Historique

UN Women is grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. UN Women’s mandate entails the elimination of discrimination against women and girls and promotion of equality between women and men. To accomplish this mandate, UN Women partners with government, private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in advancing gender equality and women empowerment globally.

UN Women partnered with De Beers Group in 2017 in a programme aimed at building the capacity of women micro-entrepreneurs in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. A programme of support called Acceleration of Women Micro-Entrepreneurs (AWOME) was developed in 2017 and has been implemented since 2018 in the three programme countries. AWOME Programme will be implemented until December 2022 with evaluations and handover to partner governments planned for 2023. The capacity building entails training of micro-entrepreneurs on business management and life skills, handholding the entrepreneurs to implement actions to change their businesses and by linking the entrepreneurs to other services that can support the growth and sustainability of their businesses and/or advance the quality of their lives.

AWOME Programme is co-implemented in a model where UN Women shares responsibilities with implementing partners in the respective countries. In Botswana, UN Women has a partnership with the government, Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs (MNIGA), as well as with an NGO implementing partner called Adore Little Children (ALC). In South Africa, government partners are Musina and Blouberg Local Municipalities while NGO implementing Partner is Hand in Hand Southern Africa. In Namibia, AWOME Programme partnership is with the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGEPESW). MGEPESW is both a strategic partner (to represent government interests and perspectives in the programme) and also an implementing partner of the Programme.

The AWOME Programme has three main outputs as follows;

• Increasing the capacity of women entrepreneurs in business and life skills to manage their businesses more effectively for growth, sustainability and profitability and to better quality of life (Led by Implementing Partners);
• Increasing the capacity of government partners (duty bearers) to provide gender sensitive support to entrepreneurs, specifically on enterprise development (Led by UN Women);
• Promoting accessibility of gender sensitive training materials and strategies for capacity to hone and scale the model for development results (Led by UN Women).

Devoirs et responsabilités

Objective and scope of the assignment

UN Women seeks to contract a consultant to provide communication support for the programme and produce the following deliverables.

• Documenting AWOME Programme Model;
• Compiling quality case studies on select entrepreneurs supported under the programme, select AWOME trainers and relevant personnel working under or contributing to the success of the programme including representatives of implementing partners;
• Training of AWOME Trainers and personnel including those from partner organizations for effective communication (with emphasis on written communication).

• Documenting AWOME Model

AWOME Model utilizes a unique approach involving a range of diverse partners (Government, Private sector, United Nations and NGOs) as well as robust implementation approach that is aligned with the globally acclaimed ILO model called Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) Programme. The model departs from typical training programme as it delivers training in approaches tailored to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and provides post training support to apply skills gained from the training and drive positive change. Feedback from the entrepreneurs show that the nature of the implementation model is a significant contributor to the success of the programme.

Literature and global experience show the value of partnerships in the achievement of development goals. The value of partnerships is duly recognized by the international community as articulated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, SDG 17 (Partnerships for Goals) which exalts the need to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize global partnerships for sustainable development.

AWOME Programme seeks to document both the partnership and the programme model into a knowledge product that can be used internally by partner organizations and/or shared externally with other organizations to inform partnerships by organizations of similar nature. The knowledge product should highlight both the positive aspects as well as lesson learnt for improvement.

• Compiling quality case studies

UN Women would like to document a number of case studies showcasing the results of the programme. The case studies will target the following beneficiaries;

• Select trainers (who were trained under the programme to professionalize their training approach in accordance with SYIB’s trainer development guide);
• Entrepreneurs supported under the programme in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia (Target is twenty entrepreneurs – number allocation per country will be agreed upon in consultation with consultant and programme partners);
• Programme stakeholders including implementing partners and persons who have been impacted by the programme and are willing to be documented. This could be personnel working in the programme indirectly e.g. in administrative or finance sections of partner organizations. Target at least 6 cases. Country allocation will be determined based on interest expressed and the strength of the case
• Partner government’s senior leaderships to demonstrate institutional or community level impact (could be political or senior technical leadership depending on context). target = 4 cases (1 representative per government partner).

The stories should be documented professionally and be compiled in a professionally designed booklet. UN Women requires both print ready soft copies of the booklet as well as the set of case all studies documented individually. The programme has collected professional photos. Those interviewed may already have been photographed in other occasions. In the event that photos are not available and travel is not possible, UN Women will organize with partners to take photographs for use in the booklet.

Training of Trainers and Partner Organizations for effective communications.

