Background

Sudan has long been suffering from fragile political system and a dictator government which institutionalized for dismantling the institutions from their rights to function efficiently and deliver services that account for the needs and interests of the people. This situation has resulted in weak/inadequate institutional capacities and in most cases, lack of coordination between the Ministries which in turn affected the way strategies, policies and plans are formulated and implemented. It has also resulted in lack/inadequate baseline data/information which hindered measuring the progress towards the achievement of specific programs/projects intervention. The government institutions have not been structured in a manner that capture the progress made post programs/project interventions. Lack of accountability framework that holds the government accountable of implementing projects and measuring its progress has instituted for a deeper gap regarding the base line information that are usually gathered pre—projects/programs intervention.

The transitional government has considered democratic transformation as essential for lasting peace and prosperity. Institutional reform is considered among the top priorities for a successful transition to democratic and good governance. It entails comprehensive and consolidated efforts to build institutions that account for the human rights of people. Capacity development of the staff on how to formulate gender responsive strategies, policies and building strong coordination mechanism between the government institutions are critical to the achievement of Gender equality and women empowerment and critical for the institutional reform as well as democratic transition.

In as far as capacity assessment and coordination are concerned, it requires deep knowledge, understanding and baseline information mostly gathered through baseline study to capture all the elements necessary for the achievement of the capacity development and coordination. Baseline study is essential for the development of projects documents and for intervention. It provides information on the status of the targeted beneficiaries pre-project intervention. The baseline information extends beyond the information gathering for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention. It provides deeper knowledge and understanding and reflects on the different dynamics of the context that need to be thoroughly searched.

Justification;

With the support of EU, UN Women in partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation are undertaking a project titled Women’s Empowerment for resilience, Inclusion, Sustainability and Environment in Eastern States. The project aims to create a conducive environment for the economic empowerment of women living in the most vulnerable situations in Khartoum, Kassala, Gedaref and Red Sea states. Specifically, the project objectives focus on improving access of young women and men, living in vulnerable situations, to a more inclusive market system, strengthen the capacity of institutions at Federal and State levels to enhance gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE) and to reflect on the social norms and attitudes towards GEWE. Part of the tasks of the UN Women in the inception phase is to undertake baseline study essential for the achievement of the second project objective that is focusing on strengthening the capacity of institutions; Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Livestock and Fishery, Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and the gender units in the targeted Ministries at the Federal and State levels to enhance GEWE. 

The base line study shall provide scientific evidence for UN Women’s intervention and shall also provide data base information on gender and gender mainstreaming knowledge and capacities among the senior staff head departments, managers and other junior staff who are in positions to influence and participate in the drafting of the strategies, policies, and plans. In addition, the baseline   is expected to reflect on the gender responsiveness of the strategies, policies, and the plans as well as the status of coordination among the Ministries for the achievement of GEWE. Specifically, the baseline survey focuses on the gender statistics capacities and knowledge among the senior staff at the CBS. Such intervention will support proper project intervention based on the identified gap. Most importantly, it facilitates the end project evaluation and the generation of quantitative data that support the development of the outcome indicators and the quantitative measurement of the achievement made post-project intervention and overall, it institutes for good governance practices that support the process of the institutional reform.

In this regard, UN Women which is grounded in the vision of achieving gender equality and women empowerment is seeking to recruit four researchers to work closely with the lead researcher to undertake base line survey in Khartoum, Red Sea, Gedarif and Kassala states and to generate information on the strategies and capacities at the targeted Ministries for the development of project intervention.

Aims and objectives of the study

The study aims to:

• Provide baseline information on the institutional capacity gaps on gender mainstreaming, budgeting, gender statistics and the availability of coordination mechanism

objectives:

• Reflect on the gaps in knowledge and skills of the main gender concept, gender mainstreaming, budgeting, and gender statistics among the targeted senior officers/in charge of formulating strategies, policies and plans at the designated Ministries at the federal and states levels
• Identify the challenges the Ministries face regarding gender mainstreaming at strategies and policies level
• Show the extent to which strategies, policies and plans of the targeted Ministries are gender responsive
• Provide sex-disaggregated data on women and men in the different positions/job structure and ranking in the targeted Ministries 
• Identify the availability and the functioning of monitoring and evaluation mechanism
• Reflect on the availability of coordination mechanism among the different departments/units/administrations of the Ministry and between the different Ministries
• Show whether accountability frame is placed to foster GEWE and show how it is functioning?

Duties and Responsibilities

The main duties and responsibilities of the researchers will be to:

• Collect the relevant literature regarding strategies, policies and plans of the targeted Ministries to support the lead researcher to undertake desk review
• Work closely with the lead researcher in designing the tools of the data collection
• Undertake filed visit to the targeted Ministries to fulfill the objectives of the study
• Map the targeted officers at the government institutions at the federal and states levels to generate the baseline values on their capacities
• Perform the data entry and analysis of the collected data in a suitable software program
• Compile all the data entered and analyzed in one package of data entry program (the selected researchers should agreed on one program for data entry and analysis to facilitate the compilation/merging of the data entered  in one data entry package

Deliverables

The researchers are expected to deliver the following:

• A Consolidated written report including the collected information in addition to a copy of the soft data to be submited to the lead researcher.

Competencies

Core Values/Guiding Principles

Integrity:

•  Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism:

• Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:

• Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies

Ethics and Values:

• Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.

Organizational Awareness:

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.

Development and Innovation:

• Take charge of self-development and take initiative.

Work in teams:

• Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communicating and Information Sharing:

• Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.

Self-management and Emotional Intelligence:

• Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.

Conflict Management:

• Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

•  Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.

Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:

• Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Minimum M.SC degree in Gender studies, or any other related discipline

Experience:

• Expertise in conducting research
•  At least 5 years of experience in working on gender analysis, gender mainstreaming and budgeting
• Sound experience in undertaking gender analysis, in conducting studies and in reporting on gender policies and plans
• Knowledge and skills of computer applications, data entry and analysis

Language Requirements:

• English. Arabic will be an advantage.

Please note that applications without a completed and signed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

UN Women Personal History form (P-11) can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment .

UNWOMEN is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.