UNDP Jobs - 105371- National Consultant to provide Technical Support t

National Consultant to provide Technical Support to the HLPC and WEE Component

Location :

Harare, ZIMBABWE

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

11-Apr-2022

Application Deadline :

30-Mar-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months

UNDP 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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Spotlight Initiative is a global partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. It was launched in September 2017 by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General and the European Union (EU) High Representative and Vice President (HRVP). It is a visible political and financial investment from the EU in the multilateral relationship with the UN and in gender equality. The Spotlight Initiative in Africa will be implemented in 8 countries (Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe). The focus for the African initiative is GBV, SRHR and Harmful Practices (HP) In Zimbabwe the SI implementation will be by six UN agencies Namely, ILO, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women (RUNOs).

The overall vision of the Spotlight Initiative in Zimbabwe is that women and girls realize their full potential in a violence-free, gender-responsive and inclusive Zimbabwe. The Spotlight Initiative will directly contribute to Zimbabwe’s achievement of three of the country’s prioritized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 5 on Gender Equality, Goal 3 on good health and well-being and Goal 16 on inclusive and peaceful societies. The programme will contribute to the elimination of SGBV and HPs through the creation of a broad partnership with Civil Society, Government, Private Sector, Media, among others; and build a social movement of women, men, girls and boys as champions and agents of change at the national, subnational and community levels. A specific focus will be on reaching and including in the programme women and girls who are often isolated and most vulnerable to SGBV and HPs due to intersecting forms of discrimination. The programme will also seek to address the SRHR needs of all women and girls using a life-cycle approach.

Within the ambit of the Spotlight Initiative project, the CO is supporting the implementation of 2 key strategic interventions’ namely (i) the High-Level Political Compact on Ending GBV in Zimbabwe, and (ii) Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Component.

Launched on the 27th of October 2021, the HLPC on ending GBV is a key milestone in Zimbabwe’s journey towards the realization of gender equality and respect for the rights of women and girls meant to ensure that women and girls realize their full potential in a violence-free, gender-responsive and inclusive society. The HLPC was developed on the vision of a just society free from all forms of violence against women and girls, aims for increased high-level political will, commitment, and accountability to eliminate violence against women and girls, accelerate action to address violence against women and girls at the grassroots, subnational and national levels, as well as the effective monitoring and evaluation of the progress made towards ending these social ills. It is also a platform to ensure commitments made by government and partners are supported and advanced through policy reforms, identification of technical, infrastructural, and financial resource shortfalls that impede a proactive prevention approach and response to GBV, financial resource provision and the development of a funding model for the Government to continuously raise financial resources, and for capacity strengthening of the national GBV institutional machinery. More details on the HLPC can be accessed on UN Zimbabwe and UNDP Zimbabwe websites and social media platform. HLPC document can be accessed HERE https://www.zw.undp.org/content/zimbabwe/en/home/library/high-level-political-compact-on-ending-gender-based-violence-and.html
The Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) component under the Spotlight Initiative builds on the momentum created by the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals to elevate the importance of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as a development goal on its own, but also as a driver of the achievement of all the other sustainable development goals. The WEE component is premised on the realization that investing in women’s social and economic empowerment sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth. Under the SI project, WEE was innovatively and strategically added as both a SGBV and HPs response and prevention mechanism, which will result in empowered women with enhanced voices and agency. UNDP is one of the agencies selected to implement the WEE component in order to leverage on and create synergies with the livelihoods and economic empowerment work under ZRBF and utilize the in-house expertise and knowledge on economic empowerment models.

The Country Office would like to engage a Consultant to provide technical support to the UNDP SI team in operationalization and implementation of the HLPC and WEE Component. The Technical Coherence Personnel is expected to ensure technical coherence of the compact through harmonization and creation of interlinkages between various SI activities feeding into the compact. The consultant will also engage and work closely with the lead and host Ministry (MOWACSMED) in the implementation of both the HLPC and the WEE Component. The IC will also work closely with the project team providing strategic thinking, technical advice, and innovative approaches to facilitate implementation of the compact and WEE interventions, and to provide strategic support to achieve expected deliverables.

Duties and Responsibilities

In line with the highlighted project background, the consultant is expected to coordinate and support implementation of programme intervention on the HLPC and WEE Component. Specific tasks include:

Coordination of WEE and HLPC interventions: Support coordination of the HLPC and WEE Component, through undertaking the following:

Engagement Plan - Engagement and consultation with key relevant stakeholders in the planning, implementation of activities;
Identification of Synergies – identify synergies with other RUNOs implementing HLPC and WEE related interventions;
Undertake Rapid Research and assessments to inform implementation of WEE and HLPC;
Develop the HLPC and WEE sustainability or exit plan;
Organize technical planning sessions and consultation meetings with RUNOs and relevant implementing partners.

Implementation Support: In close liaison with the project team, support the implementation of the HLPC and WEE:

Design and develop implementation strategies in the area of Women’s Economic Empowerment and the HLPC focusing on SI UNDP 2022 project activities, HLPC Action Plan, and Monitoring Plan;
Develop the necessary Terms of Reference, concept notes, logistical notes to enable procurement of goods and services under the HLPC and WEE as per the UNDP workplan;
Provide overall support in the implementation of the planned and envisaged project activities on the WEE and HLPC;
Provide on-hand training and support to the relevant stakeholders on implementation of the WEE and HLPC components;
Provide support to the project manager in organizing workshops, seminars, conferences, dialogues, and other interactions meeting in terms of material preparation, logistical arrangements, minutes preparation, collection and dissemination of relevant information;
Develop training materials on WEE and provide necessary support to manage training programmes, conferences, and workshop/seminars.

