Background

At the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly, Member States, in adopting the Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review (TCPR) of Operational Activities for Development of the UN System called on all UN organizations to: “mainstream gender and to pursue gender equality in their country programmes, planning instruments and sector-wide programmes and to articulate specific country-level goals and targets in this field in accordance with the national development strategies”.

Further, ECOSOC Resolution 2004/4 - Review of Economic and Social Council agreed conclusions 1997/2 on mainstreaming the gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system requested: “the Secretary-General to ensure that all United Nations entities develop action plans with time lines for implementing the agreed conclusions 1997/2, which address the gap between policy and practice identified in the Secretary-General’s report, with a view to strengthening commitment and accountability at the highest levels within the United Nations system as well as to establishing mechanisms to ensure accountability, systematic monitoring and reporting on progress in implementation”.

As a direct follow-up to the TCPR, and to ensure a comprehensive response to many of its recommendations, the UN Development Group (UNDG) created a Task Team on Gender Equality as a sub-group of the UNDG Programme Group. The goals of the Task Team are: to support more consistent and coherent action among UNDG member agencies to mainstream gender equality and promote women’s empowerment at the country level; and to ensure that gender equality and women’s empowerment are mainstreamed into the wide range of tools and processes that emerge from the UNDG for use by UN Country Teams (UNCTs). 

In 2006, the UNDG Task Team on Gender Equality commissioned a background paper on accountability mechanisms in UNDG agencies. This paper reviewed accountability for programming in support of gender equality in ILO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WFP and found that: “A common understanding of how to apply gender mainstreaming in UN operational activities is needed. This is because if there is no agreement on what constitutes a minimum level of actions to support gender equality, how will it be possible to hold agencies and UN Country Teams accountable for this. Reaching agreement across agencies on what constitutes a minimally acceptable performance to support gender equality, through an agreed set of indicators, would contribute to stronger guidance and accountability”.

Subsequently this background paper was endorsed at the UNDG Principals’ meeting in July 2006, where agreement was reached on development of a UNCT-level ‘Accounting for Gender Equality’ Scorecard that sets minimum standards for UNCTs to assess their performance, and to identify gaps and progress across the system.

The Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review Resolution (QCPR) places strong emphasis on accountability for gender equality and the empowerment of women, calling for greater effectiveness in the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).

General Assembly in 2013 reaffirmed the fundamental importance of gender equality for achieving sustained and inclusive economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and United Nations conferences and “requests the United Nations development system to expand and strengthen the use of the United Nations country team performance indicators for gender equality and the empowerment of women (the “scorecard”) as a planning and reporting tool for assessing the effectiveness of gender mainstreaming for use by the country teams in the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)”.

The UN Country Team in Kyrgyzstan consists of 27 UN funds, programmes and specialized agencies, including 14 resident and 13 non-resident agencies. The Government of Kyrgyzstan –UN Development Assistance Framework 2012-2017 (UNDAF) sets the following three main priority areas: 1.  Peace and Cohesion, Effective Democratic Governance, and Human Rights, including deepening State-building, security and justice for all; 2. Social Inclusion and Equity, encompassing issues of social protection, food security, education and health; and 3. Inclusive and Sustainable Job-Rich Growth for Poverty Reduction, with particular attention to women and youth, as well as to vulnerable groups and disaster-prone communities.

UNCT is developing a new UN Development Assistance Framework focusing on strategic goals in support of national priorities for longer-term resilience, socio-economic recovery and a rights-based approach to improve service delivery.

The new UNDAF 2018-2022 is at the stage of finalization and addresses the country’s needs (short, medium and long-terms), it is an evidence-based instrument for the UN to support the Government in the SDG agenda and equally important, and takes into consideration the UN capacity to deliver and comparative advantage.

In order to support gender-responsive implementation of the UNDAF and ensure better accountability of UNCT towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in line with UN corporative policy in this area, a Gender Scorecard Exercise is planned as a part of the UNPF Roadmap. The Gender Scorecard will be used for UNCT’s self-assessment and for identifying gaps and corrective actions during the UNDAF cycle. The UN Gender Thematic Group will lead this process to complete the scorecard process in a participatory and timely manner.

To support the UNCT Kyrgyzstan in implementing the Scorecard, the UN Women and the Resident Coordinator Office seeks to hire an international consultant with extensive experience on gender assessments.

The main objective of this consultancy is to assess the effectiveness of the UN Country Team Kyrgyzstan in gender mainstreaming, promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment as well as to provide a set of recommendations for improvements.

