The Spotlight Initiative is a global initiative of the United Nations which has received generous support from the European Union. Its aim is to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The Initiative represents an unprecedented global effort to invest in gender equality and women’s empowerment as a precondition and driver for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Spotlight Initiative (SI) Regional Programme for Central Asia (CA) and Afghanistan is fostering legal reforms, strengthening capacities of the respective institutions and women’s movements, promoting gender-equitable attitudes, and enhancing systems for collecting data on violence against women and girls. The Spotlight Regional Programme partners with a broad range of actors, including civil society, donors, practitioners, academia, and media, to facilitate the elimination of harmful practices and advocate further gender transformation in the region. Find out more on www.spotlightinitiative.org.
The SI Regional Programme is currently developing a SI virtual knowledge platform to support knowledge exchange, sharing of documents and best practices in addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Central Asia and Afghanistan.

Based on a developed platform architecture and its functions, an existing mapping of relevant literature and resources, and recommendations stemming from region-wide consultations held by UN Women in February-March 2023 engaging Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and stakeholders, the National Consultant is expected to design and develop the SI virtual knowledge platform to be integrated into the existing “Act for Equal” website, supported by UN Women Kazakhstan Office and the Government of Kazakhstan. The National Consultant will also be expected to create a new visual style, optimize, and adapt the “Act for Equal” platform so that it matches the SI virtual knowledge platform. Based on prior feasibility assessment, the transfer to a new a web content management system/software and/or hosting environment is preferred.

“Act for Equal” is a space for partners from National Women/Gender Equality mechanisms, Gender Focal Points from the Sectoral ministries, Parliamentarians, civil society activists, private sector, academia, and other experts to meet and exchange views and ideas on how to effectively integrate gender mainstreaming in their work, promote gender equality in line with the international standards and norms. “Act for Equal’s” mission is to support, to exchange and network, enhance capacities, develop and share innovation, and increase effectiveness and efficiency in knowledge management on gender equality and empowerment of women in Central Asia.

“Act for Equal” is a major initiative developed to address gender inequality and one of Kazakhstan’s specific commitments announced by the Kazakh Presidency during the Global Generation Equality Forum.

This assignment will entail close coordination with the “Act for Equal” initial developer as well as overall guidance and supervision by UN Women’s Project teams.

MAIN OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The main objectives of the assignment are to design, develop and deploy a bilingual virtual platform (in Russian and English; some of the pages may be presented in other CA local languages as well, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen and Uzbek languages) linked to the existing “Act for Equal” website, and to visually improve, optimize, and adapt the latter. This can entail the transfer to a new web content management system/software and/or hosting environment.

The work will be guided by the SI developed architecture and suggested functions, existing mapping of knowledge materials, resources, and capacity-development tools on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls in Central Asia and Afghanistan. Ultimately, the platform will facilitate knowledge exchange and work of the various stakeholders and should ensure their secure and user-friendly experiences. It is foreseen that the platform, primarily targeting CSO stakeholders, will comprise several functions: the opportunity to engage with regional experts through the SHINE Hub, access to training materials and training courses, identification of funding opportunities, and a library with background research and reports disaggregated by topic as per Spotlight Initiative pillars of action. Once launched, the SI virtual knowledge platform will be owned and managed by the SI Regional Programme team.

Lastly, the National Consultant is expected to produce two written User Manuals detailing how to maintain and further populate the platforms, which will be handed over to the Project teams, upon dedicated training to be delivered by the Consultant to the Project teams. The Consultant will support the maintenance of both platforms during the whole duration of the contract.

1. Create a beta version of the SI virtual knowledge platform allowing for preliminary feedback by the UN Women SI Regional Programme team. UN Women will then share the beta version with fellow Spotlight Initiative Programme teams at partner UN agencies, and stakeholders (CSO representatives) engaged in the region-wide consultations held in Feb-March 2023 to gather external feedback on the website surfing experience, including usability, functionality, security, and reliability, and to ensure that the platform is in line with the needs of the end users.
2. Upon feedback from UN Women and regional stakeholders, the Consultant will fully incorporate their comments and develop the live version of the platform. In this regard, the Consultant will:
   1. Design and develop all sections of the final virtual knowledge platform both in English and Russian with the possibility to embed the automatic translation of Google Translate in 5 Central Asia languages (Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen and Uzbek), to ensure multi-language functionality can be introduced at a later stage.
   2. Ensure that sections are visually appealing and intuitive, with a consistent interface, as well as a quick loading, uploading, and downloading function for ensuring the user-friendliness of the platform.
   3. Ensure that the knowledge platform is mobile- and tablet-friendly.
   4. Ensure compliance with the global Spotlight Initiative, as well as the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) branding guidelines and requirements for website development.
   5. Ensure the compatibility of the platform with major browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Safari) and with the “Act for Equal” website, where the platform will be hosted.
3. Submit the live version of the platform for review, update it based on final feedback from the SI Project team, perform final quality testing and get approval for online deployment.
4. Produce a written Admin/User Manual detailing how to maintain and further populate the SI knowledge platform, including passwords, source code, etc.
5. Provide a one-time dedicated training to the Project team on how to maintain and further populate the SI knowledge platform.
6. Provide the Project team with icons and graphic materials used for the website, to be further utilized by UN Women in communication materials for the official launch of the platform.

