UNDP Jobs - 78140- International Consultant

International Consultant - Supporting the protection of LGBTI rights in Eastern Europe

Location :

Home-based with missions

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

estimated May – 31 December 2018

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

approximately 50 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

UNDP is the UN's global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. As a founding Cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), under the UNAIDS division of labor, UNDP is responsible for leading the response in addressing dimensions of AIDS relating to: development planning and mainstreaming; governance; and human rights, gender and sexual diversity. UNDP is also responsible for providing support to governments and national human rights and justice institutions, and CSOs in their efforts for the implementation of policies and programmes that protect the human rights of people affected by HIV and other marginalized and excluded segments of the societies. This is an integral part of UNDP’s mandate for the promotion of rule of law and human rights.

In 2011-2012, UNDP served as a Secretariat of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law – an independent body of eminent experts, which examined the correlations between laws, rights and health in the context of HIV and marginalized populations. UNDP is actively engaged in following up with the Commission’s recommendations, as outlined it its Report “Law, Risks, and Health”.

In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, of particular concern is the situation of key populations most at risk of HIV, such as people who use drugs, sex workers, migrants, inmates and men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people (TG). While over the last couple of years, there has been some progress in removing punitive norms targeting key populations and adopting anti-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity, several country progress reports in the region still indicate a worrying increase of new infections among LGBTI people. This tendency is combined with the proliferation of homophobic laws under the guise of laws “against propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors” and insufficient implementation of anti-discrimination provisions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. Capacity of civil society to successfully advocate rights issues of key populations, particularly of LGBTI people, and to collaborate with government authorities is not high and numerous challenges hamper this dialogue. The situation of TG people in the EECA region is even more uncertain, as often up-to date and accurate information is not available.

In cooperation with governments, other UN agencies, international organizations, and civil society actors, UNDP works to develop the capacity of national legislators, government offices and civil society actors on matters of rights, health and key populations. In support of this mission, UNDP has fostered the development of the Eurasian Coalition on Male Health – a regional umbrella NGO for MSM in the context of rights and health, and has carried out numerous other capacity development initiatives. ECOM is now implementing a regional Global Fund grant focusing on advocacy and service improvement of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender gender (TG) people in 5 countries including Armenia, Belarus, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. UNDP has also worked on the implementation of a USAID funded sub-regional project in the Western Balkans (Being LGBTI in Eastern Europe) on further promoting and protecting the rights and health of LGBTI people specifically in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia with spillover and synergy effects to other countries of the sub-region and beyond.

UNDP now seeks an international consultant to support the work of the Health and Development Team at the Istanbul Regional Hub on matters related to rights and health of LGBTI, as described in the terms of reference below.

Location:
Home-based, 1 mission to Istanbul, Turkey and 1 mission to country South Eastern Europe (approximately 3 working days each).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Regional HHD Team Leader and guided by the Programme Specialist of the HIV, Health and Development Team at the UNDP HHD Team IRH-Istanbul the Consultant shall:

Conduct feasibility study for the development of model law on LGBTI rights and integration into policies, strategies and actions.
Prepare and provide relevant regional inputs to the finalization and roll-out of the LGBTI Inclusion Index led by HHD HQ.
Provide inputs and support resource mobilization endeavors at both regional and global levels for the promotion and protection of LGBTI rights in Eastern Europe - including global concept note development to be submitted to potential donors and collaborative initiative with governance, gender and communication IRH teams to facilitate scale-up of the Being LGBTI in Eastern Europe (BLEE) project.
Organize regional webinar on LGBTI economic empowerment - building on the work and experience from Albania and Ukraine.
Ensure finalization of the Intersex sub-regional report (approximately 32 pages) covering Albania, BiH, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia including as appropriate translation into local languages and potential follow up advocacy work.

