Background

Closing persistent gender gaps in public life has emerged as a critical policy issue as countries increase their efforts to foster inclusive growth and build trust and confidence in public institutions. While the degree of challenges across the global community may differ, the aspirations are largely the same. The SDG 5, 5.5 on women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life underscores member states renewed commitment to achieve gender equality and women full participation and leadership in public administration. Men and women’s equal participation in public, political and economic life is part of generating a more equitable and sustainable economy and society. Gender diversity in decision-making contributes to improved trust in public political institutions and favors more informed and inclusive policy making. Ensuring that women have a voice in shaping policy is crucial to responsive and accountable governance.

Despite some global improvement, significant gaps still exist in women’s participation in the public domain, including in leadership roles and policy-making, thus undermining economic growth, human development and poverty reduction. The availability of gender-disaggregated data is vital for understanding both the drivers and barriers to achieving gender equality, for informing policy, tailoring policy recommendations and implementing them.

Through the global Gender Equality in Public Administration (GEPA) initiative (www.undp.org/gepa), UNDP aims to establish a global tracking mechanism that will institutionalize the importance of monitoring the state of gender equality in the civil service. As the evidence base grows, measures taken to advance women’s participation and leadership in the civil service will be available for comparison and analysis.

To begin the development of this tracking mechanism, UNDP undertook a global e-query to map national civil service tracking mechanisms and the availability of gender-disaggregated public service data. The results of the e-query show that it will take significant effort to access the information we need on women’s presence and leadership in public administration.

This assignment will build on the global e-query to work directly with government institutions that house the data, which is oftentimes available but not immediately accessible without a proactive effort. It will also be undertaken within the African Union (AU) policy framework of the African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration (2011). This Charter sets out the normative basis for the modernization of African public services and an inculcation of values founded on equity, accessibility, affordability, efficiency, transparency and human rights.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Carry out data collection on Gender Equality in Public Administration in all the African countries covered by UNDP’s Regional Hub in Addis Ababa;
• Review of regional e-query data already received during 2015;
• Review of findings and data from first analysis of e-query responses (as prepared by the GEPA research group at the University of Pittsburgh);
• Submission of a work plan with clear timeline;
• Draft initial correspondence requesting data, including a brief questionnaire;
• Proactively contact institution/agency/department that house civil servant data in all countries in the region (countries under UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa);
• Continue correspondence, with the support of the respective UNDP Country Offices if necessary, until any available data is collected.Organize collected data, make it available for public consumption and continuously upload into online shared folder;
• Weekly 1-page reports on progress, highlighting issues around data collection and proposing possible solutions and support needs from the UNDP Regional Hub in Addis and/or UNDP HQ in New York. The 1-pager is to be delivered every Friday for the duration of the assignment;
• Synthesize findings into a first-level analysis on the availability of data. Summarize experience and lessons-learned from data collection efforts.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Strong command of data collection and analysis;
• Strong communication, organization, and time management skills;
• Strong command of English and French languages;
• Ability to perform tasks in timely manner and under pressure, to tight deadlines;
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to coordinate and synchronize work with diverse cultural backgrounds, and ability to work in different environments;
• Ability to communicate in English and French verbally and in writing with a wide range of stakeholders (e.g. government officials, civil society organizations, etc.) and ability to work collaboratively online and via email;
• Excellent facilitation and diplomatic skills, with ability to facilitate mutual understanding and cooperation from busy and senior national/international stakeholders, and make a convincing case for the value of cooperation;
• Able to work independently and as part of an online team seamlessly using a range of modern means of communication;
• Excellent report writing skills.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor degree or equivalent in relevant area such as Public Administration, Public Policy, Social and Political Sciences, Gender Studies, Law, Development Studies, or equivalent.

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience one or more of the areas of gender, governance (with particular emphasis on public administration reforms), and/or data collection;
• Experience with extensive online research;
• Experience with quantitative research and data collection;
• Knowledge of decision-making processes in public policy, public service delivery, institutional capacity building, human resource management policies, professional ethics and/or civil service reform would be desirable;
• Previous experience with UNDP or the broader UN System in Africa would be an asset.

Application Instructions:

Download both TOR and Procurement Notice from: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=30678;

Strictly follow the instructions indicated in the Procurement Notice uploaded hereto.

Required Documents:

The following proposals must be prepared as per the prescribed standard format accompanied in the Procurement Notice shall be submitted before application deadline July 4, 2016 via UNDP Ethiopia Secured mail address: procurement.et@undp.org

• Technical Proposal in pdf;
• Financial Proposal in pdf;

Please note that these proposals shall be submitted to the designated secured email into two files but in one email.

Important Note:

• A candidate applying only by uploading CV to this job site will not be considered. Instead, both Technical and Financial Proposals shall be submitted to the designated UNDP Secured email before submission deadline;
• Failing to submit any one of the documents stated above will automatically disqualify the candidate from further technical evaluation;
• Those prospect consultants who fail to submit both Technical and Financial proposals as per the Standard format and to the designated secured email will not be further considered for evaluation;
• While submitting your proposals to procurement.et@undp.org be sure your email subject line is RSC/IC/2016/019.