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.

The UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Fiji covers 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs): Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The Fiji MCO current focus countries for programming are Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

The UN Women Fiji Multi-country office has four main thematic areas:

• Ending Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG);
• Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) which includes the Markets for Change project (M4C);
• Gender and Protection in Humanitarian Action; and
• Women’s Political Empowerment and Leadership.

Markets for Change (M4C) is a transformative gender equality and women’s economic empowerment project focused on supporting and developing safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory marketplaces in rural and urban areas of Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. M4C is implemented by UN Women in partnership with UNDP and the Governments of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of this assignment is to provide a translation of the M4C Getting Started Workshop and Annual Markets Survey. This assignment will build upon key existing work including the current draft documents to produce the following:

• Written translation of the Getting Started Toolkit
• Written translation of the M4C Annual Survey excel sheet

Objectives of the assignment

The main objective of this assignment is as follows:

• Translation of M4C Getting Started Participant Content – Total of 13 pages

1. Mapping of Market Form – 2 pages
2. Mapping of Market Table – 1 page
3. Model Constitution – 10 pages

• Translation of M4C Annual Excel Sheet Survey - Total of 799 rows | 35 columns | 970 words

1. Basic Data – 200 rows|7 columns |220 words
2. MVA Memberships and Representation – 270 rows| 4 columns|305 words
3. Training of MVA members -137 rows | 6 columns |181 words
4. Other Services – 97 rows|6 columns| 135 words
5. Infrastructure - 83 rows|6 columns| 111 words
6. Disability Access – 12 rows | 6 columns|18 words

Scope of Work/Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UN Women’s Country Programme Coordinator (CPC) and M4C Project Coordinator in Samoa and UN Women’s Fiji Multi-Country Office and working in collaboration with project partners including representatives of the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development, the translator will undertake the tasks as outlined in the expected deliverables table in Section VI.

Written Translation & Proof Reading:

• Check/correct grammar including spelling, punctuation, syntax and general usage of the Samoan language.
• Checking for overall clarity and consistency of style, tone and sentence structure;
• Ensure correct and consistent terminology is used throughout the document.
• Removing inconsistencies in word use, meaning and format;
• Removing wordiness, inappropriate terms or jargon;
• Translating to improve the structure and space usage without changing the original meaning;
• Ensuring the consistency of formats for text content, Tables, Figures, Annexes etc.;
• Incorporate the changes into the document/excel (one document as track changes and one document with the accepted changes);
• Check that the footnotes and references are done in the accepted Harvard style referencing system.

The contracted consultant will be expected to initially review existing materials provided by UN Women.

It is expected that the consultant will work in a participatory manner with the project teams.  The approach must ensure inclusivity with a range of stakeholders including remote rural women, SOGI people and persons with disabilities. 

Duration of the assignment

The duration of this assignment will be up to 31 working days over a period of two (2) months starting from the April 2023 and cease of contract in June 2023.

The Consultant is expected to work on the deliverables as specified in Section VI below.

Expected Deliverables

The assignment should be carried out within a period of approximately 31 working days over two (2) work assignments, with the incumbent being responsible for delivering the following outputs:

All the documents including deliverables, including consultation material and reports should be written in the English / Samoan language and in electronic copy.

Note that all materials, including any media and images, will remain property of UN Women and cannot be used without UN Women’s permission.

Upon receipt of the deliverables and prior to the payment of the instalment, the deliverables, related reports, and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women within one week of submission.

Inputs

UN Women will provide the consultant with background materials for the project. Specifically, the Getting Started Workshop materials and the M4C Annual Survey questionnaires

The individual is expected to work remotely using their own computers but may access the UN Women office in Apia for printing of relevant documents or should he/she be required to work on-site at any point during the assignment.

UN Women will review all documents and reports within one week of submission. 

The Consultant will then submit final documents that incorporate and respond to UN Women feedback.

Performance evaluation

Contractor’s performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

Financial arrangement

Payment will be disbursed upon submission and approval of deliverables and certification by the Representative, UN Women Fiji MCO (or her nominated delegate) that the services have been satisfactorily performed.

Payment will be made within 10 (ten) days after receipt and acceptance of the specified deliverable and corresponding invoice but only after UN Women have certified that the services have been satisfactorily performed by the Consultant.

Travel

There are no of short-term missions within Samoa.  No international travel is expected.

If required, during the consultancy assignment’s related missions, UN Women Fiji Multi Country Office will cover travel cost for the Consultant for the agreed upon routing and in conformity with UN Women applicable travel rules and regulations.

