UN WOMEN Jobs - 83415- CALL FOR NOMINATIONS OF MEMBERS OF UNWOMEN UGANDA

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS OF MEMBERS OF UNWOMEN UGANDA CIVIL SOCIETY ADVISORY GROUP

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Kampala, UGANDA

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

02-May-2019

Application Deadline :

15-Mar-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Two Years

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) was established by UN General Assembly Resolution 64/289 (hereafter ‘Resolution’) on System-wide Coherence, as a composite entity, by consolidating the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, the Division for the Advancement of Women, UNIFEM and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women. UN Women has a universal and enhanced mandate to that of its predecessors, on strengthening and promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women nationally, regionally and globally. The Resolution recognizing the vital role that CSOs, in particular women’s organizations, play in promoting women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women requests ‘the head of the Entity to continue the existing practice of effective consultation with civil society organizations, and encourages their meaningful contribution to the work of the Entity’

In particular, the Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) Campaign, a global network of over 300 women’s, human rights and social justice groups, played a significant role in the establishment of UN Women. It continues to engage with the new Entity on the implementation of commitments made to advocate for the integration of a human rights-based approach to its work and for meaningful participation of civil society in its proceedings at all levels—national, regional and global.

The concept of setting up of a Civil Society Advisory Group at global, regional and national levels was announced by Mme Michelle Bachelet, during the 56th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in 2012. The purpose of the CSOs Advisory Group is to serve as consultative forum for UN Women and to facilitate regular dialogues between civil society and UN Women, providing institutionalized mechanisms for civil society to share their perspectives, expertise and knowledge in informing UN Women's work.

In similar vein, UN Women Uganda Office wishes to establish a Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG) at the national level and this term of reference (TOR) is prepared to guide the nomination process of CSAG members and delineate their role.

UN Women at the National Level

UN Women’s goal in Uganda is to promote women’s leadership and participation in decision making at all levels; that women, especially the poorest and most excluded, are economically empowered and benefit from development; that women and girls lead a life free from violence; that governance and national planning fully reflect accountability for gender equality commitments and priorities, including supporting informed policy decisions based on gender-responsive data; and that peace, security and humanitarian actions fully account for the needs of women and girls, by promoting both their active participation and leadership. In addition to programmatic work, UN Women is tasked through its coordination mandate to coordinate the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality are translated into action in Uganda and that gender equality and women’s empowerment is prioritized in the work of development partners more broadly.

To achieve these goals the Uganda Country Office works closely with a range of partners and believes that these partnerships are most effective when partners hold each other to mutual account on advancing GEWE. It is with this recognition that UN Women Uganda intends to create a structure for sustaining this partnership and fostering the exchange of expertise.

Objective of the Advisory Group

UN Women recognizes the invaluable work and contributions CSOs have towards meeting national commitments to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Hence, the Agency envisions CSAGs as an institutional mechanism for regular dialogue, between UN Women and leaders from the gender equality movement, on key gender equality issues and priorities at national, regional and global levels. They have a double and complementary role — as advisors to UN Women and as advocates for the realization of the gender equality agenda. UN Women and CSAG members draw upon each other’s initiatives, ideas, and policy perspectives to advance on national gender equality goals. UN Women draws upon the National CSAGs for advocacy and political strategies at the country level to strengthen national activism and results for gender equality. Through the group, UN Women hopes to sustain its partnership with civil society and advance strategic dialogue in order to ultimately progress towards meeting the goal of gender equality and empowerment of women.

Mandate:

The General Assembly requested the Head of the Entity to continue the existing practice of effective consultation with civil society organizations, and encouraged their meaningful contribution to the work of the Entity (UNGA/64/289)
UN Women Strategic Plan 2018-2021
UN Women Uganda Strategic Note at national level (2016-2020)
Uganda United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2016-2020

Composition

UN Women Uganda’s CSAG will be composed of 7 to 10individuals of stature with high track record of impact on the ground, in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE). CSAG members will be gender equality leaders who are strong, progressive and hail from the following categories: women’s rights leaders; male gender equality advocates who are considered leaders on this issue; youth leaders with a track record of work on gender equality; leaders of indigenous or grassroot groups; advocates and leaders of marginalized groups, including those representing refugees; labour/Trade Union leaders; feminist media leaders and advocates; progressive and feminist faith based organization leaders; academics in the field and others.

