide a platform to discuss sub-region-specific challenges and achievements on gender equality and women’s empowerment in preparation to the Regional Civil Society Forum and the Regional Review Meeting of October 2019.

Goal and objectives:

UN Women ECA RO is seeking the services of an experienced international consultant to support and coordinate preparations for the Forum to be organized on 28 October 2019 at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG). The Forum is conceived as a space for an inclusive conversation on the critical actions that need to be taken for the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. It is the space that will discuss, raise and highlight the agenda of the women and girls, including those facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, and the young feminists’ agenda. It is the space providing a possibility for a discourse of equality, plurality and justice for all. The Forum will produce an outcome document that will include a list of priority actions for implementation by political leaders and all the stakeholders during 2020-2025, to be presented and voiced during the Regional Review Meeting of 29-30 October 2019.  

The consultant will also support and coordinate preparations for the sub-regional preparatory consultation to cover Western Balkans and Turkey. The sub-regional consultation will bring together representatives of the civil society organizations and technical level representatives of national Governments from the target countries to discuss common achievements and challenges with regards to implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The consultation will result in development of an outcome document describing key sub-region-specific achievements, gaps and challenges with regards to implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and suggesting recommendations and the way forward. The document will also reflect the linkages between implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and SDGs. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UN Women ECA RO Programme Specialist, the International Consultant will perform the following tasks, that include but are not limited to the following:

Support and coordinate preparations for the Forum (28 October 2019, Geneva, Switzerland):

  • Finalize the Concept Note and Agenda of the Forum, including speakers, rapporteurs.
  • Prepare and finalize the list of participants for the Forum, based on the results of selection of nominated/registered candidates (criteria for diverse representation of stakeholders, youth engagement has to be applied).
  • Support preparation of instructions for thematic sessions, and other relevant documentation for the Forum and side events;
  • Jointly with CSO Task Force develop Outcome Document of the Forum, including agreed recommendations to be presented to member states at the Regional Review Meeting on 29-30 October 2019.

Support and coordinate preparations for the sub-regional consultation for Western Balkans and Turkey (September 2019; exact date TBC; venue – Istanbul, Turkey):

  • Finalize the Concept Note and develop the Agenda for the sub-regional consultation, including speakers, rapporteurs.
  • Prepare and finalize the list of participants for the sub-regional consultation, based on results of the selection of nominated candidates (criteria for diverse representation of stakeholders, youth engagement has to be applied).
  • Support preparation of instructions for thematic sessions, and other relevant documentation for the sub-regional consultation;
  • Draft Outcome Document of the sub-regional consultation, including agreed recommendations to further feed in the Outcome Document of the Civil Society Forum.

Expected deliverables

Deliverables

Timeframe

  1. Draft concept note, annotated agenda and list of participants for the Forum.

Draft concept note, agenda and list of participants for the sub-regional consultation for Western Balkans and Turkey.

By 30 August 2019

(15 w/days)

  1. Final concept note, agenda and list of participants for the Forum and the sub-regional consultation for Western Balkans and Turkey.

Materials for the Forum and the sub-regional consultation for Western Balkans and Turkey (sessions instructions, background document, etc.)

By 15 September 2019

(10 w/days)

  1. Outcome Document of the Forum with agreed recommendations and position to be presented to member states during the Regional Review Session.

Outcome Document of the sub-regional consultation.

By 10 November 2019  

(20 w/days)

Competencies

Core Values:

  • Respect for Diversity
  • Integrity
  • Professionalism

Core Competencies:

  • Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
  • Accountability
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Effective Communication
  • Inclusive Collaboration
  • Stakeholder Engagement 
  • Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf   

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications Education:

  • Advanced (Masters) degree in international development with a focus on gender/women’s rights, public administration or other social sciences fields relevant to the requirements of the TOR.

Experience:

  • At least 7 years of experience in women’s rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment;
  • At least 5 years of experience in BPfA and key concerns related to positioning various GEWE aspects in inter-governmental processes and discussions related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals;
  • Previous experience on organizing CSO-related regional and/or global forums, meetings on GEWE issues with a wide range of stakeholders;
  • Previous professional experience with development agencies and/or the United Nations is an asset.

Languages and other skills: 

  • Proficient in written and oral English;
  • Computer literacy and ability to effectively use computers, including advance Excel skills and and/or knowledge of related analytical software (SPSS, Stata etc.) and standard applications for concise communication and development of complex written documentation;
  • Strong writing and editing skills, and experience in writing synthesis reports.

 Application Process 

The application should include:

  • Personal History Form (P-11 form) - including past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted;
  • Financial Proposal: Specify a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (per deliverable); 
  • Candidates should have the ability to quickly produce degree certificates and medical certification (of good health) should they be short-listed in consideration of the consultancy post.

Management and financial arrangements

The consultant will report to and work under direct supervision of UN Women ECA RO Programme Specialist.

Payment will be disbursed in three installments upon submission and approval of deliverables and certification by UN Women ECA RO that the services have been satisfactorily performed as specified below:

  • Deliverable 1 – 33% of contract amount
  • Deliverable 2 – 23% of contract amount
  • Deliverable 3 – 44% of contract amount

In case travel is required, it will be covered by UN Women separately.

  1. Evaluation process

Consultants will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of qualifications and financial proposal.

The candidates must possess following minimum qualification criteria to be eligible for further technical evaluation:

  • University degree in international development or development studies with focus on gender/women’s rights, public administration or other social sciences field;
  • Proven experience in women’s rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment; 
  • Computer literacy and ability to effectively use computers, including advance Excel skills and and/or knowledge of related analytical software (SPSS, Stata etc.) and standard applications for concise communication and development of complex written documentation;
  • Fluency in English (speaking and writing)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

Evaluation Criteria

Max points

TECHNICAL EVALUATION (70%)

Language Requirements

Fluency in written and spoken English

REQUIRED

Education

Advanced (Masters) degree in international development or development studies with focus on gender/women’s rights, public administration or other social sciences fields relevant to the requirements of the TOR.

5

0: without relevant university degree

5: relevant university degree

Professional Experience

At least 7 years of experience in women’s rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment

20

0: without relevant expertise and experience

0-10: 5 years of experience

10-20: more than 10 years of experience

At least 5 years of experience in BPfA and key concerns related to positioning various GEWE aspects in inter-governmental processes and discussions related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals

20

0: without experience/expertise

0-10: 5 years of experience/expertise

10-20: more than 7 years of experience/expertise

Specialized Knowledge

Previous experience on organizing CSO related regional and/or global forums, meetings on GEWE issues with a wide range of stakeholders

20

0: without knowledge

0-10: proven knowledge

Previous professional experience with development agencies and/or the United Nations is an asset.

5

0: without experience

5: Demonstrated experience

Total technical

70

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
This vacancy is now closed.
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