Consultancy – Design of Tools and Interventions for Ending Stigma and Discrimination against Women and Girls with Disabilities, for the Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights team, UNDP/CB

Background

With an in-country presence before, during and after a conflict, UNDP is increasingly expected to assume a substantive role in providing rule of law, justice, security and human rights assistance to countries threatened or affected by crisis and fragility. In order to meet these demands, UNDP’s Crisis Bureau has bolstered its capacity to provide support to the field and articulated a Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights for Sustaining Peace and Fostering Development. The RoLSHR programme and team directly provide support to over 40 countries and leads and supports policy development and guidance in rule of law, security and human rights related areas, including in the context of the SDG and Sustaining Peace agendas.

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) experience stigma and discrimination universally, driven by multiple attitudinal barriers, prejudice and stereotypes, which limit both the full exercise of rights of PWDs and sustainable development.  Women and girls with disabilities are particularly impacted from intersectional stigma and discrimination based on gender and disability.  COVID-19 has further exacerbated stigma and discrimination and their impacts.

Tackling stigma was one of four pillars of the Global Disability Summit of 2018, co-hosted by the Governments of the United Kingdom and Kenya and the International Disability Alliance, which resulted in 170 commitments across the globe to take action on stigma and discrimination against persons with disabilities. In addition, the Summit highlighted the importance of tackling stigma and discrimination

alongside measures to increase political will to develop CRPD compliant policies, legislation, and administrative practices; collect disaggregated data and evidence to drive scaled up action; and ensure

that persons with disabilities fully and effectively participate as equal members of society to lead, shape, and influence decisions that affect them. 

Tools to identify and quantify stigma and discrimination, its causes, manifestations and impacts, are critical to ensure targeted and evidence-based approaches to addressing stigma and discrimination.   Such tools have been well developed and standardized by the UN in other sectors such as HIV/AIDS.  In relation to persons with disabilities, some initiatives have been undertaken at country level but there is scope for consolidating the lessons learned from these and for developing global tools which can be used by Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and others to advocate for more effective policies and interventions to address stigma and discrimination.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) are jointly launching a global initiative to respond to the growing intersectional inequalities faced by women and girls with disabilities. Taking a whole-of-society approach, engaging OPDs and other civil society actors, relevant government institutions, national human rights institutions and women influencers, the initiative aims to improve the protection of women and girls with disabilities from SGBV, and the access to effective services for women and girl survivors of SGBV. The joint project will be implemented in the following pilot countries: Palestine, Moldova, Pakistan and Samoa. The joint project will also include the design and piloting of tools to identify and quantify stigma and discrimination, its causes, manifestations and impacts. The currently consultancy is a part of this broader joint project.

UNDP seeks an international consultant(s) to:

-              develop a framework diagnostic tool aimed at addressing stigma and discrimination faced by women with disabilities

-              guide the participating pilot countries to customize and pilot the tool in collaboration with OPDs and other stakeholder in country

-              provide guidance on the design and implementation of interventions aimed at changing mindsets and behavior rooted in stigma and discrimination against women and girls with disabilities, to be piloted in the project countries (which will be led by other consultants to be recruited under the project).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UNDP RBAP Governance and Peacebuilding Team Leader with support and in close collaboration with the Regional Advisors for Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights in the UNDP Amman and Istanbul Regional Hubs and with relevant focal points from UN Women:, the Consultant(s) will:

Desk review of existing diagnostic tools addressing stigma and discrimination (particularly – but not limited to – disability-related stigma/discrimination and/or in the context of SGBV) with recommendations for design of a tool to be piloted through the project.

• Design draft tool to be piloted through the project in consultation with UNDP and UN Women and other relevant stakeholders in-country and finalize reflecting feedback received.

• Support participating country offices and stakeholders (especially OPDs) to customize the tool for country-level pilots and design workplan for these pilots.

• Oversee and support the initial testing and roll-out of the diagnostic tool

• Conduct virtual webinars to share experiences on the initial pilots of diagnostic tool.