“Act for Equal” website

1. Analyze the existing “Act for Equal” platform to understand its key features, functionality, and user flow. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current design and create a new, visually appealing design which will correspond to that of the SI virtual knowledge platform (including enhanced Spotlight Initiative and GEF branding). Create a beta version of “Act for Equal”, to be submitted for review.
2. Select a suitable hosting platform that will ensure the correct functioning of all “Act for Equal” features. Evaluate the content that will need to be migrated; execute the migration to the new hosting space.
3. Ensure that all data is successfully migrated, and the new integrated website is functioning properly.
4. Produce a written Admin/User Manual detailing how to maintain and further populate “Act for Equal”, including passwords, source code, etc.
5. Provide a one-time dedicated training to the Project team on how to maintain and further populate the “Act for Equal” website.
6. Be available for technical support and quality control of the SI virtual knowledge platform and the “Act for Equal” website after it is launched online. This includes provision of regular maintenance services during the entire contract period including, but not limited to, the following: capacity monitoring, performance monitoring, design updates and minor changes, technical troubleshooting.

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
 

Education:
- Relevant degree in Information Technologies/Graphic design/Web development. 
Experience:
- At least 5 years of proven experience in the development of websites, IT support services, and maintenance of web-based tools and systems. The portfolio with the links to the developed products should be submitted in the application.
- At least 3 years of proven experience in graphic design of websites, platforms, etc. Experience in testing and quality assurance of products (virtual platforms, websites, etc.), necessary security with backup features. The portfolio with the links to the developed products should be submitted in the application.
- Proven knowledge and practical experience of PC/LAN operating systems, WordPress, Microsoft Windows, corporate protection systems, programming with PHP, SQL, HTML, ColdFusion, JavaScript, knowledge of web design. Candidate’s relevant certification should be submitted in the application. 
- At least 3 years of prior experience of similar assignments with UN agencies and/or other international, national and government organizations.
- Experience in web and/or digital product development and/or design in the fields of human rights, gender equality

Languages:

• Language qualifications: Fluency in Russian and English is mandatory.

EVALUATION PROCESS

Applicants must meet the above minimum qualification requirements which will be included in the technical evaluation process in the future. The next stage of the assessment process will be maintained by cumulative analysis methodology of technical proposal (70%) and the financial proposal (30%) of the candidate.

Technical evaluation criteria:

Only candidates, who will score at least 490 (70%) out of the maximum 700 points during the technical evaluation process, will be qualified for financial proposal *.

* Each candidate will be invited to submit consolidated financial proposal in USD (a ‘consolidated financial proposal’, which includes applicant’s all the expenses required to perform the assignment).

The financial proposals of technically qualified candidates will be requested and will be weighted in terms    of selection points as per the following formula:

B = T + Clow / C x 300, where

T is a universal technical score awarded to the evaluation of the proposal (only those proposals that pass 70% of the technical evaluation);

C is the financial proposal of the candidate; and

Clow is the lowest financial proposal among all evaluated candidates. 300 is the maximum financial point that can be obtained.

The successful candidate will have accumulated the highest aggregated point (technical and financial scoring). Payment will be made only if the expected results will be achieved, agreed package of documents and   reports provided without delay and approval by UN Women.

APPLICATION PROCESS 

All documents should be sent including:

1. CV and UN Women Personal History form (P-11), which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment

1. Technical proposal describing how the expected assignment will be performed. The technical proposal should also include:

• Overview of the assignment implementation.
• Links to the Candidate’s portfolio of completed relevant assignments including links with the brief description of the product designed and developed – designed and developed websites, knowledge/resource platforms, IT support services.
• Reference to the candidate's experience with UN agencies and/or other international, national and government organizations.
• Only candidates who have passed the preliminary selection will be informed. There might be an online interview conducted by UN Women.

Please note that the system will only allow one attachment, hence all supporting documents, e.g., P11 form, CV, technical and financial proposals must be scanned as one attachment.

Applications without a completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further evaluation.

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, INSTRAW, OSAGI, and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

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.)