UN WOMEN Jobs - 49991- International Consultant

International Consultant - Editor,Technical on Gender Equality, Children’s Rights and Beneficiary Targeting for Social Safety Net Programmes on Gender Equality, Children’s Rights and Beneficiary Targeting for Social Safety Net Programmes

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Home-Based - No Travel Required

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

23-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

06-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 Days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

To ensure enhanced coordination and a comprehensive level of support to the countries of the Eastern Caribbean, the UN Women Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean and the UNICEF Officer for the Eastern Caribbean Area, and other UN agencies have come together under a Joint Programme (2013-2015) which seeks to enhance equity, income equality and reduce poverty by rolling out social protection floor initiative and child and gender responsive social protection reform in Barbados and the OECS. The specific objectives of the programme are:

Support national governments in establishing and implementing social protection floors for preventing and alleviating poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion in Barbados and the OECS;
Improve national social protection legal and policy framework for Barbados and the OECS;
Strengthen national capacities in (a) child and gender responsive social protection, (b) monitoring and evaluation systems for social protection and (c) active labour market programmes in Barbados and the OECS.

A striking feature of the social assistance landscape is the number and variety of programs involved in the provision of social assistance in each country reviewed. These include cash transfers, near-cash programs (e.g., food stamps and voucher), in-kind transfers and services, active labour market programs, community-based programs, social care services and targeted housing programs. All these social assistance programs that serve, or could serve a risk management function; however, while there is considerable scope for the strengthening of social safety nets, at the same time, there are significant challenges to providing an effective social safety net.

In 2009 – 2010, UNICEF and UN Women in partnership with the World Bank supported the governments of six countries in the OECS sub-region to conduct national social safety net assessments. These assessments have triggered social protection reform in the sub-region. The main recommendations from the assessment were oriented at transforming social safety nets into an efficient and effective Social Protection System that rationalizes the use of resources and clearly defines the interrelations between every intervention.

According to the Social Safety Net Assessment, a large share of the target group for Public Assistance remains uncovered, with less than 2% of the poor in receipt of Public Assistance. At the same time, there appears to be considerable leakage to the non-poor, with an estimated 45% of Public Assistance beneficiaries classified as non-poor. The Assessment made some recommendations that, if implemented, would result in improved targeting of the programmes to increase the “pro-poor focus” so that the programmes benefit those who need them the most, including women headed households.

Specifically, there was a recommendation to develop a proxy means test (PMT) in order to improve targeting of poverty-oriented interventions. Such a test would form the basis of a unified (single) targeting mechanism that is transparent and objective, and a Management Information System to work as a Single Beneficiary Registry (SBR) for key social protection interventions oriented to target the poor and vulnerable population especially children, women, persons with disabilities and elderly.

As part of its technical support to countries in the Eastern Caribbean UN Women, in collaboration with UNICEF, as partners under the UN Joint Programme on Social Protection, commissioned three technical papers on the implications of using Proxy Means Tests for gender equality and children’s rights. These papers will contribute to a body of analytical work that managers and policymakers with responsibility for social safety net programmes, can refer to as they develop and use beneficiary targeting tools.

Duties and Responsibilities

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Under the overall supervision of the UN Women Representative and the day-to-day supervision of the UN Women Programme Specialist – Economic and Political Leadership, the consultant is expected to professionally edit the following three technical papers to meet publishable standards:

Considerations in Using Proxy Means Tests in Eastern Caribbean States;
Proxy Means Tests in Eastern Caribbean States: A Policy Brief;
Case Study on the St. Lucia National Eligibility Test.

Deliverables and Specific Activities

The consultant is expected to professionally edit the three abovementioned technical papers. Further details on the deliverables and activities are outlined below:

Review and editing of paper “Considerations in Using Proxy Means Tests in Eastern Caribbean States” (3 Days);
Review and editing of paper “Proxy Means Tests in Eastern Caribbean States: A Policy Brief” (2 Days);
Review and editing of paper “Case Study on the St. Lucia National Eligibility Test” (2 Days);
Submission of First Edited Drafts of the three technical papers to UN Women (0 days) ;
Preparation of Final Drafts of three technical papers (5 days);
Total Expected Duration (12 days).

Competencies

Core Values:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness;
Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
Displays cultural, gender, religious, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Strong analytic and organisation skills;
Excellent command of written and spoken English including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different audiences.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree in social sciences or related field.

Required Experience:

At least 10 years’ experience with editing and proof-reading of social and/or economic policy-related and programme documents.

Language:

Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Location and Duration:

The contract will run for twelve (12) days within the period 23 October 2014 to 7 November 2014. The consultancy will be home-based.

Administrative Information

Payment:

The consultancy fee will be negotiated before contracting. Each payment will be based on a predefined and formal agreement between UN Women and the consultant and will be disbursed based on satisfactory completion of agreed deliverables.

Hardware, software, and communication:

The consultant must be equipped with a portable computer (laptop). The consultant must be reasonably accessible by email and telephone (preferably mobile). The use of reliable, internet-based communication (Skype or equivalent) is required.

Application for Consultancy

Please submit your application by 6th October 2014.

Applications must include:

A cover letter highlighting the specific post for which you are applying;
The completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment;
Detailed curriculum vitae including a description of main achievements;
A price proposal quoted in United States dollars (US$) indicating daily rates.

Applications should be submitted by email to the attention of Melissa Bohne, UN Women (melissa.bohne@unwomen.org).