UNDP’s Strategic Plan (2014-2017) emphasizes the critical links between environmental sustainability and efforts to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and strengthen resilience.Gender inequalities remain a challenge throughout the Asia-Pacific region.  This persistence is particularly troubling when considering the enormous economic progress the region has made.  The prevailing gender-based discrimination threaten the security and well-being of women in particular as well as men, and prevent them from fully enjoying their human rights.  UNDP, as the principle development agency of the United Nations, support regional and national efforts to strengthen and integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Asia-Pacific region with the recognition that gender equality is a matter of human rights as well as an essential driver of sustainable development.

The region’s gender inequalities require to be addressed as part of the complexity of the development processes.  This most economically dynamic region with a high level of vulnerability to natural disasters and impacts of climate change is also a home to growing youth population in some of its countries and ageing populations in others.  The rapid urbanization is an experience of many countries in the region.  At the same time, the levels of inequality and the lack of progress in reducing growing inequality are striking.  Gender-based violence (GBV) continues to prevail, denying human rights and hampering the region’s progress in human development.  It is critical that the region’s development efforts are conscious of the need to integrate deliberate measures to reduce gender inequalities.  The adverse characteristics of the region’s development should not result in losing the gains made in advancing gender equality.

Gender equality in participation and representation in decision-making and women’s economic empowerment are the most prominent areas of work in UNDP’s gender portfolio in the region, alongside GBV prevention.  Equally important is the Organisation’s commitment to integrate gender in all aspects of its work in order to ensure UNDP capitalizes on its own multidisciplinary development platform as an effective vehicle to deliver gender equality results in all development sectors.

In order to ensure continued support to our initiatives, the Regional Hub (BRH) invites candidates to send their applications for inclusion in a Vetted Roster external experts. The process of including candidates in the Expert Roster are described in the later sections of this advertisement.

To be considered for inclusion in the roster, applicants would need to have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Gender analysis and gender equality policy research;
• Gender equality advocacy tools development;
• Gender equality and/or gender mainstreaming policy and strategy formulation;
• Client-facing policy advisory services and policy advocacy related to gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Design and facilitation of capacity development initiatives for gender mainstreaming;
• Design and development of materials for communicating gender equality results;
• Formulation of a project document with an objective of advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Management of a development project with an objective of advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Gender evaluation and review of development projects.

Policy and Strategy Development:

• Prepare Policy briefs, Status papers on gender equality and developmental challenges/issues based on secondary review of existing literature for evidence based advocacy and policy dialogue;
• Formulate national, sub-national and sectoral strategies and guidelines for advancing gender equality;
• Develop recommendations for policy, legal and institutional frameworks to facilitate the advancement of the gender equality agenda;
• Gender review of policy literature;
• Identification of policy options to eliminate barriers and propose responses.

Project Design, Formulation  & other project related functions:

• Prepare conceptual framework/concept note on new area of work/gender equality challenge;
• Conduct gender-sensitive, socio-economic impact assessments;
• Provide Technical assistance in identification of gender equality challenges, pos;sible interventions, target areas, beneficiaries and partners and formulation of implementation strategy for UNDP support;
• Provide technical support in development on new interventions/projects with Implementation (operational plan, monitoring and resource requirement) Institutional and management arrangements;
• Formulate and review project documents to ensure innovation in concepts, strategies and incorporation of best practices
  Conduct feasibility studies;
• Develop and organize partnerships for resource mobilization.

Research and Documentation:

• Undertake secondary research in the new areas of developmental concern based on review of existing literature;
• Develop research design, research questions and scope of work for undertaking primary research in new areas;
• Document good practices, case studies, innovations and pilot models for wider dissemination and sharing;
• Undertake process documentation of ongoing interventions for upscaling.

Capacity Development/Training:

• Based on capacity assessment, develop institutional Capacity Development Plan to achieve the milestones identified and address the identified capacity gaps to achieve gender equality goals;
• Develop target specific gender mainstreaming training tools/tool-kits and manuals based on training needs assessment;
• Design gender mainstreaming training modules, facilitate and/or coordinate trainings programmes for various stakeholders;
• Carry out Capacity assessments of public institutions and government institutions for development of strategic interventions for institutional strengthening for advancing gender equality;
• Design and delivery of training tool-kits, products etc.

