Background

I. Organizational context

 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. Placing women's rights at the center of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. 

The six priority areas are:

• Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems;
• Eliminate violence against women and girls (EVAWG);
• Strengthen the implementation of women's peace and security agenda;
• Increase women's economic empowerment;
• Make gender equality priorities central to national, local and sectoral plans, budgets and statistics;
• Implement global norms, policies and standards on gender equality and women's empowerment, laying the foundation for action by governments and other stakeholders at all levels.

II. Background

 In view of eliminating violence against women and girls, which is a key area of UN Women’s work, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) have implemented the multi-year ‘Spotlight Initiative’.

Through a comprehensive approach, the Spotlight Initiative focuses its work on eliminating violence against women and girls and femicide/feminicide through six key pillars:

1. developing and implementing relevant legislation and policies,
2. strengthening national and sub-national institutions,
3. preventing violence through evidence-based programmes and campaigns,
4. establishing essential services for victims and survivors, and
5. ensuring the collection and use of prevalence and incidence data,
6. partnering directly with women’s movements and civil society.

In the Latin American region Spotlight is present in a focused set of countries, where the Initiative deploys targeted, large-scale investments to improve the rights of women and girls, helping them to live lives free of violence.

 Alongside the national programmes, the Latin American Regional Programme of the Spotlight Initiative (LARP-Spotlight) focuses on eliminating femicide, especially through pillar I on developing and implementing relevant legislation and policies; pilar III on preventing violence through evidence-based programmes and campaigns; and pillar V on ensuring the collection and use of prevalence and incidence data to inform policymaking.

During its phase 1, LARP-Spotlight generated a series of knowledge products and innovative approaches to address the challenge of eliminating violence against women and girls. This body of knowledge will be available beyond the lifetime of this phase 1 of the Spotlight Initiative, as powerful tools for UN Women to share and engage in political dialogue with key stakeholders in the Latin American and Caribbean Region.

 Reporting to the Americas and Caribbean Regional Office’s EVAW Policy Specialist, the Programme Management and Coordination Consultant EVAW supports the UN Women Regional Office/the EVAW Policy Specialist in effectively coordinating the area of Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW) in Latin America and the Caribbean, which includes coordinating relationships with regional and national partners and stakeholders, and managing the programmes, projects and initiatives related thereto, especially, the LARP-Spotlight.

 S/he will provide technical support and expertise on preventing and responding to gender-based violence, ending femicides/feminicides, strengthening the network of essential services for women subject to violence, and promoting mechanisms for the protection of women human rights defenders. The consultant will advise the RO team on the effective management of programmes in the Ending Violence Against Women thematic area, by contributing to the programme design, formulation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and knowledge generation/sharing. S/he will analyze results achieved during programme implementation and will recommend the appropriate application of systems and procedures. She/he will work in close collaboration with the UN Women programmes, communications and operations teams, the relevant United Nations Agencies and coordination mechanisms, as well as government officials, multi and bi-lateral organizations, donors and civil society ensuring successful UN programme implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

III. Consultancy objective

 This consultancy's main objective is to provide programmatic and coordination support and technical expertise to the implementation of the ending violence against women programmes in the Latin American and Caribbean Region, especially in the framework of the Spotlight Initiative, according to the needs and demands that arise.

 IV. Scope

 The successful performance of the incumbent will effectively contribute to the development of quality projects/programmes reports. In particular, the consultant is expected to carry out the following functions and activities:

• Provide inputs and guidance to UN Women and other UN Agencies for the effective coordination of the Spotlight Initiative and LARP-Spotlight, phase II.
• Recommend solutions for the integration of the LARP-Spotlight Programme with the broader goal of ending violence against women and girls, including, but not limited to, how the LARP-Spotlight Theory of Change contributes to the SDGs and to the UN Secretary General UNITE initiative to eliminate violence against women ang girls.
• Provide technical inputs to UN Women on how to strengthen its EVAWG presence and coordination role within the UN System, the Gender Interagency Group (GIG), and how the LARP-Spotlight and the Spotlight National Programmes can contribute to this objective.
• Coordinate the design and implementation of the detailed work plan for Phase II of the LARP-Spotlight, according to the relevant programme documents;
• Liaise with the regional, subregional and national counterparts, donors, and other partners to ensure the Programme results are achieved and resources are managed;
• Prepare and present workplans, periodic narrative progress reports and expenditures status reports to the Programme Steering Committee and UN Women and other stakeholders as necessary;
• Examine and provide recommendations to the UN Women Regional Office on the LARP-Spotlight budget choices, strategic spending, and well as pace and delivery rates.
• Providing technical inputs and guidance for program documents, strategies, and knowledge products. Specifically, guide the preparation, by the LARP-Spotlight team, of the documentation supporting the Programme's institutionalized meetings, especially those of the Programme Steering Committee and the Civil Society Reference Group. This includes, but is not limited to, agendas, invitations, lists of participants, minutes, presentations, reports and any other products needed for the smooth realization of these events.
• Establish systems for project planning, implementation and monitoring in collaboration with partners;
• Record and maintain documents on relevant Programme activities, issues, and risks.
• Provide guidance to the LARP-Spotlight Team on implementation, quality control of products, revision validation and finalization of knowledge products.
• Manage coordination with partners and other stakeholders, including relationships with implementing partners to support implementation of the EVAW thematic area;
• Provide substantial guidance to partners on establishment of performance indicators and a system that supports the monitoring and the achievement of results by partners, aligned with the EVAW and LARP-Spotlight Theory of Change and indicators.
• Design, elaboration and teaching of workshops; as well as elaboration of support materials in response to the capacity building needs and support partners through technical assistance, mentoring, training, and cross partner learning and sharing, and capacity development initiatives; develop training materials and workshops, as necessary.

