Background

The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 adopted by the Security Council in 2000 and next subsequent Resolutions 1820, 1888, 1889, 1960 and 2242 (UNSCRs) represent the international law calling for increased roles and representation of women in formal peace processes, conflict resolution, and transitional governments, and prosecution of sexual violence as a weapon in war and conflict situations.

More specifically these Resolutions established commitments and standards for:

  • Increasing women’s representation in managerial position in the security sector to improve their impact in security related decision making;
  • Encouraging women to become an accountable part of peace and security structures;
  • Ensuring women representation and participation in peacekeeping missions, peace talks and processes aimed to prevent and resolve conflicts;
  • Integration of gender aspects into curriculums and resources for trainings for the security staff at all levels;
  • Localizing commitments under UNSCRS in a form of local policies and plans with well designed mechanisms for results-based implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

The 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. One of the key barriers towards acceleration of women, peace and security (WPS) promotion in the country is lack of knowledge and understanding of WPS and Security Council resolution 1325 and supporting resolutions adopted by the Security Council — 1820, 1888, 1889, 1960 and 2242 and its application in Kazakhstan. Therefore, UN Women MCO targets capacity building of the key stakeholders and encourage/engage them in policy discussions on WPS implementation in Kazakhstan.

The National Action Plans to enforce UNSCRs serve as a powerful tool for building consensus and ownership in support of UNSCRs - the NAPs are currently implemented in 25 countries of the world at present and in some countries NAPs are still being developed. Countries without high risks of insecurity and conflict are also among countries which have their NAPs 1325, including Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Austria, UK, etc. Their NAPs includes commitments to support gender mainstreaming into the peace keeping operations, improve gender balance at the security sector at the decision making level, and contribute to gender responsive peace building and conflict prevention within the development aid programming.

In 2015, the government of Kazakhstan has decided to include implementation of UNSCRs on WPS in the next Concept/Strategy on Gender Equality, planned to be developed in 2016. At the moment Kazakhstan has conditions and a solid background to implement the international obligations under “women, peace and security” framework, focusing on consolidation and coordination efforts to prevent conflicts in the region. The latter is supported by the clear-cut and consistent policy on conflict prevention and peace keeping in Central Asia including the initiatives in Afghanistan.

Kazakhstan has experience in peace building processes, i.e., in 1992-1997 in Tajikistan, in 2005/2010 in Kyrgyzstan. Kazakhstan is an active member of the regional organizations whose mandates include peace building component such as OSCE, CSTO, SCO, CICA. From 2012 Kazakhstan works on the imitative of the setting up of the UN hub in Almaty to facilitate peace building in Afghanistan inter alia.  In 2014 Kazakhstan launched the official development assistance (ODA) programme which targets Central Asian least developed countries as the main aid recipients. It is worth to mention Kazakhstan’s contribution to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women as demonstration of the strong commitment towards gender equality. Certain areas of concern in the region exist in relation to the security situation in the region with the  implication on women. Specifically, unresolved conflicts, current tensions around allocation of and access to water resources, illicit drug trafficking, radicalization of the society and organized crime.

To support UN Women MCO activities related to the implementation of the international obligations under the WPS issue, UN Women MCO requires the service of a national consultant to work in a team with the international consultant and in close cooperation with the Programme Specialist, to support the WPS project in Kazakhstan.

Duties and Responsibilities

The national consultant will work in a team with the international consultant and the UN Women MCO Programme Specialist for Kazakhstan. The national consultant will undertake the following specific tasks:

  • Provide technical and substantive support to the international consultant in collecting and analysis of materials and documents necessary for the overview of the institutional context of Kazakhstan in relation to UNSCR 1325 and all subsequent UNSCRs on Women, peace and security and related international obligations, national commitments vis-à-vis UNSCR 1325 and overview of existing roles and responsibilities of governmental bodies tasked with implementation of the Resolution; existing mechanisms developed and practiced for participation of female civil servants in security sector institutions, participation of women in missions abroad, and women’s participation in conflict prevention and peace processes in country;
  • Support invitation of key participants (government officials within relevant ministries related to UNSCRs on women, peace and security and civil society - in close cooperation with UN Women MCO, civil society organizations and activists, local experts, international organizations and DipCorps) and facilitate discussion between identified participants and the international consultant;
  • Contribute to drafting of position paper, training materials and agenda for the a two-day training/discussion on implementation of UNSCRs on women peace and security into national plans and gender strategy;
  • Provide support in conducting a two-day training/discussion (1-day training followed by the 1-day discussion) on UNSCRs on WPS, including government and civil society on women’s rights in the context of the UNSCRs;
  • Contribute to the preparation of the outcome document, based on recommendations of the roundtable/discussions.

Deliverables and timelines (Deliverables/Timeframe to provide deliverables/Quantity of working days (maximum)

Review and analysis of materials and documents necessary for the overview of the institutional context,  national commitments, roles and responsibilities of governmental bodies and existing mechanisms is completed and submitted to UN Women Programme Specialist / 8 November 2015 / 4 w.d.

