Background

The 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, peace, and security.

UN Women’s goal in Liberia is to promote women’s human rights and gender equality which are key in sustaining and furthering achievements in stability, inclusion, and sustainable development.  In this regard, it’s programming in the Country is connected to four corporate priority areas: women’s leadership and political participation and gender responsive budgeting; enhancing women’s economic empowerment (WEE); engaging women in all aspects of women, peace, and security (WPS) processes; and advancing women’s rights to live free from violence. UN Women works with a range of stakeholders in Liberia including the government, civil society and women’s organizations, youth, UN agencies and donors, to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. Gender inequality remains a pervasive issue in Liberian society, entrenched by cultural norms and reinforced by several factors. This inequality manifests significantly within the financial sector, where the absence of gender-responsive policies and practices restricts women's access to services and opportunities, perpetuating social disparities. Beyond finance, Liberia's development trajectory is hindered by weak governance, institutional limitations, and corruption. This complex scenario demands gender-balanced policies, budgets, and programs to improve accountability, strengthen institutions, and create an enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable development.

Despite some progress, Liberia's ranking on various indices highlights the urgency of addressing gender inequality. Its score of 0.871 on the Gender Development Index and 158th place out of 161 countries on the SDG Gender Index is the lowest in the world. Socio-cultural norms and perceptions often limit women's participation in various spheres, leading to challenges like limited access to justice, violence, female genital mutilation, child marriage, and low representation in leadership. These inequalities impede inclusive growth and development.

Against this backdrop, the Government of Liberia and partners are conducting the Drivers of Sustainable and Inclusive Development (DoD) study. This study follows the expiration of the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development and prepares for the upcoming SDGs Summit. This study reflects the commitment of stakeholders to change Liberia's development narrative and identify catalytic solutions for achieving sustainable development.

With a dedicated focus on gender, the DoD study aims to inform the next development plan, national vision, and other frameworks. To ensure gender mainstreaming in these processes, UN Women seeks to hire a national consultant to serve as a gender and development advisor. This individual will work with the GOL, United Nations particularly UN Women and UNDP and partners to integrate gender considerations into policies, budgets, programs, and plans at national and sub-national levels.

Together with PADP sectoral portfolio review, PADP final evaluation, DoD study will inform the next national development agenda, National Vision, Agenda 2063/SDGs, and other development Frameworks- UNSDCF, CAS, etc.  It is therefore imperative to ensure that gender is mainstreamed in this and other related processes, including the preparation for the SDGs summit for which Government of Liberia is developing the SDGs transformation Roadmap (strategy for transformation in Liberia over the next 7 years)

In producing the SDGs transformation roadmap, as well as in conducting DoD study, the government and partners are expected to conduct inclusive consultations and national validation. Such a process will therefore entail consolidation, coordination, and working with different thematic chapter focal points/consultants, and technical teams to ensure gender mainstreaming.

In this context, UN Women Liberia seeks to hire a national consultant who will serve as a gender and development advisor to ensure gender is mainstreamed/integrated into policies, budgets, programs, and plans at the national and sub-national levels.   The International Consultant will work with other consultants hired by UNDP for the DoD Study and with the government of Liberia to support other gender sensitive research, policy, plans and strategy developments processes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Country Representative and direct matrixed supervision, and in close consultation with the Gender-Responsive Budgeting Programme Specialist and the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), the national Consultant will accomplish the following tasks:

Technical Support including supporting gender-informed studies to drive sustainable and inclusive transformation and development.

• Serve as the gender technical focal point for both the GoL and the UN Women regarding the conduct of gender analysis for the DoD studies and other strategy development processes for which gender mainstreaming may be imperative.
• Validate or co-create gender analysis frameworks for gender mainstreaming studies such as the DoD study jointly with consultants/stakeholders supported by specific tools to gather and analyze gender-focused information.
• Provide, as a member of the technical team, gender-responsive inputs into the drafting of the drivers for development study and support the MFDP with gender analysis of the national budget.

