UN WOMEN Jobs - 65870- Developing a Strategic Plan for the Zimbabwe Gende

Developing a Strategic Plan for the Zimbabwe Gender Commission for the period 2016-2021

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Harare, ZIMBABWE

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

02-May-2016

Application Deadline :

28-Apr-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

45 Working Days

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

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

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (the ZGC) is one of the five independent commissions established in terms of Section 245 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 20 of 2013 (the Constitution) and the Gender Commission Act [Chapter 10:31]. The mandate and functions of the ZGC are set out in Section 246 of the Constitution as follows:

To monitor issues concerning gender equality to ensure gender equality as provided for in the Constitution;
To investigate possible violations of rights related to gender;
To receive and consider complaints from the public and to take such action in regard to the complaints as it considers appropriate;
To conduct research into issues relating to gender and social justice and to recommend changes to laws and practices which lead to discrimination based on gender;
To advise public and private institutions on steps to be taken to ensure gender equality;
To recommend affirmative action programmes to achieve gender equality;
To recommend prosecution for criminal violations of rights relating to gender
To secure appropriate redress where rights relating to gender have been violated; and
To do everything necessary to promote gender equality.

The Gender Commission Act further provides for the power of the ZGC to investigate violations of gender equality, gender equity and efforts at gender mainstreaming. Nine Commissioners, drawn from different backgrounds, were appointed in June 2015 and sworn in, in September 2015 by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. As a newly established constitutional commission, the ZGC intends to establish a framework to become operational in order to carry out its mandate effectively.

From 3-4 February 2016, the ZGC held its first induction workshop, supported by UN Women with a view to increasing its capacity to carry out its mandate effectively. One of the resolutions of the induction workshop was for the ZGC to subsequently, develop a Strategic Plan to carve its role and map out its activities. This Strategic Plan will run from 2016-2021. It is against this background that the ZGC requested UN Women, to facilitate the recruitment of a Consultant with Strategic Planning Expertise (hereinafter referred to as “the Consultant”) tasked to assist the ZGC in developing a comprehensive 5-year Strategic Plan to support the implementation of its mandate.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UN Women Country Representative the Consultant will have the following responsibilities, which are to be implemented in close collaboration and consultation with the Zimbabwe Gender Commission:

Assess the overall mandate of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and prepare a guiding framework that will enable the Commission to achieve the following specific objectives:

Identify the key gender issues that affect Zimbabwean society;
Assess and analyse the ZGC external environment and stakeholders;
Assess and analyse ZGC internal environment;
synthesise results and identify strategic opportunities;
plan and facilitate a 5-day workshop with Commissioners and staff to prioritise strategic direction;
Support the ZGC in developing a strategic plan using appropriate model(s) including identification of strategic priorities; and
Draft and finalise the ZGC strategic plan.

Enable the ZGC to answer the following critical questions:

What is the contextual environment in which the ZGC is currently operating?
What is the current structure/set up of the ZGC?
What would be the optimal structure of the ZGC given its mandate?
What would be the ZGC’s objectives, for its 5-year Strategic Plan and particularly in its first two years of operation?
What factors will enable the ZGC to become operational?
What resources does the ZGC need to effectively execute its mandate and what strategies should it employ to mobilise these resources?
What specific results (and results areas) does the ZGC want its efforts to yield between 2015 and 2021?

The The Strategic Plan will enable the Commission to spell out its vision and goals, set out priorities, and guide operations including resource mobilization and allocation. The Strategic Plan will also be achieved through the adoption of participatory and inclusive processes that will involve stakeholder consultation to ensure relevant, effective and efficient approaches in the execution of the ZGC’s mandate.

The Consultant will also provide the ZGC with:

An analysis of the operating context including the social, political and economic aspects of the national operating environment;
A gendered analysis of the situation of human rights in Zimbabwe;
An analysis of the Constitutional mandate of the ZGC as a basis for identifying strategic priorities and approaches;
A review of the strategic and policy documents from related national institutions to establish synergies within the human rights and governance sector(s) and map out a strategy for interface between those other institutions and the Gender Commission;
A review of national/government policy documents in order to position or identify the ZGC’s role in the implementation of national policies;
A review of strategic and policy documents by similar institutions in the region and beyond to gauge how they prioritize gender equality work to inform the ZGC’s strategic and policy direction;
A clear articulation of the ZGC’s strategic focus areas, objectives and priorities benchmarked against international norms and standards in particular, the Paris Principles;
A stakeholder analysis that includes role clarity as well as identifying requisite enablers for the delivery of focus areas such as ICT, communication drivers etc.;
A review of the organizational structure, leadership and administrative functions to the extent that they are imperative to delivery of strategic focus areas; and
A formulation of the strategy of the ZGC with due consideration to opportunities, competitive advantage, and risk assessment.

Output:

The key output is the Strategic Plan which will determine the strategic direction of the ZGC over the next 5 years. This Strategic Plan will articulate:

How the ZGC will achieve its set goals;
How the ZGC will evaluate progress and success towards the intended goals;
The direction the ZGC will take in line with its set priorities and goals; and
A monitoring and evaluation framework that enables tracking and reviewing progress based on clear and agreed benchmarks.

Deliverables :

An inception report, submitted in response to these TORs, detailing the methodology of the workshop and defining the tools and instruments that will be used for data collection, validation and analysis;
A strategic workshop agenda and facilitation plan;
A draft Strategic Plan produced within 5 weeks of the commencement of the assignment including but not limited to an executive summary, background, external and internal analysis, strategic priorities, annual plan including objectives, and a monitoring and evaluation framework for the delivery of the plan; and
A comprehensive final Strategic Plan document due within the 7th week of commencing the assignment.

Competencies

Core 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 judgment.

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 behavior 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.

Functional Competencies:

Extensive knowledge of, and demonstrated ability in strategic planning facilitation for institutions in the public sector within Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular;
Knowledge of the gender equality and rights based programming of UN agencies and government;
Strong and sound knowledge of national, regional and international human rights and governance frameworks;
Demonstrated ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports, studies and other communications and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise manner in English and Shona or Ndebele;
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in teams;
Results oriented, exhibiting high levels of enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy and integrity; and able to work with minimal supervision.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

At least a Masters Degree in Gender and Development, Law and Human Rights, Strategic Planning and Management, Organisational Strategy, Business Management, Development Studies, Business Management, Political Science, Public Administration or a related discipline.

Experience:

At least 10 years’ experience in guiding teams through strategic planning exercises using appropriate methods especially within international development projects;
Vast experience in writing reports and publications which have made a significant contribution to public policy, programmes or learning in the field of development practice and studies;
Working with independent constitutional commissions within the framework of human rights, international law and Zimbabwean law, in particular, the Constitution of Zimbabwe; and
Working with government, UN system and civil society organisations in designing effective strategic plans.

Language:

Excellent written and verbal command of English;
Knowledge of at least one local language, preferably Shona or Ndebele.