Advisor on harmonized commitments on GEWE for peace

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

UN Women in Kyrgyzstan is a strong advocate for improving the lives of women and girls in the country. Building on the vision of equality enshrined in the UN Charter, and in the framework of the UN Women Strategic Note for Kyrgyzstan 2023-2028, the Country Office implements a comprehensive programme with a focus to enhance women's leadership; eliminate violence against women; promote women participation in women, peace and security agenda, all aspects of decision making; financing for gender equality, women economic empowerment, gender mainstreaming in humanitarian action, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.a

In line with an integrated approach, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) portfolio of UN Women Kyrgyzstan Country Office is being implemented in linkages with the interventions on promoting women’s rights in political and social-economic areas, social cohesion and peace building and gender transformative climate change adaptation. This work is being led through the ongoing projects: "Strong Women's Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for Peace in Kyrgyzstan” funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), and “Women in Batken lead social cohesion for peace and development” funded from UK Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). The overall approach is to create an enabling environment for women’s and women led organizations’ participation in decision-making at the strategic level as a basis for peace in Kyrgyzstan. The CO’ programme work offers unique and innovative approaches and concepts that have been tested in the Kyrgyzstan context and proved its effectiveness for accelerating the processes of promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) for peace.

Duties and Responsibilities

UN Women is seeking to hire an ‘Advisor on harmonized commitments on GEWE for peace’ who will be responsible for promoting GEWE commitments in a holistic and integrated manner for accelerating social cohesion, peace and development, as part of implementation of SDG Agenda in Kyrgyzstan.

Under direct supervision and guidance of the UN Women Head of Programme and indirect reporting to UN Women Country Representative, the Advisor will provide support to the Programme Team in conceptualising interventions to holistically integrate gender equality, peace and development priorities into local planning and budgeting processes in its interlinkages with an overall national development processes.

Tasks:

• Conduct review of the Harmonised framework on GEWE and develop the concept with recommendations on localisation of gender equality, peace and development commitments at the level of local planning and budgeting. Use the UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and Kyrgyzstan NAP on 1325 as a framework to harmonise and streamline local actions for peace and development.
• Conduct an analysis of benefits from an integrated and harmonised approach for local development by considering different driving factors for peace and development (direct connection between gender equality, care economy, climate security, mountain agenda and opportunities for peace, development and growth). Set of recommendations for effective implementation and monitoring mechanism for NAP 1325.
• Provide advisory support and facilitate the sessions during ‘Yntymak Week’ 2023 on: 1) reflection on local experience on co-creating gender-sensitive solutions for building peace and restoring social cohesion; 2) dialogue on co-creation of peace indicators, with a focus on social norm change and women's empowerment for peace issues.
• Develop the Concept and facilitate the dialogue aiming at fostering the culture of interactions between central and local governments, including the members of the Security Council of Kyrgyz Republic to identify approaches/practices for effective implementation of the NAP 1325 with particular focus on the nexus of peace, gender equality and development.
• Provide advisory support and conceptualise on follow up actions of the 2nd National Forum “Dialogues for accelerating development of Kyrgyz Republic”, with the focus on gender economy and care economy and its impact on overall development, peace and growth.
• Provide advisory support in conducting consultations with a wide range of partners to institutionalize the mechanisms and procedures for system-wide policy making and institutional learning for implementing 1325 NAP.
• Produce regular reports, ensuring the focus on documentation and reporting on the processes, including challenges and lessons, follow up actions.

Key deliverables and payment schedule

Payments will be made in KGS after the deliverables are submitted in accordance with ‘Deliverables Plan’, accepted and approved by UN Women. The Advisor shall provide a report on deliverables with all necessary attachments describing the scope of work performed over the period for which the instalment is paid:

Deliverables

Target Date

• Workplan with timeframes for planned actions within the assignment and as per the TOR tasks
• Concept/ agenda for the sessions on Yntymak Week, and report
• Concept on the Analysis of benefits from an integrated and harmonised approach for local development by considering different driving factors for peace and development

1-st instalment by 30 October 2023

• Report on the Analysis of benefits from an integrated and harmonised approach, set of recommendations for effective implementation and monitoring mechanism for NAP 1325
• Concept and dialogue to identify approaches/practices for effective implementation of the NAP 1325, in the nexus of peace, gender equality and development

2-d instalment by 15 December 2023

• Report on follow up actions of the 2nd National Forum “Dialogues for accelerating development of Kyrgyz Republic”, with the focus on gender economy and care economy and its impact on overall development, peace and growth.
• Final Report the focus on documentation and reporting on the processes, including challenges and lessons, follow up actions.

