UN WOMEN Jobs - 96478- TO SUPPORT THE FULFILMENT OF KENYA’S OBLIGATIONS O

TO SUPPORT THE FULFILMENT OF KENYA’S OBLIGATIONS ON GENDER: THE 65TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN; AND KENYA’S 9TH PERIODIC REPORTING ON THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (2 positions)

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Nairobi, KENYA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

10-Feb-2021

Application Deadline :

29-Jan-21 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

120 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 Months

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

Kenya is a party to various gender-related regional and international instruments that require reporting by the Government to demonstrate measures taken to realize gender equality and the empowerment of women. Key among these include the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) which Kenya signed in 1981 and acceded to in 1984.

Kenya also participates in the annual session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) that takes place in New York. The CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The entity is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. In 1996, ECOSOC in resolution 1996/6 expanded the Commission’s mandate and decided that it should take a leading role in monitoring and reviewing progress and challenges in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and in mainstreaming a gender perspective in UN activities

The CSW is held annually over a two-week session, at UN headquarters in New York. Participation in the session is drawn from representatives of the UN Member States, civil society organizations, and UN entities. The CSW follows a focussed and thematic approach defined through the multi-year program of work, with defined annual themes and a review theme. The principal output of the annual CSW is the Agreed Conclusions on priority themes set for each year.

The year 2020 marked the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action and member states prepared national reports on progress made towards the implementation of the BPFA. The national reports were synthesized into a regional and a global report that informed the Political Declaration on Beijing + 25 adopted on 9th March 2020 at the 64th Session of the CSW which was reduced to a one-day affair due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

The 65th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65)

In preparation for Kenya’s participation during the sixty-fifth session of the?Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 65) scheduled to take place from 15th to 26th March 2021. The Priority Theme of the session is “Women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”. While the review theme is “Women's empowerment and the link to sustainable development”.

The process will require adequate preparations for effective participation in the 65th Session, drawing from UN Women’s Guidance Note for CSW65. Preparatory work includes 1) drafting of Kenya’s Position Paper on the priority and review theme; 2) Country Statement and concept note for virtual side-event/meetings; 3) review of technical papers for High-Level ministerial Meetings and Roundtables among others

Kenya’s 9th Periodic on CEDAW

Kenya is also party to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) that the Government ratified in 1984. The Convention requires States parties to eliminate discrimination against women in the public as well as the private sphere, including within the family, and is central to the realization of women’s human rights. In compliance with the reporting obligations, Kenya submits reports to the CEDAW Committee every four years on implementation of the Convention. Kenya’s 9th periodic report is due in November 2021.

Kenya’s 8th Periodic report on CEDAW was submitted in February 2015 and considered by the CEDAW Committee in November 2017. Subsequently, the Concluding Observations on the 8th Periodic report were issued by the CEDAW Committee highlighting the positive aspects and also noting areas that required further attention. CEDAW’s Concluding Observations further pointed out specific areas that needed urgent attention and called on the Government to submit a report within two years on measures taken. Consequently, the State Department for Gender in collaboration with UN Women developed a National Action Plan in May 2020 to facilitate the implementation of the CEDAW Concluding Observations. Kenya’s 9th periodic report is due for submission to the CEDAW Committee by November 2021.

The Concluding Observations by the CEDAW Committee on the Report in 2017 shall inform the 9th periodic report. The process will involve: 1) review of progress made in implementing the CEDAW8 Action Plan; 2) capacity building of stakeholders on CEDAW reporting process including drafting of the report; 3) collection of necessary data and information; 4) review meetings with the CEDAW Technical Committee and; 5) finalization of Kenya’s 9th periodic report.

Duties and Responsibilities

Aim and Objectives of the Consultancy

Ensure Kenya’s effective engagement with the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 65);
Produce, through a consultative process, a comprehensive 9th periodic report that demonstrates the implementation of the Convention in Kenya;
Facilitate effective monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

Scope of Work

The 65th CSW will focus on the priority theme and review theme as a basis for developing the Country Position Paper and related technical papers, while the ?9th Periodic CEDAW report will focus on developments that have taken place since the submission of the 8th periodic report in 2015 by clearly capturing achievements challenges and setbacks, with in accordance with the reporting guidelines on CEDAW. The Beijing+25 implementation and monitoring framework will align to the Country Report submitted in 2019 and the Political Declaration arising from the 25th anniversary of the framework. The consultants will work with the Technical Committee, designated staff from the State Department for Gender and UN Women.

