UN WOMEN Jobs - 73388- International Consultant (CEDAW Expert)-SSA

International Consultant (CEDAW Expert)-SSA

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Kabul and Home-based, AFGHANISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

17-Jul-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

25 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women 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 center of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations System efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. 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 dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s human rights in Afghanistan. Staff and consultants of UN Women Afghanistan are expected to contribute to a professional working environment in which the strengthening of national capacities and human potential is prioritized. Respect for diversity and human dignity is required, as is the active pursuit of a collaborative and inclusive approach to both internal and external stakeholders, including colleagues and partners. UN Women Afghanistan Country Office (ACO) is structured to ensure greater cohesion between the programme areas through three pillars: Eliminating Violence Against Women Pillar (EVAWP), Coordination and Advocacy Pillar (CAP), and Political and Economic Empowerment Pillar (PEEP).

UN Women has partnered with the Directorate of Human Rights and Women’s International Affairs (DHRWIA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) since early 2009 and supported the preparation process of combined initial and second periodic reports to CEDAW in 2013, the interim report on CEDAW in 2015/16, and the development of Afghanistan’s National Action Plan on SCR 1325.

Afghanistan as a State party will meet its obligation to report on CEDAW implementation to the CEDAW Committee. UN Women has been actively providing technical and financial support for preparation of both the State and Alternate CEDAW Reports. In preparation for the Third Periodic report to the CEDAW Committee, the leadership of the National Unity Government has recently assigned a Steering Committee at the deputy minister and director levels to review, monitor and support the Technical Working Group as it develops the third CEDAW periodic report.

UN Women provides technical support to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and other line ministries, through its National Reporting Officer for International Standards on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. UN Women will assist the ministries to prepare the third periodic Sate Report that needs to be submitted to the CEDAW Committee by end of August 2017.

In this regard, an international consultant with robust expertise on CEADW will be hired to review, comment, edit and finalize the third periodic State CEDAW Report. The report preparation will be carried out in full consultation/coordination with MoFA and UN Women’s designated team. The technical Committee established at MoFA will finalize the report. The Steering Committee will approve the final report prior to its submission.

Duties and Responsibilities

In consultation with MoFA and relevant responsible ministries/directorates, review the CEDAW State Report and provide input and quality assurance of the report on content, structure and language of the report. The incumbent will be responsible to finalize the state report within the standard/guidelines prescribed by the CEDAW Committee.
Key activities:

For the periodic report, analyze CEDAW Concluding Observations to Afghanistan (there are 26 concluding observations by the CEDAW Committee) within the framework of (i) the Afghanistan Constitution and Elimination of Violence against Women Law (ii) Shari’a and the customary laws of Afghanistan (iii) international women’s human rights frameworks including the Beijing Platform for Action and (iv) the National Action Plan for Women in Afghanistan (NAPWA) and the NAP on SCR 1325;
Review the drafted State Report and provide substantive and quality assurance inputs;
Provide a written review of the report, highlighting the shortcomings including data deficiency and weak analysis to be addressed by the government;
Visit Afghanistan on a 2 weeks’ mission and work closely with MoFA on the report, sharing the comments and feedback to be addressed by the government;
Edit the report for diction, grammar and structure;
Review, comment if needed, and finalize the report as per the standard acceptable to the CEDAW Committee;
Support MoFA to organize a consultation meeting with relevant stakeholders to review and provide inputs to the report.

Final output: The State Report on CEDAW is finalized based on the acceptable standard for the CEDAW Committee.

Total timeline: 5 weeks/25 working days
Deliverable 1: The report is reviewed, edited and written comments provided for improvement as per CEDAW Committee’s expectation and standard
Timeframe: 10 working days (home-based)
Deliverable 2: A mission is conducted to Kabul to closely work with MoFA and other relevant stakeholders’ ministries to produce the final draft report with MoFA.
Timeframe: 10 working days (in country)
Deliverable 3: Final review of the report is undertaken, required final editing is done including any other fixing of the report and final report is submitted.
Timeframe: 5 working days (home-based)

Competencies

Proven knowledge about gender issues in Afghanistan and international treaty reporting mechanisms;
Proven coordination and management skills, including the ability to set priorities, manage time effectively, and contribute to a team environment of respect, tolerance, diversity and mutual accountability;
Excellent inter-personal and communication skills;
Must be self-starter with excellent demonstrated teamwork skills;
Strong and proven integrity and analytical skills;
Excellent writing skills in English;
Understanding of CEDAW Committee’s needs, expectations and working procedures;
Commitment to upholding the organizational values and principles of UN Women Afghanistan;
A proven ability to liaise with a myriad of stakeholders and partners, including government, civil society, international organizations and grassroots organizations;
Essential computer skills – familiarity with Microsoft Word programs, internet, e-mail.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in Law, Human Rights, development cooperation, gender studies, women’s rights, public administration, or other related fields.

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years of progressively relevant professional working experience, in the fields of CEDAW; Human Rights; Development Coordination; Gender/Women’s Rights; or Public Administration;
Demonstrated experience of working with donors, coordination between government agencies, donors, the international community and civil society;
Experience working in government institutions and civil society an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluent spoken and written English; knowledge of Dari and/or Pashtu an asset.