Purpose of the Scorecard exercise:

• To assist UNCTs in identifying areas in which they are meeting or not meeting minimum UNDG standards.
• To stimulate a constructive dialogue within the UNCT about the status of support for gender equality and women’s empowerment and how it can be improved.
• To identify where technical assistance can support the achievement of minimum standards.
• To share good practice in supporting national priorities to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work/Duties and Responsibilities 

Under the direct supervision and technical leadership of UN Women Representative and overall guidance of UN Resident Coordinator, and in collaboration with the UN Gender Thematic Group, the consultant will conduct the following activities within the stipulated timeframes:

Output 1. Review UNDG guidelines and UNCT background document and develop of an inception report (home-based, 2 working day) –  till 24 April 2017:

1. To review UNCT Performance indicators for Gender Equality: Users’ Guide, Gender Scorecards: Desk Review 2012-2014
2. To review the report “From Checklists to Scorecards: Review of UNDG Members’ Accountability Mechanisms for Gender Equality: Synthesis Report”, 2006 (UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, WFP and ILO)
3. To review UNCT Gender Scorecard Reports for the countries in the regions with focus to countries conducted Gender Scorecard in 2016: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Turkey, Macedonia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine (piloted revised methodology), link: undg.org/home/guidance-policies/country-programming-principles/gender/gender-country-scorecards/
4. To review the Government of the KR-UN DAF (2012-2017) and its Result Matrix, UNDAF mid-term review and final evaluation reports
5. To review UNDG Guidelines for UN Country Teams on Preparing a CCA and UNDAF and the Resource Book for Mainstreaming Gender in UN Common Programming at the Country Level
6. To review UNCT Gender Mainstreaming Strategy 2016-2017, the UN Gender Theme Group’s TOR, 2016 report and 2017 plan
7. To review the National Gender Equality Strategy of the KR for 2012-2020 and its National Action Plan 2015-2017, the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2016-2017), the National Review of Kyrgyzstan ’s Implementation of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+20 Review), CEDAW related documents (i.e. National reports, Shadow reports, Concluding observations)
8. To develop an inception report, including a draft structure of the assessment and methods (questionnaires, interview plans, training programme) and submit for approval to UN Women and RCO.

Output 2. Conduct UNCT Kyrgyzstan Gender Assessment and develop the final report (13 working days, including 8 days mission to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan), till 10 June 2017:

2.1. Conduct country mission to Kyrgyzstan and individual/focus group interviews with the following people/groups (at least 10 interviews/focus group discussions) – 8 working days.

• Resident Coordinator and his Office

• UN Gender Theme Group
• UNDAF Monitoring and Evaluation Theme Group
• Heads of Agencies and key UN programme staff
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Labour and Social Development (National Women’s Machinery)
• Focus group with civil society organizations.

2.2. Conduct a one full day training for the UN Gender Theme Group on Gender Scorecard exercise (within the mission).

2.3. Draft Scorecard and narrative report and provide online debrief the RC, RCO and GTG – 3 working days.

2.4. Complete the final Scorecard, narrative report with key activities implemented, recommendations and lessons learned and follow-up matrix in line with comments received for UNCT review and approval – 2 working days.

Timeframe, payments and deliverables 

The assignment should be carried out within a period of 17 April to 10 June 2017, not exceeding 15 working days, with the incumbent being responsible for delivering the following outputs:

1. Desk review and the Inception report. Deadline – 10 May 2017. 

The report should include: a draft structure of the assessment and methods (questionnaires, interview plans, training programme).

2. Programme and handouts for one day GTG training, Final Scorecard narrative report and follow–up matrix. Deadline – 10 June 2017

• The report should include: Methodology - outline the methods used, and any constraints faced (e.g. lack of time, lack of access to documents or staff); Findings: this section should be organized into two parts, one on strengths and one on weaknesses. The driving forces to good quality gender mainstreaming (e.g. good leadership, government and agency commitment), as well as the constraints to improved practice (e.g. lack of gender theme group, government opposition to gender mainstreaming) should be noted here. It should be based on both the scoring in the Scorecard and interviews. Any good practice in gender mainstreaming should also be highlighted here, including the factors which led to this good practice.

The average score for each Dimension should be included in this section, using the following structure:

Dimension:

1. Planning;
2. Programming;
3. Partnership;
4. Policies and capacities;
5. Decision-making;
6. Budgeting;
7. Monitoring and evaluation;
8. Quality control and accountability.

Annex: Note the documents reviewed, and the names and institutional positions of those interviewed

• The completed follow-up matrix should be included:

1. Dimension;
2. Average numerical rating;
3. Main follow-up issues;
4. Steps to be taken, including technical assistance needed, time-frame, allocation of responsibility, and resources required.

Payment will be made in two instalments per reported number of fee days based on submitted and approved Time Sheet and after all the deliverables are submitted, accepted and approved:

Instalment I: 20% of lump sum and per diem when in Kyrgyzstan upon arrival and submission of submission of Time Sheet and the inception report. Reporting period from the date of signing the contract to 10 May 2017, deliverable I).

Instalment II (as per reported and accepted number of fee days): 80% upon submission of Time Sheet and the final deliverables, which are the final version of the scorecard matrix and narrative report and its approval by the UNCT. Reporting period from 11 May through 10 June 2017, deliverable II).

Assignment Deliverables:

1. Desk review conducted and the Inception report submitted, including the following: draft structure of the assessment and methods (questionnaires, interview plans, training programme for UN GTG). Days: 2. Deadline: 10 May 2017.

2.  Programme and handouts for GTG training. The final Scorecard, narrative report with recommendations and lessons learned and follow-up matrix in line with comments received. Days: 13. Deadline: 10 June 2017.