Monitoring and Reporting: Undertake monitoring and reporting of the project interventions (HLPC and WEE) as per UNDP and SI monitoring and reporting guidelines:

Regularly review implementation of the related project activities in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses; utilize the data collected to increase the project efficiency;
Undertake 2 Monitoring missions and produce the relevant monitoring reports;
Assist the Programme Officer in the preparation of monthly and quarterly progress reports by providing substantial inputs and analyses of situations in relation to the WEE and HLPC;
Facilitate stakeholder feedback through monitoring and project satisfactory surveys, pre and post workshop surveys etc.

Manage advocacy, knowledge building and communication:

Prepares communications materials for print/electronic/voice/visual media on HLPC and WEE activities and results;
Develop WEE and HLPC Visibility Material in line with E, SI and UNDP Communication and visibility guidelines;
Provides advice on strategic and innovative approaches to communicating on the WEE and HLPC;
Design, plan and support implementation of advocacy campaigns on HLPC and WEE;
Maintain close communication and consultation with the UNDP and SI communication team.

The Technical Consultant will be under the direct supervision of the UNDP Governance and Peace Building Team Leader in close liaison with the SI Programme Manager. The consultant will also work closely with the UNDP SI technical team.

The duration of the consultancy will be for 6 Months (March to August 2022) with a possibility for extension.

The consultant is expected to work from their own premises and liaise with, UNDP, MOWACSMED and the SI RUNOs as necessary.

For the entire period of this project/contract all travel(if necessary) (within Zimbabwe) related to any contract emerging from this consultancy, including all travel for consultations and discussions, meetings for planning and execution of potential works etc. will have to be borne by the Contractor and must be included in the Financial Proposal submitted. The Contractor is responsible to make all relevant travel arrangements, including hotel, transportation and other relevant costs.

UNDP may, as a courtesy, facilitate through the provision of a letter of certification that travel is related to this project/contract, provide/indicate names of hotels/guest houses used by UN, but all arrangements are the responsibility of the Contractor, both financially and action-wise.

The expected deliverables for the consultancy are:

Stakeholder engagement plan;
WEE and HLPC implementation strategies;
Monthly Progress Reports and input in termly reports;
Activity concepts notes and reports;
WEE Training material;
Two Monitoring Report;
Technical and coordination meetings reports;
Advocacy campaigns reports;
HLPC and WEE knowledge products ;
Visibility and advocacy material produced.

Milestones:

Coordination report outlining Stakeholder engagement Plan, technical coordination recommendations on effective implementation of WEE and HLPC by 15 Aprial 2022;
Tools developed as WEE and HLPC implementation strategy and roadmap (inclusive of Activity Concept Notes, TORs, logistical notes, training workshop material developed, activity reports)by 15 May 2022;
3-Monitoring, 2-termly and stakeholder engagement reports,Documentation of WEE and HLPC and development of knowledge products,Advocacy kit with visibility and branding material and products for print/electronic/voice/visual media and Website stories on HLPC and WEE Developed between 20 June 2022 and 30 September 2022.

Competencies

Core Values:

Respect for Diversity;
Integrity;
Professionalism.

Core Competencies:

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
Accountability;
Creative Problem Solving;
Effective Communication;
Inclusive Collaboration;
Stakeholder Engagement;
Leading by Example.

Functional Competencies:

Demonstrated capacity and experience in coordinating different UN agencies/organisations;
Administrative and coordination expertise of programmes on gender equality and WEE;
Ability to lead strategic planning, change management processes, and resource-based management;
Excellent programme formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills;
Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them;
Excellent knowledge of Results Based Management;
Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making;
Excellent knowledge in EVAWG/SGBV/HP/SRHR;
Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation;
Strong networking skills;
Ability to develop proposals for joint programmes, negotiate and interact with donors, identify and analyze trends, opportunities, and threats to fundraising.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, public health, or a related field is required;
A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.

Experience:

At least 7 years of progressively responsible development experience that combines programme coordination and strategic planning in the area of gender equality and women’s rights, WEE, EVAWG/SGBV/HP/SRHR;
Experience in programme management; planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting;
Technical experience in Women’s Economic Empowerment;
Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset;
Experience working in the UN System is an asset.

Language:

Fluency in English is required;
Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.

Application procedure:

Prospective candidates should apply as individuals;
Each individual should clearly mention the role they are applying for, Team leader or Project Expert. Each candidate should provide own CV, P11 and Technical Proposal, along with the application;
Submissions shall be evaluated per individual and UNDP reserves the right to constitute a team on the basis of evaluation results, should it be so necessary. Prospective candidates are advised to take note of the provision.
Applicants are requested to upload the following documents:
a copy of their latest updated P11 Form which can be downloaded from this website - http://www.sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.;
Technical Proposal;
CV.

Applications without Technical Proposals will not be considered.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF attachment as the system only allows upload of one document;

Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.

Evaluation:

The Consultant will be evaluated based on the qualifications and the years of experience, as outlined in the qualifications/requirements section of the ToRs. In addition, the Consultant will also be evaluated on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis: When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;

Technical Criteria weight: 70%.

Financial Criteria weight: 30%.

The award of the contract shall be made to the Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the ToR.

Selection Criteria:

Technical Evaluation: 70% of total evaluation (maximum 70 points):

Criteria A: Education (maximum 10 points);
Criteria B: Experience (maximum 50 points, divided into 40 points for substantive and technical experience in development research with specialization in environmental studies, climate change and/or human development, 10 points for working experience with international development organizations particularly on human development/MDG reports or similar reports
Criteria C: Language (maximum 10 points).

Final selection: Only the candidate with the highest ranked will be selected.

Note:

Only the highest ranked candidates who have obtained a minimum of 49 points (70%) on the technical evaluation will be considered for the financial evaluation.

“UNDP is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Well qualified candidates, particularly women and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply”.