UNDP Jobs - 47387- Re-advertisement - Social Equity and Gender Specia

Re-advertisement - Social Equity and Gender Specialist

Location :

Colombo, SRI LANKA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

16-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

15 July 2014 to 15 June 2015

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Candidates who previously applied need not apply again.

The Community Forestry Management (CFM) approach has been identified as one of the best models for sustainable management of forest resources and livelihood improvements of the local communities. The CFM recognizes that economic alternatives are necessary if forest communities are to minimize unsustainable exploitation of forest resources. Furthermore, the CFM approach recognizes that the empowered communities themselves are in the best position to protect the forest from illegal or unsustainable practices.

The Sri Lanka Community Forestry Programme is implemented by the Forest Department with the financial support of the Australian Government through UNDP. The project supports the Forest Department to build on the experience gained through the Sri Lanka Australia Natural Resources Management Project and other past community forestry programmes implemented in Sri Lanka.

This post will assist to build the capacity within the Forest Department by developing training courses and conducting training programs to implement the community forestry programmes in a gender sensitive and more inclusive manner of other most vulnerable groups of the society (ex: disabled people, women headed households, elderly, marginalized community groups or other minority social groups). Further it will require to provide feed back and guidance to the staff immediately after the training programmes to ensure that the concepts have been adapted.

Scope and Objective

The purpose of this consultancy is to Identify the capacity building needs of the Forest Department officials on social equity and gender mainstreaming in community forestry; Develop a training programme suitable for Forest Department officials on gender and social inclusion and train FD officials; Develop identify cases, provide information to assess case studies and other information, education and communication materials to be used by the Forest Department officials on gender and social equity mainstreaming in forestry and non forestry activities with a special reference to community forestry activities

The key results to be achieved through the Consultancy will have an impact on the effective and efficient achievement of following results expected through the project.

Develop strategies and approaches for Social Equity and Gender aspects of CFP;
Develop manuals and implementation guidelines for FD officers;
Develop / contribute to Social Equity and Gender aspects in project documents;
Prepare research papers and case studies on Social Equity and Gender aspects of CFP, and
Establish systems and expertise in the Forest Department to mainstream Social Equity and Gender assessments of CFP and ensure strong exit strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Social Equity and Gender Specialist is an expert in addressing social inclusiveness and gender issues in community development programme and with a good track record of working with the communities on forestry, natural resources management and community development related area. Further s/he will ensure the quality and timely preparation of all reports and documentation related to the consultancy.

The Social Equity and Gender Specialist will carry out the following tasks:

Identify the capacity building needs of the Forest Department officials on social equity and gender mainstreaming in community forestry;
Assess and document the capacity of Forest Department officials working on the project to identify social marginalization causes such as gender, age, disabilities , caste etc.through a gender and Social Inclusion audit
Assess and document the institutional issues that might affect the usage of gender and social inclusiveness best practices in developing and implementing Community Forestry Management plans;
Develop strategies to address identified institutional issues that might affect the usage of gender and social inclusiveness related tools within the Forest Department;
Identify strategies and approaches in a phased manner to build the capacities of the officials to ensure that socially marginalized groups of the communities (if there are any) get equitable opportunity to benefit from the programme work;
Develop a training programme suitable for Forest Department officials on gender and social inclusion;
Develop awareness building and training programme and plans to conduct the 'gender and social equity' related capacity building training programms;
Develop social inclusiveness - including gender, disability, women headed households, marginalized castes etc- training programmes suitable for field level officials, middle level managers of the Forest Department;
Adapt previously developed capacity building tools, approaches and strategies on 'social inclusiveness' to suit the current context of the country and the Forest Department;
Develop training aids including work books and guidance for trainers to conduct the capacity building programmes for the Forest Department officials social inclusiveness;
Develop case studies and other information, education and communication materials targeting the Forest Department officials on gender and social equity mainstreaming in forestry and non forestry activities implemented through the department with a special reference to community forestry activities;
Develop case studies using experiences in the field and identify potential areas that needs to be further investigated;
Train the Forest Department officials to use different tools and investigate the issues identified.
Guide the Forest Department staff to develop 18 case studies analyzing the qualitative aspects of programme impacts on the communities and refine and finalize them;
Develop a methodology to collect and analyze data on gender and social equity.

Expected Outputs

The key outputs to be delivered by the Consultant- Sociologist are as follows:

Identify the capacity building needs of the Forest Department officials on social equity and gender mainstreaming in community forestry;
Develop a training programme suitable for Forest Department officials on gender and social inclusion;
Propose a practical plan to improve gender responsiveness and inclusivity in Community Forestry Programme and develop a results based monitoring and reporting system for the FD and document currest status of results and impact of activities.

Financial Proposal

Please provide a breakdown of the all-inclusive cost for three deliverables separately as per below

Cost of proposing a practical plan to improve gender responsiveness and inclusivity in Community Forestry Programme and develop a results based monitoring and reporting system for the FD and document current status of results and impact of activities;
Cost of identifying the identifying the capacity building needs of the Forest Department officials on social equity and gender mainstreaming in community forestry;
Cost of developing a training programme suitable for Forest Department officials on gender and social inclusion;
Cost of developing case studies and other information, education and communication materials targeting the Forest Department officials on gender and social equity mainstreaming in forestry and non forestry activities implemented through the department with a special reference to community forestry activities.

All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee (Professional Fees): (LKR) ___________________ (a1+a2+a3+a4)

Note:

Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee/Daily Fee” financial proposal including his/her consultancy and professional fee, honorarium, communication cost such as telephone/internet usage, printing cost, return travel from home to office, ad-hoc costs, stationery costs, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. The UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is of 62 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided.

The UNDP will provide and cover the following costs:

Actual costs for travels outside duty station will be reimbursed on actual basis and upon submission of invoices.
Workshop / training / seminars organizing and logistics costs of the participants

Payment for Services

The Social Equity and Gender Specialist shall receive payments based on the key milestones identified in the consultant’s work plan and based on timely performance.

Competencies

Technical work

Strong expertise in social inclusive development, gender and capacity development of government officials;
Familiarity with the gender and other social aspects of the communities living adjacent to forests;
Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily.

Partnerships

Maturity and confidence in dealing with the staff of government institutions and community;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Results

Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships.

Functional skills

Demonstrated strategic technical and intellectual skills in the substantive area;
Demonstrated leadership, facilitation and coordination skills, ability to manage technical team and long term strategic partnership;
Excellent communication (both oral and written) in English and Sinhala or Tamil and partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners, people skill for conflict resolution and negotiation;
Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office);
Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of case studies and progress reports;
Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with colleagues – especially for this case the staff of Forest Department and community members.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in Gender studies, Sociology, education or a closely related field.

Experience:

Minimum of ten years of relevant work experience after postgraduate qualifications experience with minimum of 5 years field experience;
Minimum of 2 years working experience with international organizations will be an added advantage;
Experience in developing training modules;
Experience in addressing gender and social inclusion issues in a community development programme.

Language:

English with Sinhala or Tamil .