UNDP Jobs - 64557- Consultant for Gender Mainstreaming in Sustainable

Consultant for Gender Mainstreaming in Sustainable Energy Projects in Rural Remote Areas in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan

Location :

Home Based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

18-Mar-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

approximately 10 working days in March 2016

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

Energy always has been a major ingredient of transforming societies and boosting human development and access to modern forms of energy is an engine for many non-energy development benefits such as poverty eradication, social progress, enhanced resilience, economic growth and environmental sustainability as well as gender equality and women empowerment.

In September 2015, the United Nations Special Summit on Sustainable Development in New York adopted the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the proposed 17 goals, SDG No. 7, aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. In addition, SDG No. 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Since access to sustainable energy is a fundamental aspect of sustainable human development it is clear that without universal access to sustainable energy services other sustainable development goals, including SDG No. 5 cannot be achieved. In households, women and girls are often the primary energy managers. When sustainable sources of energy are not available, women spend hours each day on basic survival activities such as gathering firewood, fetching water or cooking. Extending women’s access to modern forms of energy help reduce their time spend in households tasks that can be directed towards other activities as for example establishing and running enterprises or pursuing evening education. Moreover as primary energy managers in households, women can play powerful roles in extending theuse of sustainable energy in communities.

With a presence in more than 170 countries and territories, and over 20 years of experience in supporting efforts to boost human development, UNDP is uniquely positioned to offer expertise in development thinking and practice. UNDP’s work on sustainable energy and climate change is strongly aligned with the proposed SDG No. 7 and No. 5.

Among other tasks, UNDP IRH’s work on sustainable energy and climate change work consists of (1) a large GEF funded portfolio and an upcoming GCF project pipeline on climate change mitigation and adaption that is heavily encompassing sustainable energy issues in the ECIS region and (2) regional advisory services to ECIS countries on climate change mitigation and pilot projects.

One of UNDP IRH’s currently implemented sustainable energy pilot projects in the region is the ‘Green Village in the Stans’ project that will scale-up proven sustainable energy solutions in rural areas in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan targeting in particular women. For example, as part of the project, Tajik women were trained to produce and maintain Do-it-Yourself solar thermal systems and using energy efficient cook stoves.

The project is aligned with other similar projects of UNDP in the same area, for example “Green Villages in Kyrgyzstan” and proposed GEF funded project in Tajikistan “Green energy SME development”, targeting also women.

In order to leverage the gender equality results of the “Green Village in Stans “project the UNDP IRH plans to hire an expert/ consultant to support mainstreaming of gender in selected sustainable energy initiatives.

The Consultant will work be part of a regional team consisting of experts of the Croatian Green team, the IRH Regional Climate Change Advisor and the IRH Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Programme Specialist and will be mainly involved in supporting the ‘Green Village in the Stans’ project by providing detailed and profound related expertise on links between gender equality and environmentally sustainable development.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will deliver the following outputs:

Ooutput 1: Based on a desk review, design set of indicators for effective Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) for gender equality outcomes in sustainable energy projects in rural areas:

Task 1: Desk review of the provided by UNDP relevant documents;
Task 2: Design draft set of indicators for effective MRV for gender equality outcomes in sustainable energy projects in rural areas;
Task 3: Finalizing the set of indicator based on the provided comments by the UNDP experts.

Output 2: Support on regional (ECIS) UNDP sustainable energy activities by developing a set of recommendations that provide a solution of effectively monitor, measure and interlink energy and gender equality outcomes.

Task 1: Draft set of recommendations that provide a solution of effectively monitor, measure and interlink energy and gender equality outcomes and in particular for the current project;
Task 2: Finalizing the set of indicator based on the provided comments by the UNDP experts.

Responsibilities for expenses and their reimbursement and consultancy fee:

The contract will be prepared as a lump sum contract payable in six installments as follows:

First Payment: Payment of 1/2 of the total contract amount upon completion of all deliverables under Output 1 (ca. 20 March 2016);
Second Payment: Payment of 1/2 of the total contract amount upon completion of all deliverables under Output 2 (ca. 30 March 2016).

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional Competencies:

Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
Ability to plan and organize his/her work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
Knowledge of energy and gender gaps, gender equality challenges and priorities in Central Asia;
Proven track in designing monitoring and reporting frameworks in sustainable energy programmes;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
Very Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
Knowledge of MS Word, Excel and email communication software.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

At least Master degree in energy, gender related studies, economics, international relations, environmental science, environmental management, environmental policy, business administration or a related field.

Experience:

Experience in analysing linkages between gender and environmental issues (such as protection, access to and use of natural resources and ecosystems, the differential cause and effect of environmental degradation on men and women and the role of women as agents of change in regards to mitigation and adaptation to the changing environment ) and in developing respective gender sensitive indicators;
At least 5 years of technical experience with reflecting ‘gender ‘ environment’ nexus in countries’ development planning and development assistance agencies’ programming frameworks;
Work experience in energy, climate change related development projects with a particular focus on the ECIS region is a strong asset.

Language:

Excellent English writing and communication skills;
Knowledge of Russian is an asset.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ 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.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70 % of total evaluation - max 35 points:

Criteria A: Education - max points 10;
Criteria B: Demonstrated experience in conducting analysis of links between gender and environment, i.e. protection, access to and use of natural resources and ecosystems, and in developing respective indicators – max 10 points;
Criteria C: Work experience in energy, climate change related development projects with a particular focus on the Central regionCentral Asia – max 10 points;
Criteria D: Knowledge of Russian - max 5 points.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation - maximum 15 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 Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
Filled 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.
Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump all-inclusive sum amount in USD for the tasks specified in this announcement. 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, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...);
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

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