UNDP Jobs - 77656- Consultant(s) to facilitate Focus Group Discussion

Consultant(s) to facilitate Focus Group Discussions

Location :

Nicosia, CYPRUS

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

23-Apr-2018

Application Deadline :

25-Mar-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Up to 20 days in Cyprus and up to 10 days home based

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

Since 2001, United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) has been supporting different levels of intervention, including working with Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots on confidence building measures aiming at the reunification and economic and social development of the island. One component of current efforts involves providing support to broader UN efforts to increase Cypriot confidence in the peace process and ahead of any future resumption of talks.

Complimentary to this objective is a commitment to implement the provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Additionally, Security Council Resolution 2300 reiterated its call for incorporation of Women, Peace and Security through ‘ agreeing that active participation of civil society groups, including women’s groups, is essential to the political process and can contribute to making any future settlement sustainable, recalling that women play a critically important role in peace processes and… urging the two sides to promote the active engagement of civil society and the encouragement of cooperation between economic and commercial bodies and to remove obstacles to such contacts’ Lastly UNSCR 2398 was adopted 30 January 2018 to renew the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, included reference to the importance of the full and effective participation of civil society and women in particular at all stages of the peace process and urges their involvement in the development and implementation of post-conflict strategies for sustainable peace.

In order to further operationalize the Women, Peace and Security commitments in Cyprus, UNDP is recruiting on behalf of UNFICYP, a consultant to work with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus to design and organize targeted focus group discussions with civil society organizations focused on women’s rights and gender equality issues.

The overarching aim of the consultancy is to collect feedback from a diverse scope of CSOs working on women’s rights and gender equality related issues from across the island, and identify entry points to strengthen their inclusion into the broader peace and security discourse. The consultant will design the focus group methodology and facilitate a series of focus groups and meetings to collect in-depth information on both formal and informal CSOs working on women’s rights and gender equality related issues across the island. The consultant will hold meetings with CSOs working on a wide range of issues related both directly and indirectly to provisions found within UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions, to build the capacity for grassroots involvement and input into any future negotiations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of UNFICYP’s Gender Affairs Officer the assignment would cover the following:

Designing methodological approach and facilitating focus group discussions with CSOs or networks operating across the island that address women’s rights or gender equality to gain qualitative input on perceptions of the role and impact of women’s empowerment and gender equality initiatives vis-à-vis both their constituents and decision makers. In addition, advocacy platforms, perceptions of collaboration and networking, as well as level of engagement in and perceptions of peace and security dialogue, will be assessed.
Identifying best practices, challenges, and gaps faced by CSOs working on women’s rights or gender equality in influencing the peace and security discourse.
Assessing entry points to consolidate women’s rights or gender equality CSOs’ input to the peace and security discourse.
Consolidating qualitative information into a draft assessment report that will inform UNFICYP’s development of a strategy of engagement with CSOs working on women’s rights or gender equality from across the island on their efforts related to gender equality dimensions of peace and security.

Deliverables/Outputs:

An assessment report will be produced together with UNFICYP’s Gender Affairs Officer that consolidates at least the following:

Information paper including formal and informal CSOs working on women’s rights and gender equality, with their location, scope of focus and activity overview, and includes a qualitative analysis of overall programming and impact, advocacy capacity and level engagement in supporting the implementation of UNSCR 1325;
Perceptions report on the CSOs and informal women’s groups on barriers, challenges and best practices in and their capacities to access the peace and security discourse and advocate on behalf of their constituents;
Final report including a set of recommendations produced to strengthen the influence and impact of CSOs and women’s organizations to contribute to the broader peace and security discourse in Cyprus.
The consultant will require to work up to 20 days in Cyprus and up to 10 days home-based services will be needed for preparation information paper, perceptions report and final report.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

- Demonstrates commitment to UN’s mission, vision and values;

- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Functional Competencies:

- Ability to meet deadlines and maintain high-quality of output working under pressure;

- Ability to use good judgment and experience working in a multi-cultural setting are critical;

- Excellent communication / organizational skills, attention to details;

- Ability to operate personal computers, corporate and commercial software applications and databases such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, perfect command of Excel, Internet, ERP;

- Familiar with corporate software applications is essential;

Core Competencies:

- Extensive experience in qualitative research and data analysis skills;

- Experience in group facilitation and focus group design

- Understanding of gender equality and women, peace and security related issues;

- Understanding of civil society engagement in Cyprus;

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;

- Experience in report writing;

- Experience in programme design and development.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in international relations, gender issues, public policy, or other social science.
Master degree in international relations, gender issues, public policy, or other social science is an asset.

Experience:

Minimum five years related experience with demonstrable experience working on issues related to social science research and civil society engagement.

Language Requirements:

Excellent command of English. Knowledge of Greek and/or Turkish language is an asset.

Driving Licence:

Required

Submission of Applications and Evaluation

Application:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

References: Contact details of 3 references.
Financial Proposal: Applicants are requested to submit a financial proposal. Financial proposal will specify a lump-sum fee in EUR and shall cover all expenditures including fees, health insurance, vaccination, international (all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel) or local travel (place of residence to office and office to place of residence), cost of living and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services. Leave benefits (annual, sick, paternity, maternity) are not applicable to Individual Contractor and absent days including weekends and office holidays are not payable.
The breakdown of the lump-sum financial proposal should be provided to indicate daily fee in Cyprus, home based daily fee and other expenses such as travel.

Evaluation / Selection Process
All applicants will be screened against qualifications and the competencies set above. Candidates fully meeting the mandatory minimum requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below.

Technical Criteria (CV review and interviews) – 70% of total evaluation– max. 70 points

CV review: 30 points:

Educational qualifications as defined in the ToR (10 points);
Experience as defined in the ToR (20 points).

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the CV desk review (who will score at least 21 points) will be invited for an interview.

Interview: 40 points

Extensive experience in qualitative research and data analysis skills (10 points)
Experience in group facilitation and focus group design (5 points);
Understanding of gender equality and women, peace and security related issues (10 points);
Understanding of civil society engagement in Cyprus (5 points)
Ability to work with patience in a complex and politically sensitive environment (5 points)
Knowledge and understanding of the Cyprus problem (5 points)

Only those individual consultants who obtained at least 70% of points from the interview (28 out of 40) will be considered for financial proposal evaluation.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

UNDP applies the “Best value for money approach” – the final selection will be based on the combination of the applicants’ qualification and financial proposal.

Payment Term:

Lump-sum payment upon; submission and approval of the outputs defined in the ToR, monthly time-sheet and the UNDP certification of payment form.