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:

• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations
• Good analytical skills

Required experience and qualifications

The Consultant should fulfil the following requirements:

Education

• Completion of secondary education required.
• Completion of Certificate / Diploma at tertiary level is an asset.
• Bachelor’s degree in Samoan Studies, Language, Linguistics, Communications, or Journalism is an asset.
• Postgraduate degree(s) in a relevant discipline is desirable but not mandatory

Work Experience

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in providing support to the formulation and implementation of internal and external communications and advocacy strategies and related plans.
• Minimum of 3 year of relevant experience in communications, translation is required.
• Very good creative skills and advanced command in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Solid understanding of printing and production matters and knowledge of different formats for printing is required.
• Work experience in the field of gender equality and women’s empowerment is a strong asset.
• Previous working experience with the UN and other international organizations is an asset.

Language and Other Skills

• Highly proficient in written and spoken Samoan
• Good command of English both written and oral.
• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, ability to use the Internet and email.

Evaluation

Initially, individual consultants will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:

• Completion of secondary education required.  Completion of Certificate / Diploma at tertiary level is an asset.  Bachelor’s degree in Samoan Studies, Communications, Public Relations, or Journalism is an asset.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in providing translation support to the formulation and implementation of internal and external communications and advocacy strategies and related plans.

The short-listed individual consultants will be further evaluated based on a cumulative analysis scheme, with a total score being obtained upon the combination of weighted technical and financial attributes.  Cost under this method of analysis is rendered as an award criterion, which will be 30% out of a total score of 100 points.

Evaluation of submitted offers will be done based on the following formula:

where:

Technical evaluation will be represented through desk review of applications. Interviews and/or written tests will be organized if needed only, depending on the short-listed candidates’ qualifications.

Technical Qualification Evaluation Criteria: The technical part is evaluated based on its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR).

Financial Evaluation Criteria: In this Second Stage, the financial proposal of candidates, who have attained minimum 70% score in the technical evaluation (at least 49 points), will be compared.

WINNING CANDIDATE

The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring + financial scoring).

Submission of application

Interested candidates are requested to submit fully completed application on the UNDP Vacancy Site. 

Submission Package:

1. Cover letter explaining the suitability of the consultant: applicants are encouraged to address experience and qualifications listed in the ‘criteria for technical evaluation’.
2. Duly filled Personal History Form (P11) and/or Curriculum Vitae (CV) of Consultant including records of past experience in similar assignments and specific outputs obtained; P11 can be downloaded at: https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment
3. 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 amount (daily rate and number of anticipate working days and any other possible costs).
4. Please read, use and complete ANNEX I and ANNEX II below to provide your financial proposal.

Applications without a complete financial proposal will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.  UN Women reserves the right to accept or reject any bid.

The consultancy recruitment process will be governed by the rules and regulations of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

UN Women Statement on Diversity and Inclusion:

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).

Deadline of all submission: 30th March 2023

Annex I

Price Proposal Guideline and Template

The prospective Individual Contractor should take the following explanations into account during submission of his/her price proposal.

1.Lump Sum Amount

The price proposal should indicate a "lump sum amount" which is "all-inclusive"; All costs (professional fees, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Individual Contractor needs to be factored into the proposed price.

UN Women will not withhold any amount of the payments for tax and/or social security related payments. UN Women shall have no liability for taxes, duties, or other similar charges payable by the Individual Contractor in respect of any amounts paid to the Individual Contractor under this Contract, and the Contractor acknowledges that UN Women will not issue any statements of earnings to the Individual contractor in respect of any such payments.

Contract price is fixed to activities/deliverables indicated in the ToR, regardless of the changes in the cost components (such as days invested for completion of the deliverables).

2.Travel costs

No travel is envisaged for the implementation of the current assignments.

3.Daily Subsistence Allowance

Not applicable.

4.Currency of the price proposal

The applicants are requested to submit their price proposals in WST$.  

In case of proposals in other currency, these shall be converted into WST$ using the official UN exchange rate for currency conversion at the date of applications’ submission deadline.

Annex II

Price Proposal Submission Form

[ Mandatory document for the Consultant to complete and submit]

To:          United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Ref:         IC/SSA National Consultant - To provide translation in the development of Culturally Responsive Materials for Markets for Change Project (M4C), UN Women Samoa Office

Dear Sir / Madam,

I, the undersigned, offer to provide professional consulting services to UN Women within the scope of the referred Assignment.  Having examined, understood, and agreed to the Terms of Reference and its annexes, the receipt of which are hereby duly acknowledged, I, the undersigned, offer to deliver professional services, in conformity with the Terms of Reference.

My maximum total price proposal for the assignment is given below:

Estimated Costs (in WST$)

*** Please be informed that for shorter assignments than a full day, the daily rate will be pro-rated into hourly rate.

I confirm that my financial proposal will remain unchanged.  I also confirm that the price that I quote is gross, and is inclusive of all legal expenses, including but not limited to social security, income tax, pension, etc., which shall be required applicable laws.

I agree that my proposal shall remain binding upon me for the duration of 60 days.

I understand that you are not bound to accept any proposal you may receive.