UN WOMEN Jobs - 60526- Institutional Consultancy for Capacity Review of O

Institutional Consultancy for Capacity Review of Organizations working on Governance, Peace and Security in West and Central Africa

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Dakar, SENEGAL

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

03 MONTHS

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

03 MONTHS

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

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) was established by General Assembly resolution 64/289 of 2 July 2010. The core mandate of UN Women is to assist countries and the UN system itself to progress towards the goal of 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, governance, and peace and security.

The UN Women West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) in Dakar, Senegal, was established in 2013. The office, through its regional thematic advisers, works to provide strategic guidance and support for mandate implementation to UN Women country offices and programmes; analyzes regional trends and emerging issues related to the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality in West and Central Africa; facilitates UN regional-level coordination activities; partnership-building; knowledge production and knowledge management to inform policy direction.

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and expand cooperation with like-minded organizations in the region, the Governance Peace and Security Programme seeks to commission a capacity assessment of institutions working in the field of gender, governance, peace and security at the regional level in the West and Central African region. The capacity review is expected to support and reinforce UN Women’s partnership engagements with civil society in the region, towards to the goal of supporting women’s leadership and participation in processes of governance, peace and security

Duties and Responsibilities

A mapping of regional organizations (women-specific as well as mainstream organizations) working to advance women’s participation in governance, peace and security processes in West and Central Africa particularly in areas of research, training and advocacy;
An assessment of the technical and operational capacity of regional organizations working to promote women’s participation in governance peace and security in West and Central Africa;
Elaboration of both gaps and opportunities for capacity-strengthening of regional organizations working to advance women’s participation in the area of governance peace and security in West and Central Africa;
Specific recommendations to UN Women on entry points for expanding strategic partnerships with key institutions working on governance peace and security at the regional level in West and Central Africa;
The capacity review will target organizations in West and Central Africa working with a regional level focus, and / or across two or more countries spanning the 23 countries covered under WCARO’s mandate.

The project will be implemented in three key phases, namely:

A planning phase, which will see the design of the methodological framework and tools to support the capacity review;
A research phase, which will involve desk reviews and outreach, including interviews with identified organizations, as required;
The reporting phase, which will see the consolidation of the findings of the review.

During the research phase, questions to be explored by the organization contracted to lead the capacity review will include the following:

The thematic areas of focus, as well as types of interventions supported by the organizations identified;
The strategic positioning of the organizations reviewed vis-à-vis regional priorities on governance peace and security;
The technical strengths of the organizations;
The resource capacity of the organizations: human and financial;
The credibility and established track record of delivery of the organizations;
The extent to which the organizations are well-networked with other regional partners;
Previous experience of partnership with UN entities and regional organizations;
The areas of strength as well as areas for potential development and expansion with respect to work of the organizations.

Competencies

Core values and Guiding Principles:

Integrity:

Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism:

Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:

Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff;
Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies:

Ethics and Values:

Demonstrate and promote ethics and integrity by creating organizational precedents.

Organizational Awareness:

Build support for the organization and ensure political acumen.

Work in teams:

Build and promote effective teams.
Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communication and Information Sharing:

Create and promote an environment for open and effective communication.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience;
Excellent theoretical, intellectual and technical skills in aid development particularly those on gender issues and women's rights.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Development Studies, Law, Human Rights, Politics, Gender and Women’s Studies or related field.

Experience:

At least 10 years of professional experience, including international level experience related to policy development and programming to advance women’s rights in governance peace and security processes, preferably with experience from West and Central Africa.

Language:

Fluent in English and French.

Other skills:

Profile of Organization contracted to undertake capacity review;
Established track record of work in the field of governance peace and security;
Established record of working within the West and Central Africa region;
Experience of working on issues of gender, peace and security;
Prior experience of undertaking similar or related capacity reviews.