Background

UN Women (UNW), 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 centre of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates the 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.

UN Women plays an innovative and catalytic role in the State of Palestine since its inception in 1997. UN Women Palestine Country Office focuses its activities on one overarching goal, namely, to support the implementation at the national level of existing international commitments to advance gender equality in line with the national priorities. In support of this goal, and thoroughly taking into consideration the specificities of the Palestinian context, UN Women concentrates its efforts and interventions toward the realisation of following strategic goals:  Mainstreaming gender in governance, peace and security; Supporting women's economic security and rights; Promoting women’s rights and protection against violence, and; A comprehensive and dynamic set of global norms, policies and standards on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls is strengthened and implemented.

In line with the Palestinian Government’s commitment to combat Violence against Women (VAW), and in full partnership with the security, justice and social sectors’ actors, including the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP), the Attorney General Office (AGO), the High Judicial Council (HJC), Sharia Courts and the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD); UN Women in Palestine is currently implementing jointly with UNDP and UNICEF the SAWSAYA II Programme “Promoting the Rule of Law in Palestine”.  The Programme supports the process of institutionalization and capacity development of the security, Justice and social sectors. Under this Programme, UN Women is working in close cooperation and coordination with the PCP, HJC, AGO and MoSD on gender mainstreaming and the institutionalization of gender responsive services, by targeting relevant departments and units within these institutes, namely the Police Family & Juvenile Protection Unit (FJPU), the One Stop Centre (OSC), the Specialised Prosecution on Protecting Family from Violence (SPP), and Women Protection Unit at the MoSD (WPU), the VAW specialized judiciary at HJC.

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) experience stigma and discrimination universally, driven by multiple attitudinal barriers, prejudice and stereotypes, which limit both the full exercise of rights of PWDs and sustainable development.  Women and girls with disabilities are particularly impacted from intersectional stigma and discrimination based on gender and disability. In addition to the familial and societal violence that they usually face, they are also denied access to sheltering services based on the Cabinet’s decision of 2011 on sheltering services.

Moreover, based on assessments conducted under Shaml programme, service providers within the justice, social and security sectors are not capacitated in general to provide responsive and inclusive services to women with disabilities. They lack of relevant knowledge and skills among service providers to effectively manage cases of women with disabilities in a manner that prevents their revictimization, and ensure their privacy and the confidentiality of their cases. Further to that, the policies and procedures that are applied at justice, security and social institutions are not responsive to the rights and needs of this group.

UN Women Sawasya II  programme,  under the umbrella of the  UNDP/ UN Women Global programme on disability, focuses on developing tools to generate evidence of disability related stigma and discrimination, and changing behaviour through using behavioural insight approaches  to design and pilot interventions for behavioural change in project countries and evaluate their impact.

Against this backdrop, UN Women plans to recruit a national consultant to support developing a chapter on cases of violence against women with disabilities, to be added to the case conference manual that is used by stakeholders in cases of violence against women, under the leadership of the MoSD, to support guiding informed decisions regarding the actions that will be taken by responsible service providers to provide due protection to women survivors of violence  

Objectives of the assignment:

1. To support the MoSD to develop a chapter on cases of violence against women with disabilities, in line with the rights, needs, and specificities of women with disabilities, to be added to the case conference manual. The developed chapter should acknowledge and respond to the different types of disabilities.

2. To facilitate discussions and barnstorming sessions, as needed, between concerned stakeholders, including women social counselors, the family prosecution, the FJPU, CSOs representatives and others, on the developed chapter. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UN Women Special Representative in the State of Palestine, the direct supervision of SAWASYA UN Women Programme Specialist, and working in close cooperation and coordination with UN Women technical team and the MoSD focal points, the selected consultant will undertake the following tasks, duties, and responsibilities:

1. Inception phase:

• To meet with relevant stakeholders and UN Women to prepare for the assignment.
• To review and develop a full understanding of the case conference manual that is used by stakeholders under the leadership of the MoSD.
• To prepare an inception report that includes the workplan with timeline, the methodology reflecting the discussions with the stakeholders and UN Women, the criteria against which the chapter on cases of violence against women with disabilities will be developed, and key deliverables.

