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; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. UN Women’s engagement in humanitarian action and DRR is to ensure consistency and sustainability in addressing gender equality concerns across the humanitarian-development nexus. The importance of gender integration in Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is embedded in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, that acknowledges the impact of conflict and disasters on women, recognizing the importance of utilizing women’s contribution and active participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and relief and recovery. In addition, gender mainstreaming has also been included in the Sendai Framework for DRR (SFDRR) and was one of the key commitments from the World Humanitarian Summit held in Turkey in 2016.

COVID-19 cases including those from new variants are on the rise in the country. According to the reports, since January 2020 to January 2022, the total confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 24,261 with 1,335 deaths. This figure may be grossly underestimated due to the limited geographic coverage of testing for COVID-19 and low vaccine uptake as well as poor community awareness about prevention and mitigating the virus, especially among IDPs. The government is ill equipped to upscale COVID -19 prevention and mitigation measures. Thus, spread of COVID-19 is expected to continue impacting the livelihoods of vulnerable groups especially women who comprise 49% of the population estimated at 12, 316, 895. Even before the pandemic, Somalia women and girls are among the most vulnerable, in a country whose GDP is ranked the second lowest globally.

Like in many disaster settings, women’s health, livelihoods and bodily integrity are particularly at risk as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing vulnerabilities in social, political and economic systems. There are reports of increased domestic violence, sexual violence, femicide, harmful practices, sex trafficking including sexual harassment in work/public places thus risking their economic opportunities and heath.  These impacts are further amplified in contexts of fragility, conflict, and emergencies where social cohesion is already undermined and institutional capacity and services are limited. Within the constraints imposed by COVID-19 containment measures, women and girls are facing the brunt of sexual and gender based violence exacerbated by the fact that over 90% women have undergone female genital cutting, one of the greatest risks to their sexual and reproductive wellbeing.

The impacts of COVID-19 are continually challenging to mitigate due to perennial, multifaceted and continuous conflict, orchestrated by the Al-Shabaab insurgency and, exacerbated by drought, flooding and most recently, the locust invasion.  In October 2021, more than 60% (3.5 million) of the 5.9 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Somalia, are experiencing acute food insecurity. Humanitarian workers project that the number of people in need of assistance and protection will rise to 7.7 million people in 2022 (Humanitarian bulletin).

In this context and through the support of the Government of Japan, UN Women in Somalia is implementing a Project titled “Prevention of COVID-19 infections among women and girls displaced into IDP and refugee camps in ESAR” targeting to reach vulnerable women, men and youth.

Specific Outcomes of the Project are:

1. 8,800 vulnerable women, men and youth lead and participate in COVID-19 prevention, response and recovery interventions,
2. Improved leadership of 600 women and girls in COVID-19 prevention, response and recovery interventions,

UN Women Somalia is implementing the Project in partnership with two local CSOs namely Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD) and Somali Women Development Centre (SWDC) in Mogadishu, Baidoa, Garowe and Kismayo Districts.

Objectives of the assignment:

The main objective of this consultancy is to provide technical support and develop a strong gender sensitive monitoring and reporting mechanism as well as strengthen capacity of UN Women Somalia in timely quality M&E and reporting of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

The national consultant serves as the technical expert for monitoring and reporting for the LEAP Programme.  She/he will provide technical support to UN Women Somalia in areas of planning, progress tracking, consolidation and finalization of reports at the country level in collaboration with staff in the Country Office. She/he will ensure that the semi-annual report [due by mid-December] and the final report [due by 31 March 2023] are prepared and submitted in tandem with the results-based monitoring and conform to UN Women standards, guidelines and timelines.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Country Programme Manager, and in  close coordination with the LEAP Programme Specialist, the consultant will undertake the following responsibilities:

1. Provide technical support to the LEAP Programme Specialist on managing and supervision of the LEAP project implementing partners to ensure timely and quality delivery of Project Outputs,  
2. Support LEAP project monitoring, and facilitate preparation of a detailed LEAP project semi-annual and final reports in compliance with the results-based monitoring and conform to UN Women standards, guidelines and timelines
3. Provide hands on technical M&R capacity building to LEAP partners to engage in and lead Result-based monitoring and reporting processes
4. Conduct program bi-weekly review meeting with partners, and KIIs with stakeholders to monitor KPIs of the program.
5. Support and Monitor the community messaging channels and social media platforms applied by the project partners.

Expected Deliverables:

Deliverables & Work Schedule:

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

• Demonstrable ability to produce high quality reports in English within the humanitarian-development-peace nexus programming
• Demonstrable experience in technical support to implementation, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian action and disaster management programmes
• In-depth knowledge of gender equality, humanitarian action, conflict and disaster risk management.
• Ability to develop detailed work plans, and implement the same with a result-based management system
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate, physical, online workshops/learning sessions using a variety of pedagogical approaches.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, ability to foster networks and partnerships.
• Ability to complete complex assignments in a timely manner and delivery quality results.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in Program Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Disaster Risk Management, Humanitarian Affairs, Conflict Management, Social Sciences, Gender Equality, statistics and/or other social science related to the areas relevant for the assignment; a Bachelor’s degree may be considered with additional experience

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of proven experience in monitoring and reporting of humanitarian and development projects; Experience working on gender and women’s economic empowerment programming is highly preferred.
• Experience conducting consultative research, data collection and preparing project analytical reports
• Knowledge of policies and legal frameworks on gender equality, Disaster and Humanitarian crisis.
• Experience working with international organizations (experience in working in communication, documentation and reporting with UN agencies is an asset)

Language skills:

• Excellent verbal and written English.
• Knowledge of Somali will be considered an advantage.