Consultant to Facilitate UNCT SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard Assessment

Result of Service Developing SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard for UNCT in Syria

Work Location Damascus

Expected duration 25 working days in the period between 15 February – 31 May 2022

Duties and Responsibilities 1. MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT and DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES

The UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard is a globally standardized monitoring and accountability framework that promotes adherence with minimum gender mainstreaming requirements in the work of the UN system at the country level. It supports the UNCT's in self-assessing and reporting on their standing with respect to a set of performance indicators drawn from inter-governmental mandates, and based on review and analysis of UNCT processes. The UNCT in Syria is planning to undertake its first Gender Equality Scorecard exercise to assess its country-level gender mainstreaming practices and performance.

The main objectives of this consultancy are to

- coordinate and facilitate the exercise at country level, - ensure a coherent approach is adopted throughout and across all participating agencies, and - ensure the timely and effectively completion of all the stages as per the below timeline.

The assessment will be composed of five main steps:

UNCT Syria Gender Assessment (SWAP - Gender Scorecard) Tentative Timeline Step Description Timeline Responsible Stage 1 - Preparation (Nov - Dec 2021) Work with RCO to prepare for the assignment and present the topic to the UNCT and PMT November - end of December 2021 GWG Coordinator/ RCO/ UNFPA Gender Advisor

Appoint assessment teams & refine the methodology

Stage 2 - Assessment (Jan-March 2022)

Design data collection and analysis tool January Assessment Teams/Consultant

Gather evidence, analyze data and score indicators and prepare the initial report Feb-March

Findings sharing and validation Mid March

Stage 3 - Action Planning

Develop an action plan to improve performance based on the gender equality scorecard findings End of March Assessment Teams/Consultant Stage 4 - Finalization Share assessment results and Action Plan with UNCT for management response and commitment April RCO/Consultant

Finalize report

Share results with UN Women HQ for global accounting

Stage 5 - Follow up Present the Action Plan to UNCT to ensure meeting to ensure commitment

Mid May UNCT

The Consultant is required to lead on steps 2 - 5 under the supervision of the GWG, and the UNCT's direction.

Qualifications/special skills Competency: - Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity; - Organizational awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgement; - Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative; - Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds; - Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication; - Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behaviour towards others; - Conflict management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution; and - Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge. Skills: - Good computer skills in Windows environment, knowledge of internet communications and command of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). NB: In addition to the CV, the prospective consultant will need to submit at least 2 reports authored by him/her. Academic Qualifications: Advanced (Maters) Degre in social and political sciences, human rights, gender equality etc. A PhD degree is an asset. Experience: - At least 10 years of practical experience of work on gender mainstreaming in development programmes/projects at national and international levels; - At least 3 years' experience of work on results-based management, review and/or evaluation; - Experience in gender data collection and analysis, including interviews, survey and focus groups; - Previous experience in assessing Institutional Gender Mainstreaming; - An understanding of the inner workings of the UN System; - Previous experience in conducting Gender Equality Scorecard, narrative report and follow-up matrix will be an added advantage; and - Experience working in Syria and/or other conflict-affected contexts Language: Proficient in written and oral English. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset

Additional Information The UN Country Team - System Wide Action Plan Gender Equality Scorecard (UNCT-SWAP) is a standardized assessment of UN country-level gender mainstreaming practices and performance aimed at ensuring accountability of senior managers and improving the UNCT performance. The Scorecard first originated in 2008 in response to the 2006 UN Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) Policy on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (CEB/2006/2), which called for a system-wide action plan to operationalize the strategy of gender mainstreaming at the entity level and in the field. As a result, in 2012 the UN has developed a coordinated approach that consists of the following: 1. The UN System-wide Action Plan (UN-SWAP), which is the entity-specific accountability framework, which in 2018 extended to cover development and normative results tied to the SDGs; and 2. The United Nations Country Teams (UNCT) Performance Indicators for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNCT SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard) also updated in 2018 to reflect guidance on common country processes in the context of the repositioning agenda of the United Nations Development System, as well as development and normative result. (see the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard: Framework & Technical Guidance)

Taken together they contribute to ensure a coherent accountability framework at country, regional and HQ levels. As the two mechanisms cover different parts of the UN system, different Performance Indicators have been used where appropriate.

The mandate for UNCTs to implement the UNCT-SWAP emanates from the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) and ECOSOC Resolutions on gender mainstreaming. The 2021-2024 QCPR Resolutions (A/RES/72/233) calls upon the UN system to enhance and accelerate efforts to mainstream gender through the full implementation of the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard. In addition, the Management and Accountability Framework for the RC system also contains reference to the Gender Scorecard.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.