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.

In Ukraine since 2015 UN Women has been scaling-up its presence and programme in two key thematic areas – Women, Peace and Security and Gender Responsive Governance. UN Women facilitates gender mainstreaming in humanitarian needs planning to better meet acute and lifesaving humanitarian needs. UN Women contributes to recovery and peacebuilding efforts advocating for and supporting implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. UN Women also strives to support longer-term national reforms, including decentralization and security sector reforms, while promoting gender equality and women’s human rights and accountability. UN Women makes every effort to ensure full and meaningful participation of women and women’s groups and organizations in government reform processes, in humanitarian response decision-making and in recovery planning to ensure their responsiveness to the distinct needs of women and girls, which may otherwise be overlooked.

Equal rights and opportunities of women and men in Ukraine are guaranteed by the Constitution, the Law "On Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men" and the Labor Code. Ukraine has ratified the Convention on Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol among the other key human rights treaties, as well as has adopted national policy and legal frameworks to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and men in Ukraine.  As a crisis response measure, the Government adopted the National Action Plan for Implementation of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security for 2016-2020 (NAP 1325). The plan represents the vision of the government for the gender-specific response to the conflict and its consequences.

UN Women’s work in supporting the Government to address the conflict-related gender inequalities focused on strategic policy and technical advice to the government with a particular focus on implementation of the international and national commitments on women’s human rights and gender equality, including the UN Security Council’s Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security through the security sector reform. Reform of the national security and defense sector is one of the priority national reforms under the Sustainable Development Strategy 2020[1] (12 January 2015). Among the rest the Strategy stipulates provision of social services for Armed Forces servants, a full review of all educational programs of higher military educational institutions on the basis of the new structure of the Armed Forces and establishment of an effective personnel reserve for acquisition of military leadership positions, revision of qualification requirements and improvement of the combatant’s appraisal. The National Security Strategy (2015-2020) adopted 26 May 2015 aims at realization of the national security priorities, reforms envisaged by the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU and the Sustainable Development Strategy 2020. The Strategy mentions protection of human rights among its goals. UN Women has been supporting the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the General Staff with the institutionalization of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, CEDAW and its General Recommendation #30 on Women, Peace and Security. The provided support resulted in development of the first MOD Action Plan on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace and Security”, capacity development and technical support to the MOD Working Group, analysis of the existing curricula and programs for military education and in-service training of current military personnel, UN Women developed an outline of the training courses on gender and the WPS agenda for the International Peacekeeping Training and Research Centre of the National University of Defence of Ukraine.

Based on the agreement with the Ministry of Defense on a continuous UN Women support in mainstreaming Women, Peace and Security agenda in the security and defense sector reform, UN Women committed to provide technical and capacity building support to the Ministry and the other sector reform actors in 2017. In addition, following the request of the Ministry of Interior (MOI),  this year UN Women will provide technical, advocacy and capacity building support to the Ministry and its inter-agency working group in comprehensive implementation of the Women’, Peace and Security agenda in the law enforcement reform.

Therefore, UN Women seeks to hire the National Consultant to provide technical assistance to the Ministries of Defense and of Interior in integration of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the security and law enforcement sector reforms.

[1] Sustainable Development Strategy “Ukraine 2020” //  http://zakon5.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/5/2015

Duties and Responsibilities

Under direct supervision and guidance of the UN Women Gender Advisor, and in collaboration with a national consultant on gender expertise of legislation, the National Consultant will implement the following tasks:

I. Technical support to the staff of the Ministries of Defense and the Ministry of Interior and the other state sector actors in integration of Women, Peace and Security agenda in the reforms:

• Develop a work plan with detailed activities and timelines, including a travel plan, based on the consultations with the UN Women and the members of the MOD and MOI working groups;

• Attend the meetings of the MOD and MOI working groups on the implementation of Women, Peace and Security in respective sectors;

• Contribute to a gender assessment of the security sector reform by: conducting analysis, identifying the entry points for the integration of the WPS agenda in the reform, undertaking functional analysis aiming to identify the required human resources needs and develop the job descriptions for the gender advisors in the security sector institutions; drafting WPS policy for the Ministry of Defense; co-organizing at least three workshops with the MOD, General Staff and the Office of the Vice-Prime Minister on EU and Euro-Atlantic Integration as a part of the assessment and contributing to the final report (this task will be implemented in collaboration with the international consultant on gender assessment of the security sector);

• Support the MOI working group members with the gender analysis of the policy and strategic documents of the national law enforcement sector reforms; identify entry points for gender mainstreaming based on the international and national commitments on gender equality and women’s rights (including but not limited to Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, its General Recommendation #30 and the Concluding Observations (2017) UN Security Council Resolution #1325 and the following Resolutions etc);

• Conduct desk review of sectoral data, existing researches and studies about status of gender equality in law enforcement and defence and security sectors, including representation and participation of women and men in decision-making, military service, mobilization, promotion, retention, demobilization and re-integration etc;

• Based on a review of the curriculums of education institutions of law enforcement and security sectors to identify potential opportunities for integration of the gender equality, WPS in particular; provide a set of recommendations and develop training modules;

• Conduct desk review of international policy practices on integration of the UNSCR on Women, Peace and Security in law enforcement and defense and security sectors (with a particular focus on experiences of the NATO countries) In collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Interior conduct a series of bi-lateral and multi-lateral meetings and workshops with key sectoral experts from state institutions, implementing the NAP on WPS, development partners agencies and civil society organization, involved in implementation of the WPS agenda, in order to share information on gender mainstreaming in the sector reforms process;

• Based on the analysis of the collected data and a series of consultations with the Ministries of Defense and the key stakeholders provide a set of policy recommendations for gender mainstreaming in law enforcement and security and defense sector reform in the context of implementation of the NAP on UNSCR 1325.

