Background

Context

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP provides policy advice and helps build institutional and human capacity that generates equitable growth.

In South Sudan, UNDP is committed to promoting good governance at all levels of society and building coalitions for actions on issues critical to sustainable human development and conflict prevention. In all activities, UNDP encourages the protection of human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women, and all activities are undertaken in close collaboration with the Government, other UN agencies and other development stakeholders.

UNDP South Sudan aims to strengthen its capacity to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, in line with the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy (GES) 2014-2017. The last Gender Equality Strategy for UNDP South Sudan covered the period 2009-2012. This Strategy complemented and operationalized the corporate Strategic Plan 2008-2011 and the Gender Equality Strategy 2008-2011.

The Country Office (CO) is participating in the Gender Equality Seal, a corporate quality assurance mechanism that measures and certifies the achievements and competence of UNDP Country Offices in advancing women's rights and gender equality. As part of these efforts, UNDP South Sudan intends to develop a Gender Equality Strategy (2016-2017) to promote the integration of gender equality and women’s empowerment in its policies, operations and programming.

Purpose of the Assignment

UNDP is looking to engage the services of a consultant to develop a country office Gender Equality Strategy and time-bound Action Plan, guided by the conceptual and operational framework set out in the corporate Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017; global instruments and pronouncements on gender equality and the advancement of women; South Sudan Interim Cooperation Framework (January 2016-June 2017); Country Programme Action Plan (2014-2016); UNDP’s Eight Point Agenda for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality in Crisis Prevention and Recovery; UNDP Strategic Plan 2014-2017; and the National Gender Policy and Action Plan, among others.

Institutional arrangements

  • The consultant will work full time, based in UNDP South Sudan. Office space and limited administrative and logistical support will be provided.  The consultant will use her/his own laptop and cell phone.

The consultant will report to the UNDP Programme and Partnership Support Unit Team Leader and CO Gender Focal Team who will review progress and will certify delivery of outputs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be required to work for 60 days. While based in Juba, South Sudan, the consultant will work closely with the UNDP gender team based at HQ and at the Regional Service Centre; UNDP South Sudan Gender Focal Team and UNCT Gender Working Group. The consultant will also consult widely with UNDP South Sudan staff in Juba and in field locations.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Programme and Partnership Support Unit, and the Country Office Gender Focal Team, the consultant shall provide the following deliverables:

  • An inception report outlining preliminary findings from consultations and documentation review and methodology for carrying out the task;
  • Conduct an gender-capacity assessment of UNDP South Sudan Team Leaders, Chief Technical Advisors, Programme Coordinators and Project Coordinators;
  • Conduct a targeted gender training based on the identified gaps in collaboration with UNWOMEN;
  • Conduct an gender assessment of all programme areas within UNDP South Sudan’s portfolio of programmes;
  • An outline of the Strategy and Action Plan, incorporating the inputs from the Gender Focal Team on methodology and the overall process;
  • A first draft of the Strategy and Action Plan and presentation during a validation workshop with senior management, programme and operations teams;
  • A final version of the Strategy and Action Plan, incorporating comments on the first draft;
  • Update the UNDP South Sudan communication strategy  to include gender equality concerns and indicators.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

  • Excellent understanding of gender equality, women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming, with particular reference to women’s empowerment in crisis-affected countries;
  • Excellent writing skills with a strong background in report drafting;
  • Demonstrated ability and willingness to work with people of different cultural, ethnic and religious background, different gender, and diverse political views;
  • Ability to use critical thinking, conceptualize ideas, and articulate relevant subject matter in a clear and concise way.

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrated integrity by upholding the United Nations' values and ethical standards;
  • Appreciate differences in values and learning from cultural diversities;
  • Promotes UNDP vision, mission and strategic goals;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age-based sensitivity and adaptability.
  • Demonstrates diplomacy and tact in dealing with sensitive and complex situations.

Professionalism:

  • Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;
  • Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment;
  • Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.

Planning & Organizing:

  • Establishes, builds and maintains effective working relationships with colleagues to achieve the planned results.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced University Degree (minimum Master’s Degree or preferably Phd in gender studies, development studies, political science or other related fields).

Experience:

  • 2 to 5 years of experience in programme management of gender equality, gender mainstreaming or women empowerment policies/projects/programmes; knowledge of gender equality at the institutional level;
  • Demonstrated experience in planning, design, preparation and delivery of gender equality strategies, preferably for UNDP/UN Agencies;
  • Experience with UNDP or other UN Agencies and/or strong understanding of UN system, frameworks and structures, particularly those related to the UNDP Gender Seal, gender equality and women’s empowerment, both in programme and operations;
  • Field experience in South Sudan/East Africa will be considered an advantage.

Language:

  • Strong communication skills - Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

How to apply:

Technical proposal:

Please submit the following documents:

  • Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
  • Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidates and the contacts of at least three (3) professional references;
  • Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment. Use a table to indicate areas you propose to contribute and evidence of expertize.

Any other document deemed relevant to this consultancy service.

Financial Proposal:

Financial Proposal must be submitted that indicates the number of days and the rate per day.
Total (lump sum)
The financial proposal must be expressed as an all-inclusive lump sum amount in USD, presented in the following template:
 Unit cost (USD) No. Total

  • Professional fee;         
  • Living allowance;        
  • Other costs (specify) - Total (lump sum.

Note:

  • The information in the breakdown of the offered lump sum amount provided by the Offeror will be used as the basis for determining best value for money, and as reference for any amendments of the contract;
  • The agreed contract amount will remain fixed regardless of any factors causing an increase in the cost of any of the components in the breakdown that are not directly attributable to UNDP;
  • Approved local travel related to this assignment will be arranged & paid by UNDP South Sudan;
  • The Contractor is responsible for arranging and meeting the cost of their vaccinations and medical/life insurance.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer:

Offers received will be evaluated using a Combined Scoring method, where the qualifications, experience and proposed approach will be weighted 70%, and combined with the price offer, which will be weighted 30%.
Criteria to be used for rating the qualifications and methodology.

Technical evaluation criteria (total 70 points):

  • Qualifications [10 marks];
  • Experience in undertaking and facilitating high-level photographic work and familiarity with foundational steps required to do this. [40 marks];
  • Proposed approach, including strategies to ensure timely delivery of high quality products [20 marks].

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Financial evaluation (total 30 points):
All technically qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal.

All other proposals receive points according to the following formula:

  • p = y (µ/z).

Where:

  • p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
  • y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
  • µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;

z = price of the proposal being evaluated.