Consultant - To Develop the Strategic Note for UN Women India Country Office for the Period 2023-2027 (Open to Indian Nationals Only)

Contract

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Background

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of substantive equality between women and men.

UN Women aims to ensure women-led development and gender-responsive Covid-19 response and recovery in India by working closely with the Government of India, the United Nations system, civil society, women’s and youth organizations, media, the private sector and influencers.

UN Women in each country is guided by a Strategic Note that outlines UN Women’s strategic direction, objectives and approaches to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The strategic note is in line with UN Women’s global Strategic Plan (SP) and with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for India.

The Strategic Note establishes priorities and intended results. The SN articulates a compelling vision of what the office desires to achieve in 5 years, in the host country, in response to the most urgent and important national priorities and goals, the 2030 Agenda, normative mandate and other corporate mandates. The UN Women India Country Office (CO) is initiating the process to develop its new SN, covering the period of 2023-2027, which will be fully aligned with the UNSDCF programme cycle and contribute to UN Women’s Global Strategic Plan (2022-2025). The SN 2023-2027 will define the development results framework (DRF) as well as key drivers and enablers for implementation of the DRF ensuring Operational Efficiency and Effectiveness (OEE) in the next five years.

The new SN will follow the UN Women guidance for the SN development and include the following key aspects:

• prioritize and focus on the top strategic priorities based on major national challenges (identified through the analysis of country context and national priorities),
• alignment of key actors to support UN Women actions in the country and UN Women’s comparative advantage
• analysis on the role of other partners, including funding partners and women’s rights organizations and other civil society organizations working on GEWE, in the areas that the programme intends to work, and that credible evidence supports the proposed engagement of UN Women and these partners through the programme, including through evaluations and past lessons learned (i.e., what has worked in similar contexts.)
• include, whenever relevant, innovative approaches to programming at the field level as a cross cutting strategy to accelerate change. There should be references to efforts in fostering South-South and triangular cooperation.

• UN Women must derive development programming (SN result areas) from the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and UN Women’s Strategic Plan. In this regard, the following must be noted:

  • Outcomes in the Cooperation Framework (Cooperation Framework Outcomes) where UN Women is a contributing agency should be copied verbatim into the UN Women SN to form the SN’s outcomes
  • Where UN Women is the lead or contributing agency, UN Women can derive and adjust specific outputs from the Cooperation Framework (Cooperation Framework Outputs) to form the SN’s outputs (SN Outputs).
  • The SN’s results structure should be aligned with UN Women’s Strategic Plan (2022-2025), Integrated Results and Resources Framework (SP IRRF) and contribute to its indicators.
  • The Strategic Plan prioritizes four thematic areas to improve the lives of all women and girls and advance gender equality, which UN Women will continue to focus on: 1) Governance & Participation in Public Life; 2) Economic Empowerment and Resilience; 3) Ending Violence against Women and Girls; and 4) Peace and Security, Humanitarian Action and Disaster Risk Reduction.
  • To address the root causes that underpin all gender inequalities, UN-Women, in collaboration with other actors, will contribute to the following systemic outcomes areas:
  • Gender-responsive normative frameworks, laws, policies, and institutions;
  • Financing for gender equality;
  • Positive social norms;
  • Women’s equitable access to services, goods and resources;
  • Voice, leadership and agency of women and girls;
  • Production, analysis and use of gender statistics and data; and
  • UN system coordination for gender equality.
  • The SN should draw on the SP thematic ToC/ToA to help with planning for their SNs. The SP thematic ToCs/ToAs provide an initial platform for national, CSO, private sector, ODA and UN partners and other partners/actors.

