Background

The Gender Team of the Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) is the institutional anchor of UNDP’s work on gender equality and women’s empowerment. As the UN’s lead development agency, with extensive field presence, UNDP facilitates the integration of gender equality in the work of its Country Offices (CO) through core and non-core fund investments and has initiated and implemented numerous innovative initiatives that support programme county work on gender equality and women’s empowerment. UNDP's work on gender is guided by the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the frameworks provided by the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
 
The UNDP Gender Team works to implement gender equality as a core objective of UNDP through a two-pronged approach (i) mainstreaming gender in all core practices; and, (ii) dedicated interventions that empower women and promote gender equality. In this context, the Gender Team developed the Gender Equality Strategy (2008-13) which was prepared in conjunction with the UNDP Strategic Plan (2008-13). The Gender Equality Strategy outlines the gender dimensions of the four practice areas (Poverty Reduction and MDG Achievement, Democratic Governance, Environment and Sustainable Development, and Conflict Prevention and Recovery) and sets goals for achieving gender equality and women's empowerment.
 
Within the area of Gender and Poverty, UNDP works to:
  • Develop national capacities to bring a gender perspective to economic policy making;
  • Design national development strategies, plans and budgets that respond to the needs of both poor women and men, while helping women to better influence and shape these policies;
  • Promote women’s and girl’s economic rights and opportunities, including investing in women’s entrepreneurship;
  • Build capacities to address the gender dimensions of HIV/AIDS through laws, policies ad budgets;
  • Strengthen national statistical and planning offices’ capacity to collect, analyze and use gender statistics.
Moreover, the limited recognition of the synergies between gender equality, economic growth and poverty reduction has led to economic policies and national planning and budgeting frameworks that fail to take into consideration the differentiated needs and responsibilities of poor women and men. While the demand for incorporating gender perspectives into national development frameworks is increasing in all regions of the world, there are insufficient capacity, procedures, tools and methodologies to promote and monitor progress towards these results. To respond to these gaps and the urgency to build capacity in this time of economic crisis, UNDP has developed the capacity development programme the Global Gender and Economic Policy Management Initiative (GEPMI). This Initiative is a direct response to demands from national counterparts to, in a more comprehensive manner, strengthen policy, programming and operational capacities for gender equality in economic planning.
 
Under the Long Term Agreement contract, the selected candidate(s) on Gender and Poverty will support the Gender Team within in the area of Gender and Poverty by providing expert inputs as and when required.
 
General Conditions of the Services under the Long Term Agreement are provided as Annex 1 to this Terms of Reference.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Core Tasks:
 
The scope of tasks to be undertaken will be agreed with the Technical Expert(s) as the need arises, and may cover, but may not be limited to: 
  • Provide substantive advice and strategic inputs through the drafting of policy briefs, concept notes, project concept notes, issues briefs, and other substantive technical inputs on issues related to Gender and Poverty.
  • Provide substantive input through the drafting of or commenting on project proposals, project evaluation reports, terms of references, and aide memoires.
  • Provide expert review, comments and inputs into UNDP policy documents to ensure that the gender dimensions are suitably integrated, represent cutting edge knowledge on gender and poverty and are consistent with UNDP's Gender Equality Strategy. This may include, but is not limited to: Human Development Reports, Regional Human Development Reports, MDG Reports or any other relevant substantive documentation produced by UNDP. 
  • Provide substantive assistance in the development and facilitation of critical discussions on gender and poverty, including UN inter-agency discussions, regional events, lecture series and online discussions as required by the UNDP Gender Team. 
  • Support specific requests by country offices for support in advising governments on their response to the global financial and economic crises from a gender perspective. 
  • Undertake capacity development activities on gender-responsive economic policy making at country, regional and global levels. 
  • Provide training for UNDP staff and partners on matters related to gender and economic policy. 
  • Provide substantial input into the development of new training modules on gender aware economics for GEPMI’s Masters of Arts programme.
  • Provide substantial input into the development of new training modules for GEPMI’s policy makers course on gender-responsive economic policy management.
  • Deliver, on behalf of UNDP, policy advisory and capacity development trainings to targeted Country Offices and government counterparts on request.
  • Provide inputs into global economic policy processes – in particular on gender perspectives of the global financial and economic crisis. 
  • Prepare manuals and other capacity development materials on gender and poverty and advise UNDP on integrating a gender dimension into existing training manuals and initiatives. 
  • Provide advice to the Director of the Gender Team on the strategic direction for the gender team’s work in the field of Gender and Poverty.
Expected Deliverables:
 
The following deliverables will be expected:
  • Briefs, policy notes/issue briefs, concept notes, project concept notes and other substantive technical inputs on issues related to Gender and Poverty, including on trends, emerging issues and challenges.
  • Substantive inputs on project proposals, capacity development and other initiatives.
  • Expert reviews and comments on UNDP documents, such the Human Development Reports, Regional Human Development Reports, MDG Reports or any other relevant substantive documentation produced by UNDP.
  • Inputs into the development of the upcoming Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017
  • Training materials and modules on gender aware economics and gender-responsive economic policy management.
  • On demand Capacity development activities at the Country Level.
  • Facilitation of critical discussions on gender and poverty, including UN inter-agency discussions, national/regional events, lecture series and online discussions as required by the Gender Team.
Mechanics for Engagement:
 
Successful Applicants will be included by UNDP and partnering agencies in GEPMI’s Roster of Experts, to be drawn upon as resource persons, as and 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.
 
