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.

The UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Fiji covers 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs): Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The Fiji MCO current focus countries for programming are Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

The UN Women Fiji Multi-country office has four main thematic areas:

• Ending Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG);
• Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) which includes the Markets for Change project (M4C);
• Gender and Protection in Humanitarian Action; and
• Women’s Political Empowerment and Leadership.

The incidence of violence against women and girls in the Pacific Islands is amongst the highest rates in the world. For example, 64% of women in Samoa who have ever been in an intimate relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a husband or intimate partner over the course of their lifetime. Violence against women and girls is a central barrier to gender equality and a cause of widespread violation of human rights across the Pacific.

To respond to the rates of violence in the Pacific, UN Women has developed a comprehensive EVAWG Programme which takes a transformative approach to prevent violence against women and girls at multiple levels (regional, national and community), and to improve survivors’ access to quality response services.

UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office’s (MC) EVAWG Programme is implemented under the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls and the Spotlight Initiative. The Spotlight Initiative Samoa Country Programme builds on and complements the regional and Samoa strategies of the Pacific Partnership to address the gaps and amplify the impact of EVAWG across the Pacific region. The Spotlight Initiative Samoa Country Programme aims to add value, maximize investment, and contribute to the scale, sustainability, visibility, lessons learnt and replication of existing EVAWG programming. The Programme aims to end violence through six pillars of work: laws and policy, institutions, prevention, response data and women’s movement building. The $4.3 million USD Programme is funded by the European Union and is a part of a larger global effort to end violence against women and girls. UN Women is guided by the United Nations Pacific Strategy which is a multi-country sustainable development framework.

UN Women Fiji MCO has been providing ongoing support to MWCSD towards the development and implementation of the Interagency Essential Services Guidelines, Samoa’s first national guidelines for the multi-sector response of service agencies for survivors of violence. Within this partnership, multiple projects have been delivered together and most recently, delivery of Prevention Packs for women and girls during COVID-19.

In 2021 Samoa seeks to embark on a strategic mission to develop a framework that will inform development of a National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls in Samoa. The framework will provide insights into the components required to build a whole of government, inclusive, evidence-based approach to prevent violence against women and girls.

In principle, the National Action Plan seeks to set out short, medium- and long-term measures to prevent violence against women and girls by challenging its underlying root causes. Its purpose is to influence social norms, promote community leadership and set a much stronger culture of equal and respectful relationships between men and women. The scope of this consultancy is to set the stage and groundwork for development of the National

Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of this assignment is to contribute high-quality and robust technical guidance and skills to inform the development of a National Action Plan for the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (NAP) in Samoa.  The NAP is a cutting-edge national policy currently being implemented in Australia and under development in Fiji making Samoa one of the first countries in the world to apply this policy approach. The assignment will deliver specific knowledge products and provide substantive technical guidance and review of documents to the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development with UN Women. MWCSD is the lead government entity for this policy with technical support from UN Women.

Objectives of the assignment

The main objective of this consultancy is to design and implement the complex process and multi-stakeholder consultations that will inform the content of a National Action Plan for the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls in Samoa in partnership with government and civil society. 

Scope of Work/Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UN Women’s EVAWG Technical Advisor and the direct supervision of the UN Women EVAWG Regional and Samoa Technical Specialist (Spotlight, the National Consultant will perform the following tasks:

1. Provide strategic and policy guidance to UN Women and key stakeholders including women’s machinery, civil society and service providers on policy and legislation strategies to develop a National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.

• Provide technical guidance and advice on how to advance the National Action Plan process in line with existing EVAWG priorities for Samoa.
• Advise on policy strategy to ensure the National Action Plan links to existing EVAWG legislation, guidelines, and commitments, such as the recently launched Inter-Agency Essential Services Guidelines.

1. Conduct a scan and desk review to develop knowledge and information products on the policy landscape for prevention of violence against women and girls in Samoa

• Facilitate a scoping exercise to articulate existing prevention interventions and EVAWG commitments, policies, and guidelines in Samoa. Draft a scoping brief.
• Create an information guide for external audiences on what a National Action Plan for Prevention means for Samoa based on review of existing National Action Plans (e.g. Australia, Fiji) and global guidance.

1. Facilitate governance and decision-making discussions with UN Women and key stakeholders on the National Action Plan (e.g. Steering Committee and Technical Working Group).

• Liaise with and engage a diversity of stakeholders across government and civil society to ensure whole of government and diverse civil society is engaged and the process prioritizes inclusion.

1. Facilitate community and stakeholder consultations to inform the development of the National Action Plan.

• Develop a consultation and engagement strategy.
• Develop key messages, materials, and consultation aids to facilitate dialogue.
• Inform the consultation facilitators training package.
• Design the data collection and analysis process.
• Inform the repository of information on the consultation process available to the public.

1. Provide technical guidance and substantive inputs to UN Women and key stakeholders on the development of the National Action Plan, including communications and media.

