UN WOMEN Jobs - 71580- International Consultant to conduct gender analysi

International Consultant to conduct gender analysis of policies and budgets programs in agriculture sector of Republic of Kazakhstan

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Home-based with travel to Astana and regions, KAZAKHSTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

08-May-2017

Application Deadline :

02-May-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

70 working days

Languages Required :

English Russian

Expected Duration of Assignment :

70 working days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their rights worldwide. UN Women supports United Nations Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to implement these standards. The main roles of UN Women are to support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms. To help Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil society. To lead and coordinate the UN system’s work on gender equality as well as promote accountability, including through regular monitoring of system-wide progress.

In April 2017 Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan and MCO UN Women office in Kazakhstan will launch joint project which aims to:

increase the capacity of national partners, including key ministries in mainstreaming gender considerations in planning and budgeting of the state programs in the context of nationalization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
improving the effectiveness and efficiency of planning and integrating socio-economic needs of women and men in budget policies in agricultural sector.

As part of this project, a methodology of gender analysis of national planning documents and budgetary programs in agriculture is planned to be developed. Using this methodology a gender analysis of national planning instruments of the Ministry of Agriculture and corresponding budget programs will be conducted, including but not limited to the strategic plan of the Ministry of Agriculture.
This analysis is expected to identify key gender planning and management aspects in the agricultural sector which have not been fully reflected in the existing strategic documents of national policies (or have not received sufficient attention in national plans and programs).
Results of the analysis is intended to be used for development of recommendation for improvement of planning and development of an effective budgeting policies in agricultural sector.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the consultancy is to identify current gaps in the current policies and budget programs in the field of agriculture, incorporating gender considerations and prepare practical recommendations for further improvement of planning procedures and development of budget policy in the field of agriculture.
The following programs will be subject to gender analysis:

Programme for the development of agro-industrial complex in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2013 - 2020 years "Agribusiness - 2020";
Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2017 - 2021 years;
Regional Development Programs (Akmola, Kostanai, Aktobe, Almaty and South Kazakhstan oblasts –need to be approved by MNE) to 2016-2020;
budget programs of the Ministry of Agriculture and local state bodies of 5 pilot region on tenth functional budget group;
Strategy of development of JSC "National Holding" KazAgro "for 2011-2020.

Gender analysis is intended to identify and integrate the specific needs and requirements of different target groups of men and women in relation to the development of the agricultural sector policies. Analysis helps to promote programs and services to support vulnerable people and its conditions and employment opportunities in rural areas as well as determine the level of participation in decision-making processes. Furtherly, the results of the analysis should identify indicators for measuring the performance of agriculture programs based on impact to women and men; and to ensure fair distribution of the results between women and men, and others.

International Consultant will work in close collaboration with UN Women, national expert, the Ministries of National Economy and Agriculture and will provide technical expertise for the development of methodologies and gender analysis of state planning system documents in the field of agriculture.

Duties and Responsibilities

The international consultant will undertake the following specific tasks:

Develop the detailed work plan on development the methodology and gender analysis of the state planning system in the field of agriculture, including strategic and budget programs in this area.
Develop a methodology for gender analysis of strategic and budget programs in the field of agriculture.
Organize one-day discussion on the proposed methodology and detailed work plan on conducting gender analysis with the representatives of ministries of national economy, agriculture and pilot regions (it can be by skype or other internet sources).
Conduct gender analysis of state planning system documents listed above, including source tables and other materials collected by national expert related to data on agriculture programs financed by local budgets;
Conduct consultation meetings with government authorities, NGOs supporting rural women, farmers, to gather additional relevant information and data;
Conduct revision of data used for gender-sensitive monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of programs and policies in agriculture (for compliance with international standards of SDG indicators, etc.). Discuss with representatives of statistical offices on flexible matrix indicators, which could be used in monitoring and evaluation of implementation progress of gender sensitive agricultural policies.
Develop practical recommendations based on the results of analysis for improving the state planning system in the field of agriculture. Recommendations should include, but not limited to, measures to:
- ensure equal opportunities for women and equal access to decision-making processes;
- increase the access to services and resources for the development of agricultural productions for women;
- increase the access of women for goods, works and services within regional investment agricultural projects;
- reduce negative factors in achieving effectiveness of budget expenses on agriculture programs highlighting gender related challenges in that sector;
- improve the effectiveness of the planning system in the field of agriculture within local budgets, taking into account gender aspects..
Organization of extensive discussion on results of gender analysis, best practices of gender responsive budgeting, programme documents, discussion of proposed recommendations through consultative meeting in Astana with interested ministries, development institutions, and civil society;
Develop set of recommendations based on the comments and suggestions received from representatives of involved organizations and civil society, validation with the Ministry of National Economy;
Preparation and submission of the final report containing the results of gender analysis and recommendations agreed with the MNE and all key partners.