Deliverables and Payment Schedule

Payments will be made based on the Supervisor’s acceptance of deliverables and in line with payment schedule below. Main deliverables are:

Deliverable 1 - Finalized detailed work-plan for implementation of the consultancy – 1 month after signing contract;
Deliverable 2 - Conducted feasibility study for the development of model law on LGBTI rights and identified areas for integration into policies, strategies and actions (report of 15 -20 pages) – 2 months after signing contract;
Deliverable 3 - Ensured relevant regional inputs to the finalization and roll-out of the LGBTI Inclusion Index led by HHD HQ – 6 months after signing contract;
Deliverable 4 - Provided support as necessary to at least 2 resource mobilization endeavours at both regional and global levels for further promotion and protection of LGBTI rights in Eastern Europe – 4 months after signing contract;
Deliverable 5 - Organized at least 1 regional webinar on LGBTI economic empowerment - building on the work and experience from Albania and Ukraine – 5 months after signing contract;
Deliverable 6 - Ensured finalization of the Intersex sub-regional report (covering Albania, BiH, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia) including as appropriate translation into local languages and potential follow-up advocacy work – 3 months after signing contract;
Deliverable 7 - Developed end of consultancy report on lessons learned – 7 months after signing contract.

Payment schedule

1st installment – after submission and approval of deliverables 1 – 10% - 1 month after signing
2nd installment – after submission and approval of deliverable 2 – 15% – 2 months after signing
3rd installment – after submission and approval of deliverable 6 – 15% – 3 months after signing
4th installment – after submission and approval of deliverable 4 – 15% - 4 months after signing
5th installment – after submission and approval of deliverable 5 – 15% - 5 months after signing
6th installment - after submission and approval of deliverables 3 – 15% - 6 months after signing
7th installment - after submission and approval of deliverables 7 – 15% - 7 months after signing

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

Commitment to the principles set forth in the UN High Level Declarations on HIV and AIDS, the UN Human Rights Council resolutions on LGBTI.
Commitment to the UNDP Strategic Plan.
Adherence to strict confidentiality and protection of medical secrets, privacy and anonymity of people living with, or affected by HIV.

Functional competencies:

Very good understanding of problems of key populations, including LGBTI people in the context of rights and health in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Very good understanding of work of government and non-state actors – civil society organizations, networks, community groups and others.
Ability to work independently and in a team, strict adherence to completing assigned tasks in a timely manner.
Excellent organizational, research, drafting and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

Masters’ degree in human rights, law, international human rights law, international relations, international development, or other related fields.

Experience:

At least 3.5 years of relevant regional experience in the field of LGBTI rights, health, rights, key populations most at risk of HIV.
At least 3 years of experience in managing projects, organizing conferences, roundtables and drafting project reports.
At least 3 years of experience in advocacy, including advocacy on LGBTI rights, human rights and health, HIV.
At least 3 years of experience in researching, reporting and contributing to reports related to rights violation of LGBTI people and other key populations.

Language skills:

Fluency and ability to communicate in English, and Bosnian, or Croatian, or Montenegrin, or Serbian. Knowledge of one more Western Balkan language is a plus.

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants are evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and a financial proposal.

The award of the contract is made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable;
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical Criteria -70% of total evaluation - max. 70 points:

Relevant regional experience in the field of LGBTI rights, health, rights, key populations most at risk of HIV - max. points - 20
At least 3 years of experience in managing projects, organizing conferences, roundtables and drafting project reports - max. points - 15
Experience in advocacy, including advocacy on LGBTI rights, human rights and health, HIV - max. points - 10
Experience in researching, reporting and contributing to reports related to rights violation of LGBTI people and other key populations. - max. points - 15
Fluency and ability to communicate in English, and Bosnian, or Croatian, or Montenegrin, or Serbian. Knowledge of one more Western Balkan language is a plus - max. points - 10

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

Only candidates who will get at least 70% of score in technical evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Application procedures

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees
(blank form can be downloaded from http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
Financial Proposal* (in USD)- specifying a) total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement and b) breakdown of costs related to 1 mission to Istanbul, Turkey and 1 country of South Eastern Europe (consisting of i) travel costs and ii) per diem for 3 days in each of these countries).

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials.

*Please note that the financial proposal 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...). Candidates are requested to apply price for an economy class ticket on the most direct routes and per diems not exceeding maximum UN daily allowance rates (http://icsc.un.org/rootindex.asp).

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply. Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.