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. ?Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women will lead and coordinate the United Nations system’s efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

In Papua New Guinea, women are half as likely to be employed in formal sector work than men. Most women earn their living from the informal sector where they are unprotected from economic shocks. UN Women has been working with the Government to research the extent of women’s economic contribution to the informal sector as a way of helping the National Government roll out an effective Informal Economy policy that protects workers interests more and recognises their contribution to the national economy.

1. Description of the Programmes

Markets are the major outlets where agricultural produce are exchanged for cash. Market are also the biggest business in town for many rural and semi-urban communities. Women tend to dominate markets because they are convenient and allow them to juggle their household responsibilities with income earning activities.? However, the opportunities that markets provide to communities for raising income are undermined by social norms that restrict women’s earning opportunities and control over income. For example, women are often absent from decision making within market management systems and this, along with gender based violence, diminishes the potential impact that markets could have on the ability for women to earn and control income and contribute to the economic development of Papua New Guinea.

UN Women recognizes the impact of violence and gender inequality on women’s economic empowerment and for 8 years, UN Women has worked in Port Moresby to improve women’s ability to earn and control income in safe markets. UN Women has extended this work under its Safe and Prosperous Districts Programme into Wewak, Alotau and most recently to Kimbe and Wabag. UN Women has developed tools and resources that can be scaled out into other areas and contextualized to suit the local needs.

In response to the COVID 19 crisis across the globe and in PNG, most markets were affected including shutting down operations completely to prevent the spread of COVID 19 in the markets or restrictions to the sale of certain products like cooked food. This had impacts on people’s income levels and food security for households, particularly those who depend on the informal economy and markets for trading. In response to this, the PNG Government with support from the Australian Government designed the Market, Economic, Recovery and Inclusion (MERI) Programme and engaged UN Women and other development partners to implement the Project in 14 targeted markets in 11 Provinces in PNG. This project intends to support the local authorities in the targeted sites to put in place appropriate measures to prevent the spread of COVID 19 in markets. It was especially designed to support local authorities in ensuring compliance to the new sets of guidelines for safe market operations.?

UN Women rapid assessments of markets during the COVID 19 shut down period and after revealed significant income losses for many market vendors. Market vendors reported loss of business because they were not able to engage in other types of economic activities. They were dependent on markets and with its closure and the meant that they were not able to sustain the incomes their made prior to COVID 19 period. Many also reported experiencing challenges in getting back on their feet due to lack of capital to rebuild their business.

UN Women through the MERI project seeks to address the effects on market vendors loss of livelihoods by providing them with targeted skills building and trainings so that they can diversify their business activities. This involves training in practical skills like sewing, baking, arts and craft, horticulture, floriculture and others. Based on the needs identified, UN Women is seeking the services of skilled individuals who may form consortiums to provide these skills training in selected locations.

1. Objectives of the assignment

The key objective of the assignment is to conduct a series of targeted skills trainings for market vendors from the following locations: Tari, Wabag, Mt Hagen and Goroka. The details of this trainings are shown in the deliverables table below. The lead consultant should be able to conduct training in all the locations or may sub-contract skilled experts in these locations. The lead consultant should submit one technical and financial proposal covering the trainings in all four locations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UN Women Deputy Country Representative and direct supervision of the MERI Program Manager, and in liaison with UN Women local coordinators, the consultant will perform the following tasks in the four target areas:

a) Conduct training workshops (each should not exceed 5 days) with groups (minimum 15 and maximum 40) per location in the following trades

1. Baking
2. Food Handling and Packaging

b) Organize logistics for trainers for required training

Training to be delivered to a minimum of 15 and maximum of 40 participants per location. The trainer should arrange their own travel, printing of training materials, accommodation and communications. ?UN Women will arrange training venue and catering for participants.

Competencies

Experience and Skills

• Experience in doing similar trainings for participants with low levels of literacy
• Experience working in the locations identified, preference is giving to consultants who are based in one of these locations
• Familiarity with development context in PNG especially in gender and development issues
• Has established networks and linkages with trainers in these locations

Language and Other Skills

• Good command of Tok Pisin and English both written and oral
• Computer literacy especially in MS Office and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, ability to use Internet and email.

Required Skills and Experience

• Grade 10 certificate or equivalent
• Qualified trainer in these skills areas or should be able to engage skilled trainers with recognised qualifications in the trainings required