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 the 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 builds effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.
UN Women plays an innovative and catalytic role in Palestine since its inception in 1997. UN Women Palestine focuses its activities on one overarching goal, namely to support the implementation at the national level of existing international commitments to advance gender equality in line with the national priorities. In support of this goal and thoroughly taking into consideration the specificities of the Palestinian context, UN Women concentrates its efforts and interventions towards the realization of the following strategic goals: Engendering governance, peace and security; Supporting women's income security decent work and economic autonomy; and Promoting women’s rights and protection against violence.
UN Women’s work related to economic empowerment is based on ensuring women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy through promoting the inclusion of women in non-traditional sectors through removing social, customary and political barriers that prevent women from participation in the diverse sectors. The Theory of Change (ToC) provides that if government institutions and private corporations implement and promote gender sensitive policies and procedures, and if national economic related policies and regulations are developed and implemented in favor of promoting women’s employment and investment, and if opportunities for women and women entrepreneurs to move up the value chain in different sectors are promoted, then women’s economic empowerment will be promoted.
Women-owned/led Micro, Small and Medium businesses MSME’s face numerous barriers and challenges preventing them from accessing and fully participating in the supply chains; accordingly, UN Women and ILO joined forces to implement the programme “Promoting Women’s Equal Access to Economic Opportunities and Decent Work in Palestine”. The programme works on strengthening the market oriented entrepreneurial skills and capacities of women (employed and self-employed), especially the most excluded and marginalized in West Bank and Gaza Strip. It also promotes an environment that enables women’s labour market participation through awareness raising, capacity building and policy dialogue amongst the governmental, private, social and non-governmental bodies, to promote gender responsive policies and legal frameworks related to the world of work. In the framework of this programme, UN Women will partner with a local NGO/s to deliver business development services targeting marginalized women and women led/owned MSME’s in West Bank, including area C and Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip who have limited access to equal economic opportunities, market oriented capacities and decent work conditions.
To this end, UN Women is seeking an experienced national consultant to conduct an analysis of the existing economic sectors in Palestine, with focus on the cultural production; such as textile, jewellery, olive wood, soap, ICT, etc.
Purpose and scope of the sector analysis:
This in-depth sector analysis is intended to be a practical tool and guidance for UN Women and its partners in guiding women MSME’s towards a specific range of economic sectors that have market and export potential, while helping them to avoid over-saturated sectors through specialized business development interventions, as well as conducting further policy interventions in the different sectors identified in Palestine within the framework of the Decent Work for Women Programme by ILO and UN Women. Accordingly, the analysis will aim at:
- Conducting a review of the overall economy will be conducted (in view of women’s participation but also potential for growth);
- Based on the review and the inclusive growth potential, 3 economic sub-sectors will be identified; and
- Analysis of the 3 identified sub-sectors will be done focusing on:
- Gaps, challenges and opportunities of women led MSME’s related to the environment; policy, practices, laws etc;
- Export potential for women led MSME’s, where applicable; and
- Based on the gaps and best practices provide recommendations, including policy recommendations, how to enhance business development for women in traditional and non-traditional sectors.
Methodology of the Assignment:
The methodology will be developed by the consultant in close collaboration with UN Women and key stakeholders, along with a detailed work plan, clearly indicating timing of activities, deadlines and resources, in line with the expected deliverables of the consultant as set forth in the ToR. The methodology and techniques should be described in the inception report and should be presented to UN Women for review and approval in the inception report. The methodology should entail the data collection methods and participatory tools for consultations with the different stakeholders. It should include as a base:
- A literature review of secondary data, researches, strategies, etc.;
- Focus groups and individual interviews; and
- Field visits to ensure the participatory approach and engagement; of stakeholders at the community level, among other tools needed to collect a comprehensive set of data and analysis.
Stakeholders’ Participation:
Through this assignment, the national consultant will conduct this analysis in close coordination with the relevant government institutions, among other specialized institutions, UN agencies and the private sector.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the UN Women Special Representative and the direct supervision of the Women Economic Empowerment Programme Manager, the Consultant will undertake the following tasks, duties and responsibilities:
- Conduct an analysis of the overall economic sector in Palestine, with focus on the participation of women led/owned Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises MSME’s/businesses;
- Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, gaps, constraints/challenges for women led/owned MSME’s in existing economic sectors including, but not limited to: access to sustainable market opportunities and export chains. The analysis should include existing procedures, policies, existing and pending legislations, and their implementation providing equal opportunities to women and men entrepreneurs and businesses, etc.;
- Identify 3 economic sub-sectors which have growth potential and opportunities for women-led/ owned businesses;
- Based on findings from analysis and the international best practices and standards, provide recommendations to respond to these gaps and challenges at the macro, meso and micro levels, including policy recommendations;
- Develop an analysis report on the economic sectors; analyzing the gaps and opportunities in access to market, and recommendations for 3 identified sub-sectors for women-led/ owned businesses which have growth potential and opportunities for competitiveness including support needed to facilitate exports; and
- Establish a Reference Group for the analysis, including members of different stakeholders, and draft the relevant Terms of Reference in close coordination with UN women.