• Produce reports, analyses, concept notes and project documents, concept notes, technical sheets, mappings, briefing notes/abstracts, presentations, and any other type of thematic materials on EVAW.
• Develop draft policies, protocols, guides, manuals, training modules, toolkits and other conceptual and/or didactic training resources.
• Prepare technical inputs and products to support advocacy, lobbying and political dialogue, the establishment of strategic alliances and the mobilization of resources for prevention, care and punishment programs, projects and policies.
• Map potential donors, including traditional and non-traditional donors (governments, international cooperation, foundations, public-private partnerships, private sector) to identify potential opportunities for strategic alliances and resource mobilization.
• Research and analysis to develop thematic reports, research papers, diagnostics, background documents, and knowledge products on the topic.
• Analyze and systematize experiences developed in the different countries of the region and in other regions on good practices, promising practices, learning and knowledge generated (guides, toolbox, case studies, and others)
• Coordinate, facilitate, assist or participate in different types of events including consultations, technical meetings, working groups, seminars, webinars, exchanges, South-South cooperation with different actors producing the contents, presentations, reports and/or reports to position issues, ideas and/or proposals related to the thematic area.
• Participate in reference groups to provide specialized advice on the topics.
• Review knowledge products generated from the different UN Women offices in the thematic areas to provide technical inputs, validate the contents, make recommendations and/or changes to strengthen them.
• Any other activity that may derive from the needs of advice and technical support to the regional office and country offices in the development and/or implementation of projects, initiatives, and programs. 

V. Deliverable products:

Payments:

VI.  Contract execution arrangements

Payments for the services will be made after the delivery of each product established in the table above, subject to satisfaction and approval by UN Women in accordance with the established schedule.

 When processing the last payment, it must be accompanied by the Consultant Performance Evaluation.

 The SSA establishes that the remuneration for this contract type is an all-inclusive fee, the organization will not be liable for additional cost or benefits. Hence, it is the responsibility of the consultant to take out adequate medical insurance for the duration of the contract and it is recommendable that the policy includes coverage for COVID-19 related illness. The medical coverage should be international when the contract requires missions or international assignment.

 If selected for this vacant post, proof of medical coverage should be presented within the first two months of the contract.

Where a decision is made that travel is required, prior to going on mission consultants/individual contractors should be requested to provide a signed “Statement of good health” to confirm their insurance coverage and inoculations in line with paragraph 5.24.1 in the SSA Policy.

 No travel is contemplated for the development of the consultancy; however, if travel and/or transfers are required, the costs will be covered by UN Women, following the Organization's current rates for such purposes. 

 In the current crisis due to COVID-19, no travel is foreseen for this consultancy, but rather remote and virtual work. This may change after the present situation.

VII. Performance monitoring and evaluation

The Programme Management and Coordination EVAW consultancy will be managed by the Regional Office of UN Women of the Americas and the Caribbean. The EVAW Policy Specialist will carry out the supervision of this consultancy. The consultant is not a United Nations staff member and will carry out the activities related to his/her consultancy in a virtual way, from his/her workspace under the work plan.

Three months after the beginning of the consultancy, an evaluation of the selected person's performance and the products produced will be carried out. In case of not being favorable, the contract will be terminated by mutual agreement within 30 days.

 For the consultancy's good development, the supervisor will provide the consultant with the existing documents and information that UN Women has related to the consultancy's topics. It is the consultant's responsibility to obtain primary and secondary data from other sources, if necessary.

 The consultant will maintain permanent coordination with her/his supervisor to execute and develop the products requested by this consultancy effectively. He/she will also provide information as requested within the framework of the terms of reference.