Ideally, the composition is expected to reflect diverse representation where members are drawn from Ugandan, resident and international charities and societies, women organizations and networks/consortiums, organizations representing refugee women and girls, youth organizations and other organizations representing marginalized groups, high-level gender experts’/opinion leaders, academicians from research institutes with proven expertise, members with experience at the grassroots level and members who represent diverse development and humanitarian perspectives.

Organizations interested in proposing a candidate for membership must submit his/her application for due consideration. However, as members of the CSAG, they will act in their individual capacity and not as representatives of their organizations or organizations that they are affiliated to.

Members of the Advisory Group will be credible and authoritative individuals with proven credentials of success in civil society organizations and throughout their careers, who will serve in their personal capacity and/or on behalf of the CSO for a period of two years.

In order to ensure continuity, a percentage of the member of the group (to be decided by them) will serve for a period of two years.

Duties and Responsibilities

The CSAG for UN Women Uganda is expected to serve the following role:

Provide strategic advice/perspectives to UN Women Uganda on its thematic priorities and programs, including during the strategic planning process;

Provide information and guidance on political, economic, social and cultural developments and trends to UN Women national programming;

Provide analysis of the socio-economic and political environment at the country level and its impact on gender equality and women’s rights issues;

Provide inputs to UN Women’s programs and policies;

Assist in strengthening UN Women’s engagement and dialogue with civil society at all levels;

Support in collective advocacy on national, regional and global normative processes;

Contribute to better coordination of initiatives at country level aimed at enhancing women’s empowerment and gender equality;

Establish linkages with UN Women Advisory Groups within the African region and beyond to foster local and global dialogues and collaboration;

Provide strategic advice on possible entry points to open up dialogue forum between the UN system and development partners.

Operational Framework

The CSAG will report to UN Women’s Uganda Country Office. It will meet biannually and will ensure opportunities for more regular engagement with UN Women’s Country Representative and senior staff through other means. The ongoing collaboration with UN Women will take place via informal meetings and online interactions. In addition, members of the CSAG will be given an opportunity to engage and contribute to the inter-governmental processes.

Duration of the Mandate

Members of the Advisory Group will serve for a period of two years.

One third of the Group will be renewed each term, following the initial year. In order to ensure continuity in the Group’s work, a proportion of its members could serve for a period of maximum three years in total, according to the Committee’s own decision.

Competencies

Core Values:

Respect for Diversity;
Integrity;
Professionalism.

Required Skills and Experience

Selection Criteria

The following criteria will guide the selection of the members of the Advisory Group:

Individuals with recognized track record of advocating for or working on the advancement of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls;

Documented track record of working in at least one of the thematic areas of UN Women Uganda’s work, i.e. Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG); Women Economic Empowerment (WEE), Women’s Leadership and Political Participation (WLPP), Women Peace and Security (WPS) and Humanitarian Action, HIV/AIDS, Gender Statistics and Gender Responsive Budgeting;

Experience in policy making, policy and legal analysis from gender perspective is valued;

Background of working on/strong knowledge of relevant national legislation and international human rights standards and frameworks that are connected to women rights;

Effort will be made to make deliberate steps to engage men in the CSAG;

Age of members will be taken into account with the objective of ensuring sufficient representation of young women, their organization and networks. Similarly, efforts will be taken to include those representing women and girls facing intersecting forms of discrimination, i.e. those living with HIV/AIDS, persons living with disabilities, those representing rural women and refugees;

In order to ensure neutrality and in compliance with UN ethical standards, members must not be an active member of a political party/hold any position in a government entity/nor hold any other position that would come into conflict with the principles of neutrality and ethical standards of the UN;

Members of the CSAG may belong to organizations that are implementing partners of UN Women. However, to ensure there is no conflict of interest, CSAG members will not have any oversight, monitoring or decision-making role in UN Women programming activities.

Submission procedure:

The organizations /Networks /Individuals interested in submitting a nomination must submit a short motivational letter (max. 500 words) and CV, in addition to answering the following question: What do you see as the key challenge to achieving women’s rights and empowerment in Uganda? (500 words max). Applicants may submit as part of their application recommendation or nomination letters by civil society networks/coalitions

All applications must be submitted online as one PDF document to uganda.co@unwomen.org; clearly indicating “Uganda CSAG Application” as subject line.

The deadline for submission is 15th March 2019. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

A multisectoral committee composed of UN Women, other UN agencies, Women leaders, and representatives of women’s rights networks will conduct the selection process. Members of the Advisory Group will be introduced during a general meeting of CSOs that will take place in May 2019.