UN WOMEN Jobs - 85355- International Consultant to prepare Afghanistan Re

International Consultant to prepare Afghanistan Report on Beijing+25 Review- SSA

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Kabul Afghanistan with possible travel to UN Women Regional Office

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

27-May-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

66 Working Days (within 3 months)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

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 and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women is dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s human rights in Afghanistan. Staff and consultants of UN Women Afghanistan are expected to contribute to a professional working environment in which the strengthening of national capacities and human potential is prioritized. Respect for diversity and human dignity is required, as is the active pursuit of a collaborative and inclusive approach to both internal and external stakeholders, including colleagues and partners. UN Women Afghanistan Country Office (ACO) is structured to ensure greater cohesion between the programme areas through three thematic areas: Eliminating Violence Against Women Pillar (EVAW), Governance and Leadership (G&L), and Women Peace and Security (WPS).

The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, represented a critical turning point in the world’s focus on gender equality and the empowerment of women. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in Beijing, represents a global commitment to achieving equality, development and peace for women worldwide. It builds upon consensus and progress made at earlier UN conferences, particularly the Conference on Women in Nairobi in 1985. In its resolution 2018/18, as of 12 July 2018, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) decided that at its sixty-fourth session, in 2020, the Commission on the Status of Women will undertake a review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, including an assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform for Action and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and its contribution towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UN Women Regional Office for Asia-Pacific is collaborating with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), represented by ESCAP Sub regional office for South and South-West Asia reviews of the progress made and challenges encountered in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the opportunities to strengthen gender equality and the empowerment of women in the SDGs. The outcomes of intergovernmental processes at the regional level will feed into the March 2020 global review to be undertaken by the Commission on the Status of Women at its sixty-fourth session In line with these recommendations, UN Women Regional Office for Asia-Pacific is collaborating with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), represented by ESCAP Sub regional office for South and South-West Asia, in the planning of the Beijing+25 Asia-Pacific High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women to be held 25-28 November 2019.

UN Women has partnered with the Directorate of Human Rights and Women’s International Affairs (DHRWIA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) since early 2009 and supported the preparation process of combined initial and second periodic reports to CEDAW in 2013, the interim report on CEDAW in 2015/16, and the development of Afghanistan’s National Action Plan on SCR 1325. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action remains a landmark normative agreement and the defining policy framework for the achievement of gender equality and women’s rights. It also remains an unfinished agenda that requires political recommitment and accelerated implementation in line with the SDGs and CEDAW. UN Women ACO aim to produce Afghanistan report on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the BPfA and its alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs. This report will summarize trends based on evidences from the national reports from the Afghanistan and will undertake analysis of the progress and challenges to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women in Afghanistan.

UN Women is seeking the services of an experienced international consultant to assist in preparing the Afghanistan review on the progress and challenges in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action including substantive inputs to the Beijing+25 Regional review meeting and sub-regional consultations. The substantive inputs will include a comprehensive report for for Afghanistan on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the BPfA and its alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, as well as other substantive inputs to the regional consultations on the 25 anniversaries of the Beijing Platform for Action.

The main objective of the assignment is to undertake the review of the last four years 2014-2018 national progress reports, conduct the substantive comparative analysis of achievements, challenges and gaps encountered by Afghanistan in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and prepare Afghanistan synthesis reports on Beijing+25 review. This country assessment will be aligned with the review of UN Women’s Global priorities to draw key messages for the achievement of gender equality, women’s rights and women’s empowerment related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The consultant will also draw on resources in the country level reports. She/he will compile statistical data for Afghanistan in the region, analyze it against the internationally agreed gender equality indicators to complement the national reviews as well as conduct a mapping of the positions of relevant governments on key issues pertaining to gender equality and women’s empowerment, based on specific indicators and data.

The report preparation will be carried out in full consultation/coordination with MoFA and UN Women’s designated team. The technical Committee established at MoFA will finalize the report. The Steering Committee will approve the final report prior to its submission.

