Objective of the Consultancy

To contract the services of one or more Consultants on Retainer to (i) Strengthen the Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA) to support its capacity to perform its inter-ministerial policy coordination functions on gender equality and GBV as mandated under Beijing PFA and recommendations from CEDAW (ii) Strengthen the national Gender Focal Points (GFP) structure that was established as the gender mainstreaming system to ensure that gender implications are considered and addressed in policies and programmes being implemented by the GOJ and private sector.  and to shift gender norms in society and organisations (iii) Assess and revise the position of the national gender machinery with a view to discharge its mandate (iv) Building on findings from the review of the national gender equality architecture, develop costed capacity strengthening strategy for the Gender Advisory Council (GAC).       

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 September 2017, the EU and the UN launched an ambitious multi-stakeholder partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls worldwide. The Spotlight Initiative (SI) aims at mobilizing commitment of political leaders and contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Initiative aims at ending all forms of violence against women and girls, by targeting those that are most prevalent and contribute to gender inequality across the world. The Spotlight Initiative will deploy targeted, large-scale investments in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Pacific and the Caribbean, aimed at achieving significant improvements in the lives of women and girls. Jamaica is one of the countries in the Caribbean to benefit from this transformative initiative.

The overall vision of the Spotlight Initiative is that women and girls realize their full potential free from violence. The Spotlight Initiative will directly contribute to the achievement of three of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 5 on Gender Equality, Goal 3 on good health and well-being and Goal 16 on inclusive and peaceful societies. The program will contribute to the elimination of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) through the creation of a broad partnership with Civil Society, Government, Private Sector, Media, among others; and, build a social movement of women, men, girls, boys and transgender people as champions and agents of change at the national, subnational and community levels. A specific focus will be on reaching and including in the program women and girls who are often isolated and most vulnerable to sexual & gender-based violence (SGBV) and harmful practices (HP) due to intersecting forms of discrimination.

The SI Country Programmes will use a multi-sectoral, multi-layered, interlinked community-centered approach to the implementation of the interventions on the following six Outcome Areas based on the socio-ecological model for addressing SGBV: 

• Pillar One: Legislative and Policy Frameworks
• Pillar Two: Strengthening Institutions
• Pillar Three: Prevention and Social Norms
• Pillar Four: Delivery of Quality, Essential Services
• Pillar Five: Data Availability and Capacities
• Pillar Six: Supporting the Women’s Movement and CSO

Spotlight Jamaica

The SI in Jamaica will address three key priority areas within the overall focus on Family Violence against women and girls: 1) Child Sexual Abuse, 2) Intimate Partner Violence and 3) Discrimination against vulnerable groups.

The SI in Jamaica will be national in scope and targeted intervention will focus on the following four parishes: The Kingston Metropolitan Area (Kingston and St. Andrew), St. Thomas, Clarendon, and Westmoreland.

The Women’s Health Survey (2016) has identified a lifetime prevalence rate of 27.8% of physical and/or sexual violence against women aged 15 to 49 years by an intimate partner in Jamaica. This figure is slightly lower than the regional average of 30%.  Intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence against women, suggesting that women and girls are especially vulnerable to violence in the home by someone they know.

The government of Jamaica has launched a Ten-year National Strategic Action Plan to eliminate Gender-Based Violence (NSAP-GBV) 2017-2027. This Plan focuses on the following five strategic priority areas: prevention, protection, and intervention, legal procedures, and protocols for data collection. The low status of women in society, power relations, and gender socializations, inaccessibility of legal services, gender insensitive policies, limited opportunities and institutional factors are some of the root causes of GBV. (National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence in Jamaica (2017-2027).

Targeting this objective will aid in meeting the Goals of the National 2030 Vision which is to empower Jamaicans to achieve their fullest potential, maintaining a secure and cohesive society, a prosperous economy and promoting a healthy natural environment.

Contract Supervision

Overall supervision by UN Women Representative; Day-to-Day Supervision by UN Women Planning and Coordination Specialist and Principal Director, Gender Affairs, Bureau of Gender Affairs, Jamaica.

