Antecedentes

To support member states in implementing the 2030 Agenda, the UN Women’s Flagship Programme Initiative, “Making Every Woman and Girl Count (MEWGC)” aims to affect a radical shift in the availability, accessibility and use of data and statistics on key aspects of gender equality and women’s empowerment.  Building on existing initiatives, introducing needed innovations and developing new systems, where appropriate, the MEWGC will address systemic reasons for the gaps in the availability of data needed for generating gender statistics and related indicators.  Thus, the initiative will focus its support towards achieving the following interrelated outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Promoting an enabling environment by putting in place a supportive and well-coordinated policy environment to ensure gender-responsive localization and effective monitoring of the SDGs;
• Outcome 2: Increasing data production by removing technical barriers and constraints to ensure that quality, comparable and regular gender statistics are produced to monitor the implementation of national policies and meet reporting commitments under the SDGs, CEDAW and the BPfA; and
• Outcome 3: Improving data accessibility and use by ensuring that the data produced are widely available and the capacities of different players to understand, analyze and use them to inform advocacy, research, policies and programs and to monitor progress on the SDGs are enhanced.

Since inception of FPI in 2016, UN Women has been working closely with 12 “pathfinder countries” where country level projects are being developed. These projects will advance specific elements of the MEWGC, depending on national circumstances, policy priorities, statistical capacities and available financial resources, and will be used to demonstrate the specific approaches that work in particular contexts. The pathfinder countries, selected through a rigorous and independent process  applying criteria that included their commitment to women’s and girls’ rights and to high statistical standards, country-level demand including demonstrable need and institutional commitment to improve gender statistics, and motivation to be part of a global and inclusive learning process on gender statistics, will be supported to improve the production and use of gender statistics in all areas of the SDGs and other national policy priorities.      

Bangladesh was selected as one of the pathfinder countries on the strength of the following: “Demonstrate[s] strong commitment to gender statistics; collection of gender statistics is a national priority; and National Statistical Office (NSO) to include gender cell; with strong technical capacity and political will.”

Making Every Woman and Girl Count Bangladesh (MEWGC-BGD):

Bangladesh’s strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment is enshrined in the Constitution. Bangladesh has enacted 31 related acts and 24 policies and plans between 2009 – 2014 to promote the gender agenda. National commitments are aligned with at least 17 international rights-based conventions and declarations—foremost of which are the CEDAW and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, and the Declaration on the Right to Development. The country is also a signatory to the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA). Among others, the latest commitment is the completion of the 8th CEDAW Periodic Report. The Report highlights the various needs and uses for gender statistics in establishing compliance and alludes to the issue of lack of gender data and statistics.

The country assessment on the status of gender statistics in Bangladesh has been carried out from February to May 2018 by UN Women Bangladesh and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) to provide some answers to the key question: “How far” (or close) is the state of gender statistics in Bangladesh to the desired three outcomes of the MEWGC?”  The assessment highlights the challenges faced by Bangladesh in the following three distinct but inter-related categories: (i) weak legal, policy and institutional framework for quality gender statistics; (ii) inadequate technical capacity in effective and efficient production of data; and (iii) limited data dissemination and communication capacities of national statistical systems (NSS) and limited ability of governments and other stakeholders to utilize and advocate for gender statistics to inform decisions, policy research, advocacy, policies and programmes.  

Time Use Survey:
National practices in collecting time-use data vary depending on methodological aspects regarding the type of survey (i.e. independent, modular), data collection method (i.e. full diary, light diary, stylized questions), reference days for data collection, respondent selection and other criteria that imply a choice of sampling strategy, technical expertise on pre and/or post coding, procedures to minimize respondent burden, etc., that ultimately result in different operational  costs.
To assist countries in the production and dissemination of time use statistics, the United Nations Statistical Division developed the Guide to Producing Statistics on Time Use: Measuring Paid and Unpaid Work , which presents an overview of the different approaches that have been adopted in the design of time-use surveys and in the dissemination of time-use data. In 2016, the International Classification of Activities for Time Use Statistics (ICATUS2016)  was updated and endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission for use as an international statistical classification at its 48th session, 7-10 March 2017.
In 2000, the Eurostat issued the methodological guideline for “Harmonized European Time Use Surveys” (HETUS) to facilitate the data collection process in European countries. This guideline was revised several times and the last version (HETUS2018)  was prepared for upcoming HETUS 2020 wave of data collection.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) developed the Guidelines for Harmonizing Time Use Survey , that was endorsed by Conference of European Statisticians in 2013. The Guidelines include recommendations of preferred or best practice, based on the experience of member countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and other developed countries participating in the work of CES. This Guidelines are meant to complement the United Nations Guide to Producing Statistics on Time Use: Measuring Paid and Unpaid Work (United Nations 2005a) and the Harmonized European Time Use Surveys: 2008 guidelines (Eurostat 2009), and therefore do not attempt to cover the issues that are thoroughly addressed in those publications.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has conducted a pilot Time Use Survey in 2012  with the objective to provide estimates of the amount of time spent on various activities of the population aged 15 years and above. Currently, with a strong impetus from SDG requirements, there is a need for conducting a new nationally representative Time Use Survey (with the possibility of further disaggregation at divisional level for key indicators). The UN Women is providing comprehensive financial and technical support to the BBS in implementing the time use survey.