• Outline national context and political developments in India in line with the common country analysis of the new UNSDCF 2022-2026

• Outline of the current and emerging trends related to gender equality and empowerment of women (GEEW) in India as well as the linkages to International fora such as CSW and India’s participation in the G20
• Overview of the work of other UN agencies and international partners in India in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment and key opportunities and gaps that could be addressed through strengthened UN coordination.
• Key lessons learned from the previous SN as well as the relevant evaluations and reviews of UN Women’s programmes in the country over the past few years and provide recommendations on how to build on the experience gained.
• Outline progress and engagement in normative spaces and in advancing progress in-country in these areas, in collaboration with Government and Non-government actors . UN Women’s mandate towards achieving goals and objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs with the focus on the principle of leaving no one behind, CEDAW and other relevant normative frameworks to promote GEEW in India.

Objectives

UN Women Office in India has initiated the process to develop SN 2023-27 to define the institutional strategy in India for the next five years to respond to its universal triple mandate, the most urgent national priorities and the 2030 Agenda using the Human Rights Based Approach, by leaving no one behind. It is intended that the new SN will clearly identify the partners and stakeholders and prioritize strengthening normative-operative linkages within the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, streamlining overall structure of the results framework, integrating priorities identified in Beijing+25, aligning the thematic areas and identifying indicators that capture UN Women’s impact with annual milestones.

The Consultant is expected to lead development of the SN in line with the corporate guidanceon the same. During the assignment, the consultant will work closely with the Country and Deputy Country Representative, Operations Manager and the M&E and Strategic Partnerships Focal point and will shape the document which would include scoping, visioning, drafting, validating and finalization. S/he will conceptualize and hold a series of stakeholder’s consultations at national and regional level, consolidate stakeholder’s feedback and incorporate the feedback in the final SN. The consultant should employ a consultative and participatory approach throughout the development and drafting of the Strategic Note by involving UN Women staff, other UN agencies operating in the country, strategic partners including relevant government counterparts, key donors and stakeholders in the process.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of UN Women Country Representative in India, the Consultant will be responsible for the following specific tasks:

• Use and extend where available evidence-based country analysis on the 2030 Agenda and SDGs from a gender and ‘leaving no one behind’ perspective, including review of current country-level progress and challenges related to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, CEDAW and other human rights treaties, and relevant normative frameworks and other documents like Common Country Analysis, Portfolio Evaluation and Audit report that highlight the lessons learned and recommendations;
• Conduct a desk review of the current UN Women programme in India, with practical and substantial recommendations to enhance strategic positioning and comparative advantage of UN Women India vis-à-vis other key players;
• Work with Senior Management Team to identify key strategic partners that are crucial for implementing the programme at the country level;
• Support the design and facilitation of initial internal and external consultations with key stakeholders to validate the preliminary findings of the desk review, obtain additional insights on key GEEW gaps, challenges and opportunities, and key lessons learned that will inform the new SN;
• In collaboration with programme teams, the Consultant will analyse and present the results of evaluation findings, annual reports, and elaborate a drafted monitoring and reporting plan for the implementation of the current SN. Based on the analysis, develop draft theory of change in close consultation with the Programme Specialists. The SN should have following sections – context and situational analysis; lessons learned; proposed programme, partnership and coordination; programme sustainability including exit strategy; management and operations; monitoring, evaluation, knowledge management and innovation; resource mobilisation; communications and advocacy and key risks and mitigation. These sections should be supported by the following annexes - SN Outcome ToCs; Project Register; HR organogram; Costed Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Plan; Resource Mobilisation Action Plan; and Risk register;
• In consultation with the operation and programme teams, map out the resources needed ( budget) for SN period (available and resource to be mobilized) and description of risks/challenges that may interfere with fulfilment of commitments, including those that are external (e.g. security risks, political instability) as well as those that are internal. Identify mitigation strategies. Build on on-going external consultation processes and programme activities to consult with key partners and stakeholders.
• Identify short, medium and long term results that India CO could deliver on;
• Draft the new SN 2023-2027 in line with UNSDCF 2023-2027 and the UN Women Global SP 2022-2025, including the Integrated Results and Resource Framework (IRRF);
• The consultant will support the India office in mapping the old SN areas of work (outcome and output level) to the new SN outcomes and outputs;
• Support India Office in facilitating consultations, especially with the non-traditional stakeholders, to support the validation of the new SN (development of the agenda and facilitate the online discussion).