The Tasks for the Consultant

In line with the envisioned aim, the consultant is expected to prepare a methodological plan with key milestones, timeline, and deliverables related to the outputs of this consultancy in carrying out the below tasks:

CEDAW9 Periodic Report

Present an inception report detailing the methods of work and a draft Workplan as stipulated in the TOR;
Carry out training for the CEDAW Drafting Team;
Undertake desk review, collection, analysis, and collation of relevant data for the CEDAW report
Organize and/or participate and facilitate meetings and workshops to collect information and data from various stakeholders for CEDAW reporting;
Analyze information and responses received from various sources and draft the report as per the regular procedure guidelines of the CEDAW Committee
Drafting of the initial CEDAW report taking into account the CEDAW Committee recommendations to Kenya in the Concluding Observations from a review of the 8th Periodic Report. The consultant will ensure the highest quality of the report by utilizing treaty reporting guidelines;
Facilitate consultative forums with various stakeholders for inputs, validation, and ownership of the report;
Share final report findings in at least one (1) dissemination/validation meeting;
Present the final comprehensive report incorporating inputs from relevant stakeholders in soft copy as per stipulated deadlines to the State Department of Gender with a copy to UN Women

5.2 CSW65 and Beijing Platform for Action

Present an inception report detailing the methods of work and a draft Workplan as stipulated in the TOR;
Undertake background research, data collection, analysis, and compilation and hold stakeholder forums to enrich the report and monitoring and evaluation framework;
Participate and support the Technical Committee in organizing the necessary preparatory and validation meetings in accordance with the defined outputs;
Draft Kenya’s Position Paper in line with the priority and review theme of the 65 CSW;
Initiate and compile the technical papers for proposed activities and reports;
Present the papers to the Technical Committee and incorporate feedback;
Develop the draft national implementation and monitoring framework for Beijing+25 Country Report for Kenya with reference to the Political Declaration as it relates to Kenya
Support the validation and dissemination process for the national implementation framework for Beijing+25;
Present the final papers within the agreed timelines.

Deliverables/Output

CSW 65

Inception report detailing the methods of work and a draft work plan as stipulated in the TOR;
Kenya’s country position paper and statement for CSW65;
Technical Papers for High Level/Roundtable Meetings/events;
The joint communique highlighting Kenya’s agreed action points.

Beijing Platform for Action

Inception Report including the methodology of work
National implementation and monitoring framework Kenya’s Beijing+ 25 Report

CEDAW 9th Periodic Report

Inception report detailing the methods of work and a draft work plan as stipulated in the TOR;
Comprehensive 9th Periodic report on CEDAW;

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

Evaluation criteria

Two consultants, a Lead consultant, and an Assistant consultant?will be recruited for the position. To apply for the assignment, a consultancy proposal should be submitted. The proposal should contain:

CVs with relevant certificates from both consultants;
a technical proposal of the work, which demonstrates an understanding of the ToR and ability and capacity for both consultants to undertake the assignment including details of similar assignments conducted;
methodology on how to carry out the assignment;
three recent references for similar work undertaken

The lead consultant

The lead Consultant for this assignment should preferably have a legal background with an advanced degree in the field of gender, human rights, social science and must have demonstrable experience of not less than 10 years in undertaking similar work.

In addition to this the applicant: -

Must have undertaken recent work relating to human rights frameworks;
Well-grounded on international conventions and treaties;
Knowledgeable on CEDAW reporting treaty reporting obligations;
Demonstrable experience in supporting the Government of Kenya in developing national implementation frameworks for global commitments;
Strong analytical skills and sound knowledge of Gender issues, the SDGs, and the 2030 agenda as well as related human rights instruments;
Have fluency in English, excellent writing skills, and demonstrable capacity to work with diverse stakeholders-including State and non-state actors;
Computer literacy is mandatory.

The Assistant Consultant

The Assistant Consultant for this assignment should preferably have a degree in the field of Gender, human rights, law, social science and must have demonstrable experience of not less than 8 years in undertaking similar work.

In addition to this, the applicant should: -

Have knowledge of international conventions and treaties;
Strong analytical skills and sound knowledge of Gender issues, the SDGs, and the 2030 agenda;
Have fluency in English, excellent writing skills, and demonstrable capacity to work with diverse stakeholders-including State and non-state actors; and,
Computer literacy is mandatory.

The Consultants will, at all times:

Carry out the assignments and perform their tasks with care, skill, efficiently, and professionally.
Ensure a high degree of quality in the output.
Be guided by these Terms of Reference.

Timeline

The assignment will run for a period of 120 days spread out between 1st February 2021 to 30th October 2021