Generic Vacancy : Gender Equality Consultancy roster, MENA

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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.

And we never give up.

For every child, [Hope]

While there has been progress on gender equality in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the Arab States region, the pace is slow and does not reflect the full commitments made to the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Also, despite advances in some areas including education, maternal mortality, and life expectancy, challenges of COVID19 restrictions, climate change and water scarcity as well as women’s limited participation in the labor force all threaten progress. Moreover, conflicts and humanitarian needs exacerbate existing inequalities and deprivations.

The UNICEF MENA region has identified five key accelerators representing the region’s strategic contribution to the Decade of Action towards the SDGs by 2030, in line with the CRC and CEDAW. The accelerators comprise: 1. Primary Health Care; 2. Improving adolescent girls’ and boys’ skills, learning and employability right from early childhood; 3. Addressing violence against children, especially in homes, schools and institutions; 4. Scaling up UNICEF’s specific programmatic response to the climate crisis with a focus on water scarcity; and 5. Expanding social protection national systems to reduce multi-dimensional poverty and vulnerabilities.

How can you make a difference?

The UNICEF Gender Equality Section (MENARO) is seeking to recruit consultants to be part of a stand-by roster for short- and longer-term consultancy assignments. These may be remote/ desk-based or in person in UNICEF MENARO. This Gender Talent Roster of qualified and experienced pre-screened consultants (both internal and external candidates) will be established to provide technical assistance to support the implementation of Regional MENA Accelerators and UNICEF’s new Gender Policy and Action Plan, including but not limited to gender equality research for transformative results, programming and policy guidance, gender equality and women and girl’s empowerment. The purpose of this informal roster is to assist in identifying prospective candidates for individual Consultants/Contractors in the Gender Section. Technical expertise provided by consultants plays a critical role in supporting UNICEF’s work in gender equality, whether it relates to situational analysis, programme and strategy design, communications, research and studies or monitoring and evaluations to achieve results for women and girls.

The scope of activities under these ToRs is intended to be broad in nature to cover various thematic areas and contexts, including humanitarian emergencies. This will allow flexibility on the part of Hiring Managers to determine how the skillsets of the consultants they have available on roster could best address the desired services and results within the Gender Equality Section. Members of the Gender Roster will receive a request to indicate interest and availability for delivery of the ToR.

Concrete deliverables, outputs and timeframes will be defined by the Hiring Managers within the Gender Equality Section at the time an assignment is open. Each assignment will focus on specific technical assistance, research or knowledge management deliverables. The main service areas UNICEF generally puts forward for ToRs are as follows:

1. Gender analysis and literature/ evidence review

• Perform analysis, including risk/ needs assessment, of quantitative data and qualitative information from various sources, including but not limited

to administrative data, surveys, studies and analysis carried out previously to inform the development and/ or revision of strategies, including Gender Policy and Action

Plan and/or other gender related programmes including gender in humanitarian contexts;

• Perform financial/ cost analysis and budgeting including but not limited to estimating available/ forecast resources; assessing financial implications for sector plans/ policies; developing multiyear expenditure framework (including recurrent expenditures and investments); and assessing systems and financial management capacities at different levels.

• Employ a systematic review of literature and evidence to identify critical barriers that girls experience in UNICEF’s programming areas; proven/ effective interventions to address the barriers; find examples of effective implementation of cross-sectoral initiatives.

2. Strategic advice including policy advisory and advocacy briefs/ strategy/communications

• Facilitate the development and implementation of UNICEF’s vision for gender equality, strategies and plans at country, regional and global levels. Key activities include conducting thematic assessments; identifying stakeholders and developing/ carrying out consultation mechanisms; mapping priorities, goals and strategies based on data and evidence; and identifying indicators and results framework, etc.

• Advise on strengthening linkages and complementarity with partners, networks and coalitions including UN sister agencies, and the larger frameworks within which the UN operates, and coordinate mechanisms for advocacy and action at all levels;

• Advise on the strategic use of UNICEF partnership to act as a vocal and visible advocate in the global dialogue on gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment to ensure accountability and that gender equality remains as a high-profile issue at the international level;

• Assist in reviewing progress on the implementation of Gender Policy and Action Plan and ensure that the objectives, strategies and plans are in line with the changing realities of the global movement on gender equality.

3. Gender equality research, monitoring, evaluation, documentation and communication

• Conduct research and studies using a range of quantitative, qualitative, participatory and other relevant methodologies and data collection techniques for integration of data and evidence into planning and reporting;

• Develop guidance, templates and tools and/ or curate existing content for impact evaluations and documentation of gender programming and lessons-learned;

• Conduct assessment of frameworks and tools to support learning including knowledge and skills development and distribution. This includes promoting the flow of information from UNICEF country and regional networks to inform key international decision-making entities on genderrelated knowledge;
• Support the development of gender equality related products and communication assets and enhance strategic thinking, consulting and planning for UNICEF’s priorities on gender equality;
• Support robust analysis of gender data and indicators and establish gender responsive M&E systems.

