International Consultant for Transition in Democratic Republic of Congo

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

Context

The integration of the Women, Peace and Security agenda during transition planning and the consolidation and stabilization period is critical to ensure the gains made are secured and that the following actions are built on achievements to date, effective practices and lessons learned. During the Joint DPO-UN Women Visit to MONUSCO on the status on gender equality and Women, Peace and Security Agenda mandate implementation in the Transitional Plan conducted from 4 to 28 April 2023, a critical gap was identified on the lack of an overarching strategy on the integration of women’s equal participation in the peace and stabilization processes. Therefore, the main recommendation from the visit is to develop a Programme together with a Plan of Action for the Equal Participation of Women into the Peace and Stabilization Process. This Plan aims to inform and guide the work and resource mobilization on gender and WPS by MONUSCO and UNCT throughout the transition, consolidation, and stabilization period from July 2023 to December 2024 and facilitate the establishment of successor arrangements post MONUSCO.

It is in this context that the UN Women Office in the Democratic Republic of Congo is recruiting an international consultant to ensure the successful planning and implementation of the transition plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Country Representative of UN Women DRC, the consultant will perform the following specific tasks:

1. Strategic and technical support to UNWOMEN leadership on transition

1. Provide strategic advisory services and technical support to the Resident Coordinator as the head of the Integrated Transition Team and UNWOMEN leadership for transition planning and implementation oversight through assessment, monitoring, evaluation and reporting; and prepare strategic and guidance documents on transition workstream to support decision-making for the country office management. In particular, the person will conduct the gender capacity mapping analysis for MONUSCO and the UNCT. Furthermore, the person will be required to coordinate the development and roll out of the Programme and Plan of Action for the Equal Participation of Women into the Peace and Stabilization Process.
2. Guide and facilitate substantive and support workstreams of transition work, conduct related progress assessments and present progress and challenges to transition with regards to gender
3. Support the monitoring and implementation of the Joint Transition Plan (S/2021/807) and its 18 benchmarks with gender perspectives.
4. Support the PITTs while ensuring gender perspectives by providing guidance on design, endorsement, and implementation processes of provincial transition plans, including through joint assessment, monitoring, evaluation and reporting mechanisms and tools; and
5. Support the mapping of capacities on gender of the government, the UN system, and other partners at national and provincial levels to inform joint transition planning and implementation.
6. Identify potential assets (HR, logistics) will can be transferred to UNWOMEN.

2. Liaison with stakeholders on transition

1. Ensure a link to GoDRC-UN transition mechanisms through regular consultation, preparation of joint messages and communication, advocacy and partnership building initiatives etc.
2. Provide technical support on transition matters to the DRC Government, as required and requested.
3. Facilitate liaison with key partners, including but not limited to international financial institutions, bilateral donors, and civil society.
4. In line with the SG Planning Directive and UNSC Res. 2666 (2022), coordinate reporting to UNHQ on transition-related issues.
5. Liaise with MONUSCO-UNCT thematic working groups on priority areas aligned with MONUSCO’s mandate and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Development Framework (UNSDCF) outcomes and/or provincial coordination fora on transition; and
6. Ensure alignment and coherence of the UN system’s joint programming with the Joint Transition Plan, the UN Sustainable Development and Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (H-D-P) Nexus implementation.

3. Communications on transition

1. Support the development and implementation of a joint transition communication strategy, including key joint transition messages, in close collaboration with MONUSCO’s Strategic Communication and Public Information Division (SCPID) and Spokesperson, the Integrated Office (IO) and the UNCT Communication Group (UNCG); and
2. Organize information sessions targeting UN System staff, national counterparts, and other partners.

4. Training and knowledge management

1. Establish a repository of information, analysis and key documents on transition and communicate lessons-learned and best practices with the Mission’s Best Practices Officer and other relevant counterparts in the UNCT and at UNHQ, including with the Joint Transition Project.
2. Facilitate and support any other transition-related tasks requested by the Leadership of UNWOMEN.

5. Deliverables

Deliverables

Submission deadlines

Inception report

1 week upon signature of contract

Organize an internal information sharing session with UNWOMEN staff on transition related matters

2nd week after signature of contract

Prepare strategic and guidance note on transition workstream

End of 2 months after signature of contract

List of potential assets (HR, logistics) will can be transferred to UNWOMEN

3rd month of assignment

Produce monthly report on the transition process

Monthly for 6 months

Mobilize funds for priority areas of UNWOMEN for the transition

Submitted upon end of contract (6 months)

NB: Payment of fees will be based on deliverables at the United Nations rate.

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

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in International relations, Monitoring and Evaluation or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with five additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in Women, Peace and Security, Strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and Transitions.
• Experience in working in the UN system is required.
• Experience in working on transitions is required.
• Experience in resource mobilization is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.
• Experience in strategic communication is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and French is required.

Application:

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc. Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

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.

Diversity and inclusion:

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.