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. Placing women's rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action globally. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

The degree to which women and men are affected by climate change impacts is interrelated with their social status, gender, poverty, power, and access to and control over resources. Women’s unequal participation in decision-making processes and labour markets compound inequalities and often prevent women from fully contributing to climate-related planning, policy-making, and implementation. At the same time, in many countries women are being recognized as agents of change who make valuable contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. In global climate policy and action, gender equality is gaining recognition and at the latest Climate Change Conference in Bonn (COP23), held in November 2017, Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reiterated their commitment to mainstreaming gender in climate action and the UNFCCC process by adopting Decision 3/CP23 – Establishment of a gender action plan, under the Lima work programme on gender[1].

Although as of November 2017, UN Women Serbia, in cooperation with UNDP, through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project on the Climate Smart Urban Development (CSUD) supports the work of the Ministry of Environmental Protection on gender mainstreaming of climate smart actions, little has been done to mainstream gender systematically into climate change policies, project and activities in the Republic of Serbia. For example, even the First Biennial Update Report of the Republic of Serbia under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change from February 2016 does not consider gender as an important factor in defining and proposing specific mitigation and adaption measures.[2]

Considering that the UNFCCC GAP, through five priority areas[3], seeks to advance women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and promote gender-responsive climate policy and the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the implementation of the Convention and the work of Parties, there is a need for further technical assistance on integrating gender considerations in all aspects of climate change – policy analysis and development, planning, implementing and monitoring of specific activities and projects, etc. in the Republic of Serbia.

[1] Decision 18/CP.20 Lima Work Programme on Gender has aimed to enhance the earlier two decisions on gender balance/ women’s participation by including a focus on the implementation of gender-responsive climate policy.

[2] https://unfccc.int/files/national_reports/non-annex_i_parties/biennial_update_reports/application/pdf/serbur1e.pdf

[3] The five priority areas being: Capacity-building, knowledge sharing and communication; Gender balance, participation and women’s leadership; Coherence; Gender-responsive implementation and means of implementation; and Monitoring and reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective

The objective of the assignment is to develop a project proposal on gender and climate change, through utilizing innovative approaches of integrating gender perspective in policy measures and specific resilience, adaptation, and mitigation measures relevant for the context of the Republic of Serbia. The project proposal will be developed in close cooperation with the key national stakeholders, i.e. the Ministry of the Environmental Protection, and other relevant counterparts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Working under the overall supervision of the UN Women Gender Specialist, and in cooperation with the Gender Mainstreaming Associate, the consultant will be responsible for developing:

1) a project concept, and

2) a full project proposal on gender and climate change, looking into options for replicating and scaling up successful climate change mitigation and adaptation practices in agriculture, water and tourism sectors.

The project should be in line with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2016 – 2020.

Specifically, an International Consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

• Conduct an evaluation and analysis of the existing capacity in the Republic of Serbia for climate change programmes and interventions to facilitate complementarities and reduce potential for duplication.
• Review relevant documentation including, but not limited to, Government of Serbia’s policies, strategies, plans, etc.
• Liaise with the Ministry of Environmental Protection to ensure that the objectives of the project are adequately captured and addressed in the final project proposal.
• Consider opportunities for expanding the project conceptual framework to tap into GEF-7 programming and Green Climate Fund.
• Collect and collate baseline data as required including spatial, socio-economic and environmental data, for inclusion in the proposal and for use during project implementation.
• Obtain information and data necessary for the proposal including identification and prioritization of capacity building needs.
• Document consultation methodologies and outputs.
• Develop project theory of change, log frame (results and resources framework) and detailed budget for project implementation.
• Design monitoring and evaluation framework; and finalize the institutional/implementation framework, including the stakeholder responsibility matrix.
• Incorporate all the above into the project proposal for submission using relevant UN Women templates.

Deliverables and Timeline:

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration

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:

• Programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills;
• Possesses the ability to work independently, under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Good knowledge of technical area;
• Good organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Masters or equivalent in environmental studies, sustainable development, social sciences, gender studies, or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of knowledge and experience of the political, social and environmental factors and issues related to climate change adaptation in the Western Balkans, preferably in the Republic of Serbia;
• Experience in facilitation and development of broad-based consultative processes/ programmes/project documents on climate change, natural resources and/or environment related discipline;
• Experience in mainstreaming gender into climate change and relevant sectors such as energy, forestry, agriculture, water, etc.;
• Previous experience with the UN system or international organization is considered an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in English (written and oral).

Application should include:

• Personal History Form (P-11 form) - including past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted;
• Financial Proposal: Specify a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference. The financial proposal must include a breakdown of this lump sum amount per deliverable;
• One example of Project Document development work relevant to the TOR;
• 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:

Consultant will be paid upon submission and the acceptance of each deliverable as specified in the financial offer:

• 1st payment upon submission of Detailed Work Plan, Project Concept Note and Report on conducted activities and review of relevant documentation;
• Final payment upon submission of final Full project proposal with developed project theory of change, log frame (results and resources framework), detailed budget for project implementation, designed monitoring and evaluation framework; and finalized the institutional/implementation framework, including the stakeholder responsibility matrix, incorporating feedback from UN Women.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Consultants will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of qualifications and financial proposal. Contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
2. Having received 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.

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

z = price of the proposal being evaluated