2. Implementation phase:

• To conduct literature review for national, regional and global references and frameworks related to multi-sectoral protection services to women with disabilities, highlighting key considerations, practices, tools, and principles that should be taken into full consideration in cases of protection services to women with disability.
• To form a reference committee that includes representation from the MoSD relevant departments, 2 CSOs representatives, relevant service providers focal points, and UN Women.
• To conduct brainstorming sessions with the reference committee to discuss the challenges facing women with disabilities in their pursuance of justice, and the challenges facing service providers in the management of cases of violence against women with disabilities.
• Based on the discussions, and in line with the developed criteria, to develop and submit a draft chapter on the cases of women with disabilities, to be added to the conference manual, for UN Women and the reference committee review and inputs.
• To amend the draft chapter based on comments received by UN Women and the reference committee and submit a final version for UN Women’s approval.

3. Reporting:

To prepare a narrative report on the assignment, highlighting the methodology that was used, the achievements, challenges, and recommendations. The report should include a list in the people who were interviewed, a list in the reference committee, and the main points discussed in the meetings as annex.

Deliverables: 

1. An approved inception report, with work plan, methodology and criteria. (Two weeks after the signing of the contract)
2. An approved draft chapter (Forty-five days after signing the contract)
3. An approved chapter on cases of women with disabilities within the framework of the case conference manual, in addition to a narrative report. (Two months after signing the contract)

Competencies

Core Values

• Respect for Diversity;
• Integrity;
• Professionalism.

Core Competencies

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

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

Functional Competencies:

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Proven networking, organizational and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A BA degree in gender, human rights, social studies, or any other related field. A Master’s degree is an asset.

Experience:

• At least 3 previous assignments on women with disabilities, preferably in the area of protection of women with disabilities.
• At least 3 previous assignments on developing SoPs, policies, or strategies for women with disabilities.
• At least 2 previous assignments with the justice, security and social sectors.
• Experience with the UN system or/and International Organizations.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Arabic and professional knowledge of English. 

Evaluation Criteria:

This SSA modality is governed by UN Women General Terms and Conditions. UN Women will only be able to respond to applicants who meet the minimum requirements.

Candidates should clearly indicate how they meet the above-mentioned criteria in their applications.

The following documents should be submitted as part of the application. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials:

• UN Women P11 including experience in similar assignments; the P11 form can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted;
• A sample of previously developed research, or SoPs, or policy or strategy on women with disabilities.

Note: Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Please upload as one attachment of the documents as mentioned above online through this website

Candidates should have the ability to quickly submit degree certificates, medical certification (of good health) expression of Interest (EoI).

Evaluation of applicants:

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications mentioned above, and financial proposal. A contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer receives the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 50 points in the technical evaluation will be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Evaluation (70%) – max. 70 points.

• A BA degree in gender, human rights, social studies, or any other related field. A Master’s degree is an asset. (max. 10 points)
• At least 3 previous assignments on women with disabilities, preferably in the area of protection of women with disabilities. (max. 20 points)
• At least 3 previous assignments on developing SoPs, policies, or strategies for women with disabilities. (max. 15 points)
• At least 2 previous assignments with the justice, security and social sectors.  (max. 10 points)
• Experience with the UN system or/and International Organizations. (max. 5 points)
• A sample of previously developed research, or SoPs, or policy or strategy on women with disabilities. (max. 10 points)

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

Only long-listed candidates will be contacted.

Financial proposal. Shortlisted candidate will be requested to submit a financial proposal. The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount breaking down a daily professional fee, proposed number of working days and any related expenses, i.e. travel and communications expenses.