Deliverables and timelines

Deliverables // Time frame to provide deliverables // Q-ty of working days (maximum)

Detailed work plan on development methodology and gender analysis of the state planning system in the field of agriculture, including strategic and budget programs in this area by 14 May -- 3 w.d;
The methodology of gender analysis of strategic and budget programs in the field of agriculture is developed, discussed with relevant national stakeholders and finalized based on feedback provided by 9 June -- 15 w.d;
Report on gender analysis of the following documents of system of state planning by 20 August -- 30 w.d.:
- Programme for the development of agro-industrial complex in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2013 - 2020 years "Agribusiness - 2020";
- Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2017 - 2021 years;
- Regional Development Programs (Akmola, Kostanai, Aktobe, Almaty and South Kazakhstan oblasts) to 2016-2020;
- Budget programs of the Ministry of Agriculture and local state bodies of 5 pilot regions on tenth functional budget group;
- Strategy development of JSC "National Holding" KazAgro" for 2011-2020.
Report on results of the consultations and meetings with the relevant ministries, development institutions and civil society and validation of results of gender analysis and recommendations by 15 September -- 7 w.d.;

Final report on the conducted gender analysis, revised in line with feedback received from national stakeholders and UN Women and incorporating main recommendations discussed with the Ministry of National Economy and key partners by 9 October -- 15 w.d.
Total: 70 w.d.

UN Women provides the following support to the consultant:

UN Women will assist in organizing meetings with ministries and local executive bodies; will bear expenses associated with organizing consultative meeting in Astana with the involvement of interested ministries, development institutions and civil society to discuss the results of gender analysis and recommendations (participant’s transportation costs, rent of premises, printing of materials, etc.).
UN Women will contract a national expert who will support international expert in assembling information, compilation of materials for use at the meetings and facilitation of events, etc. outlined in this TOR.

Management arrangements:

The Consultant will work under direct supervision of UN Women Programme Specialist for Kazakhstan. The consultancy will require a home-based work with travel to Astana and regions to conduct field research. Final report and other outcome document must be submitted in Russian language.

Financial arrangements:

Payment will be made upon submission and approval of deliverables, and certification by UN Women Programme Specialist that the services have been satisfactorily performed (80% of travel expenses will be advanced before mission).

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge and experience in conducting research in the field of gender budgeting and gender perspective social policy issues (please attach a copy of the research / analysis report or provide with the link to the resource for us to inspect the study);
Knowledge of budget system of government, procedures of budget planning and gender analysis methods;
Strong analytical and presentation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree in Economics, International Relations, Social Sciences, International Law or any other related field.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of experience in gender equality/women empowerment and gender mainstreaming policies, analysis of state policy, human rights and development;
Minimum of 5 years of practical experience in integrating gender issues into legal regulations and programs (supporting materials or link to the site where the document is available must be attached to introduce with implemented work of the candidate);
Minimum 3 years of experience with UN agencies and other international organizations, as well as with government agencies for promoting human rights and gender equality.

Languages:

Excellent writing and speaking skills in Russian and English.

The evaluation process:

Applicants must meet the above minimum qualification requirements which will be included in the technical evaluation process in the future. The next stage of the assessment process will be maintained by cumulative analysis methodology of technical proposal (70%) and the financial proposal (30%) of the candidate.

Technical evaluation criteria:

Criteria // Maximum points

Advanced degree in International Relations, Social Sciences, International Law or any other related field -- 30;
Minimum of 5 years of experience in gender equality/women empowerment and gender mainstreaming policies, analysis of state policy, human rights and development -- 50;
Minimum of 5 years of practical experience in integrating gender issues into legal regulations and programs (supporting materials or link to the site where the document is available must be attached to introduce with implemented work of the candidate) -- 70;
Minimum of 3 years of experience with UN agencies and other international organizations, as well as with government agencies for promoting human rights and gender equality -- 40;
Knowledge and experience in conducting research in the field of gender budgeting and gender perspective social policy issues (please attach a copy of the research / analysis report or provide with the link to the resource for us to inspect the study) -- 40;

Maximum total technical scoring: 300

Only candidates, who will accumulate at least 210 points of the maximum 300 points during the technical evaluation process, will be qualified for financial evaluation.

Financial Evaluation:
The financial offers of the technically qualified candidates will be requested and will be weighted in terms of selection points as per below formula:
B = T + Clow / C x 129, where
T is the universal technical score awarded to the evaluation of the proposal (only those proposals that pass 70% of the technical evaluation);

C is the financial offer of the candidate; and

Clow is the lowest financial proposal among all evaluated candidates;

129 is the maximum financial point that can be obtained.

The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring + financial scoring).

Submission Process:

Letter of Interest;
CV/duly filled in UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment);
Financial proposal*, including total amount needed for the fulfillment of all tasks within the framework of ToR.

* Each candidate will be requested to submit consolidated financial proposal (a "consolidated financial proposal" that includes applicant's all expenses required to perform the tasks, including communication costs, travel expenses for the task, etc.).

Kindly note, that the system will only allow one attachment, hence all supporting document e.g. P11, CV and Cover letter must be scanned as one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.