If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries

BACKGROUND

In the UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025, WASH continues to be one of the priority Goals aiming to ensure that every child, including adolescents, has access to safe and equitable water, sanitation and hygiene services, and supplies and lives in a safe and sustainable climate and environment. In realizing this vision into a reality, an intentional focus on Gender Equality is key in all UNICEF supported WASH programme. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation for all) promote the principles of “leave no one behind” and key to this concept is the importance of prioritizing actions that benefit and empower women (including women in all their diversities), the poorest, people with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities (SGM) and the most marginalized people in communities. Therefore, as a custodian of SDG 6.1 and 6.2, UNICEF has a greater responsibility to ensure that our programmes and services continue to improve gender equality in practice. It is greatly acknowledged that WASH programme are a critical entry point for promoting equity and leadership for women and girls, in all their diversities and UNICEF is cognizant of this opportunity to promote gender equality and women’s leadership for sustainable impact.

The lack of gender-sensitive policies in the WASH sector acknowledges the disproportional workload which often falls on women and girls fetching water for the household. Not having water at home exposes women and girls to a significant physical burden and back pain, time loss, and an increased risk of violence, harassment and exploitation if travelling away from home. Unsafe water and poor sanitation may mean women must stay home caring for sick family members. The lack of gender-separated toilets in schools with access to a space for menstrual hygiene management negatively impacts school performance or drop-out. As stewards of water, women and girls additionally confront the impacts of climate change every day yet in many cases lack decision-making power to influence decisions and finance commitments to water security. These impacts are deepening the devastating impact of widespread gender inequality. Hence, gender remains a key focus for WASH programming and UNICEF aims to address some of the structural barriers to achieving gender equality in WASH through Gender- transformative WASH programming approaches and principles in line with its Gender Action Plan 2022- 2025.

Adopting Gender-transformative programming is challenging as it aims to transform the power structures that underlie unequal gender relations and norms. Empowering marginalized women and girls to take on leadership roles, share their perspectives and challenge the status-quo requires working across a diverse set of drivers that perpetuate inequality and exclusions. Working with men and boys as allies and champions of change is also vital in order to challenge and transform dominant social, economic and political structures that perpetuate gender inequality. Transformative approaches also aim to understand how gender inequalities intersect with and compound other inequalities, striving for more complex and nuanced programming. UNICEF works with governments and partners to apply lessons and modify strategies to improve gender equal outcomes in various ways and captures gender disaggregated outcomes through its corporate reporting systems as well as sector reporting processes including GLAAS and the JMP reports. Yet, a structured and systematic approach and guidance on adopting a Gender Transformative WASH programming approach is essential to build capacity of its staff and sector partners in identifying and addressing the root causes of gender inequality in WASH.

To ensure that a gender transformative approach is adequately demonstrated, clear guidance and tools are required to guide UNICEF programmes and staffs to fully achieve gender transformative results and to have further guidance on how to undertake analysis and design interventions within the framework of gender transformative WASH principles across UNICEF WASH programme.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Knowledge Management Specialist, the consultant will:

Develop a Gender Transformative WASH Programming Principles Note as a guidance note for UNICEF WASH programme implementing countries
Develop methodology, tools and guidance materials for undertaking Gender Analysis of the WASH sector landscape
Support/pilot gender landscape analysis of the WASH sector in 2 countries
Produce a synthesis of lessons from the pilot experience and expand analysis in 2 additional countries with remote support to 4 additional countries

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Output 1: Gender Transformative WASH Programming Principles/guidance Note developed – By end Feb 2024

Literature review on Gender Transformative WASH programming principles
In consultation with UNICEF WASH team at HQ, Regional Offices and selected programme countries, develop a Gender Transformative WASH Programming Principles/guidance Note that is adopted by UNICEF WASH programme countries.

Output 2: Gender Analysis methodology, tools and guidance developed – By end March 2024

Develop guidance materials/tools on Gender Analysis of the WASH sector landscape drawing resources from global practices

Output 3: Two selected countries complete Gender analysis of the WASH sector landscape with a report produced – By end June 2024

Literature Review of WASH and gender related resources in 2 selected Countries
Design study tools and methodology and support the analysis in 2 selected Countries
Produce county gender analysis of the WASH sector landscape report of 2 pilot countries

Output 4: Revised tools and guidance based on lessons and 6 additional countries complete the landscape analysis with a report produced – By Sep 2024

Synthesize lessons from 2 country analysis of WASH landscape
Revise the analysis tools and guidance based on lessons
Support two additional countries with the analysis and produce country reports
Provide remote support to remaining 4 countries on gender landscape analysis

Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree; Advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: International Relations, Gender studies, Social Sciences, Engineering or related field.

Work experience:

At least 8-years’ experience in undertaking research and studies related to gender transformative WASH programming approaches and principles
Experience in developing tools and methodology around gender analysis of the WASH landscape to understand structural barriers to gender equality in WASH is highly desirable

Competencies/Knowledge:

Strong analytical, synthesizing and high-quality report writing skills.
Understanding of the work of the UN, UNICEF and WASH is an advantage.
Strong communication skills (written and oral) in English are required.
Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated experience working in a multicultural environment.
Passion and demonstrated commitment to UNICEF’s mission and core values
Language Proficiency: English

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

Upload copy of academic credentials
Financial proposal that will include/ reflect:
- the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
- travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
- Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
- Indicate your availability
Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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 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.

Remarks:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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Added 6 months ago - Updated 5 months ago - Source: unicef.org