• Provide guidance and inputs to the design of behavioral interventions to address stigma and discrimination (to be designed under the leadership of other consultants to be recruited by the project), to ensure maximum synergy between both interventions and that specific

• Conduct virtual webinars to share experiences on initial pilots of behavioral interventions

• Write up and launch summary findings from project

• End of mission report summarizing consolidated and finalized knowledge gained including a revised tool and intervention

The Consultant’s expected outputs and deliverables will be as follows:

S/N	Deliverables (see details above)	Estimated Duration to Complete	Tentative Due Date	% of Payment
1	Desk review of existing diagnostic tools addressing stigma and discrimination (particularly – but not limited to – disability-related stigma/discrimination and/or in the context of SGBV) with recommendations for design of a tool to be piloted through the project.	6 days	30 September 2021	10%
2	Design draft tool to be piloted through the project in consultation with UNDP and UN Women, consultant(s) designing behavioral change interventions and other relevant stakeholders in-country and finalize reflecting feedback received.	12 days	31 Jan 2022	20%
3	Support participating country offices and stakeholders (especially OPDs) to customize the tool for country-level pilots and design workplan for these pilots.	12 days	31 March 2022	20%
4	Oversee and support the initial testing and roll-out of the diagnostic tool.	16 days	30 September 2022	25%
5	Conduct virtual webinar to share experiences on the initial pilots.	4 days	31 October 2022	25%
10	Write up and launch summary findings from project	5 days	3 December 2022
11	End of mission report summarizing experiences from the pilots and including a revised tool reflecting lessons learned from pilots.	5 days	1 March 2023
	Total	60 days		100%

Competencies

Functional

• Excellent writing and editing skills;

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;

• Excellent analytical skills;

• Ability to work under minimum supervision and tight deadlines.

Professional Skills:

• Demonstrates strong ability to manage, facilitate, and engage in discussions with multiple stakeholders in a formal setting, seeking to encourage participation in an open and collegial environment;

• Proactive in problem-solving and recommendation for conflict prevention and resolution;

• Strong ability in managing confidential and politically sensitive issues, in a responsible way, and in accordance with protocols.

• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively in a team structure in a multicultural environment

• Demonstrated ability to deliver results in high-pressure environment.

Interpersonal and communication skills:

• Strong communication skills and proven ability to collaborate between different actors and high level of internal and external relationship management.

• Uses tact and sensitivity when delivering sensitive information or resolving delicate issues.

• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Corporate

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modeling the UN / UNDP's values and ethical standards;

Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN / UNDP; and

Displays sensitivity and adaptability when working with a diverse array of cultures, genders, religions, races, nationalities and ages.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

• A minimum of Master’s degree in psychology, behavioral science, or related social sciences field is required. A doctorate/PhD and/or post-doctoral research relevant to stigma and discrimination will be an asset.

Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in conducting research and/or implementing development interventions addressing stigma and discrimination, preferably in the fields of disability and/or gender equality, is required;

• Demonstrated experience of developing and field-testing diagnostic tools related to stigma and discrimination, preferably in the fields of disability and/or gender equality is required;

• Previous experience working on projects aimed at empowering persons with disabilities (PwDs) is highly desirable and an asset;

• Previous experience working on projects with a focus on gender equality, particularly in the field of prevention of/ response to SGBV is highly desirable and an asset;

• UN experience with sound understanding of the UN system and of UNDP mandates is an asset;

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required; and

• Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

•  personal statement with a brief description of availability and why the Offeror considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment.

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.

• A brief statement of proposed methodology and approach to the assignment.

Note: The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around the specific and measurable deliverables of the TOR. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR, and deliverables accepted and certified by the technical manager.

The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; (excluding mission travel);

• living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.
• This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel. 

• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

• If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below.  Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring.  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (70 points):

• Criteria 1. At least 10 years of relevant experience in conducting research and/or implementing development interventions addressing stigma and discrimination, preferably in the fields of disability and/or gender equality - 14 points for 10 years, 16 points for 10-12 years, 18 points for 13-15 years, 20 points for 15 years +. Maximum Points: 20;

• Criteria 2: Demonstrated experience of developing and field-testing diagnostic tools related to stigma and discrimination, preferably in the fields of disability and/or gender equality. Maximum Points: 15;

• Criteria 3: Previous experience working on projects aimed at empowering persons with disabilities (PwDs). Maximum Points: 10;

• Criteria 4: Previous experience working on projects on gender equality, particularly in the field of prevention of/ response to SGBV. Maximum Points: 10;

• Criteria 5: Quality of brief statement of proposed methodology and approach to the assignment. Maximum Points: 15.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the UNDP RBAP Governance and Peacebuilding Team Leader and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment.

Contract duration:

The period of the assignment will cover maximum 80 working days between 23 August 2021 – 22 March 2023.

Payment modality

• Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified above and deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.

The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7 hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template

Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4 – RLA Template

Any request for clarification must be sent by email to cpu.bids@undp.org 

The UNDP Central Procurement Unit will respond by email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.