Background
In Albania, the issue of women’s role in decision-making remains a national priority among gender equality advocates. With the inclusion of quotas for elected and appointed positions in both the law “On Gender Equality in Society” (July 2008) and within the revised Electoral Code (December 2008), the results of the 2009 National Elections witnessed a doubling of the number of women in Parliament (from 7% in 2005 to 16.4% in 2009).
In the lead up to the 2011 Local Elections, UN Women worked with local NPOs to continue community-level dialogue to i) promote women as a political constituency; ii) work with communities, including youth (in partnership with UNICEF) – in holding decision-makers to account regarding international and national legal obligations, which are outlined in the Women’s Manifesto; iii) build community based scorecards; and iv) to get women out to vote in the local elections.
UN Women recognizes equality between women and men as a fundamental pillar of a just and democratic society and supports the promotion of equal opportunities for the full participation of women in all aspects of political and public life. UN Women supported NGOs in seven regions of the country who worked to increase information sharing on women voters on the electoral process and on specific procedures on voting during the elections day to enable equal environment for women participation in elections. NGOs were also responsible to monitor women’s participation during the month of the electoral campaign and on the day of the Elections.
UN Women also supported NGOs’ coordinated efforts to collect data and prepare a final report on women’s participation in elections both as voters and as candidates. UN Women identified and contracted a partner NGO, who led the monitoring, analysis and reporting on quota implementation and women’s participation in electoral processes during 2011 local elections. The final report prepared by the lead NGO draw conclusions from the extended reporting and active participation performed by the many locally-based NGOs during the electoral cycle and evaluated the extent to which the local election process met the commitments and reflected the universal principles by taking fully into account how the election process affects both women and men.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the UN Women National Project Coordinator for “Women and Elections”, and working in close collaboration with the NGO/expert who drafted the report, the international expert will be contracted to finalize the report so as to a) ensure the quantitative findings are well presented; b) the report fully integrates a gender analysis; and c) the conclusions drawn are well articulated and based on facts; d) the overall report is well edited. The main aim is to use the report as a sound basis for advocacy and programming by UN Women, NGOs, political parties and other partners working to promote gender equality in participation in decision making in Albania.
Specifically, the expert will be tasked with the following tasks:
- Review the draft NGO/expert report on women’s participation in the 2011 local elections to identify the quantitative and qualitative gaps;
- When possible improve the analysis drawn from the data and other information contained in the report;
- Drawing from dialogue with UN Women and the NGO/expert, ensure the gender perspective is integrated in the analysis;
- Ensure coherence between the data and the conclusions and recommendations;
- Ensure linkages are established between the findings of the NGO report and recommendations;
- Edit the report so as to ensure it is reader-friendly and a useful advocacy tool in both lay out and language;
- Submit the revised report “Participation of Women in the 2011 Local Elections in Albania” to UN Women as per the agreed upon schedule.
Competencies
Core values:
- Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modeling UN values and ethical standards;
- Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Competencies:
- Demonstrated experience in revising/editing similar reports;
- Strong analytical and writing skills;
- Strong English language skills – experience as an editor is considered an asset;
- Expertise in publishing/document lay out software considered an asset;
- Excellent knowledge in English (written and spoken).
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Graduate degree in social sciences, gender studies or similar.
Experience:
Professional experience, specifically related to research analysis and publications.
Application procedure:
Interested individual consultants are requested to apply electronically and to submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
- Proposal explaining why they are the most suitable for the work (to be pasted under Resume and Motivation section of the online application);
- Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references including contacts. CV should be submitted in the P11 format downloadable at http://www.unwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P_11_form_UNwomen.doc
- Financial proposal – lump sum
The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days). Travel and per diems are not applicable for this consultancy (home-based).
Evaluation:
UN Women applies a fair and transparent selection process. Applicants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysismethod taking into consideration the combination of the applicant’s qualifications/skills and their financial proposals.
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%
* Financial Criteria weight – 30%
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation
| Criteria | Weight | Max. Point |
| Technical | 70% | 70 |
| · Education | 10% | 10 |
| · Experience in research analysis and similar publications | 30% | 30 |
| · Strong analytical and writing skills – experience as an editor is considered an asset | 15% | 15 |
| · Strong English language skills | 15% | 15 |
| Financial | 30% | 30 |