Background

South Sudan is facing critical challenges, both as a new nation emerging from many decades of conflict and as one of the countries in the Horn of Africa which are vulnerable to and struggling to recover from drought and related shocks. The Government of South Sudan (GOSS) and its partners are faced with the multi-faceted challenge of forming a credible government and efficient public service; building a democratic society and growing an economy in a country with very low human capacities. More than 50% of public servants do not have the basic qualifications (university degree). Only 5% possess masters degrees. The government is therefore highly dependent on international experts that have been provided by the UN and other partners to fill gaps and build capacity within the government.

Poverty levels are very high (50.6% according to UNDP). 83% of the population is rural, dependent on agriculture and livestock sectors which are under-developed and contribute less than 10% of national income. Poor infrastructure limits accessibility to basic social services, markets and information that is vital for survival and development.

40% of 18 year old girls are married. Maternal mortality is 2054 per 100,000; infant mortality is at 102 per 1000. Adult literacy levels are at 73% of the population and 84% among females, limiting women’s access to the formal sector. Cultural practices which have persisted for many years are detrimental to women’s development as fellow citizens and to women’s empowerment as drivers of positive change in the country. Four out of ten women face violence. Girl compensation as a peace gesture among fighting families and child marriage are widely practiced. Heavy demands for dowry perpetuate conflicts among families, clans and cross-border communities due to cattle rustling. Access to justice is hampered when customary law overrides statutory law in some regions.

Key positive developments for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: 

The importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment in building South Sudan as a nation has been acknowledged by Government and civil society. The National Gender Machinery is in place comprising the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare; corresponding ministries of Gender, Children and Social Welfare at State level; and the Gender Focal Point system in line Ministries. Like in many other countries, the machinery is weak and under-funded and requires considerable support to take leadership in strengthening national commitment to and practice in promoting GEWE.

Affirmative action gives women a minimum of 25% of seats in Parliament. This resulted in 33% representation in the national assembly and 28% at state level. Affirmative action in the various spheres, including public service must be accompanied by legal and regulatory frameworks that can help ensure accountability.

The Ministry of Education is making considerable efforts to promote girls’ education. The ministry is also reinstating boarding schools for girls and establishing teacher training institutes for women. However, taking girls out of their communities as a means of protection from violence and abuse is a short-term solution, hence community-wide dialogue and advocacy, combined with rule of law and access to justice are critically needed.

A Child Act was passed in 2008 and provides a framework for child protection in South Sudan.

The Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme:

Women’s Economic Empowerment is seen by all key actors in Government and Civil Society as the driver for change. Strategies to promote WEE must, however, move away from ad hoc and piece meal interventions, considering the multi-faceted challenges that the women of South Sudan face which hamper sustainability of such interventions. Promoting WEE must take a holistic approach that addresses high levels of illiteracy and innumeracy; lack of technical knowledge to enhance production and productivity in agriculture and livestock management; access to energy, technology and markets; cultural and traditional practices, including GBV that prevent women’s access to and control over productive resources.

Government has requested UN Women to pilot an Area Based/Integrated Approach to WEE in three states, based on which successes will be up-scaled to other regions of the country. This will target both agrarian and pastoral communities. While these interventions have been outlined in UN Women’s AWP, attention must be paid to the design of the approach to ensure success. Partnerships with other UN Agencies and Private Sector (e.g. Equity Bank) become critical.

Purpose of the Mission:

The overall purpose of this mission is to support UN Women in South Sudan in developing a comprehensive social mobilization and implementation strategy for the Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme, which combines: building of social capital and social collateral; literacy and numeracy; building capacity for improved agricultural and livestock production and productivity and marketing; facilitating access to formal financial services. The mission will support UN Women in concretizing the partnerships with Equity Bank, UNESCO, ILO and FAO. There is already overall agreement to collaborate within the Annual Work Plans, but concrete commitments, inputs and sequencing of activities need to be agreed and documented.

