Background
The conflict in Syria has caused the largest displacement of people in recent times and has severely strained economic and social systems and related institutions in neighboring countries. The absence of any prospect for a positive solution to the Syrian crisis, combined with an unprecedented influx of refugees, has brought with it substantial burdens for host communities.
The multi-faceted nature of the conflict has challenged standard conflict resolution mechanisms as well as traditional responses to protracted crises. How countries in the region can cope with the ongoing conflict in Syria and the unprecedented demographic shock and what can be done to improve international burden sharing are therefore questions of regional and international concern.
The Regional Refugee Response Plan (3RP), which brought humanitarian and development actors with the leadership of host governments in one plan, was initiated in 2015 with 200 partners. The fourth year into the 3RP, the resilience requirement has gone up to US$ 2.02 billion (or 36% of total ask) and funding received for the resilience component in 2017 reached US$751 million (33% of total funding received). Many partners are shifting their response to resilience building programmes that aim at building sustainability and social cohesion/stability of affected populations and the host countries’ communities and institutions.
Resilience programming is implemented in various sectors; Education, Wash, Protection, Food and Livelihoods. During 2017, over 27,000 jobs were supported by the 3RP partners in Turkey, of those 57% were in health and education service provisions (mainly for Syrian refugees). A further 30% of 27,000 have improved their income owing to job creation initiatives. It is mentioned that 50% of 6,267 people supported by the livelihoods sector are female[1]. In Jordan, livelihoods projects encourage female participation. However, there is no standardized gender inclusion practices when it comes to resilience programming. As more partners are implementing resilience programming, it is important to consider the negative impact of gender blind programming and its consequences in long-term.
With efforts to improve measurements of the impact of resilience programming, there is a strong need to integrate gender sensitive programming into livelihoods and resilience programmes to improve the gender sensitivity of programming across the 3RP response. In the context of the Syria crisis and host communities who are hosting the refugees, socio-cultural factors often hinder women from participating in economic /livelihoods activities outside of their homes. At the same time, the crisis can be an opportunity to break down gender barriers as it forces women and men to step out of their socially ascribed roles as a part of the survival mechanism.
The Sub-Regional Response Facility (SRF) has a clear and focused mandate on policy research to meet challenges in implementation of the response to the Syria crisis. It is therefore uniquely positioned to analyse the extent of gender sensitive programming in the Syria crisis response so far and to offer ideas on possible next steps to encourage a more gender sensitive resilience response within the current refugee and resilience Syria response.
Project Description
Under the management of the SRF with inputs from the RBAS Gender Advisor to assess the extent of gender sensitive programming within 3RP 2018 and provide recommendations to ensure that gender sensitive responses are mainstreamed into future programming. The consultant will develop a methodology which will include an analysis of the following questions around gender sensitive programming, in an effort to strengthen the resilience response to the protracted crisis.
- What is the resilience programming within different sectors of the response?? How does it address the different needs of different parts of society? How integrated is a gender analysis into programme preparation?
- What lessons exist from other global crisis about gender sensitive response in resilience programmes?
- How has the Syria response evolved in terms of gender sensitivity around resilience/livelihoods programming? What more might be done?
- What type of gender sensitive resilience activities are programmed and implemented in the current 3RP framework?
- Have resilience projects designed through participation of women resulted different from other projects, where women were not involved in designing? Are there lessons to be learnt?
- What more can we do to ensure gender sensitive programming in the 3RP?
- What are current best practices on mainstreaming gender sensitivity into resilience programming in the region? How can this best be shared?
- What type of programmes might be piloted in an individual country response context to improve gender mainstreaming?
The final analysis will include a literature review of existing work around gender sensitive resilience programmes in the region and in other crisis contexts as well as consultations with local and national partners in the region (NGOs, governments, civil society groups, etc.) The focus of the analysis is the universe of Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) partners, consistent with the localization guidance that informed the development of the 3RP 2018-2019. The final product will include a review of best-practices for implementing gender sensitive resilience progamming in the region and will identify bottlenecks to further expand the programming, and recommendations to improve and implement gender sensitive resilience activities, including activities that consider an integrated GBV response.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the Supervision of the Policy and Crisis Coordination Specialist, this consultant role will be responsible for researching and developing a product for the UNDP Sub-Regional Response Facility which will focus on the extent of gender sensitive resilience programming in the Syria crisis response and make recommendations of possible next steps.
