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. 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 are translated into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts while building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.
UN Women Regional Office for the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region was established in Istanbul, Turkey, at the beginning of 2014 as a part of the UN Women’s new regional architecture. The Regional Office faces high expectations and demands from headquarters, field offices, global programmes (particularly the Fund for Gender Equality) and implementing partners to implement its own monitoring and reporting, and provide technical support, review and quality assurance to others’ monitoring and reporting.
“Implementing norms, changing minds” is a regional UN Women programme in ECA, funded by the European Commission, which aims to support a reduction in discrimination and violence against women and girls in Turkey and six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia), anchored in the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (also known as Istanbul Convention), and also in alignment with European Union accession standards.
The three-year programme supports the development of an enabling legislative and policy environment on eliminating violence against women and all forms of discrimination; promotes favorable social norms and attitudes to prevent gender discrimination and violence against women; and pursues empowering women and girls (including those from disadvantaged groups) who have experienced discrimination or violence to advocate for and use available, accessible, and quality services.
The main feature of the programme is its partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs) as drivers of citizenship, acknowledging their role in strengthening democracy, providing services to those in need and reaching and mobilizing communities to end discrimination and violence against women. At least 60 per cent of the overall programme budget is allocated to CSOs, as responsible parties for the implementation of selected activities of the programme activity plan, through project cooperation agreements.
Within this context, UN Women is recruiting a consultant to support monitoring, reporting, drafting and editing under the supervision of the EVAW Programme Specialist/ Regional Programme Manager based in Ankara, and the Programme Analyst working on monitoring and reporting for the Regional Office based in Istanbul.
The main purpose of this consultancy is to produce, edit and review reports and briefs as a means to strengthen timely and quality reporting of ECA RO and the capacity of the programme “Implementing Norms, Chaning Minds” supported CSOs.
Duties and Responsibilities
The international consultant will be responsible for meeting milestones and deadlines on time and for the quality of the draft documents submitted.
In order to achieve the objectives, the tasks of the consultant will include but will not be necessarily limited to the following:
1. Reporting, writing and editing support
· Support the writing and editing of substantive reports and written contributions for various purposes including inputs for annual reports, communication articles, speeches and newsletters, fund raising efforts, reporting, and other needs, such as terms of references and calls for proposals, to ensure that technical and language quality of written work is of a professional standard.
· Support the preparation, production and submission of ECA RO 2018 annual report. This includes liaising with heads of offices and technical staff to collect and verify information and ensure deadlines.
· Support guidance and technical support, coordination of ECARO feedback and feedback on annual reports by M/COs and PPs to ensure the quality and timely submission & finalization of 2018 Annual Reports. This includes liaising ECA RO Senior Management and technical staff for expectation management, collection and verification of information, and timeliness.
· Support coordination of quarterly monitoring exercise of RO AWP in RMS, ensuring the timely update and completion in the system.
· Support technical support and quality assurance for monitoring: Provide technical support to M/COs and PPs to ensure the timely completion of quarterly monitoring exercise of AWP in RMS.
· Produce, edit, and review background documents, reports, and comply with other monitoring tools as needed for the Programme “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds”:
· Closely cooperate and coordinate with regional programme manager for the quality, development, and completion of all reports, including in-depth review of responsible parties (CSOs)’ reports, case studies, policy papers, etc.
· Support CSOs with edition and proofreading of reports and other materials produced, assist the programme in editing, formatting, and finalizing programme-related documentation, donor reports, annual and mid-year review reports, as well as other documents related to the programme. The consultant may need to be involved in substantively revising and reworking documents.
· Support the implementation of the programme advocacy, prevention, and behavioral change-related activities in support to implementation to the Communication and Visibility Action Plan.
2. Monitoring support
· Support the provision of technical feedback and backstopping support to implementing partners/grantees in the development of programme design documents, baselines, and monitoring systems and plans.
· Support assessment of quality and methodological issues of implementing partners/grantees’ reports and prepare periodic technical assessment updates and recommendations for improvements and future guidance on the development and follow up of monitoring plans.
· Support review of progress reports and assist in extracting lessons learnt and best practices for knowledge sharing.
· Support review of grantees’ financial reports.