It is important to design a social mobilization approach that is appropriate to the context in the three pilot states in which this programme will be implemented, i.e. Eastern Equatorial, Western Equatoria and Warrap. The approach should take into account the extremely low levels of literacy and numeracy, the variation in livelihoods (agrarian; agro-pastoralists and pastoralists) and cultural practices and leadership.

The social mobilization approach should also take into account some approaches that have worked very well in the region, for example, the community conversations for community enhancement.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific Duties and Tasks:

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Analyst Economic Empowerment and Rights, the Consultant will be expected to:

• Visit the three pilot states to gain an understanding of existing capacities, practices and cultural context and determine what form of social mobilization and social collateral arrangements need to be adopted and what facilities, organizations, leadership and other conditions exist that will impact the programme in ensuring its success with:

1. Building social capital
2. Increasing agricultural and non-agricultural production across selected value chains, productivity and access to markets through training, facilitation and institution building
3. Promoting entrepreneurship and business survival, success and growth
4. Literacy and Numeracy
5. Inculcating a good credit culture
6. Addressing issues of GBV and Harmful Traditional Practices

• Facilitate a design session involving all key partners of the programme (UNESCO, ILO, FAO, Equity Bank, UN Women) to draw out a concrete implementation mechanism and plan that addresses the needs and varying contexts of the three states. Ensure that institutional arrangements for the programme and responsibilities of all key actors, including the community are agreed.
• Look into financial and administrative procedures of each UN agency and how it may affect the smooth and quick implementation of the programme.
• Agree with Equity Bank on the types of financial services and modalities for women’s access to those services.
• Agree sequencing of activities that will ensure high levels of financial programme delivery on the outset, as half a year has already passed and all resources must be utilized and reported.
• Prepare a project implementation manual that outlines the agreed implementation mechanism, institutional arrangements and reporting requirements.
• Provide recommendations on key elements of a capacity building/training strategy for programme personnel
• Provide recommendations on how the Baseline, Monitoring and Evaluation system should be developed by the project team.
  

Mission Deliverables/Products:

• Programme Implementation Manual with details of the implementation mechanism, institutional arrangements, requirements by partners and reporting arrangements.
• Letters of Agreement with UN agencies and Equity Bank (or a PIM signed by all)
• Mission report with recommendations on M&E arrangements, capacity building for staff and government/CSO counterparts, etc.

Competencies

Functional Competencies

Planning and Organising:

• Ability to plan work assignments, establish priorities and meet strict assignment deadlines with limited resources.

Coordination and Monitoring

• Ability to build strong relationships with clients and focus on impact and results;
• Demonstrated aptitude to build effective partnerships with  a diverse group of stakeholders;
• Capacity to coordinate monitoring activities in the field, to mentor programme/project staff and provide guidance and support;

Communications and Language

• Compelling (verbal and written) communication skills including ability to prepare reports, formulate and defend sound recommendations and articulate opinions concisely conveying maximum necessary information.
• Outstanding oral and written communication and presentation skills in English. Arabic is an asset.
  

Required Skills and Experience

• At least a Masters degree in economics, Statistics and Demography, gender studies, or related social science fields.

Work experience:

• At least seven years relevant experience in women’s empowerment and gender equality particularly the use of social mobilisation approaches at community level in post conflict countries.
• Experience developing manuals/guidelines/training materials relating to women’s empowerment and gender equality.
• Experience providing high level policy advice and technical assistance to UN agencies and Government.
• Experience with transfer of knowledge, participatory approaches and/or facilitation.

 Duration and Arrangements:

The assignment will be for 30 days from 14th November October to December 13th 2012.

Interested individuals should email expressions of interest including CVs and P11 of consultants to sandra.kiapi@unwomen.orgcc to sonny.jesca@unwomen.orgby close of business 7th November 2012. All expressions of interest should quote “PREPARATION OF DETAILED SOCIAL MOBILIZATION STRATEGIES AND IMPLEMENTATION MANUAL” on the Email subject.