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).

In 2010, UNDP launched its flagship initiative the Gender and Economic Policy Management Initiative (GEPMI), a capacity development programme which aims to accelerate the achievement of the MDGs by making economic policies and poverty reduction strategies deliver results equitably to women and men, girls and boys. This programme was designed by UNDP to provide policy makers and development practitioners with the skills and knowledge needed to identify and address gender biases in the economic sectors, and effectively plan, implement, monitor and evaluate development policies, strategies, programmes and projects that are responsive to gender equality. To date, GEPMI has been implemented in Africa, Asia and the Pacific and will soon roll out in the Arab States Region.

UNDP Bahrain, the University of Bahrain and UNDP Gender Team have established a partnership to launch and implement all GEPMI projects and programmes in the Arab States.

In spring 2012 UNDP reached an agreement with the University of Bahrain to implement the three components of GEPMI in the Arab States (GEPMI - Arab States). An initial task in implementing GEPMI–Arab States is to revise the modules of the Short Course in order to make them relevant for the Arab States region. Once completed, the revised Short Course can move forward to a Validation Workshop, which will identify the final changes that need to be made to the modules prior to the delivery of the first Training of Trainers Workshop. The developed course and its 12 modules will incorporate gender equality into strategies for accelerating the MDGs; and will be the tools that support the developing expertise for integrating gender into economic policy management; increasing the use of sex disaggregated data and gender statistics; and creating knowledge products that build evidence and advocate for bringing gender considerations into mainstream economic and financial policy-making.

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of this consultancy will be to develop two modules one on gender and macro-economic strategies The first module  will integrate gender and microeconomics strategies globally and regionally and  will tackle the specificity of the Arab region, the second module will address issues of governance and economics in relation to the arable world in general using examples from around the Arab states.

  • The modules are two of 12 modules developed for the short course on Gender and Economic Policy Management;
  • The modules developed will promote and stimulate the gender component into the policies implemented by the middle level government policy makers, parliamentary staff and CSOs etc.  And it addresses gender issues in macroeconomic strategies regionally and globally;
  • Help build the capacity of policy makers in engaging in policies that are more inclusive and responsive to gender issues.

Gender and Macroeconomics (1)

  • This part of the module should incorporate basic macroeconomics, ecological economics, and gender responsive macroeconomics, and gender and PRSPs and economic adjustments, fiscal policy, gender relations, government spending, taxation debts etc.

Gender and Governance  (2)

  • This part of the module should incorporate an overview of development strategies in the Arab world 1950-1990, in relations to governance.

Scope of Work:

Based on in-depth knowledge and experiences, the International consultant on a specific term agreement with the UNDP GEPMI Team will develop 2 modules on Gender and Macroeconomics Strategies. This TOR incorporates the detailed note and suggested work plans for the development of the modules, more information will be provided to the selected consultant.
The scope of tasks to be undertaken will be agreed upon with the International consultant covers, but may not be limited to: 

  • Develop 2modules on Gender Governance and macroeconomics Strategies;
  • Part one with focuses on gender and macroeconomics Strategies, and on global and regional measures and policies used to integrate gender into macroeconomics, with the focus on Arab region in particular;
  • Part two  on gender and macroeconomics and governance, highlighting strategies that focus on the Arab region in particular;
  • The two modules are generally focusing on issues relevant to priority policy areas and challenges faced by the breadth of world, and the developing countries and the Arab States;
  • The consultant may propose and develop additional region specific problems or focus areas for the Module;
  • The consultant should insure that the modules are adapted internationally and regionally with coherent arguments and language that fit well through the arch of short course.

Deliverables:

  • The modules should integrate gender and macroeconomics as and explore the complex relationship between economics, growth and development;
  • Analysis of the gendered impacts of macroeconomics and issues of governance should underscore the critical links between economics and production;
  • The module needs to discuss all cross cutting edges of macroeconomics and gender and link the different role played by men and women;
  • The module should reflect on the meaning of macroeconomics and explore its importance in the overall process of development;
  • The modules will highlight gender governance and macroeconomics activities regionally and globally exploring the Arab states;
  • The consultant may propose and develop additional region specific problems or focus areas for the Module;
  • The consultant should insure that the module is adapted internationally and regionally with coherent arguments and language that fit well through the arch of short course, and accommodate the different experiences of oil and resources producing countries.

Competencies

Technical Competencies

  • The consultant should ensure that the modules are developed in the requested time frame;
  • The consultant should submit an outline, and review relevant literature;
  • The consultant should keep an update on the flow of the work;
  • The consultant should perform a professional task and comply with the requirement of the assignment;
  • Finally the consultant communicates to the UNDP/GEPMI the final draft of the modules according to the timeline and deliverables appeared in the contract.

Functional competencies:

  • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, in writing, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different audiences;
  • Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • A masters or similar degree in economics, social sciences or gender studies, preferably a PhD; with knowledge on women studies, gender and related fields in conjunction with economics and sociology.

Experience:

  • More than 10 years relevant work experience in economic and gender issues with a particular demonstrated track record in publishing and teaching;
  • Knowledge of the UN System, UNDP and UN Women’s priorities and mandates is highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in written and spoken English;
  • Arabic language is desirable.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Presentation of Offer
  • Proposal: Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work,
  • Provide a brief methodology, outline and/or design for the module
  • Financial proposal
  • Personal CV including past experience in similar projects/assignments and at least 3 references
  • Financial Proposal:
  • Lump sum contracts:

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 installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery and acceptance of the modules as specified in the TOR.

Evaluation:

The proposals would undergo the cumulative analysis, as per the below given table, with 70% weightage to the technical criteria and 30% to the financial aspect.