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. In Cox’s Bazar, UN Women started its humanitarian response since October 2017 and established Multi-purpose Women’s Centres (MPWCs) in February 2018 as a hub for critical lifesaving services and information to empower women.  Till date, UN Women has five MPWCs in the Rohingya camps and seeks to establish three centers in the host communities. UN Women also actively engages with other UN agencies, and local and international NGOs operating on the ground in Cox’s Bazar through the ISCG coordination mechanisms to advocate for greater attention to gender specific needs and gender dynamics in the humanitarian response. The goal of UN Women’s crisis response in Cox’s Bazar is to ensure that women and girls affected by crisis lead, participate in and benefit from relief and response efforts. 

The project “Addressing urgent protection needs of displaced women and adolescent girls from Myanmar in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh” funded by Government of Japan has duration of 1 April 2019 – 31st March 2020. This project is concentrating on the areas of enhancing protection and resilience of Rohingya women and adolescent girls in the refugee camps. The expected outcome of this project is Protection and resilience of women and adolescent girls in refugee camps are enhanced.

Building on the momentum of this project, UN Women has initiated a three-year project “Means to lead: Empowering Rohingya refugee and host community women through leadership, learning and livelihood” funded by the Government of Sweden. This project aims to increase the resilience, leadership, protection and livelihood opportunities for women and adolescent girls in Ukhyia and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar’s refugee settlements and host communities and increase social cohesion in a context or rising tensions between refugee and host communities. Overall objective of this project is, Women and girls, both Rohingya and host community, are empowered and resilient leaders, and are able to address and build social cohesion. The expected outcome of this project is Leadership and livelihoods of women and adolescent girls in Rohingya refugee camps and host communities are enhanced, and social cohesion is promoted. 

In this regard, UN Women is looking for an appropriate national consultant to support undertaking the baseline study and review to measure the impacts and outcome of this programme.

Objectives of the assignment

A. The overall objective of the review study is to assess the progress, results and impacts of the project intervention. The expected outcomes of the end-line study are an end-line document that will help measure the progress, results and impacts of project intervention. 

The aim of baseline study of project is to establish benchmarks for the effective project planning and implementation, as well as form the basis for progress monitoring of the achievement of the intended outputs and results, through the collection of qualitative and quantitative facts, figures and indicators of the situation of the program. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The baseline study and review will be conducted in Ukhyia and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar. Broadly the locations will be around five camp locations: Camp 3, 4, 4 extension, 5 and 18, and three unions in host communities (either of Palongkhali or Rajapalong in Ukhiya upazila and Baharchara, Nhila or Whykong in Teknaf upazila).  

Given the above objectives, the outcome of the assignment will include:

A. Review study report highlighting the outcome level changes of the “Addressing urgent protection needs of displaced women and adolescent girls from Myanmar in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh’ project and to assess the relevance and effectiveness of various project interventions and to identify causes of success and/or failure with recommendations.

B. Baseline study report of “Means to lead: Empowering Rohingya refugee and host community women through leadership, learning and livelihood” project, highlighting the existing status of outcome and output level indicators.

As for the methodology, the study could use a mixed method approach, using both quantitative and qualitative tools. However, it is expected that the consultant will suggest data collection tools and sampling techniques within the scope of work. Upon approval of the work plan from UN Women, the consultant, with guidelines from the project, will develop a questionnaire for data collection. Based on this approved questionnaire, the consultant will need to collect data on the indicators identified by the project. The data will then be analyzed and detailed report will be submitted to UN Women.

UN Women will not provide any capacity building support to the selected consultant. Providing aforementioned services are the sole responsibility of the consultant. The consultant will be responsible for delivering high quality data and analysis according to the expectation, and agreement with UN Women, and within a timeframe defined by the ToR. 

Project description (A): For Baseline Study

Project description (B): for Review

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Head of Sub Office, UN Women, Cox’s Bazar, and under the direct supervision of the two UN Women Programme Specialists, the national consultant will undertake the following tasks: 

- Review relevant project documents and other background documents

- Based on this contribute to developing work plan for both the review and the baseline studies

- Contribute to developing methodology, questionnaires and data collection tools to be used to conduct the review and baseline studies 

- Conduct data collection and interviews in the field and with relevant stakeholders.

- Regularly report to UN Women for this assignment and coordinate with enumerators as relevant.

Expected Deliverables

Payment Schedule linked with deliverables:

Duration of Assignment: 

The dates required for this assignment are 37 working days over a period of 02 month (23rd February to 30th April 2020) based on guidance from UN Women. The assignment will commence upon signing the contract and expected to be accomplished by 30th April 2020 at the latest. 

Duty Station: Cox’s Bazar and home-based.

Supervision and performance evaluation  

The consultant will receive guidance of the Head of Sub Office, UN Women, Cox’s Bazar, and will be under the direct supervision of the UN Women Programme Specialists, Cox’s Bazar.

INPUTS:

UNWOMEN will provide office space for the consultant and also support arranging meetings, consultations and interviews and ensure access to key officials as mentioned in the proposed methodology. 

Travel and DSA:

No DSA will be paid at the duty station. If unforeseen travel outside the duty station not required by the Terms of Reference is requested by UNWOMEN, and upon prior agreement/approval, such travel shall be UNWOMEN  expenses and the individual contractor/SSA shall receive a per-diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate in such other location(s).

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN Women

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;

• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to pragmatically apply in-depth knowledge and experience of issues and practices in the fields of gender equality in Bangladesh;

• Strong communications skills, and experience in presenting evidence and ideas for policy and programme;

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;

• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Required qualification 

• Master’s degree in gender, sociology, anthropology, humanitarian affairs, in social sciences or other relevant discipline.

• A minimum of 7 years' working experience with either the UN and/or NGO conducting on gender issues in social cohesion/complex emergency setting in Bangladesh or other South Asian contexts. 

Additional Capacity: 

• Experience conducting gender equality and women’s empowerment related baseline and review/evaluation studies.

• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and data collection on sensitive thematic subjects. 

• Experience in South Asia and Bangladesh; Experience working on the Rohingya crisis. 

• Fluency in English and Bangla (high quality written and spoken). Knowledge of Chittagonian and Rohingya.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Bangla (high quality written and spoken). Knowledge of Chittagonian and Rohingya.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments
Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all
costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if
any work is to be done outside the SSA's duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the SSA in completing the assignment.
The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon
completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages

Evaluation Method and Criteria:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

Cumulative analysis-

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant up on Cumulative Analysis/evaluation and determined as:
1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
2. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the
solicitation;
Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% mark in technical evaluation will be considered eligible for financial evaluation.
Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points out of 100)

Criteria-01; Educational Qualification and diversification - Max Point 10
Criteria-02; Number of years  working experience with either the UN and/or NGO conducting on gender issues in social cohesion/complex emergency setting in Bangladesh or other South Asian contexts.-Max Point 10
Criteria-03; Experience conducting gender equality and women’s empowerment related baseline and review/evaluation studies.- Max Point 20

Criteria-04; Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and data collection on sensitive thematic subjects.-Max 20

Criteria-05; Experience in South Asia and Bangladesh; Experience working on the Rohingya crisis.- Max Point 05

Criteria-06; Fluency in English and Bangla (high quality written and spoken)- Max Point 03

Criteria-07; Knowledge of Chittagonian and/or Rohingya- Max Point 02

The total number of points allocated for the technical qualification component is 100. The technical qualification of the individual is evaluated based on following technical qualification evaluation criteria:

Only the candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% of total points (70) will be considered as technically-qualified candidate.

Interested candidates will submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications.
To be included as part of the proposal:
•    A brief expression of interest: a brief narrative presenting your suitability for this assignment and proposed action plan for carry out of this assignment;
•    UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from: http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment
•    Sample work;
•    Personal CV (of no more than 4 pages);
•    Financial proposal for the full assignment as lumpsum amount, which may include fees for total assignment; expenses for materials and any other practical expenses.

Only applications including all items mentioned above will be considered.

NOTE: Documents required before contract signing:

• UN Personal History Form;
• Full medical examination and Statement of Fitness to work and travel for consultants with travel involved. (This is not a requirement for RLA contracts);
• Security Certificate BSAFE: EN: https://agora.unicef.org/course/info.php?id=17891;
• Individual subscribers over 65 years of age are required to undergo a full medical examination including x-rays at their own cost and obtaining medical clearance from the UN Medical Director prior to taking up their assignment;
• Release letter in case the selected consultant is government official.

Only applications will all items mentioned above will be considered

All applications must include (as an attachment) the CV and the financial proposal. Applications without financial proposal will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment. “Personal History Form - P 11” can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employme

Note: The individual consultant who does not meet the above eligibility criteria shall not be considered for further evaluation. Necessary documentation must be submitted to substantiate the above eligibility criteria.