UNDP Jobs - 56149- International Consultant: Research Consultants (2)

International Consultant: Research Consultants (2) for Chapter on Gender Dimensions of Inequalities in UNDP Regional Human Development Report

Location :

Home-based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

22-May-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Estimated June- September 2015

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Approximately 30 working days

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

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are key to sustainable human development. Building resilient societies based on gender equality and respect for human rights are central to UNDP’s mandate to promote gender-responsive sustainable development.

The transition and institutional reforms in post-Soviet states and former socialist republics in Europe and Central Asia have resulted in greater social inequalities. Their underlying causes and drivers are often interlocked with drivers of gender inequality. These gender inequalities are produced and driven by restrictions of choice and access to social goods such as jobs, income, education, health care systems, social care services, and political representation and participation in decision-making. Evidence shows that despite progress achieved, issues such as the gender wage gap, occupational segregation and low levels of participation by women in the labour force persist in the region. A number of structural factors, including social norms and stereotypes prevent advancements in women’s education, skills and capabilities from translating to better living conditions. An understanding of the full spectrum of gender-based disparities requires multidimensional research on what constitutes and drives restrictions on choice and access.

UNDP supports research, advocacy, policy and legal reforms to reduce gender inequalities, promote women’s empowerment and accelerate women’s equal access to livelihoods. It also supports national partners in strengthening their capacities to address specific gender disparities in the economic and social spheres.
UNDP Regional Human Development Reports (RHDRs) (http://hdr.undp.org/en/regional-reports?field_region_tid=302) are flagship publications that offer human development perspectives on important regional issues in ways that can support regional and national programming. They provide empirically grounded analysis of development issues, trends and policies to help advance human development in the most critical development issue for the region.
UNDP’s RHDR for Europe and Central Asia, focusing on inequalities, is built on the Regional Dialogue on Inequalities (https://undp.unteamworks.org/file/481489/download/524606) that calls for deeper understanding of the causes, trends and nature of inequalities and for the design and implementation of appropriate policies, in particular in the context of the emerging post-2015 development agenda. The report analyzes various dimensions of inequalities and related development challenges.

In this context, UNDP will commission two background research papers by two expert researchers for the chapter on the gender dimensions of inequalities in Europe and Central Asia.

The chapter will focus broadly on the following:

The links between structural macroeconomic factors, public provisioning of social services and gender inequalities;
Existing and newly generated research to provide evidence and demonstrate the intrinsic value of achieving gender equality in economic and social spheres;
Socio-cultural constraints to the achievement of gender equality policy goals in employment;
The social processes leading to migration and the gendered impacts of this phenomenon;
Links between these issues and the emerging Sustainable Development Goals; and
Policy recommendations for the integration of gender analysis and changes in policy design, in particular in the areas of job creation and public provisioning of social care services.

The background papers will document gender disparities and identify structural patterns of discrimination against women in the social and economic spheres in the following sub-regions: Western Balkans and Turkey and Western CIS (covered by one researcher) and Central Asia and South Caucasus (covered by a second researcher).

Specifically, they will look at:

Persistent gender inequalities (arising out of time use, unpaid care work, gender pay gaps, and vertical and horizontal segregation in the labour market);
Gender impacts of migration (arising out of migration by men and women, household impacts, and care deficits in the countries of origin);
Gender disparities in access to resources (e.g., to land, to credit); and in social protection (social insurance, health, security);
Labour markets, unemployment dynamics, informality and quality of jobs;
Status and availability of public provisioning of social care services and their impact on job creation and women’s labour force participation.

UNDP envisages that this RHDR will serve as a vehicle for generating human development perspectives on various dimensions of inequality as well as a platform for partnerships with the policy and advocacy community and the public. As such, UNDP will use different means of communication for outreach to various audiences as part of the preparations of the report.

UNDP is planning to contract 2 expert researchers under this TOR - the background papers will document gender disparities and identify structural patterns of discrimination against women in the social and economic spheres in the following sub-regions: Western Balkans and Turkey and Western CIS (covered by one researcher) and Central Asia and South Caucasus (covered by a second researcher).