Purpose of the Consultancy

Under the Spotlight Initiative Jamaica Programme, UN Women is seeking one or more Consultant(s) to support the following activities:

• 2.1.1: Strengthen the capacity of the Bureau of Gender Affairs to perform its inter-ministerial policy coordination functions on gender equality and GBV as mandated under Beijing PFA and recommendations from CEDAW.
• 2.1.2: Strengthen the national Gender Focal Points (GFP) structure that was established as the gender mainstreaming system to ensure that gender implications are considered and addressed in policies and programmes being implemented by the GOJ and private sector and to shift gender norms in society and organisations. 
• 2.2.1: Assess and revise the position of the national gender machinery with a view to discharge its mandate.             
• 2.2.2: Building on findings from the review of the national gender equality architecture, develop a costed capacity strengthening strategy for the Gender Advisory Council (Link to 2.1.1) 

 Scope of Work

The consultant(s) will be responsible for the following outputs in achievement of the above objectives:

• Undertake an institutional assessment and review of the national gender equality architecture, and its alignment with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and CEDAW Committee recommendations.
• Examine and review the policies, practices, and standard operating procedures within the BGA, spearhead their revision, and develop concrete, time-bound and costed recommendations for their optimized implementation
• Support the Mid Term Review of the National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate Gender-based Violence in Jamaica (NSAP-GBV) 2017-2027
• Examine the policy making, operational and implementation functions of the entire gender quality architecture, including Gender Advisory Council (GAC) and the BGA.
• Review and assess the mandate, remit and authority of Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA) in the provision of normative support, coordination and operational activities
• Assess the structure and position of the BGA within the national gender equality architecture, and examine regional and international best practices to determine opportunities towards increasing the impact of the national gender machinery
• Build on findings from the review of the national gender equality architecture to:

• Develop a costed, time-bound strategy for institutional strengthening of the BGA;
• Develop a costed, capacity-strengthening strategy to address gaps and deficiencies in the institutional capacity, mandate, and authority of the Gender Advisory Council as the mechanism responsible for the implementation, monitoring and reporting on the NSAP-GBV

• Support the strengthening of National Gender Focal Points (GFP) Structure in accordance with results of the review of the national gender equality architecture.
• Build the capacity of resources at the BGA to undertake its mandate, by hosting at least 3 one-day workshops on CEDAW, Beijing PFA, GEWE, Gender Mainstreaming and GBV to ensure that gender implications are considered and addressed in policies and programmes being implemented by the GOJ and private sector, and to shift gender norms in society and organisations (On GEWE, GBV, the Normative Framework, gender mainstreaming through integration of gender into budgeting, national strategic and sectoral planning, policy making, programmes)
• Monitor programme delivery and provide technical guidance to BGA staff to build their capacity and create a sustainable delivery framework.
• Conduct any other work as determined by the UN Women Country Programme Coordinator and Principal Director, Gender Affairs, Bureau of Gender Affairs, towards strengthening the institutional capacity of the BGA to execute its mandate

Deliverable and Timelines

• Produce a Workplan detailing activities, timelines, resources and costs - June 2021.
• Produce an Inception Report or Concept Note outlining methodology and approach to planned review of the national gender equality architecture, and institutional assessment - June 2021.
• Hold Stakeholder Consultations with the BGA, PIOJ, Gender Advisory Council, and Gender Focal Point Structure to review functions, operations, policies and alignment with CEDAW, Beijing PFA - July 2021.
• Conduct institutional assessment and review of national gender equality architecture; and alignment with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in terms of its mandate, remit, and authority - June – August 2021.
• Produce a Draft Assessment Report detailing the review and assessment of the national gender equality architecture, including strengths, weaknesses, and institutional gaps and opportunities for feedback from key stakeholders - July – August  2021.
• Produce a mapping of all BGA policies, practices and standard operating procedures and spearhead their review and amendment - July - October 2021.
• Based on the results of the review and assessment, produce a Draft time-bound and costed strategy for the institutional strengthening of the BGA, for feedback from key stakeholders - August - September 2021
• Based on findings from the review of the national gender equality architecture, develop costed capacity strengthening strategy to address gaps and deficiencies in institutional capacity, mandate and authority, of the Gender Advisory Council - August - September 2021
• Conduct 3 one-day interactive technical working sessions with the BGA and Gender Focal Points on gender mainstreaming - October 2021
• Conduct pre- and post-assessment evaluations of the capacity of the BGA and GFP focal points on gender mainstreaming and knowledge of CEDAW, Beijing PFA - October 2021
• Provide Monitoring and Evaluation and Programme support for the Spotlight programme delivery within the BGA and provide guidance to BGA staff to build capacity and create a sustainable delivery framework - Ongoing
• Produce a Final Report on the delivery, progress, outcome and challenges encountered during the engagement - November 2021

