Background

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator Unit is seeking to streamline and coordinate gender equality action within the UN System in Nigeria to promote achieving increased accountability for gender equality results.

Gender equality and women's empowerment are human rights that lie at the heart of development. Gender inequality impedes economic productivity and results in unequal access to and unfair distribution of our collective resources. People perceive development in several ways but it is generally agreed that it is a process that leads to increased capacity of people to have control over material assets, intellectual resources and ideology and obtain physical necessities of life (food, clothing & shelter), equality in employment, participation in government, political and economic independence, adequate education, gender equality, sustainable development and peace. It is impossible to achieve development without gender equality.

Gender equality and Women Empowerment is one of the eight Millennium Development Goals It is central to the achievement of the MDGs, as it helps accelerate the achievement of each goal. There is evidence to show that progress in Gender Equality in one goal most certainly contributes simultaneously towards progress on all other development goals.  Investments in gender equality can improve the lives of both men and women, with lasting benefits for the next generations.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for the leadership of the UNCT to effectively coordinate the gender response of all agencies in a coherent manner in order to maximize benefits and efficiency as well as minimize potential pitfalls.  This will act as a platform for joint analytical work and harmonized programming on gender equality as a development priority, as currently, harmonization mechanisms on gender equality, joint analytical work and pooling of resources for gender equality as well as regular monitoring and evaluation are fragmented within the UN System in Nigeria.

The purpose of this assignment is to promote accelerated achievement of accountability for gender equality results within the UN System in Nigeria.

Duties and Responsibilities

In order to effectively achieve the above stated objectives, the service of national consultant is required. Under the supervision of the UN Women, and in close co-operation with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, the Consultant will:

•  Evaluate efforts of the UN and progress to date on mainstreaming gender effectively.
•  Examine the mandate of various UN Agencies and articulate a strategy/ design a mechanism to reinforce the role of UN Women as the leading agency on Gender.
• Develop an effective Gender Mainstreaming mechanism for the UN System in Nigeria (drawing on findings from this assignment, including consultations with key informants)
•  Design a reporting framework that will ensure accountability from other agencies to UN Women in line with UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/64/589 adopted 2 July 2010.
•  Assess the impact of the Joint Programming on Gender equality: Progress, challenges, sustainability and way forward. 
•  Document this assessment including recommendations for improvement
  

Competencies

•  Coordination, Harmonization, Alignment, and Monitoring of gender programming within the UN System with time frame and cost on Gender developed
•  Experience in programme coordination and implementation
• Strong communication and writing skills 

Required Skills and Experience

• 5 years of professional experience, including in-depth knowledge of programming on gender equality, with Profound knowledge of women’s rights, gender issues and gender analysis in Nigeria
• Experience in programme coordination and implementation
• Previous work with UN Agencies and/or civil society organizations will be an advantage.
•  Strong communication and writing skills in English are required.