UN Women was established by GA resolution 64/289 of 2 July 2010 on system-wide coherence, with a mandate to assist Member States and the UN system to progress more effectively and efficiently towards the goal of achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women. Since 2001 UN Women (previously as UNIFEM) in Kyrgyzstan has implemented catalytic initiatives on promoting women’s economic, political and social rights. In 2012 a full Country Office was established.

This consultancy is mainly in support of UN Women Kyrgyzstan Country Office’s Women, Peace and Security portfolio that is primarily funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) in support of realizing the Peacebuilding Priority Plan (PPP) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), both agreed between the Kyrgyz Republic and the United Nations. The UN Women Country Office in the Kyrgyz Republic has three projects under the Women, Peace and Security portfolio:

• “Inclusive Governance and Justice System for Preventing Violent Extremism” - a joint project with UNDP, UNICEF, and OHCHR, January 2018-June 2021
• “Communities Resilient to Violent Ideologies” - a joint project with UNICEF and UNFPA, January 2018-December 2020
• GPI project “Empowering women and girls affected by migration for inclusive and peaceful community development” – a joint project with IOM and ILO, 26 November 2019 – 21 May 2021 with expected NCE until 21 August 2021.

The first and second projects are aligned with the Peacebuilding Priority Plan 2017-2020 agreed between the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the United Nations in October 2017 and address PPP Outcome Areas 1 and 3. The projects aim at supporting efforts by the Kyrgyz Government to prevent violent extremism in line with the UN Secretary General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism (A/70/674) and the United National Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy review adopted by the General Assembly on 1 July 2016 (A/70/L.55). The third project was a Phase 2 of the previous cross-border project aligned with the PPP 2013-2016 under the PBSO’s Immediate Response Facility (IRF) and address PPP Outcome 1 on increasing cooperation and trust between communities to mitigate risks of renewed violence and PBF Focus Area 2 on promoting coexistence and peaceful resolution of conflicts. While the last project contributes to PBF focus area 2.3. Conflict prevention/management.

The “Inclusive Governance and Justice system for Preventing Violent Extremism” [Outcome 1, PVE programme] joint project is led by UNDP, UNICEF, OHCHR, and UN Women in partnership with government and civil society organizations. This project fits within the approved Peace Priority Plan and addresses the Outcome Area 1 and is expected to enhance justice and security sector institutions, national and local authorities’ capacity and ability to apply socially inclusive approaches, participatory decision-making and guarantee increased civic space to address the root causes of and strengthen resilience against violent extremism. The project is also informed on the rationale of Sustainable Development Goal number 16 aiming to improve the government’s ability to establish a more inclusive relation with its citizens thus reducing grievances relating to effective or perceived exclusion or marginalization or inequality.

The “Communities resilient to violent ideologies” [Outcome 3, PVE programme] joint project is led by UNICEF, UNFPA, and UN Women in partnership with the government and civil society organizations. The project contributes to the Peace Priority Plan and its’ Outcome Area 3 on diverting people at risk from a radicalization path by means of community dialogue, education and development. The project targets outcomes that provide alternative pathways away from violent and manipulative ideologies in 11 pilot municipalities by taking a multidimensional approach through education, participatory community development and dialogue, as well as through the cultural domain and digital space. The project will provide civic competencies within secular and religious schooling and promote multilingualism through experience and evidence sharing, thus expanding opportunities for adolescents and youth to engage in socio-political and economic life. It will empower adolescents, youth and women to claim their rights and participate in addressing issues that cause vulnerability to violent ideologies. People from different social backgrounds and professional affiliations will be identified and supported in their actions as credible intermediaries between the vulnerable groups and the state actors. They will facilitate greater communication between these groups and raise awareness about the risk of violent ideologies, thus reducing grounds for violent extremism. On-line and off-line platforms will be strengthened to promote constructive debate around diverse identities as an alternative to radicalization and violent ideologies.

