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. Kosovo’s progress in 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 Kosovo’s institutional capacity development for the work on gender equality.
The Gender Equality Facility (GEF) is designed to support Kosovo in ensuring that through the EU accession process, gender equality is mainstreamed across sectors, and the gender equality mechanism is strengthened, with the ultimate result of more equitable socio-economic development outcomes for women, men, girls, and boys in candidate countries of South-East Europe.
As the Government of Kosovo prepares itself to align with the broader EU acquis in a wide range of sectors, it is prioritizing investment in particular sectors with specific areas of social and economic reform, providing for adoption of a comprehensive sector-based approach to development. Aligned with the Kosovo Program for Gender Equality 2020-2024, the overall goal of the Action is to support Kosovo in accelerating progress on gender equality by specifically strengthening those institutional structures, processes and procedures that are responsible for transposing the EU Gender Equality acquis and integrating gender-responsiveness into policy and governance.
A set of activities has been identified to reach expected results, focusing on increasing the absorption capacity for implementing the EU Gender Equality acquis through access to technical guidance, tools, and harmonized methodologies; capacity development, coaching and advice; and the provision of technical assistance for gender mainstreaming in support of priority reforms/ sectors and (recovery) plans. The project objectives will be achieved by increasing long-term capacities of operating structures and public institutions to mainstream gender at all levels and across sectors, with particular focus on strengthening equal opportunities for women, men, girls, and boys, notably for those facing the greatest risk of being marginalized, excluded, and left behind. In the medium to longer-term, and in line with EU Gender Action Plan III, the Action 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. The Action will focus on the following key results:
The first expected Result is that sector reforms, strategies, development programmes, and plans are aligned with the EU Gender Equality acquis and consistently reflect gender responsiveness. Secondly, at local government unit/service provision level, the Action will support the process of translating EU and national gender equality policy to the local level, so that local government units apply gender mainstreaming to policies and plans, and implement gender-responsive actions in accordance with their mandate. The third expected Result is that increasingly, gender mainstreaming is implemented throughout IPA programs, and policy dialogue between the EU and Kosovo institutions addresses gender equality concerns in line with EU GAP III.
The programme objectives will be achieved by increasing long term capacities of operating structures and public institutions to mainstream gender at all levels and across sectors, with particular focus on strengthening equal opportunities for women and men, girls, and boys, notably for those facing the greatest risk of being marginalized, excluded, and left behind. In the medium to longer-term, and in line with EU Gender Action Plan III, the Action 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.
Among a range of concerning effects, the COVID-19 crisis has amplified women’s precarious status on the labor market, women’s and girls’ exposure to violence, and made visible the challenges to providing essential services to populations in rural and under-served areas. This intervention at local government unit level will provide technical support to municipalities for translating the EU Gender Equality acquis and national gender equality policy to the local level, so that local government units increasingly apply gender mainstreaming in local planning and implement gender-responsive actions in accordance with their mandate.
To technically support this process, the UN Women Office in Kosovo seeks to recruit an International Senior Gender Mainstreaming and Local Governance Expert who will facilitate the use of standardized gender mainstreaming tools for local government; and coach and facilitate the preparation, updating, and costing of Local Gender Action Plans, in line with CEMR regulations, guidance on gender- and socially responsive governance, and EU standards. The International Expert will work under the direct supervision of the UN Women Head of Office, coordinate with the Project Manager, and closely collaborate with the Output Coordinator for Output 2.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:
Under the supervision of the UN Women Head of Office in Kosovo, the International Senior Gender Mainstreaming and Local Governance Expert is responsible for performing the below key activities:
- Providing technical assistance to MLGA for enhancing gender equality/mainstreaming in legislation, policy and periodic performance monitoring at municipal level;
- Gender mainstreaming training sessions with local government units;
- Training of Facilitators/Trainers for introducing and applying the European Charter for Equality-tools in municipalities;
- Providing technical support and guidance to selected municipalities for local gender action planning in line with the articles of the European Charter for Equality of women and men in local life, and the Kosovo Programme for Gender Equality;
- Facilitating the introduction and supporting the use of standardized tools for gender-responsive local governance and its monitoring;
- Reviewing analyses, policy and advocacy messages, and documents in support of inclusive, gender-responsive local governance (including in rural areas), and supporting the channeling of recommendations to the central level;
- Supporting communicating gender mainstreaming & local governance to the wider public, in partnership with municipalities and women’s civil society organizations;
- Support to strategic regional networking and exchange among local government units;
- Participation in relevant online and in person meetings with partners and stakeholders, and in team meetings, as requested;
- Any other tasks assigned by the supervisor within the subject area of the ToR.
Impact of Results
The intervention will support selected Local Government Units (LGUs) in updating/revising their local Gender Action Plan, thereby translating SDGs, the EU Gender Equality acquis, and international and national commitments on gender equality and women’s rights into concrete action at local level.
Deliverables and Timeline | |
Deliverables | Timeframe |
Quarterly Workplan including tasks and deliverables, signed off by the Head of Office | Within two weeks of start of the consultancy |
Quarterly review and update of Workplan; and summary of deliverables and tasks performed | On a quarterly basis |
Mission reports | Within two weeks after end of mission |
Support to municipal staff in drafting/updating the individual Local Gender Action Plan in line with CEMR guidance, including structuring, prioritisation, responsibilities, indicators, budget, timeline, and partners; coach LGUs’ follow-up with official CEMR/Charter procedures. - Draft Gender Action Plans | As per given deadlines |
Review and undertake quality control of final Local Action Plans. - Final Gender Action Plans | As per given deadlines |
Contribution to Mid-Term Review | As per given deadlines |
Contribution to relevant sections of strategic national documents within the subject area of the ToR | On demand |
Support to introducing standardized tools and methods for gender mainstreaming at local level, including its monitoring | As per given deadlines |
Presentation of main elements, insights and recommendations resulting from the assignment in official events with relevant stakeholders and Development & Integration Partners | On demand |
Inputs for UN Women GEF Quarterly Updates | As per given deadlines |
Final report with indication of key achievements, deliverables, and recommended follow-up action | Two weeks prior to the end of contract |
Payment Schedule:
Payment to be released on a quarterly basis upon the receipt of timesheets and approval of all deliverables by the UN Women Head of Office.
Evaluation of applicants
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 receives 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.
Criteria | Total points | Max. Points |
Technical Evaluation (70%) | 70 | |
| 10 | |
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| 20 |
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| 20 |
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| 15 |
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| 5 |
Financial Evaluation (30%) | 30 | |
TOTAL | 100 |
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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, colour, 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.)
Competencies
Core Values:
Core Competencies:
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 Functional Competencies
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Capacity to work under pressure and to meet strict deadlines.
Required Skills and Experience
VI. Recruitment Qualifications
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Education and certification: |
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Experience: |
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Language Requirements: |
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Other skills |
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VII. Application Procedure:
The following documents should be submitted as part of the application:
- Cover letter, to include: (i) a brief overview about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position; and (ii) a brief outline methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work.
- 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, number of anticipated working days).
- P11: including experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment