Antecedentes
COVID-19 has threatened the lives of many, causing devastating impacts on people’s livelihoods, especially the socially vulnerable. In societies with gender-based discriminations, women face greater social and economic consequences during times of crisis. Not only has COVID-19 created new challenges for women in terms of achieving gender equality and being empowered, but the crisis has shone a light on, and exacerbated, preexisting challenges faced by women.
Women globally are affected by the economic fallout of COVID-19 due to their reliance on temporary and informal employment. A significant proportion of women are self-employed within the informal sector and these forms of employment are typically not represented by labor unions, nor qualify for social security and are particularly at-risk during crisis, including during COVID-19 with social restrictions and lockdowns significantly impacting business.
According to the ‘Care Rapid Gender Analysis COVID-19 Lao PDR (July 2020)’, the study has found that the pandemic has both reinforced traditional gender norms as well as provided opportunities for men and women to work together to address the current crisis in Lao PDR. The main findings of this study are 1) some traditional gender roles have been reinforced, 2) lockdown measures have made detection of Gender Based Violence (GBV) even more difficult, and 3) the economic sectors with a large female workforce have been strongly affected, increasing women’s economic insecurity.
With the advent of the second wave of COVID-19 infections in Lao PDR, the Government of Lao PDR has put in place strict lockdown restrictions from 22 April 2021 that have exacerbated the risk women face in experiencing violence, especially domestic violence. Many women are confined with their abusers and the lack of knowledge on their rights and the services available to them perpetuate the cycle of violence they might find themselves in.
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In addition, women are particularly exposed due to their prevalence in the informal sector, such as working in the food industry and as street vendors, where they are unable to remain in lockdown. Furthermore, women living on the margin may not have access to accurate information on the virus or the pandemic, pushing them further behind.
UNDP is committed to gender-responsive programming to promote and protect the rights of women, and provide them with opportunities to fulfill their potential, contribute to society, and ensure the government of Lao PDR fulfills its pledge under the UN Sustainable Development Goals to “leave no one behind” as the country moves forward toward 2030.
Deberes y responsabilidades
The objective of this consultancy will be to support implementation of the gender equality programming under the Governance Portfolio, working closely with the implementing partner, Lao Women’s Union (LWU), the National Commission on the Advancement of Women and Children (NCAWMC), the Counseling and Protection Centre for Women and Children, and other government, media, CSO and development partners, including through the development of a capacity needs assessment for key government stakeholders on ending GBV, and supporting capacity development efforts to ensure gender sensitivity in communications and media programming.
The successful applicant will be expected to be responsible for the following:
Task 1: Support consultations with key partners for capacity needs assessment on preventing and responding to gender-based violence
• Provide coordination support to manage scheduling of consultation meetings with key partners
• Participate in and take minutes for consultation meetings
• Support the lead national consultant for the capacity needs assessment to summarise findings and, if necessary, translate into English
• Participate in capacity needs assessment team meetings and provide technical inputs on gender issues in the Lao context to ensure cultural sensitivities are respected
Task 2: Support the drafting and translation of the final capacity needs assessment
• Support the lead national consultant in compiling findings and drafting the final capacity needs assessment report
• Provide technical inputs to ensure description of concepts in English are appropriately translated into Lao language
Task 3: Support in hosting capacity needs assessment consultation workshop
• Support the capacity needs assessment team to prepare for the seminar to present the findings of the assessment, including but not limited to preparing the agenda, printed materials and PowerPoint presentations
• Provide logistical support to the Gender Programme Officer and Lao Women’s Union for hosting the consultation workshop
Task 4: Support design of capacity development programme on gender-sensitive communications and community outreach focused on rural communities
• Provide technical inputs on mainstreaming gender in communications and media outreach
• Support the lead national consultant for the Community Outreach project in design of programme, ensuring that content is digestible and relatable for all audiences
Task 5: Support in hosting capacity development workshop for media on gender-sensitive communications
• Support the Community Outreach team to prepare for the workshop: preparing agenda, printed materials, presentations
• Provide logistical support to the Gender Programme Officer to host the workshop: preparing list of invitees, ensuring invitations are sent and answers received, booking and preparing the venue etc.
Task 6: Support the publication of online communication assets on ending gender-based violence and promoting gender equality
• Support the lead national consultant for the Community Outreach project to publish communications assets on gender-based violence, gender equality and women’s empowerment through community radios, television, print and social media
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• Support Gender Programme Officer and team to design a communications strategy, assets and prepare for 16 Days of Activism campaign
Competencias
- Experience and knowledge of Lao PDR’s government/mass organization system and/or UN agencies and/or other development partners
- Fluency in English and Lao
Habilidades y experiencia requeridas
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in gender, international development, law, international relations, or a field related to UNDP’s work areas
- At least 12 months experience working with gender/GBV/VAWG is highly desirable
- Experience working in communications, designing strategy, programming and/or assets
- Knowledge of international laws and standards related to gender such as CEDAW and the Essential Services Package for Women and Girls Subject to Violence is desirable
Expected places of Travel :
• Bokeo Province
• Champasak Province
• Oudomxay Province
• Huaphan Province
• Khammouan Province
• Salavan Province
• Savannakhet Province
• Sekong Province
• Xayabouly Province
• Xieng Khouang Province
Requirements for submission of proposals:
All interested and qualified International or National Independent Consultant should apply on-line using the following links:
UNDP Lao PDR Country Office website at https://www.la.undp.org/content/lao_pdr/en/home/jobs.html or
In order to make your submission, please read the relevant documents available on the link below
- TOR (Annex I)
- IC General Terms and Conditions _ Annex II;
- OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY _ Annex III
- P11 Form
Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
- Technical and Financial Proposal as per Annex III “OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY”
(i) Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work;
(ii) Providing a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work including the work schedule for the delivery of outputs/deliverable;
2. P11 Form Education and work experience, including past experience in similar projects and contact references of at least 3 references for whom you have rendered preferably the similar services;
3. Financial proposal: Detailed financial proposal: Lump sum offer with clear cost breakdown against each deliverable.
Note: The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon monthly outputs, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. UNDP accept travel costs not exceeding of an economy class air ticket.
Instructions for on-line submissions:
- Step 1: Please prepare all required documents electronically;
- Step 2: Combine all documents in ONE SINGLE FILE (preferably in PDF however Word format can be also accepted) and upload to the UNDP Jobs using the links above;
- Step 3: After that you will receive an auto reply from the UNDP jobs if your offer is received successfully.
Incomplete proposals or proposals received after the deadline will be rejected.
Please kindly refer to the Terms of Reference Annex I for detailed information on:
Project’s background
Scope of work and Responsibilities
Deliverables
Requirements for Experience and Qualifications