4. Technical capacity building/ training and support

• Support gender capacity development efforts in a variety of models, methods and materials delivered in multiple formats and languages across regions and country contexts;
• Collaborate with the Gender Section in Headquarters and regional as well as country offices to enhance gender capacity for high quality gender programming, research, advocacy and communications, through coordination of training of sectoral gender specialists and focal points, etc.;

• Engage with UN agencies and partners to enhance gender results at all levels and keep updated on the global gender strategies, initiatives and events on the dissemination of gender-related tools and guidance.

  Again, each assignment will be developed based on a specific time-bound Terms of Reference, and will be shared with all Gender Roster members for their consideration and availability. Being part of the Gender Roster is not a commitment to an immediate Terms of Reference.

Consultants will report to Hiring Managers during the assignment by given deadlines for submission. Examples of potential types of reports include inception report; progress reports and meeting minutes; mission reports; technical reports; training and presentation materials; workshop/training evaluation reports, etc. Reports should be written in English unless otherwise specified and submitted electronically to the specific division/unit which will be responsible for managing the contract/ project.

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

• Technical Expertise

  Candidates must possess technical expertise in at least one of the following areas:

  • Gender Equality in Primary Health Care Systems & Workforce (Early Child Development, Girls’ nutrition, pregnancy care, HIV & HPV prevention)

  • Gender Equality in teaching and education systems (Girls’ secondary education, learning & skills (STEM)) and women’s economic empowerment

  • Violence against Women and Girls and intersections with Child Protection including evidence-based programmes to prevent and respond to intimate partner violence and violence against children and harmful practices, especially in homes, schools and institutions

  • Gender-responsive social protection systems for coverage and inclusion (gender, disability, migration status); social sector spending, and partnerships for more transparent, and more effective public finance for children; and Humanitarian Cash Transfer gender-responsive programming.
  • Gender socialization (Human Rights; ADAP; SIP; C4D; Disability)
  • Gender responsive Climate Change, WASH & hygiene systems (including Menstrual Health & Hygiene) with a focus on water resource management

  • Resource mobilization/strategic partnerships

  • Gender Equality data and analysis

  • Knowledge Management

  Professional experience

  • An advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Public

  Health, Behavioral and other Social sciences, Public Policy, International Development, Gender Studies, or another field relevant to international development and humanitarian assistance.

  • A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in the UN or other international development organization, national government or the private sector; especially with a
  • Minimum of 2 years of progressively more responsible and relevant professional work experience with gender equality, research, data analysis, field programming and evaluation in international development will be an asset;
  • A proven record of developing field tools and guidance for gender analysis and sector programming;

  • A sound understanding of gender equality and gender issues in international development;

  • Experience implementing gender equality programming for transformative results and research in low- and middle-income settings will be an asset;

  • Experience developing training materials and conducting training and related capacity building on gender equality programming for transformative results
  • Previous experience developing and managing evidence-based communications and advocacy initiatives;
  • Experience developing case studies, blogs, documenting lessons learned, etc. desired.

  • Ability to work under pressure and respond to deadlines without sacrificing quality

  • Demonstrated drive for results in previous work experiences.

  Skills

  • Excellent communication skills, including the ability to work across different units and encourage collaboration; ability to explain complex concepts to different audiences; ability to communicate with all levels of management and staff, sensitivity for cultural differences;

  • Excellent writing and analytical skills, especially in synthesizing complex information for multiple audiences;

  • Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle multiple assignments with competing deadlines;

  • Coordination (experience in an inter-agency coordination role is an advantage)
  • Professionalism (proven integrity, objectivity, and professional competence)
  • Ability to work with different stakeholders and build consensus

  • Advocacy across a wide variety of sectors

  • Leadership (ability to lead a technical network)

  • Leveraging (ability to engage at senior leadership level and secure buy-in)
  • Problem-solving (ability to know what needs to be done and identify the resources to do it)

  Languages

   Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English; Knowledge and ability to provide services in other languages especially in French, Spanish or Arabic will be considered an asset.

  Behavioral competencies

  • Core values: Diversity and Inclusion, Integrity, Commitment to Core Competencies:

  Communication, Working with people, Drive for Results

  • Functional competencies: Analyzing, Learning and Researching, Planning and Organizing, Following instructions and Procedures

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UICEF 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 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 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.

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. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).