UN Women is responsible for strengthening technical capacity to enable the implementing partners to execute their responsibilities (output above). AWOME Programme provides a range of capacity building interventions targeting trainers as well as programme team from partner organizations to enhance capacity to deliver on the programme and on other institutional mandate that contribute to the empowerment of women and girls.

UN Women aims to strengthen the capacity of trainers and partner organizations in communication skills with a focus on the following aspects:

• Enhancing capacity to distill results and identify case studies: The trainers can then become a resource for the programme in identifying and drafting case studies to feed into the database of potential case studies to be documented. The skills will also be applied in other areas of work performed by their organizations to give women a voice and share the stories of women’s contribution to national development.
• Enhancing capacity on report writing: Report writing is a critical skill for people working in development as most development programmes are funded from external sources or through national public resources. Trainers and other personnel based in the field are required to submit draft reports on activities in the field to their head offices and implementing organization compiles and submits progress reports to UN Women. Enhanced capacity in report writing will improve the quality of reports which will have a positive impact on not only the AWOME Programme but on other programmes within partner organizations that contribute to empowerment of women and reduction of gender equality. Skills can also be used for proposal writing to mobilize resources to promote gender equality.

The consultant will be required to conduct up to six workshops virtually to provide capacity building on the above areas. In addition, the consultant will need to provide limited time to mentor the trainers by giving them practical assignments, reviewing them and providing feedback. For improvement. The mentorship can be provided in groups if the dignity of each participant is protected through e.g., anonymity in the source of document. Sensitivity to group dynamic and individual differences is required and a pre-requisite for successful learning outcomes.

Key Performance Indicators and deliverables 

The table below details the key performance indicator, expected deliverables and time allocation.

Compétences

Competencies and Qualifications

Competencies

Core values / 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. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity

Core competencies

• Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity;
• Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative;
• Work in 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;
• Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication;
• Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others;
• Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution;
• Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge;
• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Functional competencies

• Excellent communication skills. Communicates sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies;
• Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in communications and outreach;
• Proven networking skills, and ability to generate interest in UN Women’s mandate;
• Strong initiative-taker;
• Very effective at multi-tasking;
• Focuses on impact and results for the client;
• Interacts effectively with all levels of the organization, including senior management;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Identifies opportunities and builds strong relationships with clients and partners;
• Demonstrates exceptional ability to remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure and tight deadlines.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• Master’s degree in the business studies/entrepreneurship, economics or social/behavioral sciences (sociology, anthropology, psychology, international relations) with professional courses/training in communications or a master’s degree in communications with professional courses/trainings in social sciences/development work.

Technical skills and professional experience:

• Five years experience in leading responsible professional work in the development, planning and management of communications aspects of development programmes/projects in reputable organization (s). Experience in international organizations and United Nations is an asset;
• Five years of practical experience in designing and implementing comprehensive and measurable communication outcomes within a context of diverse teams and/or partners;
• Experience in developing results-based knowledge products including case studies. Please share available own work/products.

Proposal (Maximum 4 pages):

• Proposal must demonstrate a clear understanding of the terms of reference (Proposal will be used to test writing and comprehension skills);
• Proposal must clearly demonstrate the proposed methodology and the suitability of the methodology in meetings expectations and deliveries as set out in the TORs. Creativity and efficiency is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and oral English is required.

Application Process:

The application should be submitted by 8 August 2020. Your application package must include;

• Detailed Curriculum Vitae;

• A technical proposal (maximum 4 pages) indicating the following;
  • Understanding of the terms of reference;
  • The fit between the applicant’s competencies and the requirements of the TORs;
  • Proposed methodology and value preposition of the selected methodology.

• Financial proposal taking into consideration the following;
  • Payment will be milestone based and it will be payable upon completion of milestone and certification of deliverables. Applicants are encouraged to align their proposed workplan with their preferred payment schedule noting that all deliverables have to be certified before payment is processed;
  • Payment will be in South African Rands;
  • Due to uncertainty in travel, applicant should cost for professional fees only. Travel will be covered through applicable Daily Subsistence Allowance and air/ticket or mileage claim in accordance with UN Women’s applicable rates as per travel policy;
  • Travel has to be discussed with and approved by UN Women in advance of travel.

Note:

Please note that you must include your technical and financial proposal together with your CV before submitting. CVs that do not have tecnical and financial proposals will be considered invalid and will not be further considered.

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

UN WOMEN 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