Note: THOSE APPLICANTS WHO HAVE ALREADY APPLIED AND SUBMITTED ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IN THE PREVIOUS ADVERTISEMENT, NEED TO REAPPLY.

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; empowerment of women; and 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, 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.

The Government of Albania has made national and international commitments to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in many different socio-economic aspects. Several international conventions and platforms, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Beijing Platform for Action, demonstrate Albania’s commitment to the realization of women’s rights and the achievement of gender equality.

UN Women Albania Strategic Note (SN) 2022-2026 aims to ensure that “All Women and girls enjoy and exercise their human rights in a gender equal society and meaningfully contribute to Albania’s sustainable and inclusive socio- economic development and EU integration”. To achieve such result, across its interventions, UN Women Albania addresses key thematic areas in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022 – 2026, specifically Outcome C1: By 2026, governance is more transparent and accountable, enabling people and especially vulnerable groups, to enjoy quality, inclusive services, enhanced rule of law and access to justice in line with Albania’s human rights commitments; and Outcome C2: By 2026, gender responsive governance strengthens equality and non-discrimination, promotes women’s empowerment and human rights, and reduces violence against women and children.

Over the past years, UN Women in Albania has provided support to national and local stakeholders in strengthening democratic governance and advancing women’s rights through initiatives aimed at mainstreaming gender in policy planning and budgeting. UN Women is implementing a regional programme with participation of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Serbia, and North Macedonia on “Transformative Financing for Gender Equality towards more Transparent, Inclusive and Accountable Governance in the Western Balkans” (2020-2024) funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation (Sida). In Albania, the project supports the Government to institutionalize GRB across sectoral policies and programs with the aim of progressively advancing national and international Gender Equality and women’s empowerment commitments. One of the key components of the programme is focused on improving the capacities of budgets users at central and local level on the collection and use of disaggregated data and gender statistics.

In addition, UN Women is implementing jointly with UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA, the UN Joint Programme “Leave No One Behind 2”. With the aim of empowering vulnerable women to have equal access to public services that support their social rights, social inclusion, and well-being, in the context of the project, UN Women will provide support for improved collection of disaggregated data and use of gender statistics at local level to inform development and implementation of policies, plans and programmes on social protection and inclusion at the local level, improved monitoring and accountability of LGUs on service delivery and access by women and men, boys and girls in their diversity, including the most vulnerable. As such, UN Women plans to provide technical assistance to support relevant statistical institutions/offices and LGUs in strengthening capacities for improved data collection including through piloting digitalization of disaggregated data at the local level.

Since 2018, UN Women ECA RO is implementing a Flagship Programme Initiative (FPI): Making Every Woman and Girl Count: Supporting the monitoring and implementation of the SDGs through better production and use of gender statistics (Women Count) that aims to affect a radical shift in the production, availability, accessibility and use of quality data and statistics on key aspects of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Within the framework of Women Count Phase II, UN Women will be providing technical support in designing, planning, and implementing various data collection activities, and developing guidance and methodological research towards improving gender data collection, analysis, and use, but also exploring non-conventional data source to generate gender data and evidence.

In this framework, UN Women Albania is seeking to recruit a National Consultant to provide technical support in coordination with INSTAT and other data producers/providers in the area of gender data work and research across all the relevant gender equality and women’s empowerment thematic area, including Gender-responsive budgeting, LNOB, etc. The National Consultant will also support the knowledge and capacity development work of central and local level institutions with regard to mainstreaming disaggregated data into collection, analysis and use with the purpose of strengthening their capacities in the area of data driven interventions and policies and SDGs monitoring.

Under the direct supervision of the UN Women ECARO Gender Data Specialist and UN Women Albania Program Manager on National Planning and Budgeting and in close coordination with INSTAT, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MHSP), National Gender Equality Mechanism (NGEM) and other relevant partners, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

Facilitate institutional collaboration with national stakeholders:

• Build and manage relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of Gender Statistics work.
• Support data producers and users in mainstreaming and strengthening gender in data collection and reporting systems at the central and local level.
• Support the development of a national gender equality priority indicators to track progress and report on national and international commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment at the central and local level.
• Support the work on exploring and testing non-conventional data sources to fill in specific data gaps and generate new data and evidence on cross-cutting gender issues.
• Prepare and deliver tailored training on gender statistics and disaggregated data for budget users of line ministries and target municipalities on programme budgeting, GRB and M&E across sectors to develop/implement more gender responsive sector/cross-sectoral policies and legislation.
• Represent UN Women in inter-agency working groups and fora on research and data, as necessary.
• Facilitate institutional collaboration between budget users and statistics office on gender data needs.
• In collaboration with INSTAT and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and other stakeholders identify the needs and priorities for capacity building of authorities at the local level and central level to mainstream gender into sectoral data, including in the area of social services.
• Undertake an assessment of the relevant administrative data as primary data sources to inform gender responsive planning, monitoring and evaluation of sectorial policies at central, local level, in 15 Municipalities as per LNB 2 pool of municipalities and provide concrete recommendations for improved data disaggregation and use.
• Based on the results of the assessment, support the mainstreaming of disaggregated data and relevant gender indicators including support for data collection and statistics through suggested formats and piloting digitalization of data at the local and central level.
• Prepare presentations, briefs and short reports including participation in relevant meetings as requested by the Program Manager.