Key Deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Inception report with outline of methodology, consultation and validation process, documents for review and updated timelines. This will be developed based on the inception conversation with senior management and operation and programme teams. The inception report will include literature review and analysis report of the key relevant documents from UN Women and other relevant references that will be part of the Draft Strategic Note. - July 2022 (30%)

Deliverable 2: Submission of draft SN Pack consisting of narrative with following sections – context and situational analysis; lessons learned; proposed programme, partnership and coordination; programme sustainability including exit strategy; management and operations; monitoring, evaluation, knowledge management and innovation; resource mobilisation; communications and advocacy and key risks and mitigation. These sections should be supported by the following annexes - SN Outcome ToCs; Project Register; HR organogram; Costed Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Plan; Resource Mobilisation Action Plan; and Risk register. - September 2022 (40%)

This deliverable will also include the following:

• List of the stakeholders to be consulted
• ToR, agenda and Partner consultation concept note including list of partners met/meetings organized, questionnaire for the interviews and consultation meeting agenda
• Minutes of the Meetings of the consultations
• A set of PPT slides to introduce SN development process including methodology
• Finalized consultation report with UN Women and relevant partners including key inputs received, priority areas, key recommendations received, etc.
• Draft Theory of Change for the SN
• Draft PPT slides for the validation consultation
• Finalized validation meeting with UN Women and partners including summary of inputs received, list of partners, etc.
• Draft of complete pack of SN work plan and budget based on the validation workshop for final review by UN Women CR, Resident Coordinator, and Peer Review Group (PRG) of UN Women (regional and HQ office)

Deliverable 3: Finalized and UN Women approved Strategic Note that Incorporate recommendations from UN Women (India, HQ and RO) and partners and develop and submit the final Strategic Note- should be submitted in November for final post-PRG approval. This will also include final PPT slides for the PRG. - December 2022 (30%).

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

Functional Competencies:

• Strong commitment to and good understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment issues;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Strong organizational skills and strong self-direction;
• Strong research and communication skills; verbal and written;
• Ability to prioritize and work under pressure with colleagues at all levels;
• Knowledge of gender mainstreaming within the UN system
• Ability to design gender programmes.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, gender studies, public administration, international relations, international law, public policy, or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 20 years of experience in programme formulation and implementation with Government, Civil Society Organizations, Donor Agencies and diverse stakeholders including Corporate sector.
• Experience in programme and policy analysis, strategic planning specially in the field of gender equality and women’s empowerment issues is required. \
• At least 7 years of experience in the international development field with advanced knowledge of gender analysis and experience working on GEWE issue, preferably with UN System
• Demonstrated experience in writing high quality strategic documents
• Familiarity with human rights concepts and approaches and GEWE normative frameworks
• Advanced knowledge of results-based planning, including planning of monitoring & evaluation work including demonstrated experience of UN results-based management standards and guidelines, and UN planning processes (UNDAF/UNSDCF and/or UN Country Program Documents)
• Demonstrated experience in project management, conducting research and writing analytical documents including country planning documents preferably for UN entities within the UN system

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and knowledge of language of the duty station.

Application:

Interested applicants should apply to this announcement through UNDP jobs site: jobs.undp.org

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

• All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment;
• Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment, please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment;
• Applications received after the close date will not be accepted;
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Evaluation and Selection Criteria

Criteria for shortlisting of CVs will be based on the following assessment:

• Required Degree and Qualification (5 points);
• Minimum years of Experience relevant to the Assignment. (10 points);
• Experience of working in gender related programme would be desirable. Advanced knowledge of results-based planning, including planning of monitoring & evaluation work including demonstrated experience of UN results-based management standards and guidelines, and UN planning processes (UNDAF/UNSDCF and/or UN Country Program Documents) (5 points)

The evaluation process for selection of the candidate will be based on the following assessment:

• Interview (100 points)

Please Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.