• Facilitate a multi-media, strategic communications plan, and approach, including press/media.
• Provide substantive inputs in the drafting of the National Action Plan including outline, recommendations on key sections and drafting of key sections of the NAP.
• Conduct discussion and workshopping sessions with key decision-makers on the objective and outcomes of various sections of the National Action Plan; the cohesion of the different components of the NAP; and the strategy for presentation for the Government of Samoa (e.g. Cabinet approval process).

Duration of the assignment

The duration of this assignment will be up to a combined 220 working days over a period of approximately 12 months as per the schedule of deliverables below.  

There is a possibility of short-term missions within Samoa.  No international travel is expected.

Expected Deliverables

The assignment should be carried out within a period of 12 months, not exceeding 220 working days, with the incumbent being responsible for delivering the following outputs:

• Monthly reports on major tasks performed and the results.
• Prevention of VAWG scoping brief (10-15 pages).
• Information Guide for adapting the National Action Plan for Prevention of VAWG to Samoa (7 – 10 pages).
• Inputs into the Consultations outcome report and the National Action Plan to Prevent VAWG.
• Final report on carried out activities, achievements, and challenges.
• Other analytical work papers, reports, minutes, presentations relevant to the assignment.

All the deliverables should be agreed with UN Women and be provided in English electronic copy.

Upon receipt of the deliverables and prior to the payment of the installment, the deliverables, related reports, and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women within one week of submission.

Note that all materials, including any video footage and images, will remain property of UN Women and cannot be used without UN Women’s permission.

Inputs

• UN Women will provide the National Consultant with relevant background materials for the desk reviews.

• UN Women will also cover the costs of daily subsistence allowance (DSA) for approved travel outside of Apia as per standard UN rate, as well as the costs of in-country travel.

• The National Consultant is expected to work remotely using her/his own computer and phone but may access the UN Women Office for printing of relevant documents or should he/she be required to work on-site at any point during the assignment.

• UN Women will also cover the costs for translation of materials as required throughout the duration of the assignment.

Management Arrangements

• The National Consultant will work under the direct supervision of UN Women’s EVAWG Regional and Samoa Technical Specialist (Spotlight) based in Suva, Fiji.

Travel

• The National Consultant is expected to be based in Apia.
• The National Consultant will be expected to travel outside of Apia for discrete activities, such as community consultations.
• All travel will be approved by the designated line manager. In the case of travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon prior to travel and will be reimbursed by UN Women in line with UN Women’s travel policies.

Performance evaluation

Contractor’s performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

Financial Arrangement

• Payment shall be disbursed monthly upon submission of a payment request/invoice; timesheet with actual days worked signed off by the position’s line manager at UN Women; monthly report and any submission of any reports/presentations/documents developed during the previous month as relevant.
• Payment will be made within 30 (thirty) days after receipt and acceptance of the aforementioned documents but only after UN Women have certified that the services have been satisfactorily performed by the National Consultant.

Core Values

• Respect for Diversity;
• Integrity;
• Professionalism.

Core Competencies

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Functional Competencies

• Ability to think conceptually, strategically and analytically;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Results oriented, flexible and problem-solving skills.

Required experience and qualifications

The National Consultant should fulfill the following requirements:

Education

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in International Development, Gender, Human Rights, Social Sciences, Public Health, or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• At least 5 years (Master’s Degree) or 7 years (first-level University Degree) of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in in design, planning, implementation, including monitoring, evaluation and reporting of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments.
• Minimum 3 years of proven work experience in gender equality, women’s issues, and human rights.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in ending violence against women and girls.
• Experience advancing/contributing to national policies, legislation, or guidelines on ending violence against women and girls in the Pacific region.
• Experience working with diverse group of people with sensitivity and inclusivity, including people with disabilities, LGBTQI+/SOGIESC and rural women in Samoa.
• Experience with project management, report writing, and documentation working in a fast-paced, complex environment is required.
• Previous professional experience working with international organizations, including UN agencies or similar agencies, is required.

Language and Other Skills

• Good command of English and Samoan both written and oral;
• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, ability to use Internet and email.

Evaluation

Initially, individual candidates will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in International Development, Gender, Human Rights, Social Sciences, Public Health.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least 5 years (Master’s Degree) or 7 years (first-level University Degree) of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in in design, planning, implementation, including monitoring, evaluation and reporting of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments.

The short-listed individual candidates will be further evaluated based on a cumulative analysis scheme, with a total score being obtained upon the combination of weighted technical and financial attributes.  Cost under this method of analysis is rendered as an award criterion, which will be 30% out of a total score of 100 points.

Evaluation of submitted offers will be done based on the following formula:

where:

Technical evaluation will be represented through desk review of applications. Interviews and/or written tests will be organized if needed only, depending on the short-listed candidates’ qualifications.

Technical Qualification Evaluation Criteria: The technical part is evaluated based on its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR).

Financial Evaluation Criteria: In this Second Stage, the financial proposal of candidates, who have attained minimum 70% score in the technical evaluation (at least 49 points), will be compared.

WINNING CANDIDATE

The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring + financial scoring).