Antecedentes

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 between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The UN Women MCO Caribbean covers 22 countries and territories in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean, which are part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Strides towards gender equality in the countries covered by the MCO have resulted in gains for women and girls in the Caribbean, relating primarily to high education rates and increases in employment rates. However critical gaps remain. These gaps are further exploited during hazards like COVID-19 and other environmental hazards.

The programme focus for 2018 -2021 built on the strengths and lessons learned by focusing on the programme areas in which the MCO has a comparative advantage and which have demonstrated the most return on investment. The lynch pin of the programmatic focus is to use Caribbean government development priorities and UN Women’s strengths to demonstrate how gender equality and women’s empowerment tools and programmes are critical to achieving their development priorities. 

As part of the 2018 -2021 Strategic Note, UN Women - in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and European Commission – implemented the regional programme “Win-Win: Gender Equality Means Good Business” to contribute to the economic empowerment of women, recognizing them as beneficiaries and partners of growth and development, by increasing commitment of private companies to gender equality and women´s empowerment and strengthening companies’ capacities to implement these commitments. Targeting women led enterprises and networks, multi-national companies, and relevant stakeholders in Europe and selected Latin American and Caribbean countries, the project promoted business links, joint ventures and innovation between women from both regions, while supporting inter-regional dialogue and exchange of good practices to increase the capacity of the private sector more broadly in the implementation of gender equal business.

Private sector companies have a central and active role to play in achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved unless women and girls are on an equal footing with men and boys and unless the private sector is on board. In addition to gender equality being a fundamental and inviolable human right and integral to the achievement of the SDGs, women’s and girls’ empowerment is essential to expand economic growth, promote social development and enhance business performance.  The full incorporation of women’s capacities into labour forces would add percentage points to most national growth rates – double digits in some cases. Further, investing in women’s empowerment produces the double dividend of benefiting women and children, and is pivotal to the health and social development of families, communities and nations.

UN Women MCO Caribbean wants to ensure that the 2021 -2026 Strategic Note builds on the outputs of the Win-Win programme and fully integrates the private sector as a critical partner in attaining sustainable development.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Objective of the Assignment

Under the overall supervision of the UN Women MCO - Caribbean Representative, the consultant will support the development and implementation UN Women’s Innovative Financing Programme and establish key stakeholder partnerships.

Scope of Work and Deliverables

The consultant will conduct the following tasks:

  • Support the integration of Innovative Financing, gender responsive private sector engagement and women’s leadership for the Women’s Economic Empowerment portfolio in the 2021 -2026 Strategic Note.
  • Support outreach and strengthening of UN Women’s WEPs Network and global partnerships for economic empowerment. 
  • Support the finalisation of the concept note on Gender Responsive Private Sector (no more than 5 pages).
  • Coordinate a gender dialogue on innovative financing.

Reporting Requirements

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the UN Women MCO-Caribbean Representative, with day-to-day supervision by the Private Sector Specialist.

Competencias

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.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies:

Functional Competencies:

  • Integrity and Fairness: 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. Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
  • 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.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

The consultant should meet the following criteria:

Experience:

  • At least 5 years of work experience with innovative financing and trade.
  • At least 3 years’ experience working in the Caribbean region or with Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
  • At least 3 years’ experience in gender issues.
  • Experience working in the United Nations is an asset.

Languages:

  • Fluency in English is required.

Education:

  • Advanced University degree in Social Sciences e.g. Development, Business, Economics, Administration, etc.

  Location and Duration

  • The consultancy will be home based.
  • The consultant will be engaged for a maximum of  30 working days during the period 16 August – 6 December, 2021.

Remuneration

  • The consultancy fee will be negotiated before contracting. Each payment will be based on a predefined and formal agreement between UN Women and the consultant and will be disbursed based on satisfactory completion of agreed deliverables.
  • The remuneration for this contract type is an all-inclusive fee, the organization will not be liable for additional cost or benefits.  Hence, it is the responsibility of the consultant to take out adequate medical insurance for the duration of the contract and it is recommendable that the policy includes coverage for COVID-19 related illness.   The medical coverage should be international when the contract requires missions or international assignment.
  • If selected for this vacant post, proof of medical coverage should be presented within the first two months of the contract.

Hardware, Software, and Communication

  • The consultant must be equipped with a fully functional laptop, which must run at least Windows 7. The consultant must be reasonably accessible by email and telephone (preferably mobile). The use of reliable, internet-based (Skype or equivalent) is required.

Application Process and References

Other

  • The consultant contracted will be required to sign a statement of confidentiality and freedom from any conflict of interest with potential future contractors with respect to the TORs and work that they will be delivering

Notes:

Submissions to UNDP Jobs are limited to a maximum of 10 MB, virus-free or corrupted contents to avoid rejection, and no more than 1 email transmission.  

All applications must be submitted through UNDP jobs.  Please do not send applications to UN Women staff as they will not be accepted.