Objectives and Scope of Work:
UN Women is seeking the services of an International Consultant to provide guidance and expertise for the activity related to implementation of time use survey in Bangladesh (Outcome 2 of the MEWGC-BDG project).  The main objective of this assignment consists in supporting the BBS to design and conduct a Time Use Survey, in accordance with the best practices from the region and applying the international standards and recommendations on producing time use statistics as part of official statistics.
The international consultant will work in close collaboration with the UN Women Gender Statistics Specialist and the national statistical office, and will represent UN Women in meetings, trainings and workshops in relation to the survey, if needed. During this assignment the international consultant will work specifically with the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics in order to prepare the survey methodology to be tested and piloted until Q1 2020, as the full-scale survey is envisaged to be conducted starting from March 2020.  

Deberes y responsabilidades

 The International Consultant will cover the following tasks to fulfill the assignment:

• Provide support to the BBS in designing TUS activities, specifically in developing a country survey plan, budget and timetable;
• Support the BBS remotely and through in-country visits to select the most feasible and relevant scenario to collect data: questionnaires, reference unit, reference period, data collection methods, etc.;
• Develop the survey tools and documents, in compliance with international guidelines and recommendations, such as questionnaires and manuals, classification of activities, coding, etc., in close collaboration with the BBS and the UN Women Country Office
• Support the BBS in the design and implementation of testing survey tools, as needed;

Expected deliverables    

1. Inception Report submitted containing a detailed work-plan with activities and timelines agreed with the BBS; a detailed description of the study methodology including sampling design (in cooperation with a sampling specialist), optimal data collection mode(s) and data collection tools to be developed, in close consultation with the BBS and UN Women by 15 November 2019 (10 w/days);
2. Orientation materials for capacity building of the BBS staff, including a 1-day training for the BBS survey methodology team by 15 November 2019 (5 w/days);
3. Report describing finalized data collection tools, such as questionnaires, fieldwork training guidelines taking into consideration national context and available infrastructure for data collection, in close collaboration with the BBS by 25 January 2019 (10 w/days)
4. Final Methodological Report documenting all lessons learned and good practices in the process of preparations for the survey fieldwork as well as survey dissemination strategy by 25 February 2019 (10 w/days).

Payment:

• 1st instalment (40%) : Deliverable 1 and 2 (Inception report and Orientation for BBS) by 15 November 2019;
• 2nd instalment (60%):  Deliverables 3 and 4 (Report on data collection tools and methodological report by end of the assignment.

Competencias

Core competencies:

• Communication – Facilitates and encourages open and effective communication;
• Team Work – Demonstrates ability to work with the government and Civil Society Organizations, effective working relations with people of different backgrounds;
• Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and deliver outputs in accordance with agreed time, costs and quality standards.

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative research, reviews, mapping and studies independently;
• Strong skills and experiences in communicating and presenting evidences and ideas for policy and programmatic interventions;
• Consistent approach of work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to ideas and ability to manage complexities of the situations.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Advanced (Masters or higher) degree or equivalent in statistics, demography, economics or other fields of study of social sciences relevant to the requirements of the ToR.   

Experiences:

• At least 10 years of experience in the quantitative household surveys design and implementation at national and/or regional level. Prior experience in Time Use Survey methodology development and/or survey management experience is required;
• At least 5 years of proven experience of work in the area of official statistics at the national and/or international level;
• Good knowledge and experience in leading and designing statistical capacity on time use statistics or other quantitative household surveys;
• Strong knowledge of international recommendations on production of time use statistics;
• Previous professional experience with development agencies and/or the United Nations is an asset.

Language

• Excellent writing and editing skills, as well as strong analytical aptitude, communication and presentation skills in English.

Interested Individual Consultants will submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications.
Proposal:
To be included as part of the proposal:

• Cover letter, to include: (i) a brief overview about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position; and (ii) a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work;
• Financial Proposal: Potential candidates are requested to kindly submit along with the cover letter outlining relevant experience, the CV, daily rate, cost of at least 2 travels with living cost to Bangladesh; travel costs will be based on UN Women travel policy. Air fare will be paid for most direct and economy route.
• P11: including past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/

NOTE: Documents required before contract signing:

• UN Personal History Form;
• Full medical examination and Statement of Fitness to work and travel for consultants with travel involved. (This is not a requirement for RLA contracts);
•  Security Certificate BSAFE: EN: https://agora.unicef.org/course/info.php?id=17891;
•  Individual subscribers over 65 years of age are required to undergo a full medical examination including x-rays at their own cost and obtaining medical clearance from the UN Medical Director prior to taking up their assignment;
•  Release letter in case the selected consultant is government official.

Only applications will all items mentioned above will be considered

Payments

Payments for this consultancy will be based on the achievement of deliverables and certification that each has been satisfactorily completed, at the end of the assignment Please use "International Consultant for Supporting the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics in Implementation of the Time Use Survey within the “Making Every Woman and Girl Count Bangladesh” as the subject heading of your application.

All applications must include (as an attachment) the CV and the financial proposal. Applications without financial proposal will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment. “Personal History Form - P 11” can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employme