Background
The Gender Team is at the forefront of UNDP's commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment. The Gender Team is part of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) which provides policy advice and technical support to all of UNDP’s operations. The Gender Team works to implement gender equality as a core objective of UNDP through a two-pronged approach (i) mainstreaming gender in all core practices; and, (ii) dedicated interventions that empower women and promote gender equality. In order to advance UNDP’s mandate in this area, the Gender Team is finalizing the UNDP Corporate Gender Equality Strategy 2014-17 which outlines in detail how UNDP will work towards gender equality in each of the goals and key results set out in the UNDP Strategic Plan 2014-2017. In addition to addressing the gender dimensions of each focus area, the Strategy sets out institutional arrangements which are aimed at ensuring that there are adequate human and financial resources as well as effective senior management oversight to achieve the expected gender equality results. To this end, several initiatives have been launched, such as the gender equality seal, the gender marker, which help strengthening accountability for gender equality results in the organization.
The Gender Equality Seal is a corporate quality assurance mechanism that measures and certifies the achievements and competence of Country Offices, as well as regional service centres and Headquarters Units in advancing women's rights and gender equality. The Gender Equality Seal has three levels of certification (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) and Country Offices/ Regional Service Centres / Headquarter units are awarded at certain level of certification according to their gender equality accomplishments.
The Gender Team is looking for a consultant to coordinate communications, knowledge and research of the Gender Equality Seal initiative during 2015-2016.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of work
The consultant will undertake the following tasks under the direct supervision of the Policy Advisor on Gender Mainstreaming of the UNDP Gender Team in New York.
UNDP Gender Equality Seal Communication, Knowledge and Research:
- Development of Good Practice database: undertake qualitative analysis to identify good practices of country offices, and collect tools, and materials to improve the work of Seal applicants;
- Periodic dissemination of good practices through Gender Net newsletters, Seal updates and email marketing messages;
- Capture success stories with narratives on results achieved by Seal country offices applicants for dissemination;
- Collect and analysis of data on the Seal areas of performance and indicators and conduct substantive research on gender mainstreaming to feed into the work of country offices and partners;
- Keep the Seal data baseline updated and process data which can be used to report on the implementation of the global Gender Equality Strategy and to provide evidence of the impact of the Seal;
- Identify and help to establish channels to share with UN agencies and other partner’s good practices and lessons;
- Keep track record and organize knowledge produced by the programme including organization and updates of Seal archives;
- Help to establish the Seal as a brand which is recognized as a guarantee for gender expertise by external partners including governmental partners and donors;
- Develop outreach materials to attract funding and to position the initiative within UNDP;
- Develop a communications and information strategy and carry out communications activities to promote and share information on the Gender Equality Seal report;
- Coordinate the drafting, editing and polishing of outgoing communications materials of the UNDP Gender Equality Seal initiative, including website writes-up, supporting materials for Country Offices, Brochures, power points, etc.;
- Support the Seal Team to learn from experiences and adapting the process and internal work arrangements to lessons;
- Support country offices applicants of the Seal providing technical advice through skype, email and/or technical missions if needed.
- Help to develop a package and guidance on gender mainstreaming and capacity development.
Expected Deliverables/Outputs:
UNDP Gender Equality Seal (January-December 2015):
- Good Practice database created (April-June 2015);
- Dissemination of good practices done: at least 3 News Letters developed and disseminated (June 2015-March 2016);
- A library with success stories and results achieved by Seal country offices applicants created (April-June 2015);
- At least 2 research papers on gender mainstreaming supported (June 2015-March 2016);
- Data base with relevant information from Seal performance areas, indicators and benchmarks consolidated and updated (June 2015-March 2016);
- Archives of the UNDP Seal programme well organized and updated by regions (June 2015-March 2016);
- Country offices applicants of the Seal supported, self- assessments reviewed, and technical advice provided through skype, email and/or technical missions if needed (June 2015-March 2016);
- The Seal as a brand which is recognized as a guarantee for gender expertise by external partners consolidated (June 2015-March 2016);
- Channels to share with UN agencies and other partner’s good practices and lessons established (June 2015-March 2016);
- Package of learning and capacity development supported (June 2015-March 2016);
- Website and communication materials of the Seal developed (September 2015);
- Seal Community of Practice and package of Webinars supported (June 2015-March 2016).