The list of participants is agreed upon with MFA and all identified participants received invitation to attend the planned UN Women event on women, peace and security and discussions with selected participants is conducted in advance of the event / 12 November 2015 / 4 w.d.

Draft position paper, training materials and agenda for the two-day training/discussion on implementation of UNSCRs on women peace and security into national plans and gender strategy prepared / 18 November 2015 / 4 w.d.

Two-day roundtable/training/discussion (1-day training followed by the 1-day discussion) on UNSCRs on WPS conducted with participation of government and civil society  / 27 November 2015  / 2 w.d.

Final report and outcome document, based on recommendations of the roundtable/discussions is provided, in the format aligning with Gender Strategy and NAP format / 3 December 2015 / 6 w.d.

Total:  20 w.d.

Management Arrangements

The consultant will work under direct supervision of UN Women MCO Programme Specialist for Kazakhstan.

The consultancy will require a home-based work with presence in Astana, Kazakhstan, to facilitate a roundtable/training/discussion in November 2015.

The event will be fully covered from the funds of UN Women MCO.

Deliverables shall be prepared and submitted in Russian and English.

Payment for services is subject to acceptance of deliverables by UN Women MCO Programme Specialist for Kazakhstan.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

  • Sound knowledge of the international framework on women, peace and security as well as other relevant international norms and standards in relation to gender equality and understanding of women human rights agenda in Kazakhstan;
  • Ability to facilitate high-level discussions with participation of public officials and ability to undertake self-directed research and produce well-written analytical papers.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Political Science, Law, or other closely related field.

Experience:

  • At least 10 years experience in gender equality/women’s empowerment, peace and conflict, public policy analysis, human rights or development;
  • Prior experience in delivering trainings on women, peace and security, gender equality or women’s human rights;
  • At least 3 years experience on women, peace and security;
  • Prior experience managing high-level discussions with government and civil society;
  • Previous experience working with international organizations, NGOs, UN organizations or other development assistance actors is an advantage.

Language:

  • Excellent writing and speaking skills in Russian, working knowledge of English;
  • Fluency in Kazakh is an advantage.

Evaluation process

The candidates must possess the minimum required qualification criteria to be eligible for further technical evaluation. The minimum qualification criteria include Education, Experience and Language requirements.

The following minimum qualification requirements shall apply to the perspective candidates, and will be assessed at the stage of application documents review, and short-listing (which is the first stage of the evaluation process):

  • Advanced university degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Political Science, Law, or other closely related field;
  • At least 10 years experience in gender equality/women’s empowerment, peace and conflict, public policy analysis, human rights or development and at least 3 years experience on women, peace and security;
  • Mandatory - prior experience managing high-level discussions with government and civil society and delivering trainings on women, peace and security, gender equality or women human rights;
  • Excellent writing and speaking skills in Russian, working knowledge of English.

The second stage of the evaluation will be conducted for the short-listed candidates and will be comprised of submission and cumulative evaluation of the relevant experience and expertise (as evidenced by record on previous experience and, where necessary, reference check), and of technical proposal.

Only candidates who meet all the mandatory requirements and were short-listed will qualify to the second stage of the selection process.

The second stage of the evaluation will be comprised of the cumulative evaluation of the technical proposal and a financial proposal of the technically qualified candidates.

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Criteria / Maximum scores

Advanced university degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Political Science, Law, or other closely related field / 30

At least 10 years experience in gender equality/women’s empowerment, peace and conflict, public policy analysis, human rights or development and at least 3 years experience on women, peace and security / 50

At least 3 years experience on women, peace and security / 40

Experience in delivering trainings on women, peace and security, gender equality or women human rights  / 30

Prior experience managing high-level discussions with government and civil society / 30

Previous experience working with international organizations, NGOs, UN organizations or other development assistance actors is an advantage / 20

Excellent writing and speaking skills in Russian, working knowledge of English / 30

Fluency in Kazakh is an advantage / 20

Total: 250

Only candidates who reached at least 175 points will be qualified for financial evaluation and invited to submit the consolidated financial proposal.

Financial Evaluation

At the final stage of evaluation, the financial offers of the technically qualified candidates will be weighted in terms of selection points as per below formula:

  • P = Fmin / Fc  125;
  • P - points attributable to the given candidate;
  • Fmin - lowest financial offer of all candidates qualified into the second stage;
  • Fc – financial offer of the given candidate.    

Financial offer should include all costs related to completion of the task under the current Terms of Reference: honorarium expectations per working day that should be inclusive of any expenses the candidate might incur in relation to above deliverables.

The successful candidates are those, who have accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical  and  financial scoring).

Payment will be disbursed in one instalment upon submission and approval of all deliverables and certification by the UN Women that the services have been satisfactorily performed.

Selection of the candidate

Contract will be signed with the expert qualified on the results of two evaluation stages: technical evaluation and financial evaluation.

Application process

The interested candidates should submit the accurately filled in Personal History Form PHF11 (this PH11-form can be obtained at the following internet link: http://www.unwomen.org/~/media/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/P_11_form_UNwomen%20doc.doc.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.