Background

1. 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; the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development; human rights; as well as humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations (UN) system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women works to support women’s engagement in peace and security to promote improved implementation, monitoring and reporting of global commitments on women, peace and security (WPS), including as set out in the Beijing Platform for Action, Security Council resolutions as well as related accountability frameworks established by the UN system. UN Women works to strengthen the capacity of actors engaged in inclusive peacebuilding and national dialogue processes to enhance women’s participation and influence and to secure gender-equality outcomes.

A core focus of UN Women’s work is to support women human rights defenders, women leaders and women peacebuilders by elevating the visibility of their priorities. challenges and risks, alongside putting in place protection modalities. UN Women, through the generous support from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), has been implementing the project titled, Enhancing Women’s Leadership for Sustainable Contexts in the MENA Region. The project has been addressing two parallel challenges impeding women’s meaningful participation: the restrictive operating environment for women and limited knowledge in key thematic areas among peace process actors operating in and working to influence peace and political processes.

Following the catastrophic trajectory of violence and humanitarian suffering in Afghanistan due to the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August 2021 and its seismic impact on the country and surrounding regions, the programme was expanded with a new component to support initiatives aiming to ensure the participation of Afghan women and women-led organizations in the diaspora, in political, peace and security processes. Recognizing the importance of building regional and global connections, networks and partnerships in achieving lasting results for inclusive peace, the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) has launched a series of targeted initiatives to support Afghan women human rights defenders, women peacebuilders and women leaders, civil society and peace activists in the diaspora to strengthen their influence in decision-making spaces; facilitate links among ECA-based women human rights defenders, women peacebuilders and women leaders, civil society and peace activists; and ensure that Afghan women can benefit from the experience and lessons learned from ECA-based women human rights defenders, etc.

Reflective of the above, UN Women ECARO is seeking to recruit an international consultant to develop an analysis paper (under UN Women’s series of knowledge papers on women, peace and security and humanitarian action). The paper will analyse and document ECA-based women human rights defenders, women peacebuilders and women leaders, civil society and peace activists and networks/groups influencing peace processes and dialogues. The paper will contribute to and promote exchanges and comparative learning with Afghan women human rights defenders and peace activists in the diaspora. 

Duties and Responsibilities

2. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the consultancy is to produce an analysis paper on ECA-based women human rights defenders, women peacebuilders, and women leaders, civil society, peace activists and networks/groups engaged in advocacy and dialogues influencing peace processes. 

3. SCOPE OF WORK AND SPECIFIC TASKS

Under guidance and supervision of the Project Manager (UN Women ECARO), the Consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

Develop a knowledge paper

• Prepare a contents plan for the analysis paper and discuss/agree with UN Women
• Undertake a desk review of the agreed topics (UN Women will provide the consultant with background materials related to the assignment)
• Conduct a mapping of women human rights defenders, women peacebuilders, and women leaders, civil society, peace activists and networks/groups in the ECA region
• Develop the knowledge paper on the state of play of ECA-based women human rights defenders, women peacebuilders, and women leaders, civil society, peace activists and networks/groups in influencing peace and security governance structure and processes (up to 20 pages)
• Develop a summary paper (up to 4 pages)

4. DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE

The International Consultant will be required to support and produce the following indicative key deliverables within a period of up to 30 days from 22 August to 21 October 2022:

5. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT AND DUTY STATION

The time required for the consultancy is up to 30 days spread over a 2-months assignment from 22 August to 21 October 2022. The assignment will be home-based, with no expected travel.

6. SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

The Consultant will submit one final report on all agreed work carried out and completed to the Supervisor; this report should include the deliverables completed and number of days worked (timesheet).

Each piece of work will be reviewed by the Supervisor to ensure that it is of an acceptable standard.

Once agreed, the lump-sum payment will be certified by the Hiring Manager for processing to ensure that deliverables/work carried out is in line with the Terms of Reference and meet quality requirements.

Competencies

7. COMPETENCIES

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:

• In-depth knowledge of gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, violence against women and girls, and women, peace and security/humanitarian action.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality knowledge products on gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, violence against women and girls, and women, peace and security/ humanitarian action.
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear reports and guidance with in-depth analysis and strategic recommendations in English in the relevant field.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, ability to foster networks and partnerships.
• Ability to complete complex assignments in a timely manner and deliver quality results.

Required Skills and Experience

8. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education and certification:

• Advanced (Masters) degree in Gender/Women’s Studies, Sociology, Human Rights, Conflict Studies, or any other discipline relevant to the requirements of the Terms of Reference.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Professional Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in gender equality, women´s rights, and women, peace and security or humanitarian action, or related work areas.
• Experience in conducting gender and social research, including issues affecting women and girls in development and humanitarian settings, and in conflict contexts.
• Proven experience in developing English language high-quality advocacy and knowledge products on gender equality, women´s rights, and women, peace and security/humanitarian action.
• Experience working with the UN is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.
• Knowledge of Russian language is an asset.  

9. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The following documents should be submitted as part of the application:

1. Cover letter to include a brief overview in English (unedited text) about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position.
2. P11 with past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted.
3. Financial Proposal (Specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference). The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum on a daily basis.
4. Samples and/or published links to knowledge products or similar works produced.

Evaluation of applicants:

Consultants will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of qualifications and financial proposal. Contract will be awarded to the individual Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
2. Having received the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

Financial Evaluation (30%) – max. 30 points:

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion. A suggested formula is as follows:

p = 30 (µ/z)

Using the following values:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)