Background

Strengthening Africa’s National Capacities on Gender-Responsive Economic Policy Management:
 
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (UN IDEP), have recently implemented the second intake of the joint programme - A three week Short Course on Gender Responsive Economic Policy Management for African policy makers and civil society advocates.
 
The Short Course was designed to respond to the gender gaps in economic policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in Africa. The programme intends to contribute to the acceleration of the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular MDG3 on gender equality and women’s empowerment and MDG5, by making economic policies and poverty reduction strategies deliver women and men, girls and boys, equitably.  It targets government economic planners as well as parliamentary staff, staff of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other development agencies in Africa. 
 
The Short Course consists of twelve modules addressing the most critical gender issues in all aspects of economic policy management (economic analysis, policy analysis, poverty reduction, statistics, employment, unpaid care work, macroeconomics, trade, taxation, medium term expenditure framework and budget).  These modules were designed to run over a three-week period, to be delivered annually in both English and French at UN IDEP in Dakar, Senegal. Candidates will be nominated by their governments or institutions.
 
The Short Course represents one of three components of the Global Gender and Economic Policy Management Initiative (GEPMI), a global capacity development and advisory services programme which aims to accelerate achievement of the MDGs.
 
The two other components of the Global GEPMI are:
  • GEPMI-Tailored Country level advisory services and capacity building workshops to respond to countries’ specific needs. A team of highly-qualified regional experts, whose quality is assured by UNDP, through regular training and continuous knowledge sharing, is available to provide these services on request.
  • A Master’s of Arts in Gender-Aware Economics (MAGAE), the first of its kind in the world– responding to the long term objective of generating a new cadre of economists capable of integrating gender equality as a variable of economic analysis and a key determinant of economic policy management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose of this Call for Applicants:
 

I.     Attain applicants/experts to participate in the Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop which will take place from 2-6 July 2012, in Dakar, Senegal. The major goal of this ToT workshop is to create a larger pool of experts in the area of gender responsive economic policy management. This pool of experts will be equipped to act as trainers for the three week course on gender responsive policy management which will take place at annual basis at UN IDEP’s facilities in Dakar, Senegal. 

The Training of Trainers workshop will adopt a participatory approach, facilitating dialogue and discussions among the pool of participants/experts in identifying gender concerns in individual African countries and regions as well as devising strategies to integrating gender concerns into national economic policies and programs. Each participant will be expected to undertake a short presentation on one area of focus from the 12 short course modules: Economics, policy, access to finance, gender responsive budgeting, trade, poverty, unpaid care work, data & indices, macroeconomic strategies in Africa, etc. The objective of the presentations is to assess the participants’ capabilities and knowledge as trainers, especially to middle and senior level policy makers. The participants will also be expected to strengthen their presentations from their personal knowledge of the theories and practices in gender aware economics by drawing upon some case studies, examples from their work or experiences in the field. Following the presentations, the participants should expect some follow up questions from the audience and the lead trainers on the substance of their presentations, drawing on practical cases or governmental procedures.  Participants will be guided before the TOT workshop by the Lead Trainers in order to prepare them for their presentations.
 
II.  Successful Applicants may also be considered to be included by UNDP and partnering agencies in GEPMI’s Roster of Experts, to be drawn upon as resource persons, when needed, for GEPMI’s tailored country level policy advisory services and capacity building needs to respond to countries’ requests in the area of gender and economic policy management.
Applicants Selection Process
 
The selections process for this Training of Trainers Workshop will be jointly performed by a selection committee composed of UNDP partners and the implementing agency UN IDEP.  The following criteria and allocated points will be used in the Technical Evaluation (maximum 70 points):
  • An advanced academic record combined with solid years of experience in the field of gender equality and women’s empowerment at the national, regional or international levels. (20 points)
  • Substantive knowledge of gender and macroeconomic policies/strategies in Africa. (25 points)
  • Proven skills and expertise in policy analysis and formulation in developing economies with emphasis on gender in economic development, poverty analysis, development and planning, strategic planning of projects focused on economic development through evidence-based policy advice. (25 points)
  • At a later stage, technically qualified applicants will be requested to provide their financial quotes in order to proceed to final evaluation and contracting. Cumulative method of evaluation will be applied while evaluating the applications.
Future Contracting and Engagement:
 
Any subsequent contracting, for selected participants, for specific assignments related to the three week short course or the tailored country level policy advisory services and capacity development needs will be done by UNDP, in accordance with its policy and procedures for Individual Contracting modality, or its partner - UN IDEP, in accordance with its procedures for which candidates will be notified in advance and separately.
 
Upon request, successful applicants can be drawn upon to produce the following, but not limited to, services and outputs:
  • Scan key development policy frameworks and documents to adapt GEPMI’s Training modules to a country’s specific needs and context.
  • Develop training outlines, methodologies and approach 
  • Act as a trainer for GEPMI’s three week short course 
  • Facilitate a tailored country-level policy advisory and capacity development training workshop
  • Develop reports, proceeding any training event or consultation, on key areas for follow up and support
 

Competencies

  • Solid experience in the areas of economic development, gender equality, poverty analysis, development and planning, strategic planning of projects focused on economic development through providing evidence-based policy advice
  • Practical experience in organization management, strategic planning of associations and public organizations at the    national and regional level
  • Experience in formulating development strategies and policies
  • Excellent public speaking and presentation skills, especially to middle/senior level government officials.
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Ability to promote the vision, mission and strategic goals of the Gender and Economic Policy Management Initiative on behalf of the UN partners.
  • In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues in Africa
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more of GEPMI’s focus areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
  • Excellent knowledge of governmental procedures and policies in Africa and the ability to scan, identify and recommend areas for integrating gender into the policy process
  • Ability to work with partnering UN agencies and managing demands.
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills. Demonstrates good listening skills and responsiveness to the opinions of others. 
  • Ability to build strong relationships with clients and government officials including necessary follow-up.
  • Ability to share knowledge, lessons learned and comparative experiences with GEPMI’s network members.
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Master’s Degree (PhD preferred) in Economics, Public Administration/Policy, Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Development Studies or other related fields.
  • Or a university degree in Economics combined with a Master’s degree (PhD Preferred) in other related areas supplemented by 10+ years of experience in the field of gender and Economics is also acceptable.
Experience:
  • Minimum of 5 years experience in skills transfer and knowledge sharing, developing and facilitating capacity trainings, development of training tools and manuals, preferably in the area of gender and economics, Gender and policy design.
  • Proven skills and expertise in policy analysis and formulation in developing economies.
  • Substantive knowledge of gender and economic policies in Africa.

Language:

  • Fluency in the English language is a must.

Application:

  • Applicants must include at least three references as part of their application submission
  • UNDP retains the right to contact references directly.
  • Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process