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, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality (GE) and gender mainstreaming translate into action globally. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

Progress of North Macedonia in recent years respecting and promoting gender equality is highlighted in a series of international commitments and in national legal and policy frameworks. The main achievements in the field of gender equality and women’s empowerment reside in the country’s institutional capacity development for the work on gender equality. The legal provisions guaranteeing women’s rights and gender equality are largely in place – the Law of Equal Opportunities of Women and Men, the Election Law amendment instituting quotas, the Action Plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 (2020-2025), and the ratification of the Istanbul Convention are normative achievements that influence the institutional practice in promoting gender equality in North Macedonia.

However, gaps in policy development and slow implementation of the adopted legislation are important structural obstacles to achieving gender equality. Improvements are needed in both strengthening institutional capacities and enhancing cooperation between the gender mechanisms, the key ministries and civil society organizations in order to increase gender mainstreaming in all aspect of government work - primarily policy development and budgeting - as the means for achieving gender equality.

The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) presents a solid policy-driven approach, with strategic and dynamic deployment of assistance, putting the fundamental requirements for EU membership at the core of the instrument. It identifies six thematic windows as facets of the EU policy for enlargement, interlinked in a complementary manner, with several cross-cutting themes, such as gender equality and the rights-based approach, to be mainstreamed.

The SIDA-funded project “Gender Equality Facility” (GEF) aims at supporting the Government of North Macedonia in transposing the EU Gender Equality acquis, strengthening the effective implementation of national and international legal frameworks on gender equality and women’s rights, mainstreaming gender equality into EU integration and planning processes for pre-accession assistance, and strengthening institutional mechanisms for gender equality in line with EU standards. The intervention will also address challenges in implementation of laws and gender equality policies by providing support for enhancing coordination and monitoring of gender equality policies and measures. In the medium to longer-term, and in line with the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and the Principles of the EU Gender Action Plan III (2021-2025), the Project aims to secure implementation/application of gender equality legislation, policies and standards through policy dialogue, technical expertise and guidance, development and sharing of good practice, and strategic partnerships and cooperation.

Main partners of the Project are the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA, the main project beneficiary), Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) structures, the Equal Opportunities Department at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP), and National Gender Machinery officers.

The UN Women Office in North Macedonia is seeking the services of an experienced international consultant to provide support to the managerial, operational, and human resources of the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA), with specific focus on gender mainstreaming in the Sector Working Group (SWG) on Employment, Education and Social Policy.

Under the overall supervision of the UN Women North Macedonia GEF Project Manager, and direct supervision of the GEF Coordinator for Output 1, the International Consultant will provide substantive, strategic guidance and technical support on gender mainstreaming and EU integration to the SWG on Employment, Education and Social Policy, which will include the following tasks:

• Coordinate closely with the UN Women GEF Project Team and Coordinator for Output 1, the Head of Office as applicable, the Secretariat for European Affairs, the relevant IPA Departments/Units in the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, respective IPA coordinator/s, and members of the SWG on Employment, Education and Social Policy;
• Provide expert advice on EU-aligned gender mainstreaming in the scope of the work of the SWG on Employment, Education and Social Policy to SEA and the relevant IPA Coordinator(s), through the UN Women Office in North Macedonia, and troubleshoot as needed, incorporating national gender equality legislation, EU sector-specific gender mainstreaming guidance for the employment, education and social policy sectors, EU Gender Equality Law, the use of sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics, reflection of women’s and girls’ position, needs and entitlements, relevant Thematic Objectives of the EU Gender Action Plan III (2021-2025), and IPA III regulations;
• Maintain communication and good working relations with designated staff of the SEA;
• Conduct consultations with SEA and members of the SWG on Employment, Education and Social Policy on possibilities, modalities and procedures for gender mainstreaming/gender-responsive resource allocations;
• With a specific focus on gender equality, contribute to and provide comments/suggestions on (draft) documents of the SWG on Employment, Education and Social Policy, including rules and procedures, plans and strategies (such as documents related to employment, the labor market, social dialogue, social policy/reform, social services, social and economic inclusion, social protection and healthcare systems, education, modern family policies, and policies related to youth, among others), reports, briefings, background papers, summaries, knowledge products, and similar;
• Contribute to and provide comments/suggestions related to gender mainstreaming in the annual revision of activities and results envisaged in the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis 2021-2025, relevant to the thematic areas of employment, education and social policy;
• Regularly and actively participate in meetings of the SWG on Employment, Education and Social Policy, and support the SWG Coordinator to ensure consistent gender mainstreaming throughout the scope of work of the SWG on Employment, Education and Social Policy;
• Strategically advise on planning, meetings, and milestones of the work of the SWG on Employment, Education and Social Policy, including through strategic advice on the Performance Assessment Framework indicators for the relevant area;
• Support with technical advice the SWG on Employment, Education and Social Policy in achieving results on gender equality related to the thematic employment, education and social policy focus area in the EU accession processes;
• Identify gender training needs of government representatives engaged in the sector of employment, education and social policy;
• Identify and document good practices, technical expertise and strategic opportunities for promoting gender equality in the sector of employment, education and social policy and in the context of EU integration; suggest concrete measures and propose measurable indicators;
• Liaise with relevant technical staff in the EU Delegation in the country and with other supporting parties, as requested by the Project Manager and Coordinator for Output 1, in agreement with the UN Women Head of Office;
• Participate in and contribute to capacity development activities undertaken by the GEF Project as per the GEF Work Plan.