Inputs

• UN Women will provide the Consultant with country background and resource materials on GEWE in Kyrgyzstan.
• The consultant is expected to work remotely using her/his own computer, but may access the UN Women office for printing of relevant documents during the country mission.

Duty Station and travel arrangaments:

The consultant is expected to work home based and conduct eight days’ field mission to Kyrgyzstan to conduct meetings/interviews with UN agencies, partners and stakeholders and one-day training for UN GTG as per the agreed work-plan with UN Women and RCO.

Performance evaluation:

Contractor’s performance will be evaluated against such criteria as: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered. The evaluation will be carried out and cleared by the hiring manager which will also be the basis for payment on a delivery by delivery basis to the consultant.

Competencies

Values / Guiding Principles:

• Integrity: 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;
• 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.

Core Competencies:

• Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity;
• Organizational awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgement;
• Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative;
• Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication;
• Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behaviour towards others;
• Conflict management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution;
• Continuous Learning and Knowledge sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications Education:

Advanced (Masters) degree in social and political sciences, human rights, gender equality etc. PhD degree is an asset.

Professional Experience:

• At least 10 years of practical experience of work on gender mainstreaming in development programmes/projects at national and international levels;
• At least 3 years’ experience of work on results based management, review and/or evaluation, including in gender data collection and analysis, interviews, survey and focus groups;
• Practical experience in conducting Gender Scorecard, drafting narrative report and follow-up matrix.

Language and other skills:

• Proficient in written and oral English, working level of Russian is an asset;
• Good computer skills with Windows OS, knowledge of internet communications and command of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Evaluation of Applicants:

Applications will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of their qualifications and financial proposal. A two-stage procedure is utilized in evaluating the proposals, with evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to any price proposal being compared. The award of the contract should be made to the individuals whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable;
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical criteria – 70% of total evaluation – max 70 points:

The total number of points allocated for the technical qualification component is 70. The technical qualification of the individual is evaluated based on following technical qualification evaluation criteria:

Criterion A – Relevant education - 10 pts.

10 pts - Advanced (Masters) degree in social and political sciences, human rights, gender equality etc. PhD degree is an asset.

Criterion B – Relevant professional experience with total for all of the following criterion – 50pts:

15 pts - 10 and over years of practical experience of work on gender mainstreaming in development programmes/projects at national and international level; 0 pts - less than 10 years;

20 pts - 3 and more years’ experience of work on results based management, review and/or evaluation, including in gender data collection and analysis, interviews, survey and focus groups; 0 pts - less than 3 years;

15 pts - Practical experience in conducting Gender Scorecard, drafting narrative report and follow-up matrix; 0 pts – no experience.

Criterion C – Language skills - with total for all of the following criterion – 10 pts.

10 pts - English - fluent; Working level of Russian would be considered as asset;

Yes/No: good computer skills with Windows OS, knowledge of internet communications and command of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Total Obtainable Score: 70.

Financial/Price Proposal evaluation:

• Only the financial proposal of candidates who have attained a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation will be further considered and evaluated.
• The total number of points allocated for the financial/price component is 30.
• The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened/ evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum of 50 points in the technical evaluation. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

Evaluation of submitted financial offers will be done based on the following formula: S = Fmin / F * 30.

(S - score received on financial evaluation; Fmin - the lowest financial offer out of all the submitted offers qualified over the technical evaluation round; F - financial offer under the consideration).

Application and submission package.

Applicants shall submit the following documents:

• Letter of Interest: a) Brief explanation (300 words) why the consultant is the most suitable for the job, including reference to previous experience in gender mainstreaming work (including carrying out gender needs assessment, evaluation, capacity assessment) and in results based management; b) Proposed timing and confirmation of availability to conduct the assessment;
• Completed and signed UN Women Personal History (P-11) form, that can be downloaded from: http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment;
• Financial proposal including a total and all-inclusive lump sum amount, and payment terms, around specific and measurable deliverables. The financial proposal must include a breakdown of a round trip international travel (homebased location – Bishkek – homebased location), insurance, visa, per diems, and number of all anticipated consultant working days by the consultant team).  

Financial proposal format:

Daily fee rate - 15 fee days; DSA in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - 8 travel days; Airtickets - round trip; Other related costs (to be specified). Total in USD.

Travel costs.

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UN Women should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Applications without financial proposal will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment which must be the:  P-11; Letter of Interest; financial proposal.

The Consultant shall promote a client-oriented approach consistent with UN Women rules and regulations and commits to high standards of quality, productivity and timeliness in the delivery of tasks. The Consultant will meet and apply the highest standards of integrity and impartiality.

The Consultant must be fully dedicated to the mandate and the values of UN Women, particularly to promoting Gender Equality as a strategy to reduce conflict, improve livelihoods and ensure fairness and justice; to Women Empowerment underpinning Gender Equality promotion efforts; to inter-ethnic tolerance and concord; and to respect for diversity.

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.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply. UN Women applies fair and transparent selection process that would take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.