1. Background

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; the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development; human rights; as well as 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 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.

In the current COVID-19 and War in Ukraine, within these crises, women and girls have been disproportionately negatively affected. From employment losses and income insecurity (with most women concentrated in service industries, in MSME sectors, in informal employment to an increase in their unpaid care work. Domestic violence, which has spiked as a result of stay-at-home orders, and increased food insecurity limit women’s bargaining power within households. In short, such crisises threaten the hard-won progress made towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. Worse, the crisises can actually reverse gains made towards gender equality, and roll-back progress needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Given the disproportionate adverse impacts that the crisis has on women and girls, it is imperative that gender equality concerns are embedded in national fiscal stimulus packages and socio-economic recovery plans as well as in the design of national policy responses.

Furthmore the current regional situation is exacerbating and deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing vulnerabilities in social, political, economic, and biodiversity systems, which are in turn amplifying the impacts of the pandemic. The most pervasive of these inequalities is gender inequality. Gender equality and the inclusion of women in the response, in line with SDG 5, is  critical in order not to risk backsliding on limited rights gained and jeopardizing the attainment of the SDGs as a whole.

Reflective of the above, UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia,  is seeking to recruit specialist to under a retainer contract based on demand to deliver tasks as outlined below. The consultant will work closely with relevant and under the supervision of the hiring manager, provide support to colleagues at Regional Office, UN Women Country Offices in the region.

2. Scope of Work and Specific Tasks

Under the direct supervision of the ECARO Programme Specialist and under technical supervision of the Regional Gender Responsive Budgeting Specialist and the Regional Governance and Leadership Adviser, and in close coordination with UN Women colleagues at national level in the ECA region, the consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

• Provide technical advice to UN Women offices within the ECA region to identify gender gaps in the socio-economic responses (macroeconomic policy and actions, care economy,  trade,  investments and economic cooperation, etc.) and recovery plans relating to COVID-19 recovery and the anti-crisis plans addressing then impact of the  ongoing crises, including war in Ukraine and impacts of sanctions.
• Assess the socio-economic responses based on data and evidence generated by the rapid gender assessment of UN Women and other key indicators and statistics to identify gender specific needs and priorities based on LNOB approach in the responses.
• Provide technical advice/support to ECARO and ECA Country Offices on efforts to advise governments to reduce or mitigate negative economic and social impact of COVID-19 and war in Ukraine on women and girls and other vulnerable group and prepare tailored recommendations.
• Identify new and innovative policy solutions and approaches for women´s economic empowerment in the context of crises, conflicts and post-conflict recovery, suggest potential partners and convene policy dialogues.  
• As requested, provide advice on how to strengthen the gender approach in the UNSDCF and UN Framework for Socio-Economic Response addressing impacts of the COVID-19 and war in Ukraine.
• Identify new and innovative approaches for women´s economic empowerment programming and potential partners and guide country offices on programme-related planning and actions.
• Participate in different panels organised by UN Women offices (on request) and serve as guest speaker and/or provide technical support.
• Where asked upon, provide technical inputs to Resource Mobilization related documentation
• Other related deliverables as agreed with supervisor.

3. Deliverables and Timeline

As this will be a retainer contract, the consultant will set out a monthly plan of proposed activities in line with the below deliverables.

The Supervisor will authorise any day/s work with the consultant before work is begun on any given deliverable confirming the source of the work, the required output and the number of days that will be needed to complete the work.

Each piece of work will be reviewed and signed off by the supervisor to ensure that it is of an acceptable standard.