Timeframe:
The assignment is expected to start in 19 July June 2018 and to be finalized by 30 September 2018.
Key Deliverables:
Upon signature of the agreement, the consultant is expected to develop a detailed work plan of the consultancy assignment, including detailed methodology. The key deliverables are as follows:
Produce an inception report, detailing the methodology, including data collection tools, methods and the workplan (in English and Arabic);
- A PowerPoint presentation of the inception report;
- Delivering a presentation of the inception report for the Reference Group (RG); and
- A final inception report based on comments received from the Group.
Draft sector analysis for review including (in English and Arabic):
- Introduction:
- Background, goal and methodological approach;
- Methodology for the compilation and analysis of the information;
- Analysis of findings; the analysis shall include gaps, opportunities and recommendations for 3 sub-sectors of women led/owned businesses with growth potential and opportunities for competitiveness and export;
- Conclusions and lessons learnt; and
- Annexes – including all raw data, developed tools, list of consulted stakeholders etc.
Final sector analysis including (in English and Arabic):
- Introduction;
- Executive summary in Arabic and English;
- Background, goal and methodological approach;
- Methodology for the compilation and analysis of the information;
- Analysis of findings; the analysis shall include gaps, opportunities and recommendations for 3 sub-sectors of women led/owned businesses with growth potential and opportunities for competitiveness and export;
- Conclusions and lessons learnt;
- Key recommendations for future policy change; and
- Annexes – including all raw data, developed tools, list of consulted stakeholders etc.
All deliverables must be submitted in English and Arabic (except for questionnaires (if used) and other tools, which could be both in Arabic, as Microsoft copies (word document, excel sheets, SPSS etc.).
Competencies
Core Values:
- Respect for Diversity.
- Integrety.
- Professionalism.
Core Competencies:
- Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues.
- Accountability.
- Creative Problem Solving.
- Effective Communication.
- Inclusive Collaboration.
- Stakeholder Engagement.
- Leading by Example.
Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf
Functional Competencies:
- Excellent facilitation and communication skills.
- Excellent research and analysis skills.
- Proven strong coordination and facilitation skills.
- Outstanding knowledge of gender, women’s rights and the different challenges with regard to gender equality.
- Good understanding of the economic context in Palestine.
- Strong communication skills in English and Arabic (oral and written).
- Ability to work under pressure and to deliver on time.
- Results oriented, flexible and with problem solving skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
A Master’s degree in Economics or any related development field.
Experience:
The Consultant should have the following qualifications:
- Significant relevant experience in conducting research and economic analysis; working with information management, data collection and analysis of a minimum of 5 years;
- Significant relevance experience in designing data collection and analysis tools related to women economic empowerment; minimum two previous cases;
- Significant relevance experience in gender-disaggregated data collection and analysis; minimum 2 cases;
- A minimum of 2 years’ experience with the Palestinian socio-economic and political context, and women MSME’s sector;
- Previous experience with Palestinian governmental organizations and laws is an asset; and
- Previous professional experience with the UN agencies is an asset.
Language requierements:
Fluency (both oral and written) in Arabic and English.
Application procedure:
This SSA modality is governed by UN Women General Terms and Conditions. UN Women will only be able to respond to applicants who meet the minimum requirements. Candidates should clearly indicate how they meet the above-mentioned criteria in their applications.
The following documents should be submitted as part of the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials:
• Recent CV including previous experience in similar assignments and two previous writing samples of similar researches and analysis; the CV and previous samples should be uploaded either in ONE word or PDF document. Candidates should have the ability to quickly submit medical certification (of good health) should they have been selected for this consultancy assignment.
Evaluation of applicants:
Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. A 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 50 points in the technical evaluation will be considered for financial evaluation.
Technical Evaluation (70%) – max. 70 points:
Education:
A Master’s degree in Economics, or any related development field; (10 points max)
Experience:
- Significant relevant experience in conducting research and economic analysis; working with information management, data collection and analysis of a minimum of 5 years; (10 points max);
- Significant relevance experience in designing data collection and analysis tools related to women economic empowerment; minimum two previous cases; (10 points max);
- Significant relevance experience in gender-disaggregated data collection and analysis; minimum 2 cases; (10 points max);
- A minimum of 2 years’ experience with the Palestinian socio-economic and political context, and women MSME’s sector; (10 points max);
- Previous experience with Palestinian governmental organizations and laws is an asset; (5 points max);
- Previous professional experience with the UN agencies is an asset. (5 points max); and
- Two previous writing samples of similar researches and analysis; (10 points max)
Financial Evaluation (30%) – max. 30 points:
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; and
- z = price of the proposal being evaluated.