Antecedentes

Background

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 Fiji Multi-Country Office has four main thematic areas:

• Ending Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG);
• Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE);
• Gender and Protection in Humanitarian Action; and
• Women’s Political Empowerment and Leadership (WPEL)

Under the WPEL programme the ‘Inclusive Governance of Natural Resources for greater social cohesion in the Solomon Islands’ (IGNR) project (December 2019 to December 2021) is the third of the UN’s Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF) programme in the Solomon Islands.  It is a project jointly implemented by UNDP and UN Women and aims to support partners to reduce actual or potential conflicts triggered by deficient legislative frameworks, private interest and lack of inclusivity with regards to decision on the use of land and natural resources and traditional governance in the Solomon Islands.

Inequitable Land resource management is a key driver of conflict at many levels in Solomon Islands society.  There is a lack of inclusiveness in natural resource governance especially of women and youth to reduce conflict in Solomon Islands.  The IGNR project provides technical assistance through timely reform of Solomon Islands’ legislation and policy with regards to private sector land ownership for natural resource exploitation.  The project also builds capacity of community leaders to ensure processes determining customary land ownership do not override or dismiss traditional land rights especially of women and youths which may lead to more conflict.  

The negative structural and cultural arrangements that deny women and youth full rights and decision-making authority in both the matrilineal and patrilineal guardship of land continues to marginalize large sections of Solomon Islands society, fomenting conflict and unrest.  The project facilitates the engagement between the people, the government and private sectors at the national and provincial levels and promotes women and youth to be at the centre of decision-making processes. 

Traditional Governance Bill (TGB)

Both previous and current Solomon Islands governments have made it a priority to pass the Traditional Governance Bill which aims to restore authority of community leaders and chiefs to exercise traditional, informal laws and rights over customary land ownership and its further use.  The TGB has the potential to either enhance and restore the rights of traditional leaders, especially women leaders and youths, or if implemented inadequately, deny such leaders, women and youth their rights to manage customary land altogether. Deficiencies drafting the first TGB were identified by the parliamentary committee and a list of recommendations was compiled to address these concerns.  The main recommendation from the parliamentary committee on the TGB were:  to withdraw the Bill until further consultation and research was carried out, a more thorough anthropological study was required to on the dynamics of customary land concepts of traditional custodianship, the judiciary and the Bar Association should be further consulted, marginalized groups, women, youth and churches should be meaningfully consulted, previous consultations were not rigorous so a more concerted approach is required.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Objective(s) of the assignment

Overall Objective(s)

UN Women Fiji MCO is looking for an international consultant to conduct gender analysis of the draft Traditional Governance Bill (TGB) ensuring that its inclusive and responsive to the needs of all.

Specific objectives

The specific objective of the assignment is to:

• conduct a literature review regarding traditional governance structures and systems taking into account gender with a human rights lens especially in Solomon Islands;
• conduct a gender analysis of the TGB
• Review and analyze recommendations from preparatory sessions and TGB consultations;
• Draft a report on recommendations based on the gender analysis and review of the TGB and consultations;

• Develop final recommendations report to the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs (MTGPEA) for consideration when reviewing the draft TGB.

Scope of Work/Duties and Responsibilities        

The consultant will support UN Women and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) to complete literature review on traditional governance and gender in Solomon Islands, conduct a gender analysis of the draft bill, work closely with the national consultant to review recommendations from the preparatory sessions and TGB consultations, compile recommendations from the analysis and validate recommendations with key stakeholders.  Share final recommendations of gender analysis with the MTGPEA.

Duration of the assignment

The total duration of this assignment is tentatively planned for up to 3 months starting with early June 2020 with task being accomplished by end September, with an estimated number of working days not to exceed 42 (forty-two) – home based.

Expected Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for the following  key deliverables of the assignment:

• Inception report
• Submission of the first draft report addressing the objectives outlined in the ToR
• Final Report

All the documents, including the interview tools and reports should be submitted in written in English language.

Upon receipt of the deliverables and prior to the payment of the installment, the deliverables, related reports and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women within one week of submission.

Inputs

• UN Women will provide the Consultant with background materials for the desk review.
• The Consultant is expected to work remotely using her/his own computer.

Management arrangements

The Consultant will work under the overall guidance and direct supervision of UN Women Fiji Programme Specialist – Gender Equality, Women’s Rights and Governance (GEWRG) and in close collaboration with the National Programme Coordinator who will be coordinating and supporting the process.

• The selected Consultant shall sign a contract with UN Women for stipulated assignment, as stated above.

Performance Evaluation

Contractor’s performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

Travel

• This assignment is desk based.
• Throughout the assignment, the Consultant is expected to coordinate with the National Consultant who will be based in Honiara Solomon Islands

Financial Arrangement

• Payment will be disbursed upon submission and approval of deliverables and certification by the project managers that the services have been satisfactorily performed as per Section V above.

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.

Functional Competencies

• Ability to think conceptually, strategically and analytically;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Results oriented, flexible and problem-solving skills.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Required Qualifications and Experience

The Consultant should fulfill the following requirements:

Education

• Master’s degree in a related discipline such as Law, Gender Studies, Women, Peace and Security, and Human Rights is a minimum.

Experience and Skills

• At least 5 years of work experience at national or international level in traditional governance research, gender related issues and human rights.  Experience in Solomon Islands would be an asset;
• At least 5 years of experience conducting gender analysis of laws and policies;
• Strong communication and writing skills - with clear and concise writing style – please provide examples of similar work undertaken;
• Ability to produce well written documents demonstrating analytical ability and communication skills;
• Experience of working with different stakeholders and communities in Solomon Islands would be an asset;
• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, ability to use Internet and email.

Language Requirements

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Local pidgin knowledge is an advantage.

Evaluation

Initially, individual consultants will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:

• Master’s Degree in a related discipline such as Law, Gender Studies, Women, Peace and Security and Human Rights is a minimum.
• At least 5 years of work experience at national or international levels in traditional governance research, gender related issues and human rights.

The short-listed individual consultant will be further evaluated based on a cumulative analysis process, with a total score being obtained upon the combination of weighted technical and financial attributes.  Cost under this method of analysis is rendered as an award criterion, which will be 30% out of a total score of 100 points.

Evaluation of submitted offers will be done based on the following formula:

where:

Technical evaluation will be represented through desk review of applications. Interviews and/or written tests will be organized if needed only, depending on the short-listed candidates’ qualifications.

A. Technical Qualification Evaluation Criteria: The technical part is evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR).

Financial Qualification Evaluation Criteria: In the Second Stage, the financial proposal of candidates, who have attained minimum 70% score in the technical evaluation (at least 49 points), will be compared.

Winning Candidate

The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring + financial scoring).

Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.