Knowledge Management:

• Prepare  knowledge and communications products capturing UNDP’s gender equality results (Audio, Video and Hard copies);
• Review of Knowledge products (subject, design and content);
• Prepare and publish  featured articles and case studies in publications of the UNDP, other pertinent organizations, academic journals;
• Disseminate knowledge and communications products;
• Develop literature on best practices and case studies.

MIS & GIS:

• Preparing of Base Line Data (BLD) through primary and secondary data sources;
• Development of MIS tools for verification and analysis on various activities, developing databases;
• Conceptualize, design and establish GIS platforms;
• Management of Knowledge portals and other MIS platforms;
• Baseline and Client satisfaction surveys;

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of national and sub-national policies in contributing to gender equality;
• Carry out required independent monitoring and evaluation of UNDP projects;
• Facilitate community and process monitoring;
• Undertake Baseline and Client satisfaction surveys.

• Good track record in project management, with UNDP experience being an asset;
• Understanding of Government functioning and systems;
• Updated familiarity on, various international projects on across one or more areas of expertise;
• Working knowledge of objectives-oriented project planning, or results-based management;
• Leadership skills;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical writing skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet;
• Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work.

Education:

• Degree in Gender studies, development studies, public policies, economics, human rights, public administration, or related field.

Experience:

Following a vetting process, the successful candidates would be place in one of the following bands:

• Band 1, Implementation Support: Masters Degree in relevant field with minimum 3 years of relevant work experience, or Bachelors Degree in relevant field with minimum 5 years of relevant work experience;
• Band 2, Specialist Support: Masters Degree in relevant field with minimum 7 years of relevant work experience, out of which minimum 3 years of international experience as a requirement;
• Band 3, Senior Advisory: Masters Degree in relevant field with minimum 12 years of relevant work experience, out of which minimum 5 years of international experience as a requirement;
• Experience at the subnational/national/international level in policy research and analysis and policy advocacy on gender equality, women’s empowerment and/or GBV response/prevention;
• Experience in working with Government institutions and/or international development organisations;
• Supporting community-led implementation processes and coordination and facilitation of complex teams in a local context for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Design and facilitation of institutional gender mainstreaming capacity development measures;
• Previous experience of working with UNDP is an asset;
• Knowledge and familiarity with the region’s development challenges and issues is an asset.

Language:

• Excellent oral and written English

Evaluation of Applicants:

Interested candidates are advised to carefully review this advertisement and ensure that they meet the requirements and qualifications described above. Applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies specified above and may be may be requested to participate in a brief interview.

Qualified women are encouraged to apply.

Applications should include:

• A cover letter, clearly identifying the “Areas of Expertise” as mentioned in the background section above;
• Updated CV with phone/email contacts.

Successful candidates will be included in UNDP RBAP Experts Roster for a period of 5 years, in one of the “bands” indicated above. However, the addition of an individual in the Roster does not guarantee a contract with UNDP.

Contracting:

• When a request for services arises, the roster manager shall Contact the individuals included in the specific area of expertise with ToR, location and dates of the assignment seeking confirmation of availability, as well as other costs such as living allowance, travel cost, etc. The daily fee quoted by the individual during this application process shall remain as the ceiling fee and cannot be increased upwards for any offered individual assignment(s);
• Travel: For each assignment UNDP shall reimburse cost of travel from the place of domicile of the individual to the place of assignment (most direct economy fare);
• The individual selected for the deployment will be contracted as an Individual Contractor to the UNDP. The Contract template and associated conditions are available at
   http://www.asia-pacific.undp.org/content/rbap/en/home/operations/procurement.html;
• The Contract and its terms and conditions are non-negotiable.

Payment:

Payment(s) shall be made following certification by the hiring UNDP Office that the services related to each deliverable, as specified in the contract, have been satisfactorily performed and the deliverables have been achieved by or before the due dates specified, if any.

Other information:

• This call for experts is not linked to other UNDP rosters or to a specific UNDP recruitment opportunity;
• Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are only able to inform the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

For any clarifications please write to rcb.procurement.th@undp.org