Deliverables and results:
- Map and review existing literature around gender sensitive resilience progammes and integrate this literature review into the product;
- Provide an inception report on methodology, scope and literature, and draft outline for the product;
- Analyze existing data from the planning process to establish a baseline;
- Conduct research and consult with national and local actors in the region around the gender sensitive resilience programming in the Syria crisis response based on the on-going response, and who has benefitted from it and integrate results of these findings and discussions into a paper;
- Assess how much impact gender sensitive programming has had on the lives of women and men.
- Identify best practices and bottlenecks in gender sensitive resilience programming;
- Review the gender marker (guidance note 7) as found in the guidance note of the 3RP;
- Provide recommendations on tracking and measuring of gender sensitive resilience programming through the 3RP and review best-practices for a proposed pilot in a crisis response country.
- Prepare and develop the concept of high level meeting which include donors, UN agencies, I/NGOs and private sector to present the research outcomes to move forward with Jobs Makes Difference.
Competencies
Corporate competencies
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the United Nations
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism
Functional Competencies
- In-depth knowledge on development and humanitarian issues;
- Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
- Capable of working in a high-pressure work environment with frequent urgent deadlines;
- Ability to multi-task;
- Ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
- High level logical and methodical organizational skills;
- Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting.
- Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of joint development programs and projects, mobilize resources.
Management and Leadership
- Focuses on impact and result for the client
- Interacts effectively with all levels of the organization
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
- Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors
- Demonstrates exceptional ability to remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure and tight deadlines
- Demonstrates openness to change
- Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master's Degree required in Development Studies, Public Administration, International Affairs, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.
Professional Experience:
- 5 year experience working on gender sensitive programing and/or gender mainstreaming in international development and humanitarian in response.
- At least 3 years’ experience working with I/NGO and/or UN;
- At least 3 years’ gender sensitive approaches in the Arab region;
- At least 2 years’ experience in research and writing reports and policy papers;
Language Skills:
- Written and spoken English, Arabic is an asset,
DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Candidates that fail to submit the required information will not be considered.
- Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
- Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
- Technical proposal (1 page) that demonstrates ability to conduct and draft research focusing on gender sensitive programming in development programme.;
- Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per the table given in section D. template provided.
All necessary information including: Complete Procurement Notice, The Selection Criteria, and Annexes are found on the following link under Procurement http://procurement-notices.undp.org/
Interested candidate shall apply the CV/P11 to Job advertisement website, hence consultant should submit to email: Proc.contract.rscjo@undp.org : not later than Tuesday 6th November the following documents:
- CV/P11
- Confirm availability and financial proposal
- Technical proposal
- Brief description of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL
Interested candidates should provide lump sum fees for requested services with detailed breakdown (consultancy fees, round travel tickets, travel cost, living allowances during the missions., etc.) as per travel plan above
Dutt Station and travel plan;
Homebased with several missions.The consultant will be expected to undertake approximately 4 missions within the Arab Region countries (Beirut, Amman) and two missions to Ankara and Gaziantep as per detailed travel plan mentioned in Procurement Notice.
All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.
In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.
In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.
EVALUATION
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:
Step I: Screening and desk review:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.
Applications will be first screened and only candidates meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:
- Master’s Degree required, in Development Studies, Public Administration, International Affairs, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field (as per mentioned above);
- 5 year experience working on gender sensitive programing in international development and humanitarian response.
- At least 3 years’ experience working with I/NGO and/or UN;
- Fluency in written and spoken English
Shortlisted Candidates will be then assessed and scored against the following evaluation criteria.
Evaluation of Candidates (max 100 points):
- 5 year experience working on gender sensitive programing in international development and humanitarian response .20%
- At least 3 years’ experience working with I/NGOs or UN; 20%
- At least 2 years’ experience in research and writing reports and policy papers; 20%
- At least 3 years’ gender sensitive approaches in the Arab region; 20%
- Written and spoken Arabic language ; 10%
- technical proposal; 10%
Step II: Final evaluation
The final evaluation will combine the scores of desk review and financial proposal with the following weights assigned to each:
- Shortlisting: 70%;
- Financial proposal: 30%