Background

Timor-Leste is a Small Island Developing State, independent since 2002, making it one of the youngest democracies in the world. In only 19 years, it has taken significant steps to rebuild the nation and redefine its future, following centuries of colonization and a violent occupation that lasted 24 years, killing approximately a third of its population, and displaced almost half a million people in 1999. Timor-Leste's current population of 1.2 million people is one of the youngest in the Pacific, with 75% of whom are under 35 years old. It is the 15th youngest nation in the world.

Despite the notable efforts in state-building and economic growth (especially between 2007-2016), Timor-Leste is one of the least developed nations in the region, with 41.8% of the population living below the poverty line. Despite having a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.625 in 2017, when weighed against the inequality factor, the HDI drops to 0.452. This inequality is predominant in rural areas - where 70% of the population is disproportionately affected by poverty, malnutrition, unemployment, and lack of access to quality education and basic infrastructure.

Inequality particularly affects women, who face discrimination within their homes and society, and across sectors of health, education, employment, and access to justice. Women’s labor force participation is 24.9 per cent, less than half that of men at 52.5 per cent.

Women and girls with disabilities, young mothers, women in vulnerable employment, such as domestic workers, and in rural areas have even greater challenges to access their rights as enshrined under the law. Although there is insufficient data to calculate the Gender Inequality Index (GII) for Timor-Leste, the 2017 female HDI value for Timor-Leste is 0.567 in contrast with 0.663 for males. In addition, the Spotlight Country Selection Proxy composite indicator and weighting (used in lieu of the GII for the region) rates Timor-Leste as 9.75, the third highest after Papua New Guinea and Palau.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG), Violence Against Children (VAC) and gender-based violence (GBV) continues to be one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world. It threatens the 

security and safety of countless women and girls and has short and long-term consequences on their physical, economic, social and psychological well-being and health.

This gender inequality fuels the high levels of violence against women and girls (VAWG), which remains one of the most widespread human rights abuses in Timor-Leste. A dedicated prevalence survey in 2015 found that 59% of Timorese women (15-49 years) reported having experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. This has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. UNDP’s recent Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of COVID-19 in Timor-Leste (Round 2, 2021) revealed that child physical abuse, sexual abuse, and rape was 2-4 times higher in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019. It was also noted that fewer cases of GBV were officially reported to MSSI, yet frontline service providers unanimously claim an increase in domestic violence, noting that women experiencing intimate partner violence may be less likely to report it due to relative isolation with abusers during home confinement, economic dependence, fear of contracting COVID-19 in shelters, etc.  

Timor-Leste recognizes women’s rights as human rights and violence against women and girls as a serious and pervasive human rights violation and an extreme form of discrimination. The country’s existing strong VAWG national framework, having ratified most of the core international human rights treaties/conventions and development frameworks, with clear articles in its Constitution dedicated to gender equality (Article 16, 17, 18, and 26). The Strategic Development Plan (SDP) 2011-2030 also addresses gender equality and women’s empowerment. In 2016, Timor-Leste ratified ILO Core Conventions No. 111 and No. 100 on gender equality and contributed to the adoption of a new International Labour Standard concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work (Convention No. 190) in June 2019.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The Consultant will work together with the Spotlight Initiative Project Team and the VPU/PNTL to undertake a preliminary assessment of their existing data management system (IIMS Case Management System) with a focus on data collection tools, data collection systems, data management, analysis, utilization, and dissemination. The findings of the assessment will be presented to the Spotlight Project team and the VPU/PNTL, and feed into future interventions.  

Objectives of the assignment

The overall aim of the assignment is to conduct a preliminary assessment and analysis of the existing case management system of the VPU. The assessment should identify good practices/strengths of the existing data systems and the gaps, opportunities, risks, and sustainability of the existing system, of which the result will be used as an entry point for recommending and providing support to strengthen the capacity of the VPU’s data management.

It is envisaged that improved data management systems and capacities will strengthen evidence-based decision-making to improve services for women and girls in Timor-Leste, and ultimately EVAWG. As well as to strengthen data analysis and usage to ensure sustainability in future budgeting and service provision.

The specific tasks for the Consultant will include:

1. Conduct a preliminary assessment of the internal case management systems of the VPU
2. Carry out consultation with the Directorate General of Statistic under the Ministry of Finance, VPU, PNTL, and other relevant stakeholders
3. Presenting the assessment findings to the VPU and Spotlight Team
4. Provide recommendations on the findings
5. Submit a full assessment report (including annexes)
6. Develop a Terms of Reference/action plan for support based on the recommendations identified in the assessment

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The successful Consultant will perform the tasks listed under Section B and deliver the following outputs as presented in the table below.

Institutional Arrangement

The Consultant will report directly to the Project Manager of the Spotlight Initiative Project and the Head of the Democratic Governance Unit, as well as the VPU of PNTL. The Consultant will coordinate with, and receive support from, the National Rule of Law Officer and Project Associate throughout the duration of the assignment. The consultant will be expected to facilitate consultations and meetings with key government sector offices, officials, and authorities.

The consultant will work under the close guidance of the UNDP Timor-Leste Country Office (CO), RUNOs, and the UNDP-Regional Gender Advisor. The consultant will undertake her/his assignment with prior clearance by the UNDP CO. The consultant will maintain a dialogue with the project team/UNDP CO during the assignment.

Duration of the Work

Duration of assignment:  40 days

Duty Station: Dili, Timor-Leste, with field visit/travel to the project site in Viqueque, Bobonaro, and Ermera as required. 

Competencies

• Strong understanding of gender-based violence, experience/understanding of gender-based violence in the Timorese context is an advantage.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and proven ability to accomplish and present work with a high degree of accuracy and technical quality, in a relatively short time.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, to communicate complex, technical information to both technical and general audiences, including strong policy advice skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum a Master’s Degree in computer science, Information Technology, or other related disciplines.

Professional Experience: 

• Minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience in developing, operating, assessing, and/or overseeing data management systems.
• Experience developing, operating, assessing, and/or overseeing case management systems, ideally in the justice sector.
• Practical work experience in the Asia-Pacific region, experience in Timor-Leste is an advantage.
• Experience working with rule of law institutions and other government counterparts.

Language Skills

• English language - excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in Tetun, Bahasa Indonesia, and/or Portuguese is an advantage.
•  

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Lump Sum Contract

The financial proposal must be expressed in the form of an "all-inclusive" lump-sum amount, supported by a breakdown of costs as per the template provided. The term "all-inclusive" implies all costs (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances, etc.). Under the lump sum approach, the contract price is fixed, regardless of changes in cost components. For duty travels, and other costs required to perform the demands of the TOR must be incorporated in the financial proposal.

Schedule of Payment:

The payment will be made based on the deliverables. The selected consultant must submit documents as per the deliverables which must be duly approved and serve as the basis for the payment of fees. The consultant will be expected to produce the deliverables within the agreed timeline under Section D of this TOR to be reviewed and approved as specified in the TOR.

 Recommended Presentation of Offer

Interested applicants are mandatory to apply online through https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=103663. Supporting documents/filled templates to be submitted along with the applications are following, and those templates can be downloaded from https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=86595.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP (to be downloaded from the procurement notice link);
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
3. A brief methodology and step by step timeline on how the consultant will approach and complete the assignment, and
4. Financial Proposal in the template provided by UNDP (to be downloaded from the procurement notice link).

UNDP Personal History Form (P11):

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.

General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:

https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=XXXXX

Annex I Offeror´s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment:

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

The applications will be evaluated using a weighted scoring method, where the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions.

* Technical Criteria weight; 70%

* Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points of the technical criteria (70%) will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.