Deliverables
The consultant will be required to support and produce the following indicative key deliverables in a period of 11 months:
Deliverables Target due dates
Preliminary assessment of applications 30 April 2018
2018 Quarterly financial reports of grantees for Q1 reviewed, e-mail 31 May 2018
feedback prepared
Reports produced by responsible parties reviewed and edited
Assessment of proposals by CSOs applicants reviewed
Abridged version of 2017 Annual Reports for ECA 30 June 2018
Draft and edited results-oriented reports containing comprehensive and 31 July 2018
detailed information on the status of programme in support to CSOs
Revised budgets and PMFs for grantees 31 July 2018
Mid-term narrative report finalized
Activity report finalized
2018 Quarterly financial reports of grantees for Q2 reviewed, e-mail 31 August 2018
feedback prepared
Assessment of proposals by CSOs applicants reviewed
2018 BAR Report 1 reviewed, e-mail feedback prepared 31 August 2018
Communications product based on BAR 1 prepared for at least 1 30 September 2018
Grantee
Meeting and events reports 30 October 2018
2018 Quarterly financial reports of grantees for Q3 reviewed, e-mail 30 November 2018
feedback prepared
Reports produced by responsible parties reviewed and edited
Briefs on programme related topics 31 January 2019
All Annual Reports in ECA region submitted in a timely manner 28 February 2019
Draft narrative annual donor report finalized
Activity report finalized
2018 Quarterly financial reports of grantees for Q4 reviewed, e-mail 31 March 2019
feedback prepared
2018 BAR Report 2 reviewed, e-mail feedback prepared 31 March 2019
Payment schedule
The duration of the contract is for 135 days during the period from 8 May 2018 until 7 April 2019.
The Consultant will be paid monthly in USD.
The Consultant shall be paid upon successful completion and acceptance of the deliverables by UN Women Regional Programme Manager and UN Women Programme Analyst (ECA RO). The payment shall be affected only if the deliverables required in this TOR are submitted to UN Women Regional Programme Manager and UN Women Programme Analyst (ECA RO). Without submission of and approval of the deliverables, the Consultant shall not receive any payment even if s/he invest time for this assignment.
Reporting
Under the overall supervision of the Regional Programme Manager and the Programme Analyst (ECA RO), the International Consultant will deliver the above listed outputs in accordance with the indicative timeframe.
All deliverables of an acceptable standard and quality should be submitted to the Regional Programme Manager and the Programme Analyst (ECA RO).
Competencies
Core Values:
· Respect for Diversity
· Integrity
· Professionalism
Core Competencies:
· Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
· Accountability
· Creative Problem Solving
· Effective Communication
· Inclusive Collaboration
· Stakeholder Engagement
· Leading by Example
Functional Competencies
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Shares knowledge and experience
- Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside UN Women
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
- Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills. Communicates sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies
- Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in communications and outreach/advocacy
- Ability to perform a variety of standard specialized and non-specialized tasks and work processes that are fully documented, researched, recorded and reported
- Ability to review a variety of data, identify and adjust discrepancies, identify and resolve operational problems
- Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource
Leadership and Self-Management
- Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
- Proven networking skills and ability to generate interest in UN Women’s mandate
- Identifies opportunities and builds strong partnerships with clients and partners
Required Skills and Experience
Academic Qualifications
· An advance university degree (Masters) in development studies, gender studies, social sciences, or social science field, is required.
· Certification in English language is required.
Experience
· Minimum 2 years of professional experience in writing, reviewing, editing reports, manuals, and other technical documents in English language, including for and with non-native speakers.
· Minimum 2 years of professional experience in an international setting.
· Proven knowledge of result-based management and methods related to results-based planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation is required.
· Knowledge of gender in development and gender-based violence is required.
· Experience in working with civil society organizations/implementing partners is an asset.
· Experience working with UN agencies, particularly UN Women, is a strong asset.
· Experience with high-level management support within the UN system is an asset.
· Experience in the region is an asset.
· Good computer skills in Windows, knowledge of internet communications and command of MS Office applications (Power Point, Word, Excel).
Language:
· Advanced written and oral proficiency in English is required.
· Proficiency in another UN language is an asset.
Application procedure
The following documents should be submitted as part of the application:
· Cover letter to include a brief overview about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position.
· Financial Proposal Specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference). The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount. Travel (tickets, DSA etc.) should not be included in the lump sum and will be paid for separately by UN Women.
· P11 (and CV) including past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted with the application.
Candidates should have the ability to quickly produce degree certificates and medical certification (of good health) should they be short-listed in consideration of the consultancy post.
Payment schedule
The consultant will be paid in two instalments (as per the daily rate in the financial offer from the consultant) based on the review and approval of deliverables submitted by Month 3, and Month 7 (end of assignment) as listed in the above table
Evaluation of applicants
Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. Contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer receives the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.
Criteria Total points Max. Points
Technical Evaluation (70%) 70
Relevant education 10
Experience in areas related to the tasks as described in this TOR 30
Knowledge of relevant standards 30
Financial Evaluation (30%) 30
TOTAL 100
The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion. A suggested formula is as follows:
p = 30 (µ/z)
Using the following values:
p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated
µ = price of the lowest priced proposal
z = price of the proposal being evaluated