Background

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 and peace and security. Placing women's rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action globally. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. 

UN Women is building up its work in support of governmental authorities and civil society organizations to prepare for, prevent and respond to natural disasters and the effects of climate change. Research has shown that women and girls are disproportionately affected by disasters due to the multiple discriminations that they face. Following the 1991 cyclone in Bangladesh, the female death rate within the age group 20-44 was 71 per 1,000, compared to 15 per 1,000 for men. Similarly, in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, more than 70 per cent of the fatalities from the 2004 tsunami were women and when Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in 2008, 61 per cent of the fatalities were women.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk reduction 2015-2030 recognized the gender dimension of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and the need to do more to ensure that women and girls’ needs and engagement are more effectively integrated in DRR and disaster risk management (DRM).

Understanding gender equality and gender dynamics in DRR and DRM, and consequently mainstreaming gender components into policy instruments, decision making processes, planning and budgeting processes and overall development processes related to DRR/DRM is very important to reduce the gendered impact of climate change and disaster risks and enhance the adaptive capacities of women and their communities. UN Women together with other UN agencies, especially UNDP, is working with governments, local civil society and women activists, to mainstream gender in DRR/DRM.

UN Women has developed a global flagship Program on disaster risk management, titled Addressing Gender Inequality of Risk in a Changing Climate. The DRM flagship programme is aligned with Goal 4 of UN Women’s Strategic Plan and is intended to contribute to the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk reduction 2015-2030.  UN Women is now seeking to localize the flagship program to several countries in the Europe and Central Asia region including Serbia, Tajikistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and FYR Macedonia.

Over the past several years, Europe and Central Asia have become more prone to natural disasters. In Tajikistan, approximately 150 small- to medium-scale disasters occur annually, affecting at least 10,000 people per year. The country is located along a seismic rift and has some of the world’s largest glaciers, increasing the country’s vulnerability to flooding, mudslides, rock falls, avalanches, landslides and earthquakes. The physical infrastructure (e.g. roads, power lines, water systems) is old, poorly maintained, and under constant threat from hazards. Infrastructure repair or replacement costs are often beyond the government’s capacity to pay. In Serbia since 2014 there have been repeated floods, droughts, and landslides, resulting not just in physical and infrastructure losses, but also in decreases in women and men’s rights protection and well being. Similarly, FYR Macedonia have been affected by floods since 2014, with the most recent one in August 2016 leading to 21 deaths. 

Gender disaggregated data that can demonstrate how disasters effect women and girls differently from the rest of the population is rarely available. In the immediate aftermath of the Tajikistan floods in April-May 2014, UN Women initiated a rapid assessment of women’s vulnerability, needs and priorities in the context of natural disasters which found that rural women have extremely limited access to timely and sufficient information that would allow them to reduce disasters’ risks and consequences. The assessment of disaster-affected districts provided data on the nature of risks and the distinct vulnerabilities of men and women, boys and girls; on disasters’ impacts, as well as sex-disaggregated data on loss and damage; to contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between gender equality and DRR. In Serbia in 2014 a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) was conducted and incorporated a gender chapter which did a monetized assessment of the physical and future-income losses that women were likely to bear. The Serbian government now plans to localize the assessment methodology to prepare for future natural disasters. UN Women is supporting this work and efforts of several local municipalities to engage in gender sensitive disaster risk planning and response. In FYR Macedonia, the PDNA is being currently being conducted in 7 relevant areas 1) Housing, land, settlements; 2) Livelihoods; 3) Water and sanitation; 4) Roads &municipal infrastructure; 5) Emergency response; 6) Early warning, flood management and flood prevention and 7) Macroeconomic/fiscal impact. UN Women is helping ensure that the gender perspective is considered in all these areas.

UN Women Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Regional Office is now seeking to hire three international consultants to help localize the UNW Flagship program, to develop a multi-country program document on DRR for the region based on our existing and past programming and to contribute to a capacity building training module for governmental and NGO counterparts in the region. This will include a review of what UN Women has done to date on DRR in the ECA region, a mapping of existing DRR resources in 3-4 countries, validation and further elaboration of findings through field research in several countries – Tajikistan, Serbia, FYR Macedonia and potentially Bosnia-Herzegovina. The consultancy should conclude with the preparation of a multi-country program document for UN Women. The international consultant will be assisted by local researchers who are familiar with the context, language and have access to key local stakeholders.

The international consultants should have significant expertise in gender equality, women’s empowerment and human rights in disaster risk reduction contexts.  They will also possess strong analytical and programme development capacities in order to formulate the mapping report and a multi-country programme to be piloted in 2017. The consultants should rely on the assessment, analysis, action points and theory of change developed for the DRM flagship programme, and the draft global program that is currently being finalized, to facilitate the delivery of the DRM flagship-programme’s goal, outcomes and outputs in several countries of Europe and Central Asia.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultants will work under the direct supervision of the Governance, Peace and Security Policy Advisor at the UN Women Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (UN Women ECA RO), overall guidance of UN Women ECA RO Director, and in close cooperation with relevant UN Women offices in the field.

He/she will be responsible for the following specific tasks:

1. Conduct a desk review of policies, programmes, and efforts to date on DRR/DRM and the extent to which they integrate gender in Tajikistan, Serbia, FYR Macedonia (and possibly Bosnia-Herzegovina). Deliver a detailed inception report that will include information on overall good practices on gender responsive DRR/DRM and an analysis of UN Women ECA offices’ experience/practices of DRM related work to date (based on a review of existing assessments and reports). Identify potential gaps, and opportunities for policy and programming.

