UNDP Jobs - 99675- International Consultant

International Consultant _ Community Outreach

Location :

Home-Based, LAO PDR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Jul-2021

Application Deadline :

22-Jun-21 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

40 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

July - December 2021

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

COVID-19 has threatened the lives of many, causing devastating impacts on people’s livelihoods, especially the socially vulnerable. In societies with gender-based discriminations, women face greater social and economic consequences during times of crisis. Not only has COVID-19 created new challenges for women in terms of achieving gender equality and being empowered, but the crisis has shone a light on, and exacerbated, preexisting challenges faced by women.

Women globally are affected by the economic fallout of COVID-19 due to their reliance on temporary and informal employment. A significant proportion of women are self-employed within the informal sector and these forms of employment are typically not represented by labor unions, nor qualify for social security and are particularly at-risk during crisis, including during COVID-19 with social restrictions and lockdowns significantly impacting business.

According to the ‘Care Rapid Gender Analysis COVID-19 Lao PDR (July 2020)’, the study has found that the pandemic has both reinforced traditional gender norms as well as provided opportunities for men and women to work together to address the current crisis in Lao PDR. The main findings of this study are 1) some traditional gender roles have been reinforced, 2) lockdown measures have made detection of Gender Based Violence (GBV) even more difficult, and 3) the economic sectors with a large female workforce have been strongly affected, increasing women’s economic insecurity.

With the advent of the second wave of COVID-19 infections in Lao PDR, the Government of Lao PDR has put in place strict lockdown restrictions from 22 April 2021 that have exacerbated the risk women face in experiencing violence, especially domestic violence. Many women are confined with their abusers and the lack of knowledge on their rights and the services available to them perpetuate the cycle of violence they might find themselves in.

In addition, women are particularly exposed due to their prevalence in the informal sector, such as working in the food industry and as street vendors, where they are unable to remain in lockdown. Furthermore, women living on the margin may not have access to accurate information on the virus or the pandemic, pushing them further behind.

UNDP is committed to gender-responsive programming to promote and protect the rights of women, and provide them with opportunities to fulfill their potential, contribute to society, and ensure the government of Lao PDR fulfills its pledge under the UN Sustainable Development Goals to “leave no one behind” as the country moves forward toward 2030.

Duties and Responsibilities

The overall objective of the consultancy is to empower women through an increased knowledge and understanding
of COVID-19 and its impacts on women, especially in relation to gender-based violence, and the availability of and
their right to seek support services should they require them. This will be achieved through community outreach in
order to be able to disseminate accurate information to women, especially those in rural areas. For this to happen,
the capacity of Lao Women’s Union and key stakeholders within their network need to be developed on producing
communications strategy and material that is sensitive to gender issues and the ‘do no harm’ principle.

The objectives of the consultancy are to:
1. Increase capacities of key stakeholders on gender-sensitive communications/outreach
2. Develop radio programming to disseminate information on COVID-19 and gender issues through
community-based radio stations
3. Develop a gender-sensitive communications strategy for television, print and social media

More details on the Scope of Work are on attached TOR

Competencies

* Strong IT and design skills

* Fluency in English, knowledge of Lao is an asset

Required Skills and Experience

Advanced university degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or relevant area (Master’s degree with 3 years’ experience or

Bachelor’s degree with 5 years’ experience)

Experience in designing gender-sensitive communications, communications
strategies and advocacy material via radio, print, social media and television;

• Demonstrated experience in capacity building;
• Experience working in the UN or UNDP is an advantage;
• Knowledge of and experience working with the Government of Lao PDR is an asset;

Requirements for submission of proposals:

All interested and qualified International or National Independent Consultant should apply on-line using the following links:

UNDP Lao PDR Country Office website at https://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/jobs.html or

In order to make your submission, please read the relevant documents available on the link below

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Technical and Financial Proposal as per Annex III “OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY”

(i) Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work;

(ii) Providing a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work including the work schedule for the delivery of outputs/deliverable;

2. P11 Form Education and work experience, including past experience in similar projects and contact references of at least 3 references for whom you have rendered preferably the similar services;

3. Financial proposal: Detailed financial proposal: Lump sum offer with clear cost breakdown against each deliverable.

Note: The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon monthly outputs, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. UNDP accept travel costs not exceeding of an economy class air ticket.

Instructions for on-line submissions:

Step 1: Please prepare all required documents electronically;
Step 2: Combine all documents in ONE SINGLE FILE (preferably in PDF however Word format can be also accepted) and upload to the UNDP Jobs using the links above;
Step 3: After that you will receive an auto reply from the UNDP jobs if your offer is received successfully.

Incomplete proposals or proposals received after the deadline will be rejected.

Please kindly refer to the Terms of Reference Annex I for detailed information on:

Project’s background

Scope of work and Responsibilities

Deliverables

Requirements for Experience and Qualifications