• In coordination with the Ministries of Interior and Defense and Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security and in collaboration with a national consultant on gender analysis of legislation, to organize a round table discussion of the legislative and policy recommendations for national stakeholders from the defence and security sectors institutions, the National Security Council, Parliament, government, CSOs and development partners. Compile comments and recommendations received and revise the report accordingly;

• Provide recommendations for integration of measures and activities on WPS into the 2018 annual plans of the Ministry and/or other security sector actors, including formulation of indicators to measure the progress achieved.

II.  Capacity building of the staff of the Ministries of Defense and Interior, as well as the other security sector institutions on UNSCRs on Women, Peace and Security, including organization of on-job and targeted trainings;

• Conduct gender capacity needs assessment and develop capacity development action plan for 2017 for the Ministries and others state institutions;

• Develop a training methodology and training materials on UNSCRs on WPS and gender mainstreaming in the sector to support the capacity development plan implementation;

• Develop training methodology, modules with supporting handouts on WPS and organize a series of TOTs for the teaching staff of the the International Peacekeeping Training and Research Centre of the National University of Defence of Ukraine;

• Conduct a series on-job learning sessions for the staff of Ministries’ departments;

• Conduct a series of trainings for staff of selected departments of the Ministries, General staff and others state institutions with participation (as per results of the assessment);

• Conduct at least three one-day trainings for the field staff of the Ministry (upon agreement with the Ministry of Defence).

III. Knowledge sharing about best international practices in gender mainstreaming in security and defense sectors:

• Develop a resource package on best international practices in gender mainstreaming in law enforcement, as well as security and defense sectors;

• As a part of the gender assessment of the security sector reform, prepare a package of the resource materials on the best practices on integration of the WPS in the reform;

• Conduct presentations of the practices for national stakeholders from the state defence and security sectors institutions, the Parliament, government, academia, CSOs and development partners;

• Submit the final analysis and a narrative report on the activities undertaken to UN Women.

The assignment will include at least four in-country travels to the eastern regions to conduct meetings and deliver trainings to the field staff of the Ministry of Defence.

Assignment Deliverables:

All reports should be submitted in English. The training materials and knowledge products can be provided in Ukrainian language.

Upon receipt of the deliverables and prior to the payment of the installment, the deliverables, related reports and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women within one week of submission.

Inputs

• UN Women will provide the Consultant with key background materials for the desk review as well as will facilitate receiving required documents from the state institutions.

• The consultant is expected to work remotely using her/his own computer, but may access the UN Women office for printing of relevant documents or should he/she be required to work on-site at any point during the assignment.

• UN Women will also cover the costs of the events and of the translation of printed materials as required throughout the duration of the assignment.

Performance evaluation:

• Contractor’s performance will be evaluated against such criteria as: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered. The evaluation will be carried out and cleared by the hiring manager, which will also be the basis for payment on a delivery-by-delivery basis to the consultant.

Financial arrangements:  

• Payment will be disbursed in four instalments upon receipt of the deliverables (as per above matrix) and their certification by the UN Women Gender Advisor that the services have been satisfactorily performed.

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.

Competencies

• Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity;

• Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;

• Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative;

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

• Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication;

• Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others;

• Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution;

• Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge;

• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced (Masters) degree in human rights, law, political science, gender studies or other social sciences. PhD degree would be considered an asset.

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience on policy research, promotion of gender equality and women empowerment measures in public policy processes and strategic documents at national and local levels;

• At least 3 years of experience in consulting, research and critical assessment from a gender perspective;

• Proven experience of work with the security institutions;

• Experience with facilitation of high-level dialogues, consultations, including with the members of parliament, government etc;

• Previous professional experience with development agencies and the United Nations would be considered an asset.

Languages and other skills: 

• Fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, and English;

• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, ability to use Internet and email.

Application and submission package:

The candidate’s application should include:

• P11 (Completed and signed UN Women Personal History (P-11) form, that can be downloaded from: http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment )
• A brief Letter of Interest containing the statement on candidate’s experience in the field of recruitment.
• Financial proposal. The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount with a breakdown of a daily professional rate per number of anticipated working days as well as include all costs (telephone, daily subsistence allowance and other in-country travel related costs etc.)Interested candidates are requested to apply no later than 12.00 pm (EET) 20 March 2017 by submitting online the above stated documents in one attachment: 1) technical (P-11 and a Letter of Interest) as well as 2) financial proposal.

All applications must include (as an attachment) the P11, letter of interest and the financial proposal. Applications without financial proposal may be treated as incomplete and may not be considered for further assessment.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Applications will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of their qualifications and financial proposal. 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. The award of the contract should be made to the individuals whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Technical criteria – 70% of total evaluation – max 70 points:

The total number of points allocated for the technical qualification component is 70. The technical qualification of the individual is evaluated based on following technical qualification evaluation criteria:

Financial/Price Proposal evaluation:

Evaluation of submitted financial offers will be done based on the following formula: S = Fmin / F * 30 (S - score received on financial evaluation; Fmin - the lowest financial offer out of all the submitted offers qualified over the technical evaluation round; F - financial offer under the consideration).

• 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 financial proposal of candidates who have attained a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation will be further considered and evaluated.

• The total number of points allocated for the financial/price component is 30.

• 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 49 points in the technical evaluation. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.