The “Empowering women and girls affected by migration for inclusive and peaceful community development” joint project is led by IOM, ILO and UN Women. This joint project proposes a comprehensive approach to promote an enabling community and policy environment conducive to women and girls’ empowerment and their active engagement in peacebuilding and inclusive community development in communities affected by migration and prone to conflict in the Kyrgyz Republic, and particularly in the Southern regions of Kyrgyzstan. The project will contribute to the empowerment of women and girls most vulnerable to migration, by improving their participation in peacebuilding and inclusive community development, enhancing their access to socio-economic opportunities and building capacities-of women and girls. The target groups include: 1) girls and women vulnerable to forced migration (unemployed, divorced women and girls vulnerable to forced migration/potential future migrants); 2) returning migrant women and girls (who may be potentially forced to re-migrate).

All PBF funded projects are part of the monitoring, evaluation and learning process. Fund recipients remain the primary agents for monitoring projects and programmes and for procuring and managing evaluations of projects. With the aim to ensure effective programme design, monitoring and evaluation of the PBF-funded projects, UN Women Kyrgyzstan CO plans to contract a Consultant who will be responsible for leading and coordinating the work on strengthening M&E system within each project and across three projects under WPS portfolio. In addition, based on the recommendation from the UN Women Kyrgyzstan CO Programme Evaluation, all programme strategies and approaches should be integrated, and thematic areas and programmes’ theories of change should be linked. This multidimensional and integrated programmed approach should be also reflected through design, monitoring and reporting activities. Strengthening M&E and knowledge management system for the CO would support better targeted interventions and learning. The Consultant will work closely with CO M&E Specialist on supporting strengthening M&E system for the office.

The Consultant will promote a client-oriented approach consistent with UN Women rules and regulations and commits to high standards of quality, productivity and timeliness in the delivery of tasks. The Consultant will be fully dedicated to the mandate and the values of UN Women, par15ticularly to promoting Gender Equality as a strategy to reduce conflict, improve livelihoods and ensure fairness and justice; to Women Empowerment underpinning Gender Equality promotion efforts; to inter-ethnic tolerance and concord; and to respect for diversity. 

Under the overall guidance of the Representative of UN Women Kyrgyz Republic Country Office and National Programme Officer, regular supervision and day-to-day work of the Project Coordinator of the Women, Peace and Security portfolio, the Consultant will support design, monitoring and evaluation activities. Specifically, during the period between 1 April 2021 and 15 November 2021, the Consultant will implement activities specified in the ToR described in details below:

Activity 1: Support to design programme interventions 

The Consultant will support WPS team to design, conceptualize, review and provide feedback on various programmatic documents, such as inter alia programmatic approaches, systems, ToRs, project briefs, summary documents, contributions to work plans and narrative reports, agenda and concept notes for specific programme events, Concept Notes for resource mobilization and other.

Activity 2: Support and coordinate programme research 

The Consultant will introduce updates to the finalized methodology on tracking financing for GEWE in UN programming, based on various feedbacks collected throughout the consultancy from multiple stakeholders (such as GTG members, UNCT members, RO, HQ, donor, GPI RUNOs, or others) and from piloting exercises (any lessons learned and recommendations on improving the usability of the methodology) to refine the methodology on tracking financing in support of GEWE.

The methodology has been piloted within the GPI project supported by the PBF. The Consultant will facilitate consultations with RUNOs and implementing partners for the implementation phase to discuss actual GEWE results for the project and to calculate related actual budget amount spent in support of GEWE considerations. The exercise is planned for Q2 2021. Reflections from this exercise will be documented and shared with a donor and relevant stakeholders. The methodology will be available in e-version with its introductory short video.

In addition, the Consultant will facilitate several practical exercises on GEM application and tracking financing in support of GEWE internally for UN Women CO team and/or at the UNCT level when/if needed. The purpose of these practical exercises is capacity building, learning and reflection on GEM processes. During these practical exercises, the Consultant will facilitate joint dialogue and discussion on GEM coding and tracking financing in support of GEWE – for the selected Key Activities/projects of the JWP. The practical exercise will start from a brief presentation on GEM, proceed with the exercise itself, and conclude with Q&A and reflections to collect and document feedback/learnings on this process. As a result of this practical exercise, participants should be familiar with: (i) assigning a GEM code for the project and providing justification for selecting assigned GEM code, and (ii) estimating financial resources going in support of GEWE.