Support the gender data statistical literacy initiatives:

• Support the customization of already existing training modules on disaggregated data and gender statistics to increase the statistical literacy of different target groups and policy makers at local and central level.
• Support the piloting phase of training modules in close cooperation with the INSTAT.
• Participate in meetings, consultations and other events as requested the Program Manager.

Expected deliverables:

• A work plan comprising a detailed methodology, workplan and timelines.
• Training package (Agenda, presentations, handouts and exercises, evaluation form etc) for the set of trainings listed above.
• Quarterly report on progress achieved.
• Assessment report on the administrative data at the local level.
• Final consultancy report in English including minutes of main meetings and workshops with counterparts and partners.

All deliverables should be agreed with UN Women and be provided in English, in electronic copy. Reports and timesheets need to be duly signed and submitted to UN Women as per agreed deadlines.

Duration and remuneration:

The duration of the initial contract will be up to 120 working days in the period between April 2023 – March 2024 with the possibility of renewal based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds. A workplan will be set at the beginning of the contract with clear scheduled milestones/deliverables. This workplan will be agreed between the Consultant and Program Manager on National Planning and Budgeting and Regional Gender Data Specialist.

Installments will be made based on the quality of submitted and cleared deliverables as required in their workplan. This will also be accompanied by a time sheet submitted by the Consultant.

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

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:

• Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats, using appropriate IT skills and tools.
• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities.
• Ability to establish, build and sustain effective relationships with clients, demonstrating understanding of client’s perspective; anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly.
• Ability to thoroughly design and lead data collection and analysis initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills, including proficiency in academic writing and reporting. 
• Familiarity with results-based management and human rights-based programming will be an asset.

Academic requirements:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in statistics, gender statistics, mathematics, economics, social sciences, human rights, demography, gender/women -studies or related fields.

Work Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in socio-economic statistics in the context of a National Statistical System.
• At least 3 years of previous experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis and research on gender and development is required.
• Experience in data analysis using statistical software packages (e.g., Stata, SPSS) is required.
• Demonstrated work experience in conducting needs assessment and in developing and/or building capacities on gender statistics and indicators in policy development and monitoring.
• Previous work experience in the area of gender equality research as well as the legal and policy framework related to gender statistics and monitoring and evaluation.
• Previous experience or familiarity with the UN system or other international organizations would be an asset.

Language Requirements: Excellent written and oral English and Albanian communication skills are required.

• Financial Proposal specifying the total fee in Albanian Lek for the tasks (120 days).

Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services and travel- missions).

• Payment will be made as per the payment schedule in the contract upon (i) satisfactory completion of tasks; (ii) provision of deliverables specified in the ToRs; (iii) submission of and approval by UN Women of final draft; and (iv) submission of the certification of payment.

Presentation of Offer:

Qualified and interested candidates are required to apply online:

• A Letter of Confirmation of Interest including a brief description explaining why the individual considers her/himself as the most suitable for the assignment.
• Completed and signed UN Women Personal History Form (P11) that can be downloaded at link: UN Women Personal History Form (P11) or http://www.unwomen.org/en/about- us/employment
• Copies/links/samples of previous research/analyses/assessments or trainings developed/conducted on GE with use of sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics.
• Financial Proposal specifying a daily fee in ALL (Albanian Leke) for the tasks specified in this assignment, following the instructions under the above section on Duration and Remuneration.

NOTE: APPLICATIONS WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL OFFER WILL BE TREATED AS INCOMPLETE AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT.

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 has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Technical Evaluation –70 points:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in statistics, gender statistics, mathematics, economics, social sciences, human rights, demography, gender/women -studies or related fields (max 10 points).
• At least 5 years of experience in socio-economic statistics in the context of a National Statistical System; (20 points).
• At least 3 years of previous experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis and research on gender and development is required (10 points);
• Experience in data analysis using statistical software packages (e.g., Stata, SPSS) is required (5 points).
• Demonstrated work experience in conducting needs assessment and in developing and/or building capacities on gender statistics and indicators in policy development and monitoring (15 points)
• Previous work experience in the area of gender equality research as well as the legal and policy framework related to gender statistics, and monitoring and evaluation (5 points)
• Previous experience or familiarity with the UN system or other international organizations would be an asset (5 points)

Financial Evaluation – 30 points

• Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.
• 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. The calculation formula applied is as follow:

p = 30 (µ/z); where: p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated; µ = price of the lowest priced proposal; z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

Notes:

• Due to the large numbers of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.
• The consultancy post is open to local (Albanian) individuals or foreign individuals with valid temporary or permanent residence in Albania.
• Applications without the financial offer will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.
• The individual consultants should take the mandatory learning security course prior to commencement of assignment– details will follow before the issuance of contract.

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.)