Background

The European Union (EU) and the United Nations have launched the Spotlight Initiative (SI), a multi-year programme aimed at addressing all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), and harmful practices (HP). The SI aims to support transformative change on the ground to end VAWG, in numerous countries globally, including the Kyrgyz Republic. The initiative comes with the highest level of commitment globally and will be governed by the UN Deputy Secretary General and the Vice President of the EU Commission.

The SI in the Kyrgyz Republic will apply a comprehensive set of approaches based on social innovation, Human Rights based approach (HRBA), multi-sectoral inclusive response and survivor-centered principles to the planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of interventions across the SI’s six Outcome Areas. Particular emphasis will be placed on integrating the voices and experiences and solutions of women and girls who face multiple forms of discrimination, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) principle of ‘Leave No One Behind’ (LNOB). Lastly, the SI in the Kyrgyz Republic has sought to reflect on current or common place models of ‘conducting business’ in order to propose innovative alternatives aligned with commitments to gender transformative and community-led approaches guided by adaptive leadership and a joint-One UN systems management approach.

The goal of the Spotlight Initiative

The goal of the Spotlight Initiative (SI) is for all women and girls, particularly those most vulnerable, to live a life free of violence and harmful practices, including child marriage and ala kachuu. It is built around six Pillars developed after an extensive global theory of change exercise: 1) Policies and legislation; 2) Institutions 3) Prevention; 4) Services; 5) Data; 6) Women’s movement and civil society.

Under the Pillar 1 the SI Programme provides support to legislative and policy reforms through a holistic review and harmonization of legal and policy frameworks on women’s rights that prioritizes understanding of the underlying root causes, risk factors and patterns of inequality within the complexity of policies and laws that that can results in violence.

One of directions of policy work is focused on support to the Ministry of Labor and Social Development (MLSD) in facilitating the process of Gender Equality Strategy (hereinafter – GES) 2012-2020 review and development of the new GES 2030. The National Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality in the Kyrgyz Republic until 2020 adopted by Government Decree No. 443 of 27 June 2012 sets national gender policy priorities. The strategy is operationalized in five National Action Plan for Achieving Gender Equality (NAP on GE) in the Kyrgyz Republic, and the fifth NAP for the period 2018-2020 completes the timeframe of the National Gender Equality Strategy in 2020. The GES outlines the following five pivotal areas for achieving gender equality: (i) strong, effective institutional mechanisms; (ii) economic empowerment; (iii) an education system that promotes gender equality; (iv) access to justice for women; and (v) gender-equitable political participation.

UN Women plans to contract a team of International Experts (consisting of Team Leader and Team Member), who will be tasked to provide technical support to the team of National Experts and the Ministry of Labour and Social Development (MLSD) in facilitating the process of development of the new GES 2030, by applying Oxford Scenario Planning Approach (OSPA) in strategy design.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of this assignment is to ensure inclusive, innovative high quality and timely technical assistance to national partners in the process of development of the new GES (2021-2030) and its NAP 2021-2023. By offering new tools such as OSPA among others to ensure high quality of new strategy in KYR.

The International Expert (Team Member) will be contracted to support International Expert (Team Leader) to work closely with the team of national experts and facilitate learning sessions for co-creating the process of GES review and development, which is meant to reinforce the urgency for change that enables partners, participating in GES process, to strive for defining new pathways and approaches that will enable acceleration of the progress on gender equality by 2030. 

Scope of work/duties and responsibilities

The process will be in full ownership of the Inter-ministerial working group (ISWG) under the leadership of MLSD, while the contracted International Expert (Team Leader) will be tasked to play facilitating role in the process of an extensive and inclusive dialogues between national and local partners on collective reflections on current situation, achievements and examples of ‘what works’.

The process of the next GES (2030) development will be guided by the principles of participation and ensured ownership through:

• applying an approach of co-creation of next GES by genuine participation of civil society and state partners
• applying innovative approaches with the focus on adaptive leadership/positive deviance approach to effective implementation of GEWE commitments

Methodology for the next GES development will include new experiential approaches of designing different scenarios for ensuring effective results in GEWE commitments implementation. These scenarios will be grounded on the Harmonized approach to GEWE as a synergy of all national and international commitments on GEWE, including Beijing Declaration and BPFA; Agenda 2030 on SDGs; UN SC Resolutions on WPS; CEDAW and other relevant conventions that safeguard the rights of women and girls.

Harmonized GEWE commitments will form a solid conceptual ground in the process of  defining the most urgent priorities for the new GES – as a platform for strategic visioning and deciding on areas and strategies, which ‘when used together, can bring the transformative change needed to turn existing commitments into a lived reality for women and girls’.

Specifically, the International Expert (Team Member) will fulfill the following activities (below activities should be adjusted to country COVID situation):

Joint process design (5 days)

• Support to co-facilitate one day workshop to consider a wide range of factors to plan the process (to understand broad picture at how the field was changing and to set a stage for GES)
• Support team of national experts to identify and further explore possible trends and controversial viewpoints to define several themes (to further build scenarios on)

Conduct the workshop (5 days)

• Support to co-facilitate 1 three-day scenario-planning workshop as a vehicle for identifying weak signals that might emerge as important catalysts of future change (to spark conversations about the future for more proactive decisions)
• Support working group to develop 3-4 scenarios (which would lay the ground for long-term strategy and provoke leaders to move beyond conventional thinking and plan for the future, help strategists look beyond their current circumstances — and with longer time horizons — to test existing strategies, make sense of the causes and effects of turbulent, uncertain, or ambiguous conditions; invent new options; open up or enhance the quality of strategic conversations)

Follow up on coaching/guidance (10 days)

• Support to co-facilitate further working group discussions to reflect on challenges and opportunities and reframe the strategy, prepare for strategic conversations both with internal and external actors (to amplify voices of the broader community and pave the way for collaborative strategies)

Duration of the assignment

Timeframe – 1 (one) month during October – November 2020.

