UN WOMEN Jobs - 50886- UN Women: Research Consultancy for Scoping Study o

UN Women: Research Consultancy for Scoping Study on Gender Research on/by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs)

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Home-based and Suva, FIJI

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Nov-2014

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

100 days (w.e.f 15 November 2014 - 31 March 2015)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

As above

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

UN Women works in 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in the Pacific region is USD3, 204, the third highest average GDP per capita for all sub-regions in Asia and the Pacific. Of World Bank member countries in the Pacific, Fiji, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Tonga and Tuvalu are ranked in the upper middle income group and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu are classified by the United Nations as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) based on low income, economic vulnerability, and limited human resources. In all countries, women are more likely than men to have the major responsibility for unpaid reproductive work, be engaged in vulnerable work, and receive lower average earnings. Most Pacific Island Forum (PIF) countries have ratified CEDAW and are committed to its implementation. Most countries are also committed to the revised Pacific Platform for Action on the Advancement of Women and Gender Equality (2005-2015), and the recommendations of the triennial conferences of Pacific women. Therefore the UN Women Fiji Multi-country Office seeks the services of a research firm comprised of lead Research Consultant and 2 Research Assistants or Individual Consultants to undertake a Scoping Study of gender-responsive, evidence based research and analysis undertaken on and by Pacific Island Countries.

Duties and Responsibilities

The key objectives of the Scoping Study are as follows:

To provide mapping/assessment/gap analysis of gender-responsive, evidence-based research and analysis that has been undertaken on and by Pacific Island Countries by international, regional and bilateral agencies; universities; governments; civil society and other organizations; as well as by individual scholars and activists in the 12 critical areas of concern framed by the Beijing Platform for Action for advancing women’s empowerment and gender equality; poverty; education and training; health; violence against women; armed conflict, peace and security; the economy, power and decision-making; human rights; the media; the girl child; the environment and climate change; and institutional mechanisms;
To assess the quality, reliability and usefulness of the gender research and analysis generated on and by Pacific Island Countries to inform gender-responsive policy-making, development planning and programming in the region;
To provide concrete recommendations on how the capacity for conducting Pacific-specific gender-responsive, evidence based research and analysis can be built/strengthened among national/regional universities in PICs, in collaboration with regional, international and bilateral agencies; governments; civil society organizations; and other relevant social actors.

Competencies

Values / Guiding Principles

Integrity:

Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism:

Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:

Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff;
Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies

Ethics and Values:

Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity;

Organizational awareness:

Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgement;

Development and Innovation:

Take charge of self-development and take initiative.

Work in teams:

Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communicating and Information Sharing:

Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.

Self-management and Emotional Intelligence:

Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behaviour towards others.

Conflict management:

Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Continuous Learning and Knowledge sharing:

Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.

Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:

Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum of an M.Phil degree (and ideally a Ph.D) in one of the following fields :

Development Studies, or other disciplines in the Social and Political Sciences;
Gender Studies, Human Rights or related field fields

Demonstrated knowledge (education, publications, etc.) of women’s rights and gender equality, and socio-economic development.

Experience:

A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in development research and/or international development work focused on gender equality and socio-economic development;
Proven experience in addressing gender and socio-economic development with a focus on women and other vulnerable groups;
Excellent research and analytical skills including proven capacity to undertake research on the Pacific Region;
Demonstrated capacity to write clear and well-constructed reports in accordance with agreed terms of reference and within specified time constraints; and
Excellent communication, interpersonal and liaison skills with government, inter-governmental agencies, UN system and international and regional development partners, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and other relevant institutions.
Consultants with extensive research experience in the Pacific context will have an added advantage.

Language

Written and oral proficiency in English is required.

Other Additional Requirements

Timeframes and Institutional Arrangements :

The consultant will be engaged for a maximum of 100 days from 15th November 2014 to 31st March 2015.

Interested Research Consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their suitability for the Consultancy :

Cover letter: (not more than 450 words): Explaining why s/he is the most suitable for the work;
Curriculum Vitae including research experience in similar projects, and Names/Contact Details of 3 referees;
Completed and signed UN Women P11 Form;
Two Research Assistants (ideally graduate students at the Masters/Ph.D levels studying at a Pacific Island University): Names, Contact Details, CVs and 2 references each; (relevant for consultancy firms);
A 5-10 page research proposal that includes: The proposed scope (breadth and depth) of the Scoping Study and the proposed methodologies/research instruments for reviewing relevant data sources, and consulting international, regional and bilateral development agencies; governments, civil society and other organizations based in the PICs; as well as universities based in the PICs, relevant universities in Australia, New Zealand, UK and US, and the University of Hawaii;
A Financial proposal that indicates consultancy lump sum amount per deliverable for the Research Consultancy Firm or Individual Consultant, and telecommunication costs.

Financial Matters

The contract is based on deliverables. Payments will be made upon UN Women’s receipt of the deliverables and signed approval by UN Women’s Representative. The 100 days only stipulates the maximum time allotted for the Consultancy, and has no relevance to the determination of the fees which is strictly based on deliverables.

Equipmen:

The Research Consultant is expected to provide his/her own computer and other equipment necessary for the conduct of the Scoping Study.

Premises

The Research Consultant is expected to work from home but must complete the Scoping Study and the delivery of the Stakeholder Workshop.