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.

To further support the consolidated efforts of the government, parliament, women’s groups and civil society organizations (CSOs) to meet state commitments on gender equality and women’s rights, including the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (UNSCR 1325) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through reforms and peace and security processes, UN Women in partnership with the Office of the Vice-Prime Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration launched the project “Enhancing accountability for gender equality and women’s empowerment in national reforms, peace and security”, funded by the Government of Sweden.

The project goal is to support the Government in achieving transformative results for gender equality and women’s empowerment in Ukraine by integrating gender equality and women’s human rights commitments into the national reforms and the peace and security processes, and by putting mechanisms in place for adequate financing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Promoting women’s meaningful engagement within the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda is one of the key strategic priorities for UN Women in Ukraine. UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325), unanimously adopted in October 2000, stressed the importance of the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security. In the years since, seven additional resolutions on WPS have been adopted. To deliver these commitments at the national level, the United Nations has encouraged Member States to adopt National Action Plans (NAPs) to implement the resolutions and monitor the progress of the WPS agenda.

The Ukrainian National Action Plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 (2016-2020) was adopted by the Government (Cabinet of Ministers) of Ukraine on February 24, 2016. Its adoption for Implementation of the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1325 (NAP 1325) is a commendable step towards the integration of the women, peace and security agenda in the reform, recovery and peacebuilding processes. The plan represents the vision of the government for the gender-specific response to the conflict and its consequences. Addressing the conflict-related gender inequalities requires strategic system-wide actions from the government at the national and local levels and from Parliament, strong engagement of the women’s groups and civil society, in addition to well-coordinated support from development partners. UN Women has committed to support the process of the mid-term evaluation of the implementation of the 1325 NAP in Ukraine with the purpose of reviewing the progress, achievements and remaining challenges in order to strengthen the NAP framework for more effective implementation and accountability during the second phase of the four-year plan. 

A number of other countries in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia have also taken significant steps over the last ten years to implement UNSCR 1325 and its subsequent resolutions. In 2012, Georgia adopted its first NAP for implementation of UNSCRs 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889 and 1960 on “Women, Peace and Security” for the period of 2012-2015. Georgia also launched a second NAP for 2016-2017. The Republic of Moldova is currently in the process of adopting their first NAP and therefore will require support to develop the necessary mechanisms for reporting, monitoring, evaluation and coordination of the implementation of the NAP. The capacities of both state and non-state actors will also need to be strengthened to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of the NAP. 

In response to the unfortunate protracted conflict, Georgia has developed a number of good practices in drafting, evaluating and implementing the NAP 1325. They also have notable experience mainstreaming gender and the UNSCRs on WPS in the policies, programmes and training activities of the security and defense sector, as well as the work of the Ministry of IDPs and the State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality. Much progress has been made at the grassroots level as well with women’s organizations playing fundamental roles in advancing the implementation of the NAP and advancing peace and confidence-building processes.

Considering the similar challenges to the territorial integrity experienced by Ukraine and Moldova, Georgia has much to share on advancing the women, peace and security agenda in the face of conflict.

UN Women would therefore like to contract an international consultant to support the preparation and implementation of a study tour in Georgia to provide an opportunity for representatives of government and civil society from Moldova and Ukraine to benefit from Georgia’s experience and lessons learned.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UN Women Ukraine Country Programme Manager/Head of Office, and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, the International Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Develop a detailed agenda for the study tour of an estimated 30 representatives from Ukraine and Moldova (14-17 May 2018) including clear objectives and key activities, in close cooperation with the UN Women offices in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine;
• Arrange all meetings in advance of the study tour and ensure the objectives of the meetings are clear with the Georgian representatives of Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Public Defenders Office, the Prime Minister's Assistant on Human Rights and Gender Equality, civil society organizations, and any other relevant identified actors;
• Prepare, coordinate and ensure the successful implementation of the study tour by arranging all logistics (accommodation, transportation of visitors, interpretation, meals, etc.) in cooperation with the UN Women offices in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine;
• Serve as facilitator during the meetings;
• Prepare a report of the results of the study tour.

Assignment Deliverables:

Deliverable 1:  Develop and submit a detailed draft agenda for the study tour – 5 days, by 30 April 2018;

Deliverable 2:  Share final agenda for the study tour including all logistical details – 5 days, by 9 May 2018;

Deliverable 3: Coordinate and lead the implementation of the study tour – 4 days 14-17 May 2018;

Deliverable 4: Submit a final report summarizing the activities of the study tour and the results– 3 days, by 1 June 2018.

TOTAL – 17 days

The agenda and final report should be submitted in English language.

The Consultant is expected to work remotely using her/his own computer, but may access the UN Women Georgia office for printing of relevant documents or should he/she be required to work on-site at any point during the assignment.

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 UN Women Ukraine Programme Specialist, which will also be the basis for payment to the consultant.

Financial arrangements:

Payment will be disbursed in one instalment upon receipt of the above deliverables and their certification by the UN Women Ukraine Programme Specialist that the services have been satisfactorily performed.

Competencies

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: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Science, Gender studies, Development studies, International Law, Public Policy and Administration, or other related fields.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in the field of state programmes, policy planning and analysis, particularly related to the women, peace and security agenda, human rights, gender equality, or other related fields;
• Sound knowledge and understanding of UNSCR 1325 National Action Plans and the Women, Peace and Security agenda;
• Experience working with high-level government officials, particularly within the security or defense sector;
• Advanced understanding of gender equality and women’s human rights.

Languages and other skills:

• Fluent in Georgian and English; working level Russian an asset;
• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, ability to use Internet and email.

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 for technical criteria. Total 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 a desk review and the following technical qualification evaluation criteria:

Criterion A – Relevant education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Science, Gender studies, Development studies, International Law, Public Policy and Administration, or other related fields. (9 pts- Advanced (Master’s) degree; 10 pts- PhD degree).

Criterion B – Language skills:

• Fluent in Georgian and English; working level Russian an asset (9 pts fluent in Georgian and English; 10 points working knowledge of Russian).

Criterion C – Relevant Experience with total for all of the following criterion (50 pts) including:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in the field of state programmes, policy planning and analysis, particularly related to the women, peace and security agenda, human rights, gender equality, or other related fields; 20 pts;
• Sound knowledge and understanding of UNSCR 1325 National Action Plans and the Women, Peace and Security agenda; 10 pts;
• Experience working with high-level government officials, particularly within the security or defense sector; 10 pts;
• Advanced understanding of gender equality and women’s human rights; 10 pts.

Total Obtainable Score – 70 points.

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 49 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).

The candidate’s application should include:

A?brief Letter of Interest containing the statement on candidate’s experience in the field of recruitment. Completed and signed UN Women Personal History (P-11) form, which can be downloaded from: http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment.

Proposal

The financial proposal shall specify?a total lump sum?amount with a breakdown of a daily professional rate per number of anticipated working days to include all costs (telephone, etc.).

Interested candidates are requested to apply no later than 18 April 2018, 23:59 EST ?by submitting 2 attachments: 1) technical (a Letter of Interest and P-11) and 2) financial proposal to the following e-mail address: procurement.ukraine@unwomen.org with a subject?“International Consultant to support a study tour to Georgia on the National Action Plan to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security”.

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

Sample of Financial Proposal

The format shown on the following tables is suggested for use as a guide in preparing the Financial Proposal

Cost Breakdown per Deliverables*

Deliverables - # of days and Percentage of Total Price (Weight for payment) - Price, US$

1

2

3

4

Total max. # of working days (100%)     US$ ……

*Basis for payment tranches

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.