Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. Gender equality is one of the core objectives of UNDP and is implemented throughout the organization in a two-pronged approach: mainstreaming gender in all core practices; and dedicated interventions that empower women and promote gender equality. UNDPs work on gender is guided by the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the frameworks provided by the Millennium Declaration, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and country specific gender priorities.

A priority of UNDP Nigeria is to enhance Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and to strengthen institutionalization of Gender mainstreaming. UNDP Nigeria is one of the designated country offices and business units that is participating in the UNDP Gender Equality Seal exercise which commenced in June 2013. Within the framework of this process, the country office conducted a self-assessment and finalized an action plan that is currently being implemented until June 2014. A priority action of UNDP Gender Equality Seal efforts is to develop its Gender Equality Strategy to set out coherent and well-grounded interventions accompanied by an Action Plan and most importantly improve on its 2013 ratings for the Gender Equality Seal.

The updated version of UNDP Nigeria’s Gender Equality Strategy will include development results as well as institutional arrangements, including management systems for gender mainstreaming, capacities, knowledge management, enabling environment, etc.

The office is particularly interested in including a comprehensive approach to capacity development, based on an assessment of the skill levels and learning needs of the staff, as well as developing individual capacity development plans for staff with key roles in gender mainstreaming.

In order to link UNDP Nigeria’s institutional arrangements with its ability to deliver gender results, the country office will also be conducting a comprehensive gender review of the UNDP Nigeria country programme to identify opportunities for enhancing gender impact, as well as to identify entry points for additional programme components that advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will update the current Gender Equality Strategy (GES) of the UNDP office based mainly on” (1) Gender Seal self-assessment (2) Comprehensive gender review of the COs portfolio (3) UNDP Strategic Plan and Corporate Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017 and (4) Interviews/focus groups with partners/stakeholders, others,

Based on the above analysis the document will include a section on (1) mandates/vision/mission (2) Assessment of Gender Equality in the country (3) Overall lines of action for each key programmatic area of interventions of UNDP office (4) Institutional Results including areas such as capacity development, knowledge and communication, etc.

An Action Plan 2014-2016 will be developed in conjunction with the Strategy including concrete results, activities, timeframe, budget and responsible.

Those are minimum contents to be included. The consultant will develop draft outline to discuss with senior managers.

The document will set out a coherent and well-grounded prioritization of actions avoiding wastage from untargeted actions or impact. It will reflect a dialogue with key partners of UNDP Nigeria office 

The update of Nigeria COs gender strategy will engage UNDP staff from relevant units and partner. The process should promote the participation and empowerment of UNDP workers. The process will try to promote learning and ownership of the whole office involved in the implementation of the GES.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director (Programme) and with support from UNDP Nigeria’s Gender Analyst and the Gender Focal Team of the office, the consultant will follow in chronological order the following steps below and will be responsible for:

• A desk Review of corporate documents such as Nigeria CPD, UNDP corporate Gender Equality Strategy, Gender Seal self-assessment matrix and report, allocations for gender of the office, etc.;
• Reviewing HR policies and arrangements, including the UNDP Global Gender Parity Strategy, to inform the Gender Strategy;
• Organizing a comprehensive gender review of the UNDP Nigeria country programme/projects portfolio by outcomes of UNDP strategic plan 2014-2017;
• Organizing focus groups discussions, interviews with UNDP staff and other stakeholders (e,g. government partners, other UN agencies) to inform the discussion on priorities, partners ,etc., and the revision of the current Gender strategy;
• Facilitating the CO’s work on developing UNDP Nigeria’s Gender Equality Strategy. (Drafting outline, first draft, etc);
• Develop an Action Plan linked to the Country Office Gender Strategy for 2014-2015;
• Prepare a presentation (PPT) of the GES and Action Plan for senior managers of the office.

Expected Deliverables

• Inception Report;
• Draft outline of the Nigeria Country Office Gender Equality Strategy;
• Review Report: document with findings and recommendations from the country programme review including on actions to enhance the gender impact and on entry points for additional programme components that advance gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• First draft Gender Equality Strategy to the country office, with clearly defined indicators that would address continual monitoring of progress made in achieving gender equality;
• A final draft- UNDP Nigeria ’s Gender Equality Strategy;
• Action Plan document.

Benchmarks and Timelines

Inception report:

• The Consultant is expected to prepare an inception report before embarking on the full-fledged consultation exercise. The report needs to provide detailed information about the consultant's understanding of the ToRs. The inception report should make explicit the proposed methodology, underlying theory or assumptions about how key informant interviews, Focus Group Discussions and stakeholder consultations will contribute to the drafting of the deliverables. The inception report should also include a proposed outline of the Gender Equality Strategy and the country programme review report, schedule of tasks, activities and deliverables within the overall timeframe of the assignment. (5days).

Stakeholder consultations and focus group discussions:

• The consultant will meet with key staff and teams within the UNDP Nigeria country office to discuss needs and requirements for the updated UNDP Nigeria Gender Equality Strategy and the country programme gender review. The consultant will also liaise with key stakeholders and UNDP counterparts to ensure that recommendations and suggestions of the programme review tally with stakeholder needs and expectations. (5days).

Presentation of the draft Gender Equality Strategy to the country office:

• The consultant will present the draft Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan to the country office to facilitate a discussion of the initial findings and consolidate inputs from all staff.  (1day)

Presentation of the draft country programme review to senior management, programme staff and key stakeholders:

• The consultant will present the draft country programme gender review to the country office to UNDP Nigeria senior management, programme staff and key stakeholders to facilitate a discussion of the initial findings and consolidate inputs.(1day)  

Preparation of the final version of the Gender Equality Strategy and the country programme review report:

• Inputs and comments received from the stakeholders would be incorporated in the final version and submitted as final output of the exercise. (8days)

Payment Modality

• 15% upon the submission of a work plan;
• 35% upon submission of inception report and two presentations to UNDP Nigeria following the set deliverables;
• 50% upon submission of final draft Strategy and Action Plan.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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.

• Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products;
• Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of the Development or knowledge management field.

• Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs;
• Ability to focus on impact and results for the client, promoting and demonstrating an ethic of client service.
• Strong organizational skills;
• Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs;
• Sound judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to manage competing priorities. Demonstrates well developed people management skills;
• Strong ability to manage teams; creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff;
• Excellent negotiating and networking skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural skills.
• Demonstrates flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment;
• Provides constructive coaching and feedback.

• Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly;
• Strong presentation skills in meetings with the ability to adapt for different audiences;
• Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically;
• Strong capacity to communicate clearly and quickly;
• Strong inter-personal, negotiation and liaison skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Political Sciences, Gender and Development  Social Sciences, Public Administration, Economics, or related field.

Experience:

• At least 10 years’ experience at national and/or international levels in advisory and analytical positions on gender related issues;
• Practical experience in gender equality and gender mainstreaming, capacity-building, negotiation, facilitation and training skills, leadership development, and strategy development;
• Previous experience in organizational effectiveness as well as planning and development programming in the field.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English.