UN Women is 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 center of all its efforts, UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action.

The four-year Strategic Note (SN), covering 2022-2025 of the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) and guided by the corporate Strategic Plan (SP), outlines strategic direction, objectives and approaches to support efforts to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls across the region in key areas: women’s leadership and political participation; women’s economic empowerment; elimination of violence against women and girls; peace, security and humanitarian action; and support to intergovernmental processes.

To end violence against women, UN Women supports the development of an enabling legislative and policy environment on eliminating violence against women and all forms of discrimination; promotes favorable social norms and attitudes to prevent gender discrimination and violence against women; and pursues empowering women and girls who have experienced discrimination or violence to advocate for and use available, accessible, and quality services. It also works on analysis, research, and knowledge management to provide an evidence base to inform UN Women partners’ and teams’ policy and programming intervention. 

As highlighted in the Secretary General’s report to UNGA77, more needs to be done to effectively prevent and respond to new and escalating forms of online violence, including by governments and technology intermediaries. Existing laws, policies, and frameworks to prevent and respond to VAWG have not kept pace with technological developments, and there are significant gaps in knowledge and evidence of what works in preventing online VAWG which is crucial to inform evidence-based prevention and response frameworks and interventions.  In order to better understand the prevalence and types of digital violence, their consequences on women and women’s attitudes towards them, UN Women is undertaking a research in 12 countries of the ECA region – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo , Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Ukraine.

Furthermore, UN Women ECARO develops and manages regional level programmes and provides policy and technical support to regional and country offices on EVAW and positive social norms, including an ongoing initiative to support the foundations for establishing femicide watches in the region. "Implementing norms, changing minds" aims to support a reduction in discrimination and violence against women and girls in the Western Balkans and Turkey, anchored in the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Istanbul Convention, and also in alignment with European Union accession standards. The programme is funded by the European Commission under IPA II. The programme channels its interventions through and to women's organizations, particularly to those working with women from disadvantaged groups.

Within this context, the UN Women ECA is seeking the services of an international consultant to support reporting, drafting and editing of key reports and communications products of the programme “Implementing norms, changing minds” and to support the research on online and technology-facilitated violence under the supervision of the Regional Programme Manager.

Purpose of Assignment:

The main purpose of this consultancy is to support advocacy initiatives, and produce, edit and review reports and briefs to strengthen timely and quality reporting of the programme ¨Implementing Norms, Changing Minds¨, and to provide support to undertake the research on online violence in the ECA region.

The consultant will support the timely consolidation, editing and submission of high-quality donor reports, and to a lesser extent of briefs, researches and concept notes, in adherence to set standards and donor obligations; as well as support in the implementation of advocacy initiatives in support to civil society organizations. This will include ensuring the completeness, coherence, correctness and formatting of reports and other documents.

The consultant will also support the research related tasks including liaising with key stakeholders, reviewing and editing draft agendas, reports and advocacy products.

In order to achieve the objectives, the tasks of the consultant will include but will not be necessarily limited to the following:

Regional programme

• Support in donor reporting required in the framework of Contribution Agreement with the donor
• Support the writing and editing of reports and written contributions for various purposes including inputs for technical aspects of reports in order to ensure that technical and language quality of written work is of a professional standard
• Produce, edit, and review background documents, reports as needed for the programme
• Closely cooperate and coordinate with regional programme manager for the quality, development, and completion of all reports
• Supporting the programme manager on research and data analysis for advocacy work in support to civil society organizations

Research on online and technology-facilitated violence

• Support in drafting and editing communications, reports, and briefs
• Support in liaising with key stakeholders including mapping, identifying and selecting respondents.
• Support in validating findings, conclusions and recommendations

Deliverables:

The consultant will be required to support and produce the following deliverables in a period of 9 months. The schedule and/or nature of the deliverables may be modified by the hiring manager, in agreement with the consultant.

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on timely and quality reporting of the programme ¨Implementing Norms, Changing Minds¨ and the end products of the research on online violence

Core values:

Integrity - Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism - Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity - Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies:

Ethics and Values - Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.

Organizational Awareness - Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.

Development and Innovation - Take charge of self-development and take initiative.

Work in teams - Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communicating and Information Sharing - Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.

Self-management and Emotional Intelligence - Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.

Conflict Management - Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing - Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.

Functional Competencies:

• In-depth knowledge of gender equality and women's rights issues
• Demonstrated ability to produce well written articles and human-interest stories
• Ability to work under pressure and within limited time frames
• Knowledge of the Rights of the Child will be an added advantage
• Communicative, results-driven, ability to work in teams

• Proven networking skills, and ability to mobilize support on behalf of UN Women
• Excellent negotiating skills
• Knowledge and understanding of UN system
• Excellent IT skills, including databases, extranet and office software packages
• Strong risk-management skill
• Familiarity with UN Women
• Very effective at multi-tasking
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills
• Focuses on impact and results for client
• Identifies opportunities and builds strong relationships with client and external actors
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

Education:

Postgraduate qualifications from a recognized university in social sciences, communications  or related field (English as the language of instruction an advantage) is required.

A first-level university degree in social sciences, communications, marketing, or related field (English as the language of instruction an advantage) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in writing, reviewing, editing and proofreading reports, manuals, and/or other technical documents in English language, including for and with non-native speakers.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in an international setting.
• Proven knowledge of result-based monitoring, reporting and evaluation is required, preferably within a UN context.
• Proven knowledge of gender in development and ending violence against women is required.
• Experience working with UN agencies, particularly UN Women, is an asset.
• Previous experience with EC funded projects is an asset.
• Previous experience with quantitative and qualitative research and data analysis
• Previous experience in the programme region with similar responsibilities.
• Experience in the European and Central Asia region is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English required (written and oral)

Knowledge of other UN working languages is highly desirable

Application Procedure:

The following documents should be submitted as part of the application:

• Cover letter to include a brief overview about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position.
• Financial Proposal in USD 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 by indicating the daily rate with an anticipated 90 working days. Travel (tickets, DSA etc.) should not be included in the lump sum and will be paid for separately by UN Women, if needed.
• P11 (and CV) including past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted with the application.
• At least two sample of previous work completed similar to this assignment.

Candidates should have the ability to quickly produce degree certificates and medical certification (of good health) should they be short-listed in consideration of the consultancy post.

Payment schedule

The consultant will be paid in four instalments (as per the daily rate in the financial offer from the consultant) based on the review and approval of deliverables submitted by Month 3, Month 6, Month 9 and Month 12 (end of assignment).

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.

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

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.)