It is expected that the consultant(s) will sign a Long-Term Agreement (LTA) with UNDP in order to be rostered for a period of 2 years (i.e., for assignments within the 2012-2014 period), which will be   expected to be signed in June 2012. An LTA is a framework agreement that aims to establish the terms and conditions of future contracts that may arise from the LTA. As such, an LTA does not imply a financial commitment on the part of UNDP and does not guarantee that a succeeding contract will be issued. 
 
When called upon to engage, the individual will have to sign an Individual Contract (IC) or his/her employer, if employed, will have to sign a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), whichever is preference of the individual on LTA. The length and timeline of the IC consultancy or RLA, whichever is applicable, will be based on the specific assignments, which can range from 1-2 business day (reviewing case studies, briefs, inputs into strategy papers) or a longer term assignments such as 3-4 weeks to draft a set of Training Modules, or to deliver a capacity development training at the country level including technical preparations for 1-2 months etc.
 
Under the day to day supervision of the Poverty, Growth and MDGs cluster leader, and the overall supervision of the Director of the Gender Team, when a request for services arises, the UNDP Gender Team shall directly engage the consultant from the roster without the need for further selection process. A specific Terms of Reference (ToR) outlining the outputs and detailed arrangement for each assignment shall be provided and an Individual Contract (IC) or Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), whichever is applicable, will be issued to the consultant, detailing the time frame.
Travel:
 
Experts shall be required to travel for specific tasks and UNDP will arrange and cover the cost of the official travels in accordance to UN rules and procedures.  This may include, but is not limited to, travel to New York, countries in Africa region Asia and the Arab States in particular.
 
The fare will always be "most direct, most economical" and any different with the preferred route will be paid for by the consultant. 
 
Remuneration:
 
Please indicate the daily rate in US Dollars for your services while submitting your application. Remuneration for specific assignments will be established based on the competencies and skills of the consultant and nature of the task to be assigned.
 

Competencies

Core Competencies:
  • Demonstrated analytical skills on issues related to gender, the economy and poverty reduction;
  • Ability to work with a multi-disciplinary team and in a multi-cultural environment;
  • Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills in English. Knowledge of any other official UN language would be an asset.
Additional Competencies:
  • Diverse organizational work experience is an asset;
  • Demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner;
  • Ability to organize work efficiently and deal with multiple tasks;
  • Familiarity with the UN system, in particular with UNDP and its mandate;
  • Experience in UN interagency cooperation, particularly on Gender and Economic Policy Processes is an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
 
Advanced university degree (PhD preferred) in Economics, Public Administration with strong knowledge of gender issues, or related discipline.
 
Experience:
  • Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in the field of promoting gender equality and poverty reduction;   
  • Extensive research and academic publications in the field of gender and economics;
  • Working knowledge and experience of UNDP policies and programmes in the area of gender equality;
  • Knowledge of and experience in producing substantive inputs to policies on issues concerning gender and poverty at the national, regional and international levels
  • Experience in conducting policy advisory and capacity development services to policy makers at the global regional and national levels.
 
Language Requirements:
  • Fluency in English (written and oral). Knowledge of another UN language desirable.
How to apply:
Interested candidates should follow UNDP Standard online application procedure and send
 
a)       An updated CV and UN PH 11 form; Link to PH 11 form
b)      a short summary (up to 1000 words maximum) of; your expertise and experience on gender and poverty/economic policy issues (including both policy and programming where applicable), the reasons why you consider yourself the best candidates for the assignment,
c)       A daily fee quote in United States
 
Short-listed candidates may be requested to participate in an interview with a selection panel.
 
Contracts based on daily fee
 
The financial proposal will specify the daily fee in US Dollars only. Payments are made to the Individual Consultant based on the actual number of days worked as evidenced by the time sheet. 
 
6. EVALUATION
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:
1. Cumulative analysis
The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
* Technical Criteria weight; 70 (minimum pass 49)
* Financial Criteria weight; 30
 
Evaluation Criteria
Technical:
a) Possess an in-depth knowledge and analysis of Gender, Poverty/Economic Policies and Management (20 Points)
b) Experience in conducting policy advisory and capacity development services to policy makers at the global regional and national levels. (20 Points)
c) Advanced University Degree in Economics/Public Administration or related field with 10 years record of analytical thinking, strong policy research and writing skills. (20 Points)
d) Familiarity and work experience with UNDP and the UN system (15 Points)
 
Criteria for Financial Evaluation (30 Points):
 
The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal: p = y (μ/z)
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
 
Annex 1. General Conditions of the Services under the Long Term Agreement:
  • The LTA does not necessarily mean that a contract with the UNDP Gender Team is guaranteed. This will depend on forthcoming needs as specified in this ToR. Where a request for services arises, the UNDP Gender Team shall directly contract the consultant from the roster without the need for further selection process. A specific Terms of Reference (ToR) outlining the outputs for each assignment shall be provided and an Individual Contract (IC) or Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), whichever is applicable, will be issued to the consultant, detailing the time frame. Conditions of a particular assignment may be negotiable.
  • UNDP does not warrant that any quantity of services will be purchased during the term of this Agreement.
  • IMPORTANT : If you are a former staff member of the United Nations recently separated, pls. add this section to your letter:   I hereby confirm that I have complied with the minimum break in service required before I can be eligible for an Individual Contract. I also fully understand that, if I am engaged as an Individual Contractor, I have no expectations nor entitlements whatsoever to be re-instated or re-employed as a staff member.  
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