VIII. Performance indicators

• Products / deliverables timely presented according to the TORs
• Work quality
• Compliance with expected results.
• Compliance with the aforementioned competencies (Ref. Profile of the consultant).

IX. Intellectual rights, patents and other property rights

The right to equipment and supplies provided by UN Women to the consultant for the performance of any obligation under this contract shall remain with UN Women. Such equipment shall be returned to UN Women at the end of this contract or when the consultant no longer needs it.  When returned to UN Women, such equipment shall be in the same condition as when it was given to the consultant, subject to normal wear and tear.  The consultant shall be responsible for compensating UN Women for damaged or broken equipment regardless of normal wear and tear.

 UN Women shall be entitled to all intellectual property and other proprietary rights including but not limited to: patents, copyrights, and trademarks, concerning products, processes, inventions, ideas, know-how, documents and other materials that the consultant has prepared or collected in consequence of or during the execution of this consultancy, and the consultant acknowledges and agrees that such products, documents and other materials constitute work carried out under the engagement of UN Women. However, if such intellectual property or other property rights consist of any intellectual property or property rights of the consultant (i) that existed before the consultant's performance of his or her obligations under this contract, or (ii) that the consultant may develop or acquire, or may have developed or acquired, independently of the performance of his or her obligations under this contract, UN Women shall not and shall not claim any ownership interest therein, and the consultant shall grant UN Women a perpetual license to use such intellectual property or other property rights solely for the purpose and the requirements of this contract.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

• Excellent analytical and communication capabilities.

Management:

• Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to results management, including support to program design, planning and implementation, data management and reporting.
• Distinctive competence in consulting and communication skills, as well as the ability to work independently and with virtual teams.

• Functional competencies to be assessed:

• Good teamwork skills. 
• Understanding of the gender equality agenda

• Organizational competencies to be assessed:

• Responsibility. 
• Creative problem-solving. 
• Inclusive collaboration. 
• Commitment with counterparts. 

Organizational Values and Principles

• Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting UN Women's values in actions and decisions, following the United Nations Code of Conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and experience in the knowledge of their substantive areas of work.
• Cultural sensitivity and diversity: Demonstrate recognition of the organization's multicultural nature and its staff's variety. Demonstrates international perspective, appreciation of difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Required Skills and Experience

X. Requirements

 For the applicant to be considered, applicants must meet the following qualifications and requirements:

 Education

• Degree in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Human Rights, Development Studies, Gender Studies or other related areas (mandatory).
• Postgraduate studies and/or specializations in relevant areas (desirable).
• Fluent in oral and written Spanish and English (mandatory).

Professional Experience

• Demonstrable experience in the field of Ending Violence Against Women and Girls or promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Demonstrable work experience managing and/or coordinating projects/programmes.
• Previous experience with United Nations Agencies and/or International Organizations desirable.

For the selection process, the evaluation committee will carry out a technical evaluation of resumes based on stablished requirements and criteria. According to the results will be selected the most qualified person for the position.

 For the selection process, the evaluation committee will first carry out a technical evaluation of resumes based on following requirements and criteria:

XI. Recruitment Process

 The evaluation committee will perform a technical evaluation of resumes based on these requirements and criteria for the selection process.

 In case of not mentioning the essential requirements in your application, your application will not be considered for evaluation and, therefore, will be discarded to continue the process.

Compliance with these requirements must be demonstrated through the submission of

• UN Women Personal History Form (P11), which can be found at the link.
• Personal identification (ID card, passport).

 IMPORTANT NOTES. 

• Making the application, only one (1) file must be uploaded in PDF format. A guide is attached for you to perform this step. https://www.wikihow.com/Merge-PDF-Files.?
• UN Women assumes no responsibility and only describes one of the many ways to compress documents related to the application. You may use whichever one you deem appropriate.  
• Applications received incomplete or after the closing date will not be considered.  
• Only those applications that fit on the shortlist will be contacted for an interview (if applicable). 
• Consultants who have an employment relationship with public institutions can only be hired if they present proof of a work permit (license) without expiration and a letter of no objection to the consultancy's performance, issued by the employing institution. If the candidates are linked to a research institution, academic center, or university, presenting a letter of no objection issued by the employing institution is sufficient.  
• The selected consultants must have medical coverage and present proof of their coverage within two months of signing their contract.
• If the consultant needs to travel, medical coverage, required vaccines according to the destination, and travel insurance must be confirmed. 
• If the consultancy is international, the currency will be US dollars or the local currency.

UN Women is committed to achieving workplace diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.  

People from minority groups, indigenous groups and people with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.  

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.