2. Taking into account the results of the desk review and identified gaps and opportunities, conduct and draft a study on DRR/DRM and gender, which will include:

• A review of national disaster preparedness and response documents; as well as on interagency DRM related policies, assessments and studies in Tajikistan, Serbia and FYR Macedonia to confirm assumptions about existing gaps and needs to improve the integration of gender into national DRR/DRM efforts.

• A mapping of current (national/international) providers of DRR/DRM programming and policy and its incorporation of gender issues; an analysis of providers' capacities and roles in view of possible future partnerships with UN Women, joint work and stronger coordination

• An assessment of the effectiveness and relevance of existing practices/lessons/challenges on integrating gender into DRM efforts at the country level;

After the research is completed country chapters should be drafted to capture all the information collected, propose actions based on a clear vision for integrating gender equality into DRR/DRM efforts and support the integration of gender perspectives into the overall strategic planning, design and programming efforts of various UN Agencies, and to support of UN Women’s potential work and development of priorities in the area of DRM/DRR;

3. Use the analysis and findings as a resource to develop recommendations and draft a regional program document for future UN Women programming in ECA in line with UN Women’s humanitarian programming and its corporate flagship programme initiative on Addressing the Gender Inequality of Risk. The program should rely on the existing theory of change, and should include an assessment of gender gaps, suggested strategy and partnerships, a results and resources framework, Implementation and management arrangements, and an indicative budget. The document should propose a resource mobilization strategy to fundraise for the programme implementation

Depending on needs and capacities, the consultant may assist in developing a DRR and gender capacity building training module for local counterparts working in government and NGOs.

The Consultants will spend approximately 12 days total in Serbia and FYR Macedonia, and another 5-7 days in Tajikistan. He/she will work closely with national consultants who will prepare meetings and briefing documents. Due to limited availability of time and resources, qualitative data collection methods such as focus group discussions and key informant interviews will be prioritized. The assessment will also draw on relevant information from secondary sources that may be useful including existing needs assessments, reports, analysis, statements and available data.

Key Deliverables:

A research plan, a desk review of existing resources in national contexts, to deliver  an inception report that defines existing gaps and needs on integrating gender into national disaster risk reduction efforts in the targeted countries (possibly like this) : 5 days

Research Plan and the Inception Report not longer than 25 pages that includes: desk review of policies, programmes, and efforts on DRR/DRM, identification of gaps and needs of integrating gender into national disaster risk reduction efforts.

After on the ground field work: a study on DRR/DRM that includes: an assessment of existing practices on integrating gender into DRM efforts at the country level and overview of good practices on gender responsive DRM, SWOT analysis exercise of the current DRM programming/actions and mapping of key stakeholders for the process. : 25 days

A multi country program document on DRM in line with the UN Women FPI on Addressing Gender Inequality of Risk : 15 days

Payment schedule:

25% of the amount specified in the Financial Proposal may be disbursed upon submission and approval of the inception research plan, the next 50% will be paid once the country based DRM/DRR study is approved; and the final 25% will be will be transferred following the approval of the final program document and certification by the UN Women Hiring Manager at the Istanbul Regional Office. Please note that no funds for travel will be paid up front.

Competencies

Core values/ guiding principles:

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:

Planning & Organizing:

• Develops clear goals in line with agreed strategies, identifies priorities, foresees risks and makes allowances accordingly.

Organizational Awareness:

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.

Teamwork:

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

Accountability:

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and delivers outputs in accordance with agreed time, cost and quality standards.

Functional Competencies:

• Familiarity with the work of UN Women and other multilateral, academia, bilateral and civil society development partners.

• Technical experience in gender, land, and climate-change.

• Strong understanding of programme development and results-based management including monitoring and evaluation.

• Ability to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints, and to work independently and exercise good judgment.

• Ability to work collaboratively and operate effectively across thematic areas.
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in social sciences, gender studies, public administration, international relations, international law, public policy, or a field relevant to the TOR requirements. Ph.D preferred.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight years of professional policy and/or programming experience, mapping experience is highly desirable.
• 5 years experience in gender and disaster risk reduction, resilience and disaster risk mitigation.
• 5 years experience in conducting research and analysis in these or related fields.
• Experience in programming in these fields in Europe and/or Central Asia.
• Experience in developing project documents in the broad thematic area.
• Experience in developing capacity building-training courses in the broad thematic area.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Experience with UN Women or another UN agency highly desirable.

Language:

Fluency in English (written and oral)

Application procedure:

The following documents should be submitted as part of the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials:

• Cover letter to include a brief overview about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position.
• Examples of previous work relevant to the requirements of this ToR, including web links, references or copies of written work
• Methodological proposal including the proposed methodology for collecting evidence and scope of research
• Financial Proposal (Specifying a total lump sum amount in USD for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference). The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (daily rate and number of anticipated working days, travel tickets, per diems and any other possible costs. Travel costs should include about 20 days of research in Serbia, FYR Macedonia and Tajikistan).
• 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

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

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.

Technical Evaluation (80%) – max. 80 points:

• Relevant education – MA minimal requirement
• Professional policy and/or programming experience: max. 10 points;
• Experience within the Western Balkans/Central Asia: max. 10 points;
• Gender and disaster risk reduction, resilience and disaster risk mitigation experience: max. 20 points;
• Experience/knowledge related to project drafting and results based management: max. 20 points;
• Quality of methodological proposal: max. 20 points;

Financial Evaluation (20%) – max. 20 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 = 20 (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

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)