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.

In the Arab States region, the UN Women’s “Men and Women for Gender Equality” (MWGE) regional programme -funded by Sweden- aims to promote changes in social norms and behaviors to enable men and women to exercise their rights and opportunities equally in six countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia.

The MWGE programme has implemented community-based interventions to promote positive masculinities and gender equality in partnership with CSOs and CBOs in four of the six target countries: Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco, and Egypt. The evaluations of these community-based interventions documented impactful changes in attitudes and behaviors of men and women in different aspects related to gender equality. These evaluations also helped to identify the most effective techniques to shift attitudes and behaviors of men and women for gender equality, namely the peer-to-peer and positive deviant approaches with men, women, and young people.

Based on the comprehensive results and learnings so far, the MWGE programme aims to develop a unique and never-seen-before model for the transformation of patriarchal masculinities and social norms at the community level, using the unpaid care and domestic work of men and boys as an entry point. This model is expected to effectively reduce the gender gap between men and women in unpaid care and domestic work, and promote gender equality further in those communities, especially in women’s economic empowerment. Rather than merely impacting on few direct beneficiaries of the interventions, the model is expected to produce a positive impact on significant percentages of the total populations from these communities (at least 25-30% of communities’ populations), and to alter patriarchal social norms and behaviors, resulting in a reduction of the gender gap between men and women in unpaid care and domestic work, increased participation of women in the labor market and decision making, more women’s economic empowerment and a reduction of the prevalence of intimate partner violence.

This model is projected to become a best practice in the MENA region and beyond, and therefore needs to be thoroughly designed so that the model can achieve greater and more impactful results than previous community-based interventions implemented by UN Women and partners. Thus, the model needs to build upon lessons learned and improved methodologies, techniques, and approaches to previous experiences. The model will include concrete and practical methodologies, approaches, tools, techniques, identification of stakeholders involved in its implementation, etc. that will serve as guidelines to UN Women and partners to implement and test the model in selected communities.

In coordination with UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS) and respective country offices, the consultant will help to identify the communities from the six countries in which the model will be implemented and tested in the future, including their demographics and socio-economic characteristics. He/she will also help to identify the stakeholders that will be involved in the implementation and monitoring of the model. The consultant will also help to identify the cost of the initiatives and partnerships involved, in consultation with UN Women ROAS and Country Offices.

In close coordination with the UN Women team -and especially with the M&E consultants and experts of ROAS and Country Offices-, the consultant will also develop a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system that includes a detailed list of indicators and targets to measure the impact of the model at the community level, and that reflects changes in social norms for GEWE within those communities.

Deberes y responsabilidades

About the Position:

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Regional Programme Manager of the ‘Men and Women for Gender Equality (MWGE) programme, the Gender, Masculinities, and Social Norms consultant will develop a manual that designs and guides the management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the model that effectively transforms patriarchal masculinities and social norms at the community level in the MENA region, using the promotion of unpaid care and domestic work of men and boys as an entry point.

The consultant will work in close consultation with UN Women ROAS and with the six country offices of the target countries. Further, he/she will have in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with key stakeholders and beneficiaries at community level, as needed. Thus, the consultant is expected to travel to at least four of the six target countries of the MWGE programme to have consultations and collect relevant data with stakeholders and beneficiaries from communities on the ground in order to develop the model.

The consultant is also expected to review the available literature on best practices and models for social norms change for GEWE in other countries/regions, as well as the final external evaluation of the MWGE programme and its three thematic case studies. These documents will be shared with the consultant upon recruitment.

Objective of the Assignment:

UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States requires professional services to develop a manual for a ground-breaking model that effectively transforms patriarchal masculinities and social norms at scale in selected communities in the MENA region, using caregiving and household responsibilities of men and boys as an entry point. The manual will devise the model that will be tested by UN Women and that results in increasing the amount and quality of time that men and boys spent in unpaid care and domestic work, reducing the burden of unpaid care and domestic work on women, and promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment further in those communities, especially women’s economic empowerment. The manual will serve as a tool for UN Women and relevant stakeholders to guide the future management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the model in selected communities.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• To support UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States and Country Offices in the development of a ground-breaking model to be tested at the community level in the MENA region that effectively transforms patriarchal masculinities and social norms within communities, using caregiving and household responsibilities of men and boys as entry points.
• Undertake extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries involved in the implementation of the model.
• Work closely with the UN Women team from ROAS and country offices to identify the communities to implement the model, undertake the costing required to deliver this model, and develop a comprehensive MEL system with indicators and targets that measure the impact of the model.
• Support UN Women in the dissemination/communication of the model to the public and relevant stakeholders.

Expected Missions and Travels: Missions in the countries of the Arab states region where the programme is being implemented is required for this assignment: Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. A minimum of four countries (out of the six target countries) will be covered in these missions by the consultant. Travel costs of the consultant for these missions will be covered by UN Women.

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: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

Functional Competencies:

• Good planning, goal setting, and prioritization skills;
• Proven experience in programming on gender equality that includes promoting positive masculinities and the engagement of men and boys, and social norms change for gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Experience in coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating development programmes and projects in the area of gender equality, including those focused on promoting positive masculinities;
• Demonstrated solid experience in writing manuals and reports in the English language;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client, and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, International Development, Gender/Women’s Studies or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of professional experience in international development programming in the area of gender equality, including in the Arab States region (required);
• Substantive knowledge and experience in international development on transforming patriarchal masculinities and social norms, including working with men and boys for gender equality (required);
• A deep understanding of the Arab States region, solid and culturally sensitive knowledge of social norms and behaviors within local communities, and proven ability to liaise with a myriad of stakeholders and partners, including government, civil society, and grassroots organizations (required);
• Work experience at/for the UN system (UN agencies, funds, programmes) (an advantage).

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Arabic and English is mandatory, and French is an asset.

Evaluation Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation will be considered for the financial evaluation.
 
Criteria Weight Technical: 70%

• Criterion 1: Academic credentials, knowledge of French as an asset, and experience with UN as an advantage (10 points)
• Criterion 2: Experience in gender equality programming in international development, including in the Arab States region (20 points)
• Criterion 3: Knowledge and experience in international development programmes on transforming patriarchal masculinities and social norms, including working with men and boys for gender equality (20 points)  
• Criterion 4: Understanding of the Arab States region, solid and culturally sensitive knowledge of social norms and behaviors within local communities, and proven ability to liaise with a myriad of stakeholders and partners, including government, civil society, and grassroots organizations (20 points)

Financial: Lowest Financial Proposal: 30%

• Contract will be awarded to the technically qualified consultant who obtains the highest combined score (financial and technical);
• The points for the Financial Proposal will be allocated as per the following formula: (Lowest Bid Offered*)/ (Bid of the Consultant) x 30;
• 'Lowest Bid Offered' refers to the lowest price offered by Offerors scoring at least 49 points in the technical evaluation.

Application:

All interested applicants should submit the following requirements. The following 4 documents should be merged in one standalone file, including all four documents since the online application submission only permits uploading one file per application. Incomplete submissions can be a ground for disqualification. 

• Brief expression of interest: a brief narrative on why you think you are qualified to undertake the consultancy.
• The UN Women Personal History Form (P11) is required when applying – to download the form please go to http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment.
• Attach a sample of relevant work
• Financial proposal: Daily rate 

The above-mentioned documents should be merged in a standalone file including all of them since the online application submission does only permit uploading one file per application. Incomplete submissions can be a ground for disqualification.

Note:

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.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits employ, 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.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

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. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)