Background

Planet earth is undergoing transformations brought about by climate change. Pollution, desertification, flooding, deforestation have a negative impact on our earth and are at the origin of climate change. Djibouti is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in Africa and at the same time the most exposed to natural disasters. The rate at which the impact of climate change is affecting the country – and especially the poor and vulnerable whose lives depend heavily on natural resources – is very alarming.

Disasters do not affect everyone in the same way, but rather depend on levels of vulnerability that vary according to the various facets of socially constructed identity, such as gender. In a world marked by gender inequality, women and girls are often the most affected by the consequences of climate change and disasters. Without explicit consideration, approaches to disaster risk management and climate change adaptation tend to ignore gender. As a result, solutions are invisible to gender differences and therefore not effective, having the potential to exacerbate inequalities and gender disparities between women and men in terms of poverty, work, and access to resources.

Vulnerability is particularly high among Djiboutian women and girls, who often rely disproportionately on small-scale livelihoods based on natural resources, which require favorable climatic conditions. This situation is further complicated by higher poverty rates among women and cultural and behavioral restrictions, which affect women's mobility and socially assigned roles and responsibilities.

Lack of gender sensitivity in macroeconomic policies and budgets and limited access to governance and productive resources. These endowments and human capital in the form of access to health, education and social protection programmes influence how women and girls can access information on disaster risk and early warning systems, as well as relief and recovery, which has an impact on disaster preparedness and response. The risks and impacts associated with disasters and climate-induced hazards are not evenly distributed across society, as those with the least capacity to cope and adapt are often the most vulnerable. Because of their social status and gender roles, they are mainly in charge of subsistence food, water supply, household chores, and all those elements that are directly affected by climate change, even though they are poorer, have less cultural and social capital and are therefore more vulnerable to crises.

In response to a government request for assistance, and in line with Djibouti’s priorities outlined in the INDC, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting the Government of Djibouti in the formulation of an integrated programme titled “Djibouti Climate Resilience and Livelihoods Programme”, expected to be financed through multiple sources including, Global Environment Facility (GEF), Green Climate Fund (GCF), bilateral donors, International Finance Institutions (IFIs), philanthropic organisations and private sector investment. The programme aims to build the country’s resilience to the impacts of climate change targeting key thematic areas: Energy and Water. Addressing both climate change impacts, and gender equality and women’s empowerment is a key aspect of the programme’s approach to achieving its core vision. Climate resilience, a zero-carbon future and gender equality and women’s empowerment are seen as goals and are also central to the achievement of UNDP’s development mandate in Djibouti.

To address both climate change impacts and women’s empowerment UNDP financed the development of a strategy with action points to empower women and reduce vulnerabilities mainly in the agriculture/water and energy sector and ensure they are reflected in the integrated environment programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of this consultancy is to assist UNDP and the Government of Djibouti to ensure that the action plan to address the gender gap to ensure gender equality in climate, energy and environmental interventions is implemented and that key recommendations, indicators and coordination mechanisms are set in place to achieve the intended results.

The consultant will work in close collaboration with teams leading all components of UNDP Portfolio, environment, livelihood and governance, to provide technical advice on mainstream gender equality and the empowerment of women within all projects. The consultant will report to the Country Office Team Lead under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative, and the Regional Gender Team Leader will provide technical guidance and oversight.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND METHOLOGY

Implementation of the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment strategy

1. Assist UNDP and the Government of Djibouti to ensure that the action plan to address the gender gap and gender equality in climate, energy and environmental interventions is implemented and that key recommendations, indicators and coordination mechanisms are set in place to achieve the intended results.
2. Support UNDP and the Government of Djibouti in monitoring the implementation of the strategy.

Stakeholder mapping and engagement

1. To support the implementation of the strategy, identify key players donors, investors, and implementors interested in working on gender-responsive climate financing for gender-sensitive and gender transformative strategies and the energy-water-climate nexus.

Systematic inclusion of gender aspects in projects

1. Fully integrate gender-responsive results into project workplans, ensuring alignment with relevant policies and strategies, such as the Gender Mainstreaming Plan and adhere to progressive national gender-oriented policies, legislation and initiatives.
2. Strengthen findings of in-depth gender analyses and apply learning to adapt the overall portfolio.
3. Contribute to and/or review gender and climate knowledge products, as needed (on demand basis).
4. Provide substantive advice and strategic inputs through the drafting of policy briefs, project concept notes, issues briefs, and other substantive technical inputs on issues related to gender equality, women’s empowerment, climate change, sustainable development, and related topics.
5. Create positive synergies between improved environmental impact and greater gender equality within the portfolio of UNDP.

1. EXPECTED TIMELINE AND DELIVRABLES

   1. Deliverables*  Number of Days required Expected date of completion Payment Develop a costed workplan to implement key recommendations of the strategy including potential donors and indications for fund raising.  20 days 30/08/2023 20% Provide support to the Government to implement recommendations and develop a monitoring tool to follow the implementation of the strategy in the Government and UNDP projects. 20 days  30/09/2023 20% Presentation of the monitoring tool to UNDP and the Government and provide a monthly on the status of the implementation of the strategy. 20 days 30/11/2023 20% (1)Planification and organization of 6 Gender trainings for the country office during the year to raise awareness on to the importance of engaging all groups to achieve transformational change towards gender equality. (2) Provide a monthly update on the status of the implementation of the strategy. 20 days 30/11/2023 20% (2) Report on the implementation of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment strategy and progress made within Government and UNDP activities. (2) Develop a Lessons learned two pager.  20 days  30/12/2023 20%   120 Days

2. FINAL RODUCTS

3. The consultant is expected to produce the following:

4. Develop a costed workplan to implement key recommendations of the strategy.
5. A monitoring tool to provide bimonthly updates on the status of the implementation of the strategy.
6. Report on the implementation of the strategy.
7. Two pager Lessons learned.

8.  

9. PROVISION OF MONITORING AND PROCESS CONTROLS

10. The consultant will be supervised by UNDP Country Office and be based in the Country Office.

    Payment will be made upon satisfactory achieved deliverables under each assignment and submission of time sheet in accordance with number of days worked. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the supervisor. Final payment shall require a signed performance evaluation of the consultant. 

Competencies

Experience:

• At least 2 years of work experience in relevant technical areas of climate change/ gender equality and inclusion is required;
• Experience on undertaking gender analysis, designing relevant criteria and advising on gender mainstreaming is required;
• Working experience in African states contexts is required;
• Proven experience of conducting similar nature of assignment in the past preferably for International Organizations /UN organizations;
• Experience of working and collaborating with stakeholders including governments; civil society; private sector; local communities;
• Good inter-personal communication skills, flexibility;
• Excellent report writing skills; and
• Proven capability to meet short deadlines and work under pressure.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in the fields of Gender, Environment or any other relevant disciplines.  

Language:

Fluency in English both written and oral.