Throughout the assignment, the International Consultant is expected to:

• Maintain close contact with the GEF Coordinator for Output 1 and the GEF Project Manager;
• Provide regular briefings, status updates/reports, following an agreed timeframe;
• Liaise and coordinate with the UN Women GEF International Senior Gender Mainstreaming and EU Integration Consultant;
• Perform any other duty related to this ToR as assigned by the UN Women’s GEF Project Manager and Coordinator for Output 1, in agreement with the Head of Office.

Expected deliverables

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:

• Proven record of advanced knowledge on gender equality/gender mainstreaming;
• Excellent ability to review strategic documents from a gender perspective;
• Proven research, analytical and report writing skills;
• Excellent writing skills in English;
• Ability to work in coordination with multiple stakeholders;
• Ability to analytically review and consolidate documents from varying sources;
• Ability to lead and coordinate teams;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Excellent analytical skills and strong writing and editing skill.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

Academic Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (minimum master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, gender studies, economics, education, public policy, policy analysis, international development, or areas related or relevant to the requirements of the ToR.
• University Degree (Bachelor’s degree) with a combination of two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of work experience in the areas of employment and labor market policies, social policy reform, social and economic inclusion, social dialogue, social protection systems, healthcare systems, youth, education reform, access to/quality of education, and related fields, including analytical and research experience;
• A minimum of 5 years of engagement in gender analysis and gender mainstreaming at the level of policy development/review and programming in the areas of employment, education and social policy, and related fields;
• At least 3 years of practical experience in donor-funded labor-market, education and/or social reform projects in the EU (pre-) accession context that specifically address the gender dimension, including women’s and girls’ rights, needs and entitlements, gender equality, non-discrimination, as well as alignment with EU Gender Equality Law;
• Previous engagement in supporting EU approximation projects in employment, education and/or social policy in the countries of the Western Balkans, implemented in direct collaboration with government will be considered an asset;
• Proof of solid skills in coaching, facilitation, and institutional capacity development with government;
• Previous experience with international development organizations, EU Delegations, and/or the United Nations, is considered an advantage.

Language requirement:

• Fluency in English (written and spoken)

Other skills:

• Good computer skills in the Windows environment, knowledge of internet communication and command of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point), Zoom and MS Teams

Application Process

The application should include:

• Filled UN Women Personal History Form (P-11 form) - including past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted.
• Financial Proposal: Specify a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (per deliverable and any other possible costs as relevant). This information should also include a daily rate in USD;
• Candidates should have the ability to quickly produce degree certificates and medical certification (of good health) for consideration of the consultancy post.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit their application no later than the deadline indicated above:

• A Letter of Confirmation of Interest including a brief description explaining why the individual considers her/himself as the most suitable for the assignment.
• Completed and signed UN Women Personal History Form (P11) that can be downloaded at link:  UN Women Personal History Form (P11)  or https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment
• Financial Proposal specifying the total lumpsum in US Dollars for the tasks specified in this assignment. This information should also include a daily rate in USD.

Note: The application will be considered incomplete if it does not include the Financial Proposal.

Please upload your application package in one single pdf/doc as the system allows only one attachment.

Candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements (education/ years of experience and knowledge/language requirements) as presented below will not be considered for the assignment.

Management and financial arrangements

The consultant will report to and work under direct supervision of the UN Women GEF Project Manager and Output Coordinator for Result 1, in coordination with the UN Women Head of Office.

Payments will be made upon submission and approval of timesheets, and evaluation of the satisfactory performance by the direct supervisor upon approval of deliverables.

Evaluation process

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. Contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

•           Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and

•           Having received the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Technical Evaluation – 70 points:

Financial Evaluation – 30 points

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion. A suggested formula is as follows:

p = 30 (µ/z)

Using the following values:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided?on the basis of?qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women?has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.? All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)