Competencies
Functional Competencies
- Demonstrated capacity for strategic thinking, and expertise in global gender equality and mainstreaming strategies;
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to work with people of different cultural, ethnic and religious background, different gender, and diverse political views;
- Good interpersonal and diplomacy skills; Openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
- Ability to use critical thinking, conceptualize ideas, and articulate relevant subject matter in a clear and concise way;
- Excellent oral and written communication and reporting skills in English, strong capacity in communications and/or reporting fields;
- Outstanding networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills;
- Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrated integrity by upholding the United Nations' values and ethical standards; Treats all people fairly;
- Appreciate differences in values and learning from cultural diversities
- Promotes UNDP vision, mission and strategic goals;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age-based sensitivity and adaptability;
- Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UNDP in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master's degree in gender issues, or women’s studies and/or related discipline.
Experience:
- 3 years of relevant experience in international development work, preferably focused on or strongly involving knowledge in gender and institutional development/organizational change and/or gender mainstreaming or related fields(capacity; building/accountability/enabling environment/mainstreaming gender in a sector, etc.);
- At least 3 years of experience in the field of communication, research and knowledge management to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women;
- Minimum of 3 years of comprehensive work experience in the field;
- Experience in working in a multicultural and web-based environment;
- Experience with UN Agencies and/or strong understanding of UN system modus operandi, frameworks and structures, particularly those related to gender equality and women’s empowerment and field experience;
- Knowledge in overall issues related to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Language:
- Proficiency in English language for report writing;
- Working knowledge of French and Spanish is an asset.
Application submission process:
Applicants must submit their application through this online system using the following steps:
Step 1) Click “Apply Now” button and fill in the necessary information on the first page. You must:
- Explain why you are the most suitable candidate for the work (300 words maximum online);
- Provide brief description of the approach you will take to accomplish this work (500 words maximum online);
- Provide Names, titles and contact details (telephone and e-mails) of 3 references. UNDP retains the right to contact references directly;
- Upload CV or P11 to this online system;
- Submit a non-negotiable all-inclusive daily rate in USD.
Step 2) Upload your CV or Personal History (P11) Form and then “Submit Application.” Please note only one document can be uploaded (scan all your documents into one single PDF file to attach). If you upload you CV we might request the P11 Form at a later date. A completed PH 11 Form will be required at the time a consultant signs an Individual Contract (IC) or his/her employer (if employed) signs a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) for work associated with this assignment.
UN Personal History form (UN PH11) can be downloaded from here http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc
Financial Proposal (daily rate)
Contracts is based on daily fee
Please submit an all-inclusive lump sum daily fee in United States Dollars (USD).
Financial proposals must be all inclusive and must be expressed on the basis of a daily fee. The term ‘all inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the daily fee.
In the case of unforeseeable duty travels, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses will be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be paid to the consultant.
Evaluation:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:
Evaluation of Applicants:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative Analysis methodology [weighted scoring method], where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
- Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
- Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight: 70%.
Financial Criteria weight: 30%.
UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their price proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores.
The following criteria will be used in the Technical Evaluation:
Technical Criteria (70 points):
- Criteria A: Educational background and minimum of 3 years of comprehensive work experience and knowledge in gender and institutional development/organizational change and/or gender mainstreaming within organizations (capacity building/accountability/enabling environment/mainstreaming in a sector; etc.); 20 points max (15 points-work experience; 5 points-Master Degree on gender or women’s studies)
- Criteria B: minimum 3 years of experience in the field of communication, research and knowledge management fully focus in gender equality and the empowerment of women working area; 30 points max (15 points-Communication and knowledge management; 15 points-Research)
- Criteria C: Field experience and languages; 10 points max
- Criteria D: Experience with UN Agencies/International NGOs and/or strong understanding of UN system modus operandi on gender mainstreaming, as well as frameworks and structures, particularly those related to gender equality and women’s empowerment and field experience; 10 points max.
Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 (70%) points on technical part will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Annexes and References:
Individual Consultant's General Terms and Conditions are provided here: