Historique

UNDP is the UN's global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. As a founding Cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and guided by the health-related MDGs, responding to HIV is one of the organizations’ priorities. Under the UNAIDS division of labour, UNDP is responsible for leading the UNAIDS response in addressing dimensions of AIDS relating to: development planning and mainstreaming; governance; and human rights, gender and sexual diversity. UNDP is also responsible for providing support to governments and national human rights and justice institutions, and CSOs in their efforts for the implementation of policies and programs that protect the human rights of people affected by HIV and other marginalised and excluded segments of the societies. This is an integral part of UNDP’s mandate for the promotion of rule of law and human rights
   
While globally the number of new HIV infections is decreasing, Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) is one of two regions in the world where new HIV infections are still on the rise, with the estimated number of people living with HIV (PLHIV)  having reached 1.6 million [1.2–1.8 million] by 2013. Mortality from AIDS has also experienced an estimated 22% increase in the region over the period 2005-2012. The Russian Federation and Ukraine, the two most populous EECA countries, together account for almost 90 percent of newly reported HIV cases. Levels of treatment in the region are low with approximately 25-35 percent of those in need of antiretroviral therapy receiving it - possibly less, as the 2013 WHO Treatment Guidelines recommend an earlier start of treatment. While there has been a significant improvement in the legal environment relevant to HIV in the region, certain gaps still persist. The Global Commission on HIV and the Law, an independent international expert body to which UNDP served as secretariat identified such shortcomings which hinder the protection, upholding and fulfillment of the human rights of people living with, or affected by HIV. These gaps include, but are not limited to: breach of confidentiality, stigma and discrimination, criminalization of transmission, criminalization of the behavior of key populations, and others. At the same time, the Commission emphasized the improvement the region has experienced, also in terms of opportunities to protect the human rights of people living with HIV.

In cooperation with governments, other UN agencies, international organizations, and civil society actors, UNDP works to develop the capacity of national legislators, government offices and civil society actors on matters of HIV and the Law. These initiatives are also supported by the regional project on “HIV, Rights and Universal Access to Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support in Eastern Europe”, which is implemented by civil society, IDLO and UNDP and is supported by the European Union, In this framework UNDP and partners, among other activities have carried out capacity building trainings for people living with or affected by HIV in select EECA countries to improve legal literacy and access to legal services. In an effort to further disseminate the achievements of the trainings and achieve a multiplying effect, UNDP developed a Handbook on legal empowerment of people living with, or affected by HIV. This process was also in line with UNDP’s new business line Legal Aid for Justice [LAJ] and legal empowerment work in the region. The need has also been consistently reflected in a number of agreed Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Recommendations for the countries in the EECA region, particularly for widening access to justice and legal empowerment for vulnerable, disadvantaged groups and marginalized communities.

UNDP now seeks peer reviewers to review the Russian language version of this Handbook, provide comments and other inputs that would help the finalization of the Handbook and would ensure that it adequately addresses the needs of the communities of key populations most at risk of HIV in the EECA region.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Guided by the Legal Specialist of the HIV, Health and Development Team at the UNDP RSC-Istanbul (Supervisor) the reviewers shall review the full text of the Russian language Handbook and provide input, as follows:

• Reading and commenting on the Russian text of the Handbook;
• Ensuring that the Handbook adequately addresses the needs of the key populations;
• Ensuring that the language of the Handbook is understandable for community representatives and the examples provided are relevant and adequately explained. If appropriate, the reviewers can submit other examples;
• Ensuring that the Handbook is not insensitive and that confidentiality is maintained;
• The reviewers are encouraged to provide additional readings and to include references to additional relevant explanatory and training materials in Russian.

Upon completion of the review process, the reviewers should agree on an introductory text to the Russian language version of the Handbook (translated to English).

Deliverables and Payment Schedule

• A comprehensive written set of comments, corrections suggestions of the text submitted for review by July 20, 2014
• Written contributions for the introduction of the Handbook by August 1, 2014

Payment will be made upon submission and UNDP (supervisor) acceptance of deliverables in writing in Russian language.

Compétences

Corporate competencies:

• Commitment to the principles set forth in the UN High Level Declarations on HIV and AIDS;
• Adherence to strict confidentiality and protection of medical secrets, privacy and anonymity of people living with, or affected by HIV.

Functional competencies:

• Very good understanding of problems of the key populations most at risk of  HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia;
• Very good understanding of the legal and practical aspects of HIV and co-infections in the region;
• Very good understanding of work of non-state actors – civil society organizations, networks, community groups and others;
• Ability to work independently and in a team, strict adherence to completing assigned tasks in a timely manner;
• Excellent communication skills.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Academic Qualifications/Education: 

• Secondary education. University degree in humanities is an advantage.

Experience: 

• Five or more years of relevant regional experience in the field of community work with people who live with, or affected by HIV, as well as ley populations most at risk of HIV. Experience in national/international defense of rights of people with HIV is an advantage;
• At least two years of experience in advocacy, including legal advocacy for the rights of people living with, or affected by HIV;
• Experience in reporting and contributing to reports related to rights violation of people living with, or affected by HIV.

Language skills:

• Fluency and ability to communicate in Russian, English language is an advantage.

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and a financial proposal as a lump sum in USD, which includes all consultant’s costs.

The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria -70% of total evaluation - max. 50 points.

• Relevant experience: community work with PLHIV, key populations - in EECA region - max. 15 points;
  
• Relevant experience: advocacy in EECA region - max. 10 points;
• Relevant experience: work with UNDP, UNAIDS and other international organizations in the EECA region - max. 10 points;
  
• Relevant experience: reporting rights violations in EECA region - max. 10 points;
  
• Languages skills (Russian, English is an advantage) - max. 5 points.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation - max. 21.5 points

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
• Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount in USD for the tasks/deliverables specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days and any other possible costs);
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

*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, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...).

The selected candidate is responsible for obtaining necessary visa, if applicable. UNDP will strive to support the application process.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under:  http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process