Duties and Responsibilities

The researchers will work under the supervision of the Regional Gender Advisor. They will each be tasked with the following:

Conduct background research:

Review relevant literature, data and research;
Identify key contextual and structural patterns of discrimination against women in social and economic spheres in the sub-regions (Western Balkans and Turkey, Western CIS, South Caucasus and Central Asia).

Draft a background research paper that will analyze:

Factors influencing gender inequalities in employment such as: time use, care work, gender pay gap; vertical and horizontal segregation in the labour market;
Unequal access to rights such as access to land and to credit;
The extent of and women’s access to state-provided social protection; and
The links between these issues and the emerging Sustainable Development Goals.

Provide policy recommendations and practical guidance for national policy makers arising from the research.

Finalize the research paper based on feedback received through virtual comments and inputs.

Generate at least two short articles/blogs on their findings to stimulate debate and dialogue.

Actively participate in and contribute to task force meetings and consultations during the process of report formulation (via Skype or other means).

Key deliverables:

The timeline and deliverables are as follows:

Phase I: 15 August 2015: First draft of the background research paper submitted for comments;
Phase II: 30 September 2015: Comments incorporated into the chapter, and arrangements made for final review.

Location and management:

The assignment will begin in May 2015 and is expected to be completed over a period of four months of the contract being agreed. It is estimated that the preparation and finalization of the background research paper will take approximately 30 working days.

The consultant researchers will keep the supervisor regularly informed of the progress made.

The deliverables will be developed in the order described above with proper coordination for input and feedback and approval on completion of each of them.

Payments

The consultants will be paid a lump sum agreed with UNDP’s Regional Gender Advisor.

The payment will be made in two instalments: 50% (Phase I) and 50% (Phase II) upon timely submission of deliverables and their acceptance by the Regional Gender Advisor.

It is noted that due to the nature of the project, there will be periods of time when no actual writing or research will occur because the writer will be waiting for text clearances from UNDP.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Strong interpersonal skills and communications skills;
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
Strong results orientation, strategic thinking, flexibility and a client-oriented approach;
Excellent analytical, writing and communications skills in English.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or PhD in a development-related field (e.g., development studies, gender studies, sociology, public policy and management, economics, international affairs, quantitative social research) or related discipline is a requirement.

Experience:

At least five years of relevant research experience in the areas of economic inequalities, labour market segregation, public provisioning of social care services, and social inequalities in developing or developed countries;
Excellent knowledge of substantive and policy issues related to the gendered impact of economic and social policies and development;
Knowledge of key gender inequality issues in the Europe and CIS countries, in particular related to gender-based discrimination in the economy;
Advanced quantitative data analysis skills;
Proven ability to produce clear and cogently written research reports.

Language:

Excellent writing and communications skills in English.

Evaluation of applicants :
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of their qualifications and financial proposal. The award of the contract should 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 weighted technical P11 desk reviews and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Evaluation criteria:

Technical Criteria: 70% of total evaluation (max. 40 points)

Criterion A: Education and related background (max. 5 points)
Criterion B: Advanced quantitative data analysis skills (max. 5 points)
Criterion C: Experience in conducting research in the areas of economic inequalities, labour market segregation, public provisioning of social care services, and gender-related social inequalities in developing or developed countries (max. 10 points)
Criterion D: Expertise in issues related to the gendered impact of economic and development theories (max. 10 points)
Criterion E: Proven ability to produce clear and cogently written research reports (max. 10 points)

Financial Criteria: 30% of total evaluation (max. 17,5 points)

Application procedures :

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work. Please paste them letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
Completed P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from (http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
Please list examples of your work: research reports and papers. Please provide links of your published work in your P11 form.
Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount (in USD) for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days and any other possible costs);
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Please note that the financial proposal is all inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services).
Payments will be made upon confirmation by UNDP of satisfactory delivery of the contract obligations.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs