Background

Starting from October 2010, UN Women with support of the European Union has implemented the cross-regional programme “Women Connect Across Conflicts: Building Accountability for Implementation of UN SCR 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889” (WCAC Programme) that aims to enhance the capacity of women’s human rights activists and gender equality advocates and their networks to effectively and meaningfully engage, influence, and mobilize for dialogues on security and peace issues at various levels nationally and regionally in South Asia (Afghanistan and Pakistan), the Southern Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) and Central Asia, particularly the Fergana Valley (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan).

In the Fergana Valley the Programme focuses on mobilizing national partners at the local level to engage in evidence-based dialogues and advocacy for tolerance building, compliance with women’s human rights obligations and reconciliation (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan).

The programme intends to support human rights observers’ initiatives to monitor the status of women human rights and to bring emerging issues into relevant policy processes in the Fergana valley (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) through training for human rights observers and key governmental actors. All findings will be documented to ensure that regular situational monitoring briefings contain a specific gender angle and analysis.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision and reporting to the UN Women WCAC Programme Manager who is based in Tbilisi, Georgia; liaising on a day-to-day basis with relevant UN Women staff in the three countries (programme focal points; gender and mediation Programme Specialist based in Bishkek); and with logistical support provided by UN Women staff in Bishkek, Osh, Dushanbe and Tashkent, the international consultant shall coordinate and substantively lead the human rights observers to monitor the status of women human rights compliance in relation to UN SCR 1325, 1820, 1888 and 1889, 1960 detect related human rights violations, conduct an analysis on compliance of the three UN member states with their commitments vis-à-vis these UN SCR, and prepare related ad hoc reports bringing emerging issues into relevant policy processes.

These tasks will require among others, the following actions by the international consultant:

  • Prepare and submit a detailed work plan and methodology on how the task will be approached (August, one week after signing of the contract);
  • Based on available information, statistics, studies on conflicts as well as security issues in the Fergana valley develop a four-day gender responsive training module targeted at human rights observers and defenders as well as key governmental actors towards building capacity to adequately document women human rights violations and produce a body of data and information that can be used for advocacy purposes. The consultant shall submit a first module outline to be approved by UN Women with the key topics to be covered (1st week of September);
  • Discuss the training materials with UN Women and finalize them based on recommendations/comments made (2nd week of September);
  • Develop and agree on criteria for selection of participants of the training to ensure their further actions in a sustainable way (i.e. it is fundamental to see the possibility to introduce/incorporate gender aspects into existing early warning/monitoring systems, in order to use available human resources, and existing networks etc.). With a support of  UN Women investigate with international and national partners on existing networks of observers that already work and whose capacity can be further built) (August-October 2012);
  • Assist to organize logistically in coordination with UN Women offices and conduct training for around 20/25 identified/selected human rights observers on women human rights situational monitoring and assessment, documentation and analysis of the findings (in Osh or Bishkek (TBC), Kyrgyzstan, October 2012- 4 working days);
  • Jointly with participants of the training, as well as UN Women, develop and agree upon a unified format for the collection of data/information/evidences to be analysed and documented (October 2012);
  • Provide remote coaching to facilitate the work of HR observers and defenders to conduct monitoring visits to collect and document  evidence and produce analytical reports (each target country, November 2012);
  • Organize a peer review (quality control) of analytical reports and decide on recipients of reports (together with UN Women); together with HRs defenders/observers discuss and agree on further steps/actions in particular in which settings the reports will be discussed (November, December 2012);
  • Organize one round table in each country in cooperation with UN Women to present and discuss the findings of the monitoring undertaken by HRs observers (December 2012).

Methods and Processes:

The consultant shall undertake with one round travel to the region which includes visit to Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek and Osh  20 days in total), Tajikistan (Sughd region) of a total of 7 days and Uzbekistan (Ferghana valley part) of a total of 5 working days to fulfil the tasks assigned.

The consultant shall participate, if feasible, in the preliminary planning meetings, organized by UN Women staff in each target country, to discuss the issues of monitoring, frequency of monitoring, criteria for selection of monitors and capacity development needs. As a result, human rights (HRs) observers/monitors will be selected (around ten from Kyrgyzstan and ten from Tajikistan, and three or four from Uzbekistan).

The consultant acts as lead trainer (with a national consultant from Kyrgyzstan acting as assistant trainer) and will conduct a four-day training for identified/selected human rights observers on the gender specific security situation monitoring, assessment and documentation of their findings. At the end of the training, trainees shall be able to monitor the status of women human rights compliance in their area of responsibility, detect early warnings of human rights violations, conduct an analysis, prepare ad hoc reports and be able to bring emerging issues into relevant policy processes in the Fergana valley. The consultant shall field test the training module and adjust it accordingly. S/he will evaluate the level of the participants’ knowledge prior to and after the training using questionnaires which will be developed in close consultation with UN Women and certified by the WCAC Programme Manager.

The consultant shall prepare follow-up national roundtables/workshops logistically facilitated and funded by UN Women in each target country towards the end of the commission to discuss and agree on further steps and capacity development needs of monitors. S/he shall support the work of the HRs observers in their respective countries and will develop a monitoring plan for each country and together with UN Women, identify issues to be monitored; for this purpose the consultant will develop a template monitoring report for HR observers and provide overall management and supervision of the HRs observers.

Outputs/Deliverables:

The consultant will produce the following deliverables:

  • Detailed report on the training conducted for selected human rights observers and key governmental actors on women human rights  monitoring, assessment, documentation and technical assistance to bring emerging issues into relevant policy processes;
  • Developed training manual/modules with necessary amendments at the end of the training based on training results;
  • Comprehensive monitoring plan for HR observers in each country, defining frequency of monitoring and issues to be monitored, as well as a Monitoring Report Template;
  • Compiled Analysis of HR Observers’ reports based on the reports produced;
  • A Final report upon completion of the tasks. The report shall include a description of all activities implemented according to the TOR and follow up recommendations; analysis of the findings of the monitoring undertaken by HRs observers during the entire period; The report shall also have a chapter that documents best practices and lessons learned on human rights monitoring process with a focus also on cooperation between policy makers and women networks for the cases addressed to be later used for documentation purposes;
  • Prepare a summary of findings (max. 4 pages) and a power point presentation and key speaker’s notes on these findings and relevant recommendations.  Be available to deliver the presentation at an event organized by UN Women (Place TBD; could be after the commission by videoconference; no travel commitment outside the commission is involved).

Timeframe:

The consultant shall commence the assignment by 20 August 2012 and finalize the report by 15 December 2012. The consultant will report to the WCAC Programme Manager and work closely with the WCAC staff and relevant UN Women staff in the target countries.

Evaluation Procedure:

The candidates will be evaluated in two stages: technical evaluation and financial evaluation.

Technical evaluation criteria:

No. / Competencies&skills / Points

  1. Advanced degree in Social sciences, Political Science, International Development or similar field, or equivalent working experience in the sector (post- graduate degree is a must) - 30 pts;
  2. At least five years’ experience on no less than two areas of human security; early warning; conflict prevention; gender aspects of security and documented experience on gender and/or women empowerment. Such work experience shall include research (which can be compensated by a relevant research degree such as MPhil or PhD), analytical and programme work in the field of conflict prevention, response and recovery. Practical experience in Central Asia is required with such experience in the Fergana Valley as a strong asset - 60 pts;
  3. Proven track record in developing and/or adapting training manuals and resource materials  and conducting training on gender sensitive early warning, conflict prevention and resolution, and/or monitoring of human rights  for partners with different background - 60 pts;
  4. Previous  experience with international organizations and/or the UN is an asset - 10 pts;
  5. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including team-work and team-building skills - 20 pts;
  6. Fluency in English and working knowledge of Russian. Knowledge of Kyrgyz, Tajik, or Uzbek is an asset (English- 20, Russian-10, Other language- 10) - 40 pts.

Total:  220 pts.

Only candidates who have passed over the mandatory criteria and have accumulated at least 154 points under technical evaluation will qualify to the next round of financial evaluation.

Evaluation of financial proposal:

Evaluation of submitted financial offers will be done based on the following formula: S = Fmin / F * 94
S – score received on financial evaluation;
Fmin – the lowest financial offer out of all the submitted offers qualified over the technical evaluation round;
F – financial offer under consideration.

Winning candidate:

The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring + financial scoring).

Submission package:

*Each applicant will be required to submit an aggregated financial offer (“aggregated financial offer” is the total sum of all financial claims of the candidate for accomplishment of the task).

Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment - please compile the requested documents into one file and then upload it. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Management Arrangements:

The contractor will work under the direct supervision of the UN Women WCAC Programme Manager.

Financial arrangements:

Payment will be disbursed in two installments upon submission and approval of deliverables and certification by the Programme Manager that the services have been satisfactorily performed.

Travel arrangements:

55 days over a period of 4 months with one round travel to the region, which includes visit to Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek and  Osh - 20 days in total), Tajikistan/Sughd region (7 working days), and Uzbekistan/Ferghana valley part (5 working days).

Inputs/Resources on behalf of UN Women:

UN Women staff will provide the consultant with necessary information and materials for the fulfilment of tasks and other relevant information and provide office space in Bishkek, Osh, Dushanbe and Tashkent as required, as well as with visa support letters to visit these countries.

Competencies

  • Proven track record in developing and/or adapting training manuals and conducting training on human rights issues and monitoring for people with different background and cultures;
  • Previous  experience with international organizations and/or the UN is an asset;
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including team-work and team-building skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced degree in Social sciences, Political Science, International Development or similar field, or equivalent working experience in the sector.

Experience:

  • Five years’ experience on no less than two areas of: human security; early warning; gender sensitive conflict prevention; gender aspects of security and documented experience on gender and/or women empowerment. Such work experience shall include research (which can be compensated by a relevant research degree such as MPhil or PhD), analytical and programme work in the field of conflict prevention, response and recovery;
  • Practical experience in Central Asia is required with such experience in the Fergana Valley as a strong asset.

Language requirements:

  • Fluency in English and working knowledge of Russian;
  • Knowledge of either Tajik, Kyrgyz or Uzbek are additional assets.

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.
All online applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from
 http://www.unwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P_11_form_UNwomen.doc.
Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.