Support the MFDP to mainstream gender into the national planning and budgeting processes

• Facilitate results-based planning and implementation of sustainable gender-responsive planning in the MFDP,
• Support the Ministries of Gender, Children and Social Protection and Ministry of Finance and Development planning in applying a gender lens to the evolving economic, social, and cultural processes shaping development processes in Liberia and assessing the implications,
• Provide technical support to the MFDP to mainstream gender the new national development agenda;

Support Tracking of the National Budget for Gender Equality

• Set up and maintain a budget tagging mechanism for tracking resources that were allocated and expanded for gender equality and Women Economic empowerment in the national budget.
• Work with the Department of Budget and Development Planning to develop codes for specific gender indicators or result areas.
• Facilitate and contribute to South-South knowledge sharing and dissemination within and beyond the sub region through meetings, publications etc.

Key Deliverables include:

Competencies

The described position requires the following set of competencies.

Technical/Functional:

• Substantive knowledge and understanding of gender equality issues and more broadly, human rights issues, microeconomics, public financial management, budgeting, development planning and economic governance.
• Leadership - Strong leadership and advocacy skills.
• Knowledge Management- support documentation of lessons learnt and development of tools.
• Teamwork - Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Inputs

• UN Women and the MFDP will provide the Consultant with background materials relevant to the assignment.
• While on mission, the Consultants will be based in the 3rd floor of the One UN Building
• MFDP and UN Women shall facilitate consultations/meetings between the consultant and relevant stakeholders. 

All the deliverables, including annexes, notes and reports should be submitted in writing in English.

Upon receipt of the deliverables and prior to the payment of the first installment, the deliverables and related reports and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women. The period of the review is one week after receipt.

Performance evaluation:

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

Submission of package           

• Cover letter
• CV, including contact information for 3 references
• Financial proposal. The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount per each deliverable, including any travel, per diem and administrative fees, based on the template in Annex 1.

The lump sum costs must be accompanied by a detailed breakdown of costs calculation.

All applications must include (as an attachment) the CV and the financial proposal. Applications without financial proposal will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further processing. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be invited to the interview.

Selected candidates will need to submit prior to commencement of work:

• A copy of the latest academic certificate
• UN Women P-11 form, available via  http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment
• A statement from a medical doctor of ‘good health and fit for travel’
• Before any travel outside of Monrovia, the consultant will need to provide proof (certificate) of “Basic and Advanced Security in the Field” (which can be accessed here: undss.trip.org)

Evaluation

• Applications will be evaluated based on the Cumulative analysis.

• Technical Qualification (100 points) weight; [70%]
• Financial Proposal (100 points) weight; [30%]

A two-stage procedure is utilised in evaluating the proposals, with evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to any price proposal being compared. Only the price proposal of the candidates who passed the minimum technical score of 70% of the obtainable score of 100 points in the technical evaluation will be further evaluated.

?Technical qualification evaluation criteria:

The total number of points allotted for the technical qualification component is 100. The technical qualification of the individual is evaluated based on following technical qualification evaluation criteria:

Only the candidates who fit the minimum requirements will be longlisted, and additional documentation may be requested. Candidates with a minimum of 70% of total points will be considered as technically qualified candidates and will be shortlisted for potential interview.

Financial/Price Proposal evaluation:

• Only the financial proposal of candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation will be considered and evaluated.
• The total number of points allotted for the price component is 100.
• The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened/ evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

Annex I: Financial Proposal

BREAKDOWN OF COSTS SUPPORTING THE ALL-INCLUSIVE FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

The lump sum costs should include all administration costs, per diem and expenses related to the consultancy. All prices/rates quoted must be exclusive of all taxes. The lump sum costs must be accompanied by a detailed breakdown of costs calculation.

Required Skills and Experience

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Advanced university degree (masters or above), with a focus on Gender and Economics, Finance, Public Policy, International development, or related discipline

Experience:

• At least 10 years of direct experience in programmes on gender equality and women's rights in the (REGION).
• Deep understanding of gender issues and development challenges not only in the region but also pertinent to Liberia’s context.
• Specific expertise on gender responsive Planning and budgeting.
• Experience in results-based and rights-based programming and management of multi country programmes.
• Strong familiarity with UN agencies and sub regional and regional organizations.
• Proven advocacy, analytical and writing skills.

Language and other skills:

• Proficiency in oral and written English
• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, Internet and email.  Excellent facilitation and training skills