The expected duration of the consultancy is expected to be 20 person/working days from October 2020 and continuing through November 2020.

Duty station

The assignment is home-based and will be implemented in e-mode, using Zoom, Skype for Business, MS Team and other online platforms.

It is anticipated that all required work equipment will be supplied by the Contractor.

Key Deliverables

The contract and payments will be made in USD in two instalments based on submitted and approved timesheet, and after the following deliverables are submitted, accepted and approved:

Note: The mentioned number of working days has been estimated as being sufficient/ feasible for the envisaged volume of work to be completed successfully and is proposed as a guideline for the duration of assignment. It cannot and shall not be used as criteria for completion of work/assignment. The provision of envisaged deliverables approved by the UN Women National Programme Officer shall be the only criteria for Consultant’s work being completed and eligible for payment.

All the documents, including reports, consultation materials, presentations and reports should be submitted electronically in English language. The period of the review is one week after receipt.

Management arrangements

The International Expert will work under direct supervision of UN Women SI Coordinator and overall guidance from UN Women National Programme Officer.

The selected International Expert shall sign a contract with UN Women for stipulated assignment, as stated above. UN Women will provide the Contractor with background and resource materials beyond those available online or otherwise published that the Contractor will need to obtain directly.

Performance evaluation

Contractor’s performance will be evaluated against such criteria as: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

Travel

All travel of the Expert to Kyrgyzstan will be covered by UN Women (subject to improvement of the COVID situation in the country

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf?la=en&vs=637

Functional Competencies:

• Possesses the ability to work independently, under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Good knowledge of subject area;
• Good organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail;
• Experience in report writing.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in Anthropology, Sociology, Social Psychology, Political Science, and Economics or other social sciences.
• PhD in Anthropology, Sociology, Social Psychology, Political Science, and Economics or other social sciences is an asset.
• Authorized/trained to use Oxford Scenario Planning

Experience:

• At least 5 (five) years of progressive working experience in interactive design of the strategy applying Oxford Scenario Planning approach (proficient in how scenarios work).  
• At least 5 (five) years of analytical and consultancy experience (including high level) in strategic planning process / review of polices/ strategies
• Familiarity/prior experience in CA/CIS region in policy making and budgeting processes would be highly desirable
• At least 3 (three) recommendations from previous contractors are mandatory
• Experience in gender responsive policy making would be an asset
• Experience with the United Nations or development agencies is an asset

Language and other skills:

• Fluency in English language.
• Knowledge and skills of relevant computer applications of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point).
• Knowledge of Internet communications (Zoom, Skype, email) and command is required.

Education:

• Master’s degree in Anthropology, Sociology, Social Psychology, Political Science, and Economics or other social sciences.
• Authorized/trained to use Oxford Scenario Planning

Experience:

• At least 5 (five) years of progressive working experience in interactive design of the strategy applying Oxford Scenario Planning approach (proficient in how scenarios work).  
• At least 5 (five) years of analytical and consultancy experience (including high level) in strategic planning process / review of polices/ strategies
• Familiarity/prior experience in CA/CIS region in policy making and budgeting processes would be highly desirable
• At least 3 (three) recommendations from previous contractors are mandatory
• Experience in gender responsive policy making would be an asset
• Experience with the United Nations or development agencies is an asset

Language and other skills:

• Fluency in English language.
• Knowledge and skills of relevant computer applications of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point).
• Knowledge of Internet communications (Zoom, Skype, email) and command is required.

?EVALUATION

Application procedure

Applications should include:

• Offeror's letter to UN Women confirming interest and availability for the assignment.
• Three recommendation letters on the successful performance of similar assignments.
• Financial proposal, indicating a total lump sum to include all costs relating to the delivery of activities as per above description.
• P-11 form including experience in similar assignments. This form can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment.

Financial proposal format:

Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant during the contract period. The financial proposal should be provided in USD. If the proposal is provided in any other currency, it would be converted as per UN exchange rate on the date of post closure.

Evaluation of applicants

The evaluation starts with shortlisting of potential candidates and received applications against the mandatory requirements. Only full applications will be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be then evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants' technical qualifications and experience, and financial proposal. The contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Technically responsive/compliant/acceptable to the requirements of the ToR; and
• Having received the highest cumulative (technical & financial) score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

The selection of candidates will be done in 2 stages:

1st stage: Technical Evaluation

Short-listed candidates will be evaluated during interview based on the following criteria:

2nd stage: Financial evaluation will be conducted according to the method described below:

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion.

A suggested formula is as follows: p=30 (µ/z)

Where:

p - points for the financial proposal being evaluated;

µ - price of the lowest priced proposal;

z - price of the proposal being evaluated

The candidate achieving the highest cumulative score for both Technical and Financial evaluations will be recommended by the Evaluation Committee for contracting.