Activity 3: Conduct M&E activities for WPS projects

Based on confirmed M&E plans the Consultant will coordinate M&E activities under WPS projects: PVE Outcome I, PVE Outcome III, and GPI projects. More specifically, the Consultant will provide feedback to relevant M&E tools/activities and final analysis and results of these as per the plans. While coordinating specific M&E processes for WPS projects, the Consultant will closely involve Project Coordinator and relevant programme personnel to inform these processes. M&E tools/activities may include, inter alia:

• Review, update and/or finalize M&E matrix with indicators (PVE I, PVE III, GPI)
• Finalize and review indicators assigned to gender experts (PVE I, PVE III)
• Provide updates on M&E and relevant programme activities at the WPS weekly programme meetings
• Provide feedback to the consolidated express assessment report (PVE III)
• Manage M&E filing, including re-filing of relevant M&E folders from local drive to online OneDrive  
• Participate in adaptive leadership and positive deviant learning sessions, including on topics of community-based monitoring, participatory approaches, M&E practices, assessment on identifying positive deviances (GPI)
• Provides support in coordinating positive deviant component for the implementing partner within GPI project as part of project interventions, including planned assessment on PD, use of PD approach in community-based monitoring, and integration of PD approaches across other relevant project activities. The Positive Deviance approach is an asset-based, problem-solving, and community-driven approach that enables the community to discover these successful behaviors and strategies and develop a plan of action to promote their adoption by all concerned (GPI)

Exact list of M&E activities per each WPS project will be confirmed additionally during the consultancy.

Activity 4: Support monitoring and reporting on programme activities for WPS portfolio

The Consultant will support regular reporting on programme activities for three WPS projects and any additional project/programme within the given contract duration term. In particular, the Consultant will draft and review drafts of the programme reports produced by programme personnel of WPS team, monitor and compare indicators of progress and results across the projects against the CO M&E framework. Reports include:

• Corporate quarter programme reports for Quarter I and II, 2021 for WPS projects
• Semi-annual reports 2021 with inputs from three projects (PVE I, PVE III, GPI)
• Final donor reports for three projects (PVE I, PVE III, GPI)

Activity 5: Support and coordinate evaluability assessments managed by PBSO/PBF  

The Consultant will support and coordinate activities related to an end-line assessment for two PVE projects managed by PBSO/PBF – if they are confirmed. In addition, the Consultant will also support and coordinate activities on final evaluations of the three joint projects: PVE Outcome I, PVE Outcome III, and GPI. Specifically, the Consultant will – across three projects:

• Participate in the Evaluation Management Groups (EMG) and represent UN Women
• Coordinate evaluation processes with the relevant members from Evaluation Reference Groups (ERG)
• Support coordination of the evaluation processes with the Implementing Partners and/or Consultants and the project team
• Support coordination of final evalutions with the Regional Evaluation Specialist for ECA region, UN Women Independent Evaluation Office
• Participate in coordination meetings with other UN entities and partners on the final evaluations throughout the evaluation processes
• Review and provide feedback to all key deliverables and documents in relation to final evaluations, inter-alia:
  • ToRs for ERG
  • ToRs for EMG
  • ToRs for evaluation teams
  • Inception reports
  • Methodologies and data collection instruments 
  • Draft and final evaluation reports
• Support organizing project folders with relevant to evaluations supporting documents in support of the final evaluations, including M&E matrixes and information on indicators, information on monitoring activities, reports, and other materials. 

Deliverables of the ToR:

Activity 1: Support to design programme interventions [up to 10 days]

a) At least three programmatic documents in support of program design are reviewed and/or drafted (i.e. AWP  2021, WPS NAP, Gender Equality Strategy, ToRs, project briefs, summary documents, contributions to work plans and narrative reports, agenda and concept notes for specific programme events and other)

Activity 2: Support and coordinate programme research [up to 10 days]

a) Updated version of the methodology on tracking financing on GEWE, including the e-version and short introductory video

b) Facilitated practical exercises on GEM application and tracking financing in support of GEWE for UN Women CO and/or at UNCT level

c) Facilitated dialogue exercise on GEM application and tracking financing in support of GEWE for GPI project – to confirm the actual GEM code, justificiation for the assigned GEM code, and actual expenditure in support of GEWE issues; summary table with documented outcomes of the dialogue and/or documented reflections from facilitating piloting exercise under GPI project

