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 for women as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.  Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

Somalia reported the first case of COVID-19 on 16 March 2020 that impacted on the economic activities, along with stringent travel restrictions, school closure, and overburdened the public health services. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, 27,216 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 1,361 deaths reported in Somalia. The pandemic also induced economic challenges, Social and economic consequences that affected everyday life of men and women across the country significantly. Loss of income and economic opportunities affected households’ food security, livelihood, and access to necessities. This figure may be grossly underestimated due to the limited geographic coverage of testing for COVID-19 and low vaccine uptake as well as poor community awareness about prevention and mitigating the virus, especially among IDPs. The government is ill equipped to upscale COVID -19 prevention and mitigation measures. Even before the pandemic, Somalia women and girls are among the most vulnerable due to protracted conflict, drought and high incidents of infant and maternal mortality.

Like in many disaster settings, women’s health, livelihoods and bodily integrity are particularly at risk as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing vulnerabilities in social, political and economic systems.

Based on the UN Cooperation Framework (2021-2025), UN legislative mandates and the UN Women Strategic Note, the UN Women Somalia Office through the Government of Japan funded project entitled “Prevention of COVID-19 infections among women and girls displaced into IDP and refugee camps in ESAR” aims to strengthen the protection, leadership and empowerment of vulnerable women, men and youth affected by COVID-19 and forcibly displaced into IDP and refugee camps in Somalia.

Specific Outcomes of the Project are:

1. 8,800 vulnerable women, men and youth lead and participate in COVID-19 prevention, response and recovery interventions,
2. Improved leadership of 600 women and girls in COVID-19 prevention, response and recovery interventions,

UN Women Somalia is implementing the Project in partnership with two local CSOs namely Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD) and Somali Women Development Centre (SWDC) in Mogadishu, Baidoa, Garowe and Kismayo Districts.

The international consultancy is envisaged to identify the challenges faced by women and youth, the gaps in service delivery and assess COVID-19 preparedness and response plans thereby will make analysis and recommendations to strengthen the plans to facilitate a responsive environment, conducive for gender equality and that supports the needs of refugee and host women and girls, in conformity with human rights standards and international best practice.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UN Women’s Somalia Country Programme Manager and working closely with the National Project Specialist, & international consultant the National consultant is expected to assess COVID-19 preparedness and response plans to identify how gender is being mainstreamed, gaps and opportunities to strengthen the integration of gender in these key frameworks to ensure effective prevention of COVID 19.

 Specific tasks and responsibilities:

In coordination with the MoWHRD, FMS Ministries of Women, FMS Ministries of Health, CSOs, LEAP implementing partners, UN Women program specialists & under the overall supervision of the UN Women Country Programme Manager, and international consultant, the National consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

• Support the International consultant in undertaking Desk review on COVID-19 response and recovery frameworks and plans at FGS and FMS level and provide an analysis of the gender responsiveness of these frameworks and plans, as well as recommendations
• Facilitate consultative meetings with key stakeholders; government ministries at FGS and FMS, CSOs, UN agencies including  WHO and those with a health mandate and the Gender Thematic Group, LEAP partners, WLOs to identify gender mainstreaming gaps for marginalized and vulnerable in access COVID-19 prevention and response interventions.
• Support the international consultant in conducting data collection and analysis from LEAP target locations and communities in Somalia.

• Support the International consultant in developing a strategy at National level that will contribute to and strengthen the protection, leadership and empowerment of vulnerable women, men and youth affected by COVID-19 and forcibly displaced into IDP and refugee camps in Somalia
•  Support the international consultant in providing recommending tailored sensitization messages to enhance access for women and girls at PCR testing, promote vaccine update and  ensure that health facilities at IDP camps are safe, protected from sexual violence for women and girls.

• Support the international consultant in providing strategies Leveraging and strengthening communities’ capacity to deal with COVID-19 pandemic by empowering them to carry out community-based surveillance, monitoring, and care.

Deliverables:

Duration of the Work

The consultant will be contracted for a maximum of 60 working/ days over 2 months duration starting from the signature of the contract.

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

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the United Nations' values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN and UN Women.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Demonstrates good knowledge of gender in East and Southern Africa.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Conversant with key humanitarian and DRR fora at international, continental, and regional levels.
• Strong facilitation skills – ability to guide discussions with audiences of varying seniority and backgrounds.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced (Masters) degree in international development or governance, development, and peacebuilding studies with a focus on gender/women’s rights, Law, social science, public administration, public health research or other social sciences fields.

Experience: International consultant:

• At least 5 years’ experience in conducting gender assessments in fragile contexts
• More than 6 years of strategic level experience working gender issues preferably in the humanitarian and DRR context.
• Experience in review of national preparedness and response plans and policies. Experience with COVID 19 plans will be an added advantage.
• Experience working with line ministries, civil society organizations (CSOs) Local NGOs and/or legislative issues from a gender perspective.
• Experience working with government ministries, UN agencies and international organizations, is preferred.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of the Somali language or any other UN official working language is an asset.

Application Process: 

• Personal History Form (P-11 form) - including experience in similar assignments. https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form-en.doc

• Financial Proposal: Specify a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference including a detailed process, modalities to be used to conduct the study.

Management and financial arrangements:

• The Consultant will report to and work under the direct supervision of UN Women Somalia Country Office management.

Gender Sensitivity:

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.

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.