Duties and Responsibilities

In consultation with MoFA and relevant responsible ministries/directorates, under the overall guidance of the UN Women senior management in close cooperation with UN Women RO Gender Statistics Specialist, the International Consultant will lead the development of the Afghanistan Report on Beijing+25 Review, which will include, but will not be limited to the following tasks:

Develop methodology for the country assessment of the progress and challenges of the implementation of the BPfA and its alignment with the 2030 Agenda; detailed outline of the country synthesis report and the timeline of the assignment with the support of the UN Women ACO;
Prepare the initial, second and final drafts of the report on the progress of the implementation of the BPfA, through analysis of the national-level reports and desk review of other sources of information, including those provided by UN Women ACO, such as programme and policy documents; studies and research publications on gender equality issues in Afghanistan etc. It should also include plans and initiatives as reflected in the national reports on how the BPfA and the 2030 Agenda can be implemented in a mutually reinforcing manner. The Report will include two parts each of a maximum of 8,500 words;

Part one: A country synthesis report to summarize trends and policy developments in the country with a focus on the past 4 years. It will discuss priorities, achievements, challenges and setback followed by analysis of the 12 critical areas of concern which have been clustered into six overarching dimensions as a framework for the alignment of the BPfA with the 2030 Agenda. This analysis will follow the structure of the national reports. The Report will conclude with emerging priorities in terms of opportunities and challenges in implementing the BPfA and recommendations to strengthen gender equality in the SDGs;
Part two: An Annex of the country assessment should complement the regional synthesis report (Part 1) by providing country information in selected areas of achievements and challenges as outlined in the national responses received from the counterpart;
Provide advice for MoFA steering committee meetings specific consultations to assess the progress in specific thematic commitments set up by BPfA;
Identify key messages on priorities emerging from the country-level and analysis to support briefing materials for delegations to the Beijing+25 regional consultations to be conducted in Bangkok on 25-28 November 2019;
Support the development of the final report on findings to further share country’s experiences and initiatives with member States and partners;

Final output: The country Report on BPFA is finalized based on the acceptable standard for the MoFA Steering Committee and UN Women Afghanistan.

Deliverable 1: An inception report with detailed outline of the Regional Synthesis Report and timeline of the assignment, including proposed methodology for the regional assessment. Timeframe (20 w/days)

Deliverable 2: Work with MoFA and other relevant stakeholders’ ministries to produce the final draft report with MoFA to prepare initial draft of the country synthesis Report. Timeframe (10 w/days)

Deliverable 3: Second draft of the country synthesis Report, substantive inputs to the sessions of the provisional annotated agenda of the Beijing+25 consultations to be conducted in Bangkok on 25-28 November 2019. Timeframe (10 w/days)

Deliverable 4: Final review of the report is undertaken, required final editing is done including any other fixing of the report and final report is submitted. Timeframe (26 w/ds)

Competencies

Proven knowledge about gender issues in Afghanistan and international treaty reporting mechanisms;
Proven coordination and management skills, including the ability to set priorities, manage time effectively, and contribute to a team environment of respect, tolerance, diversity and mutual accountability;
Excellent inter-personal and communication skills;
Must be self-starter with excellent demonstrated teamwork skills;
Strong and proven integrity and analytical skills;
Excellent writing skills in English;
Understanding of PPFA reporting requirements, expectations and working procedures;
Commitment to upholding the organizational values and principles of UN Women Afghanistan;
A proven ability to liaise with a myriad of stakeholders and partners, including government, civil society, international organizations and grassroots organizations;
Essential computer skills – familiarity with Microsoft Word programs, internet, e-mail.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced (Masters) degree in international development or development studies with focus on gender/women’s rights, public administration or other social sciences fields relevant to the requirements of the TOR;
A PhD is considered an asset.

Experience:

At least 7 years of experience in women’s rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment or any related field, including at a senior level;
At least 5 years of experience of analytical and/or advocacy related work with gender equality and women’s empowerment issues in the Asia and Pacific;
At least 7 years of experience in BPfA and key concerns related to positioning various GEWE aspects in inter-governmental processes and discussions related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals considered as an asset;
At least 10 years of research/analytical experience;
Previous professional experience with development agencies and/or the United Nations is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Proficient in written and oral English;
Computer literacy and ability to effectively use computers, including advance Excel skills and and/or knowledge of related analytical software (SPSS, Stata etc.) and standard applications for concise communication and development of complex written documentation;
Excellent analytical skills;
Strong writing and editing skills, and experience in writing synthesis reports.

Application Process:

Personal History Form (P-11 form) - including experience in similar assignments;
Financial Proposal: Specify 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 (per deliverable, all travel costs, per diem any other possible costs as relevant);
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.

Management and financial arrangements:

The contractor will report to and work under direct supervision of UN Women senior management.