Background

UNDP plays a crucial role in supporting the country’s reforms efforts and the development of a national strategy for poverty alleviation. The organization is guided in its work by the Country Programme Action Plan, signed jointly with the Government of Tajikistan, which in turn builds upon the Millennium Development Goals. As one of only a handful of countries, the government of Tajikistan has with UNDP’s assistance developed a National Development Strategy, outlining the policies and investments necessary to reach the MDGs on time by 2015.
One of UNDP programmes is the Communities Programme (CP). It works with rural communities to stimulate employment and income-generating opportunities, improve public service quality and accessibility, and make local governments more accountable to and inclusive of the citizens that they are intended to represent. The CP in its objectives aimed at supporting vulnerable people and communities in the region of operation. Currently there are 122 Jamoat Resource Centres (JRCs) that have been established at the Jamoat level in Soughd, Khatlon and the Districts of Republican Subordination, serving as the primary vehicles through which the progress is made towards CP’s goals and objectives.
 
As the Communities Programme is moving into a new programming phase, it has undergone several evaluations. The recommendations of the evaluations included mainstreaming gender into programming and in its sectors. There are several factors, which need to be addressed to effectively mainstream gender into CP’s activities.
 
One of the most challenging tasks before elaboration of gender strategy for the Programme is a need in a comprehensive gender analysis of the selectively chosen projects. Another task to be addressed is a lack of strong knowledge on gender mainstreaming in the Government as well as in civil society sectors. Members of the teams involved into development and implementation of the CP’s projects in its majority neither possess theoretical knowledge nor practical skills and techniques for gender mainstreaming at the policy and at the local level, to consider gender equality in the policies, plans and monitoring. And the third aspect which hinders the effective promotion of gender policy is a low transparency resulted from weak monitoring of women’s human rights from both Government and Civil Society.
 
The Gender Action Plan for 2006-2007 is designed to strengthen UNDP capacities at all levels and to enhance its delivery of gender-responsive policies and programmes, in a systematic, visible and measurable way. The document is a two-year plan designed around four goals. It responds to the main areas of concern identified by the (previously submitted) evaluation report:
 
  • Goal 1:    Commitment and accountability at all levels
  • Goal 2:    Capacities: gender training, knowledge sharing and networking
  • Goal 3:    Communication and visibility for good practices
  • Goal 4:  Core and non-core resources aligned with commitments
To date, given the engagement of gender experts at the national level, the CP has hired a Gender Specialist to mainstream gender into programming through the development and implementation of a gender strategy. Drawing on the wealth of analysis available, the specialist is expected to provide concrete programmatic recommendations and build partnerships with stakeholders in implementation of national gender equality policy with support of International Gender Expert. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Gender Expert will work in direct collaboration with Gender Specialist and thematic advisors of the Communities Programme and under the guidance of the Manager of the CP.
 
The International Gender Expert is expected to coach the CP Gender Specialist on elaboration of the gender mainstreaming strategy and action plan for its implementation as a key objective. The strategy has to be developed jointly on a basis of UNDP Gender Action Plan adopted at the global level and recommended for implementation by the COs. 
 
The International Expert is expected to provide expertise on the following tasks: 
 
Jointly with the Gender Specialist to make a baseline review on gender sensitiveness of the following CP projects, considered by the CP Management as priority projects:
 
  1. “Zarafshan Valley Initiative” project that works on improvement of living conditions: improvement of public services delivery through efficient management of resources and adequate information systems for planning, identifying priorities and coordinating development (the Zarafshan Valley: all 24 Jamoats). This is a DFID-funded project, with project end-date of 28 February 2009.
  2. CIDA-funded project “Strengthening Local Governance in eastern Khatlon” works on strengthening local governance by intensification of the policy links between the Jamoats and districts on the one hand, and the community on the other; by building the capacity of local public, private sector and civil society actors (eastern Khatlon: Baljuvon, Khovaling and Shurobod). The project’s end date is 31 March 2008.
  3. “Enhancing Agricultural Governance in Tajikistan” project that works on enabling participatory decision-making among farmers (Khatlon and National level). This project is funded by CIDA and will last until 26 March 2009.
  4. The project, named “Migrants’ wives project”, is looking for funds to continue its activities in 2008 and could be of potential interest especially through the lens of gender issues. If not funded, the project assessment could anyway represent a bright example of gender-based results.
Additionally, an incumbent is expected:
 