1. Desk review of countries socio-economic plans and other relevant documents relevant to the assignment from a gender perspective.
2. Contribution and review of number of country-specific, regional, or global policy documents, country-level socio-economic frameworks and global or regional products on women´s economic recovery.
3. Technical  guidance provided to ECA Regional Office and Country Offices in advancing women´s economic empowerment and recovery after war in Ukraine or COVID-19 or related.
4. Technical advice and support provided in strengthening gender approach in UN Common Country Assessment updates, UNSDCFs and other global or regional Frameworks, Policies or knowledge Products for Economic Recovery
5. Participate in expert panel discussions on women´s economic empowerment and socio-economic recovery plans as per regional and country demands
6. Provide technical advice and support to enhancing UN Women´s support to the empowerment of displaced and crisis affected Women and girls in ECA region, to better support displaced, refugee or crisis/conflict affected women´s livelihood opportunities and access to income generation.
7. Prepare policy briefs with recommendations for innovative policy solutions and approaches to address and advance socio-economic empowerment of women and marginalized groups in and after emergency situations.
8. Prepare a paper on labour market policies and economic support offered to women (and marginalized groups, including in the context of crises) in Europe and Central Asia  
9. Prepare briefs on recommendations for innovative approaches to include more women and young girls from vulnerable settings into jobs, and assess opportunities for women SMEs/entrepreneurs to enter business demand-supply chains, including economic recovery schemes by local governments and businesses
10. Present policy recommendations in regional virtual policy dialogues on women’s socio-economic empowerment and livelihood opportunities in Present policy recommendations in regional virtual policy dialogues on women’s socio-economic empowerment and livelihood opportunities in the context of post war in Ukraine and COVID-19 recover
11. Provide technical thematic inputs to support Resource Mobilization and ProDoc related documentation development.
12. Develop any other thematically related documentation as requested to support the ECA region as agreed upon by the supervisor and in line with the requirements of this TOR.
13. Provide technical advice and support on developing of a technical guidance/note on how to assess the impact of COVID-19 on GEWE at country level
14. Provide technical advice and analysis related to regional gender assessments of the socio-economic implications of the war in Ukraine across the region, including in refugee response countries.

The consultant will submit monthly reports on all agreed work carried out and completed to the supervisor, this report should include the deliverables completed and number of days worked.

Once agreed, monthly payment will be certified by the hiring manager for processing.

4. Duration of Assignment 

The time required for the consultancy is up to 100 working days within the period indicated, and the consultant will be engaged on a job by job basis.

There is no commitment or guarantee given by UN Women regarding the minimum number of days work to be given to the consultant under this contract.

5. Contract Supervision

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Regional Peace, Security and Humanitarian Specialist, who will be responsible for the quality assurance of the deliverables, and the Regional GRB Technical Adviser and work closely with colleagues at UN Women, Regional office, Istanbul and UN Women Country offices in the region.

6. Schedule of Payments 

Payment to be made on a monthly basis upon satisfactory submission of specific deliverables. All deliverables must meet the specified requirements and be signed off as acceptable by the Hiring Manager.

7. 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:

• Excellent knowledge of thematic area
• Excellent networking skills
• Ability to interact with donors, identify and analyse trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising
• Ability to perform qualitative and quantitative policy research
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Ability to write policy papers, speeches, briefings.

8. Qualifications 

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in gender studies, economics, finance, or any other area relevant to the requirements of the TOR.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 7 years progressively responsible experience in gender, women´s rights, women´s economic empowerment, feminist economy or socio-economic response, recovery or related area of work;
• Experience in drafting analytical reports, policy and strategic documents;
• Experience in working with diverse public and private actors on gender and socio-economic empowerment and response;
• Experience working with UN Women is an asset;
• Experience working in the Europe and Central Asia region is an asset.
• Experience in working in post conflict/crisis settings relating to economic empowerment, preferably within the region is considered an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluence in written and spoken English is required.

9. Application Procedure

The following documents should be submitted as part of the application:

• Cover letter to include a brief overview in English (unedited text) about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position.
• P11 with past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted.
• Financial Proposal (Specifying 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 on a daily basis.
• Previous Work - The candidate should provide examples/portfolio samplings of past work completed in the last seven years.

10. Evaluation of Applicants

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

1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
2. Having received the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

Financial Evaluation (30%) – max. 30 points:

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.)