Consultant to map and develop capacities of women led organizations(WLO) and youth organizations engaged in COVID 19 and other humanitarian interventions in ESAR

Contract

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Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. UN Women’s engagement in humanitarian action and DRR is to ensure consistency and sustainability in addressing gender equality concerns across the humanitarian-development nexus. The importance of gender integration in Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is embedded in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, that acknowledges the impact of conflict and disasters on women, recognizing the importance of utilizing women’s contribution and active participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and relief and recovery. In addition, gender mainstreaming has also been included in the Sendai Framework for DRR (SFDRR) and was one of the key commitments from the World Humanitarian Summit that was held in Turkey in 2016. UN Women seeks to achieve inclusive and gender responsive humanitarian responses by working with governments, INGOs, other UN agencies as well as CBOs, particularly women led CBOs.

The East and Southern Africa region (ESAR) region is regularly faced with a combination of cyclic natural and human induced disasters that often translate into humanitarian crises such as drought, floods and displacements with severe consequences on the poor particularly women and girls. Currently the Horn of Africa is faced with significant drought affecting almost 20 million people, while the Southern regional has been experiencing drought, regular cyclones and flooding affecting the poor communities who rely on rainfed livelihood systems especially those in marginal areas, IDP and refugee camps.

Climate related disasters are worsened by conflict that is affecting several countries in the region with large populations displaced into IDP and refugee camps. Currently, ESAR is host to 67% of refugees on the continent and 20% of the global refugee population, estimated at 4,773,393 refugees, 50% of these are hosted in Kenya, Uganda and Somalia. Of the total number of refugees in the continent, Uganda hosts 31% (1.4 million majority of S. Sudan) of whom at least 82% are women and girls. COVID 19 has exacerbated the humanitarian situation for women and girls but more so refugees, IDPs women, girls & far-to-reach communities, threatening to erode the gains on women’s empowerment.

Evidences shows that women are often among the first responders to a crisis and play a central role in the survival and resilience of families and communities. Local women’s groups are often well placed to mobilize change, identify solutions, and respond to crises. Despite their critical contributions, women, WLO and youth organizations are faced with several challenges that hinder their effective participation and influence of humanitarian action as well as COVID 19 response. Key among these challenges include exclusion from decision-making processes that shape response strategies to crisis; capacities, knowledge and information on humanitarian action and its operations; limited and decreasing funding and the fact that their contribution is not well documented and recognized. For instance a survey of 30 countries with COVID-19 task forces showed that on average only 24 per cent of members were women, and most of these not in decision making positions.

UN Women has identified effective engagement of women and youth as a key focus area in humanitarian and DRR interventions with an objective of ensuring that more women and youth play a greater role and are better served by humanitarian response and recovery efforts including from COVID 19 impacts. Strategies to achieve this especially in ESAR region have been hampered by limited data on the existing women and youth groups working in this area, what they are currently doing and where they work. To address this, UN Women Office for East and Southern Africa seeks the services of a consultant to map women and youth organizations engaged in COVID 19 interventions, other humanitarian and recovery efforts in order to identify key opportunities and challenges that hinder their effective engagement as well as develop a capacity building strategy.

Objectives of the assignment:

• Undertake a mapping of women, WLO and youth organizations engaged in COVID response and recovery efforts as well as other humanitarian and DRR work within the ESA region;
• Develop a comprehensive database of these organizations;
• Design and deliver a two-day training to representatives of the women, WLO and youth organizations on leadership and participation in humanitarian action (HA);
• Prepare and submit a Final Report.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

• Literature review
• Preparation of data collection tools
• Data collection and collation
• Design and delivery of training
• Preparation of Draft and Final Reports

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Consult with 13 UN Women Country Offices in ESA region to identify women, WLO and youth groups they are currently engaging in COVID 19 and other humanitarian, recovery/livelihoods and DRR work and those with potential for future engagement;
2. Consult with humanitarian and DRR stakeholders (INGOs, UN, RECs) to gather information on women, WLO and youth groups they have engaged with particularly during COVID 19 response and other humanitarian related interventions;
3. Review secondary data and conduct virtual interviews with women and WLO to understand what they are currently engaged in, what they perceive as opportunities and challenges in their engagement in the humanitarian, DRR, recovery and resilience building work, and their capacity needs in the wake of COVID -19 and its impacts;
4. Develop a database of these organizations their profiles and contacts of key personnel;
5. Plan and facilitate a virtual meeting to share findings of the mapping and to come up with a way forward;
6. Develop a capacity building strategy for WLOs and youths in the context COVID 19 recovery;
7. Compile a final report with the key findings and recommendations.

Deliverables:

Training to enhance women, WLO and youth organization’s leadership and participation in COVID 19 response and other humanitarian interventions using available UN Women resources:

• Design the methodology, content for the training
• Deliver the training
• Capture action points from participating organizations and annexe these to the Final Report

Final report:

• Comprehensive database of women, WLO and youth organizations, key partners and summary of work undertaken at regional, national and subnational levels
• Key barriers and opportunities to effective leadership and participation COVID 19 and other humanitarian interventions

Capacity Building strategy

• Develop a strategy for capacity development of WLO and youth organization to effectively engage and influence COVID 19 recovery and other humanitarian interventions

Work Schedule:

Deliverables

Timelines

Allocated Percentage

• Initial consultation between the consultant and the Humanitarian Specialist
• Development of a comprehensive work plan
• Literature review and development of tools
• Approval of data collection tools

6 weeks

50

• Data collection
• Profile: Personnel, Budgets, Governance Structure
• Scope of Work: Geographical presence (cross border/national/sub-national), current engagement, opportunities and challenges

• Draft Report

• Training

• Preparation of Training Methodology and Content
• Approval of the Methodology
• Training with representatives of the women, WLO and youth organizations

2 weeks

20

• Capacity building strategy

4 weeks

30

• Final Report

Total

12 weeks

100 %

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

Functional Competencies:

• In-depth knowledge of gender equality, humanitarian action, conflict and disaster risk management.
• Strong understanding of COVID 19 impact on women, WLO and youth organizations in ESAR.
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear reports and guidance with in-depth analysis and strategic recommendations in English in the humanitarian-development sector.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate online workshops/learning sessions using a variety of pedagogical approaches.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, ability to foster networks and partnerships.
• Ability to complete complex assignments in a timely manner and delivery quality results.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in the field of, Disaster Risk Management, Humanitarian Affairs, Conflict Management, Social Sciences, Gender Equality, Program Management, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in the development sector preferably in Disaster, Humanitarian, Conflict Prevention and Gender issues.
• Experience in undertaking research on humanitarian programming initiatives that target women and youth in developing countries and fragile contexts.
• Experience in design and delivery of training modules that target diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of policies and legal frameworks on gender equality, Disaster and Humanitarian crisis.
• Experience in communication, documentation and reporting.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.

Note:

Please attach a completed P11 to your application. Kindly note that applications without a completed and signed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

UN Women Personal History form (P-11) can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment .

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 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.)