  • To review and analyze all programme–related documents including the CP project document, strategies developed within the CP on thematic areas covered by the programme, external and internal evaluations conducted per thematic areas and the whole programme implementation from gender responsiveness point of view;
  • To strengthen capacity of Gender Specialist and relevant staff of the CP through providing consultations on gender analysis within the respective thematic areas covered by the CP;
  • To serve as a resource person at the initial gender sensitization training for the CP’s staff (mainly programme staff). Gender training should include, but not be limited to the tools on gender aware local poverty analysis and the analysis of intra-household gender asymmetries to increase/create understanding of the concept of gender equality and women’s empowerment;
  • To participate at the consultations with a wide range of partners among key stakeholders on main priorities and capacities on mainstreaming gender aspects into the CP’s programming;
  • To assist in prioritization of objectives of the UNDP CP, where gender equality and women’s empowermentaspects need to be mainstreamed, in accordance with priorities defined in the State Programme on equal rights and opportunities with a specific focus on economic rights and opportunities and improving local service delivery;
  • To assist in review and finalization of monitoring indicators in a gender sensitive manner;
  • To prepare a report with findings of consultancy and concrete recommendations in regard of further engendering of the CP’s programming at all stages (from formulation of a strategy to implementation and monitoring/evaluation).
Expected Results
 
The International Gender Expert is expected to deliver the following results: 
  • Gender assessment/analysis of the CP’s programme documents is conducted within the duration of one month and finalized through consultations;
  • Recommendations for a strategy of UNDP CP for effective gender mainstreaming within the results framework including clear targets, resources and timelines developed;
  • Capacity of key staff of UNDP CP to mainstream gender throughout programmatic activities built;
  • Recommendations for monitoring indicators to assess a progress in a clear format.
Products Expected

A final report which addresses the objectives and scope of the consultancy conducted and outlined above including:

  • An assessment of progress towards the expected results and the factors affecting/contributing to them;
  • An assessment of the partnership strategy from the point of view of mainstreaming gender aspects into the CP’s programming;
  • Lessons learnt; 
  • Suggestions/recommendations on further gender mainstreaming of the CP;
  • Annex on systematic consultations held and their results/ and follow-up actions

Competencies

  • Demonstrated working knowledge on the principles and issues surrounding gender and development and demonstrated working knowledge of gender analysis and gender mainstreaming in policy development and planning;
  •  Advanced knowledge and skills in gender analysis and gender mainstreaming;
  • Understanding of CEDAW, BPA, MDGs;
    Knowledge about development process of Tajikistan and a national gender profile;
  • Experience of undertaking this work in other countries will be an asset;
  • Familiarity with the human rights concept and approaches;
  • Strong analytical and presentation skills;
  • Skills of working on PC and using other related equipment;

Required Skills and Experience

  • Advanced Academic degree in Social Science, Gender Studies, Public Policy or related background, preferably Master’s or higher;
  • Demonstrated working knowledge on the principles and issues surrounding gender and development and demonstrated working knowledge of gender analysis and gender mainstreaming in policy development and planning;
  • Minimum of 5 years of extensive experience of international research, consultancy and analytical work in gender equality and women’s advancement fields;
  •  Advanced knowledge and skills in gender analysis and gender mainstreaming;
  • Understanding of CEDAW, BPA, MDGs;
  • Knowledge about development process of Tajikistan and a national gender profile;
  • Experience of undertaking this work in other countries will be an asset;
  • Familiarity with the human rights concept and approaches;
  • Strong analytical and presentation skills;
  • Skills of working on PC and using other related equipment;
  • Fluency in English, both written and spoken, is needed. Knowledge of Russian or Tajik language is an asset.