Activity 3: Conduct M&E activities for WPS projects [up to 35 days]

a) At least two M&E matrixes are updated/finalized for PVE I and PVE III 

b) At least three M&E tools/activities are conducted/developed/or commented for WPS projects

c) At least three M&E matrixes of the gender experts with indicators are reviewed

d) At least two coaching sessions are participated on adaptive leadership and positive deviance

e) Support provided on integrating and coordinating PD approaches in GPI project (i.e. feedback to assessment plan/tools/report, feedback to plan on integreating PD approach in the project activities, among other, regular meetings/emails with the IP on coordinating PD, etc.)

f) M&E filing is prepared

Activity 4: Support monitoring and reporting on programme activities for WPS portfolio [up to 15 days]

a) Draft corporate quarterly reports for 2021

b) Draft inputs from PVE and GPI projects to corporate annual report and final donor reports

Activity 5: Support and coordinate evaluability assessments managed by PBSO/PBF [up to 30 days]

a) Support to end-line assessment for PVE programme is provided (PVE I and PVE III)

b) Feedback to draft evaluation ToRs, methodologies, inception reports, data collecting instruments for projects is provided, in compliance with the UNEG and UN Women evaluation guidelines (PVE I, PVE III, GPI)

c) Support coordination with ERG, EMG, Regional Evaluation Specialist for ECA region, Implementing Partners, project consultants, project team

d) Commented draft and final versions of the evaluation reports

e) Project folders with relevant to evaluations supporting documents in support of the final evaluations are coordinated and organized 

*Note: For field visits that may be undertaken as agreed with UN Women, UN Women will provide the UN DSA, relevant UN terminals, air-ticket if necessary, and provide a vehicle.

Tasks, timeframe, payments

The duration of the consultancy will be through 15 November 2021, with up to 100 fee days. Total number of workdays is based on about 10-13 working fee days per month:

Payment will be made in USD in two instalments after all the deliverables are submitted, accepted and approved as per details below:

Instalment I:       reporting period from 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021   deliverables  Activity 1a, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c.

Instalment II:      reporting period from 1 July 2021 to 30 September 2021 deliverables Activity 1a, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e. 

Instalment III:     reporting period from 1 October 2021 to 15 November 2021 deliverables Activity 4a, 4b, 5c, 5d, 5e. 

*Contract amount will be paid in local currency at the UNORE monthly exchange rate against the USD contract amounts.

Competencies

• Knowledge and understanding of design, monitoring, and evaluation
• Proven experience in research, analysis and reporting
• Good analytical, drafting and report-writing skills
• Strong oral/written communication and training skills 
• Ability to perform a broad range of specialized activities aimed at effective and efficient implementation and coordination of design, monitoring, and evaluation activities 
• Ability to initiative and manage change and to recognize and adjust to rapidly changing conditions
• Demonstrated attention to detail and procedures, and able to meet deadline and work independently and cooperatively with team members
• Excellent skills with Word, Excel, Power Point and visual presentation

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies:  https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf?la=en&vs=637

Education:

• Master’s (or equivalent) degree in the social science, development, peace and conflict studies, monitoring and evaluation, or related field

Experience:

• Minimum five years of professional experience in program development and/or program management, also including experience specifically in design, monitoring and evaluation, research and analysis
• Experience in designing M&E plans and/or systems that report progress against indicators for projects
• Proven experience in research, analysis, reporting and knowledge management
• Previous experience in coordination of programme activities
• Proven experience in thematic area of gender equality and women empowerment issues in development
• Proven experience in peacebuilding and preferably also on PVE issues
• Knowledge and understanding of Women, Peace and Security agenda is preferred

Language:

• Fluency (written and spoken) in English and Russian; working knowledge of Kyrgyz; knowledge of Uzbek is desirable

Evaluation of applicants

The evaluation will be on desk review modality with shortlisting of potential candidates against the mandatory requirements in education, years of work experience, technical qualifications and knowledge of languages.

Attention:

All online applications must include (as an attachment) the completed Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment.

Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.