Final instalment by 15 February 2024

Inputs/resources on behalf of UN Women

UN Women will provide the contractor with necessary information and materials for the fulfilment of the tasks as per the TOR.

Reporting requirements

Report should be provided in both in printed and electronic versions in Russian and English with detailed description of the fulfilled tasks, according to the present Term of Reference and approved Workplan. Analytical documents and other materials developed by Advisor should be attached to the report as annexes, which will serve as a justification for payment.

Duration of the assignment

Expected duration of work of the Advisor on harmonized commitments on GEWE for peace is from September 4, 2023 to February 28, 2024.

Competencies

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN Women;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.

  Functional competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
• Ability to analyze complex situations from a position of impartiality;
• Ability to concisely and to the point document information and findings, targeting a specific audience.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of the projects, managing data and reporting;
• Good knowledge of Results Management Guide and Toolkit.

Leadership and Self-Management

• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure, uses skills of diplomacy;
• Ability to prioritize and manage competing priorities, grasping the situation quickly;
• Ability to conduct advocacy on sensitive issues, not avoiding but processing conflict.

Required Skills and Experience

Professional skills and experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, or a related field is required
• At least 5-7 years of relevant experience of providing advisory support in the areas of gender equality and women’s empowerment, specifically on gender economy and Women, Peace and Security.
• Demonstrated substantive knowledge of conceptual frameworks on women’s rights and gender equality issues in Kyrgyzstan’s context, as well as key players both at the national and grassroots level;
• Proven working experience with national and local authorities;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills in Russian and Kyrgyz;
• Competent in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel and etc.);
• Fluency in Kyrgyz and Russian languages is a requirement; English is an asset;
• Previous work experience with UN agencies and other international development partners is an asset.

Application procedure:

Applications must be sent by 11:59 p.m. on September 8, 2023 and include the following package of documents:

A P-11 form that includes experience in similar assignments. This form can be downloaded at https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process (UN Women Personal

• History Form (P11)).
• A financial proposal with a total lump sum including all costs associated with the activity as described below:

Financial Proposal Format:

#

Item

Unit cost

Total cost

1

1-st instalment (as per deliverables table)

2

2-d instalment (as per deliverables table)

3

Final instalment (as per deliverables table)

4

Other

Total

Please note that the financial proposal is comprehensive and should take into account the various expenses incurred by the consultant during the term of the contract. The financial proposal must be submitted in KGS. If the proposal is submitted in any other currency, it will be converted at the UN exchange rate on the closing date.

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:

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

3. The selection of candidates will be done in 3 stages:

   1st stage: Prior to detailed evaluation, all applications will be thoroughly screened against eligibility criteria (minimum qualification requirements) as set in the present ToR in order to determine whether they are compliant/ non-compliant.

   Eligibility Criteria

   1

   Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, or a related field is required

   2

   At least 5-7 years of relevant experience of providing advisory support in the areas of gender equality and women’s empowerment, specifically on gender economy and Women, Peace and Security.

   2nd stage: Technical Evaluation/ Desk review.

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

   Criteria

   Weight

   Max. Point

   Technical

   70%

   70

   Education:

   15%

   Maximum 15 points, including:

   An advanced degree in the social and related sciences. A first level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree;

   15%

   15

   Experience, including:

   40%

   Maximum 40 points, including:

   At least 5-7 years of relevant experience of providing advisory support in the areas of gender equality and women’s empowerment, specifically on gender economy and Women, Peace and Security.

   10%

   10

   Demonstrated substantive knowledge of conceptual frameworks on women’s rights and gender equality issues in Kyrgyzstan’s context, as well as key players both at the national and grassroots level;

   10%

   15

   Proven working experience with national and local authorities;

   10%

   15

   Skills and knowledge, including:

   5%

   Maximum 5 points, including:

   Knowledge and skills of relevant computer applications of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point), knowledge of Internet communications

   5

   5

   Language Requirements

   10%

   Maximum 10 points, including:

   Fluency in Russian and Kyrgyz: 5 points – fluently, 0 points – not fluently

   5%

   5

   Working level of English: 5 points – fluently, 0 points – not fluently

   5%

   5

   Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points out of 70 points at the Technical Evaluation/ Interview will be considered for the Financial Evaluation

   Financial

   30%

   30

3rd 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.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)