Consultancy: Gender Competencies for service providers involved in the prevention and response to violence against women and girls - LACRO, PAnama City (4 months - Home-Based)

Consultant Human Rights Programme & Policy

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices. UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

Gender competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) are necessary to ensure gender-responsive service delivery and for effective violence against women and girls (VAWG) prevention and response programming. At the heart of the concept of competencies is the belief that there are a set of core competencies that must be present for a person to attain a level of professional standard. Gender competencies move beyond the assumption that one-off gender sensitization workshops will transform practice, to promote and establish professional standards of practice to achieve gender equality.

Gender competencies, then, refer to the capacity to identify differential social norms, roles, expectations, power relations, opportunities and constraints assigned to women, men, girls, and boys and how these, in turn, influence daily life, and might affect a person’s well-being. It includes how a service providers’ (teachers, police officers, health workers, etc.) own attitudes affect professional interactions. Gender competencies requires the application of appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitudes in their professional work and interactions to communicate and treat people equitably regardless of age or status.

It is presumed that key sectors addressing VAWG should understand the root causes of gender-based violence including gender inequality as well as understanding how the social norms that define women and men’s roles can contribute to VAWG perpetuation, as well as prevention. A thorough understanding of how gender and power relate to VAWG is important and should be included in all structures and trainings. Service providers – in particular those on the front lines - need to understand that violence, amongst other things, is also a barrier to gender equality. The provider who is gender competent recognizes the specific needs of women and girls as priority over the provider’s own personal beliefs. It is important to state that ‘gender awareness’ is not equivalent to being gender competent nor are competencies related to attitudes alone. There are many ways to acquire gender competencies; two such possibilities include through gender counselling (or coaching) and gender training.

Addressing VAWG is also complex and multidimensional. Gender competencies must also include a multi-sectorial approach to ensure all frontline workers from all sectors fulfil their responsibilities to prevent and respond to VAWG. There are basic gender competencies in each sector that service providers should understand, even if they are not a specialist in that sector.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF seeks the services of an individual consultant to expand upon existing work around gender competencies, in their adaptation and application in the English, French and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. Using the existing conceptual framework (definition, pathways for acquisition, monitoring) and identified gender competencies, the consultant will validate core and sectorial gender competencies across key sectors addressing VAWG in the Caribbean region and to standardized, progressive gender capacities among service providers to ensure that they meet the needs of women and girls.

Specific Tasks:

More specifically, the consultant will use the existing materials produced by UNICEF as a benchmark to:

• Review professional standards and indicators and identify existing gender competencies across key sectors addressing VAWG in the Caribbean region.
• Compare those services/sectors that include gender competencies with available pre- and in-service professional training (or preparatory and continuing education) to determine if/how gender competency pathways are ensured.
• Strengthen or propose indicators for incorporation into report.
• Develop a Community of Practice among Caribbean stakeholders to implement and monitor gender competency roll-out.
• Establish a learning agenda (for pre- and in-service professionals) for the Caribbean to fulfil gender competency roll-out.

The consultant will engage relevant divisions of the CARICOM and OECS Secretariats, as part of the UNICEF SI strategy. UNICEF LAC will facilitate these contacts.

Expected Results:

• Report of professional standards with indicators and gender competencies across relevant sectors addressing VAWG in the Caribbean region.
• Consultant report on validation of gender competencies with Caribbean stakeholders.
• Gender Competencies Community of Practice established, with at least two encounters completed.
• Gender competency learning agenda for the Caribbean.

Deliverables:

The selected consultant is expected to submit the following electronic deliverables in accordance with the time frame listed. Each deliverable will be reviewed by UNICEF and key stakeholders and the consultant will be expected to incorporate consolidated comments. One round of review/comments will be included – this review time has been factored into the estimated timeframe below. When needed, deliverables will be shared with other Spotlight Initiative partners for comments and review.

Description

Estimated Timeframe

Inception report, including work plan

2 weeks

A regional review of professional standards, indicators and gender competencies across key sectors addressing VAWG in the Caribbean region

3 weeks

Gender competencies proposed and/or adjusted through a consultative process with regional Caribbean partners (Community of Practice)

6 weeks

Learning strategies with a proposal for a competency-based approach and/or the credentialing across the sectors (Gender Competency Learning Agenda).

3 weeks

Final report on consultancy and dissemination materials (formats to be determined)

2 weeks

Schedule for the Delivery of Services and Payment:

Table 1

Deliverables

Proposed Delivery Date

Proposed Payment Schedule

Inception report, including work plan

15 December 2021

20%

A regional review of professional standards, indicators and gender competencies and indicators across key sectors addressing VAWG in the Caribbean region

10 January 2022

20%

Gender competencies proposed and/or adjusted through a consultative process with regional Caribbean partners

25 February 2022

20%

Learning strategies with a proposal for a competency-based approach and/or the credentialing across the sectors.

15 March 2022

20%

Final report on consultancy and dissemination materials (formats to be determined)

31 March 2022

20%

Fees shall be calculated based on the days offered to complete the assignment and shall be considered the maximum compensation as part of a lump sum contract. No additional fees shall be paid to complete the assignment, unless otherwise agreed to at the time of award.

Table 1 above is a proposed schedule of the delivery of services and payment schedule. The final timeline for the delivery of services and payment schedule will be mutually agreed by UNICEF and the Consultant prior to the issuance of the Contract and commencement of work.

Payments to be based on completion of deliverables, certified upon review by the Contract Supervisor or a technical officer as assigned by the Contract Supervisor.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) required in any of the following: Social Sciences, Public Administration, International Relations, Public Health, Education, Gender and Development. If Gender is not the focus of academic qualification, a concentration in gender in any other acceptable discipline is required.

Work Experience:

• Significant experience (minimum 10 years) conducting research at national and international level in professional competencies, HR accountability frameworks, professional development/certification. Experience in the Caribbean is preferred.
• Substantive knowledge and experience in gender equality programming, institution strengthening and inter-sectorial collaboration. Experience in the Caribbean is preferred.
• Experience in coordinating multi-partner, multi-country initiatives required.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and conducting complex, multi-stakeholder, and multi-country studies, working with a team of researchers.

Languages:

• Excellent oral and written skills in English required. French and Dutch language skills considered desirable.

Other Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels.
• Experience with Regional Institutions, the UN or civil society organizations on related areas a strong asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF competencies: building and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, innovates and embraces change, manages ambiguity and complexity, thinks and acts strategically and works collaboratively with others.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Administrative details:

Supervision: The selected consultant(s) will report to the Regional Gender Advisor, in close coordination with the UNICEF Regional Coordinator, Spotlight Caribbean Programme. The consultant may be expected to collaborate with relevant focal points within the UNICEF Regional and Country Offices throughout the duration of the Contract.

Workplace: Home-based. The consultant will be required to work from their home/home office with their own equipment. UNICEF will provide all existing files on Gender Competencies, as referenced above, upon contract signature.

How to Apply? Application should be submitted online and should include: Resume, Cover Letter, University Diploma and Financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit monthly and daily fees in their financial proposal.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Duration of contract: Estimated start date of this consultancy is the first week of December 2021 for a period of 4 months.

Vacancy Announcement Remarks:

Please note only short-listed candidates will be contacted. UNICEF reserves the right to make additional assessment of the pre-selected candidates, if needed UNICEF 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.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles 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.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org