Note:

• For all workshops and training, the Consultant must produce:

• Participant Register;
• Pictures - group & interactive (including participants & presenters);
• Participant Feedback Forms; and
• Training Report;

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent written and oral communications skills including the conveying complex concepts and recommendations, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different audiences.
• Ability to interact independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to multi-task and operate effectively in stressful situations
• Fluency in English and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• 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

Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience working on gender equality and/or human rights is required.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ demonstrated experience building capacity of Governmental and/or Public Sector Institutions on the development of policies, programmes and national/sectoral plans.
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience conducting similar studies and/or institutional assessments.
• Demonstrated knowledge of CEDAW and the Beijing Platform for Action
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience working in Jamaica and strong knowledge of the Jamaican context is required.
• Fluency in English and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Education:

• Have a minimum of a postgraduate qualification in any of the following relevant areas: Public Administration, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Public Policy.
• At least ten years’ demonstrated experience will be accepted in lieu of a Post-Graduate degree.

Location of activities, expected travels and duration of consultancy:

• The consultant(s) are expected to be based with the Bureau of Gender Affairs, Jamaica. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Consultant(s) will work remotely, utilizing their own computer, internet, telephone and other equipment, as needed, to undertake the assignment.   
• Provisions will be made for physical meetings and visits to the BGA to facilitate the achievement of the desired outcomes, where necessary
• Where one Consultant is selected, they will be engaged for a maximum of 115 working days during the period from 21st June 2021- 31st December 2021.
• Where two (2) Consultants are selected they will be engaged for a maximum of 58 working days during the period from 21st June 2021- 31st December 2021

Coordination & reporting mechanism:

• The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the UN Women MCO- Caribbean Representative, with direct reporting to the UN Women Planning and Coordination Specialist in Jamaica, and the Principal Director, Gender Affairs, Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA).

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:         

• The consultancy fee will be negotiated before contracting. Each payment will be based on a predefined and formal agreement between UN Women and the consultant and will be disbursed based on satisfactory completion of agreed deliverables.
• The consultant should submit, along with his/her application, the curriculum vitae of team members.
• The consultant contracted will be required to sign a statement of confidentiality and freedom from any conflict of interest with interest with potential future contractors with respect to the TORs and work that they will be delivering.

Hardware, Software and Communication:

• The consultant must be equipped with a fully functional laptop, which must run Windows 10.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, excel, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with google survey, zoom, Skype and other online platforms is required.
• The consultant must be reasonably accessible by email and telephone (preferably mobile).
• Must have good access to the internet  

Remuneration

• The remuneration for this contract type is an all-inclusive fee, the organization will not be liable for additional cost or benefits.? Hence, it is the responsibility of the consultant to secure adequate medical insurance for the duration of the contract and it is recommendable that the policy includes coverage for COVID-19 related illness. ??The medical coverage should be international when the contract requires missions or international assignment.
• If selected for this vacant post, proof of medical coverage should be presented within the first two months of the contract.

References:      

• Minimum of three client references that include the name of the contact person, title and contact information.

Note:

Submissions to UNDP Jobs are limited to a maximum of 10 MB, virus-free or corrupted contents to avoid rejection, and no more than 1 email transmission.

All applications must be submitted through UNDP jobs. Please do not send applications to UN Women staff as they will not be accepted.