International Consultant to Develop UNCDF Gender Equality Strategy (2022-25) and the Action Plan

Consultant

Overview

Lead the development of UNCDF's gender equality strategy and action plan.

You have:

• Master’s degree in gender, public administration, development studies, or related field.
• 7+ years post graduate experience, in an international agency, bilateral donor, civil society organization or research think tank.
• More than 5 years’ experience working with gender strategies and action plans in the past.
• Expertise in gender analysis and gender planning and demonstrated expertise in mainstreaming gender in projects and programmes, especially in UNCDF areas of focus.
• Thorough understanding of the gender contexts in LDCs and experience working with government institutions and international or non-governmental organizations supporting gender and development work.
• Familiarity with gender analysis tools and methodologies.
• Familiarity with gender investment tools.
• Strong communication skills, and ability to liaise with various stakeholders, including government officials.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of French is an asset.

Contract

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

Background

The UN Capital Development Fund makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDCs). UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels: (1) inclusive digital economies, which connects individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; (2) local transformative finance, which capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and (3) investment finance, which provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization.

Project Description

UNCDF has included Gender equality and women’s empowerment as a standalone flagship thematic area in its new Strategic Framework 2022-2025 in addition to integrating women’s economic empowerment as part of the two practices’(Local Transformative Finance and Inclusive Digital Economies) priorities and actions. The gender priorities reflected in the SF 2022-25 are well integrated in the organization’s results framework and the associated budgets.

As part of its commitment to the priorities of UN System Wide Action Plan on Gender Equality (UN-SWAP) and as per the recommendations of the Evaluation of the UNCDF Strategic Framework (2018-2021), UNCDF plans to develop a new gender equality strategy (2022-2025) and the action plan. The new gender strategy will be in line with the overall Strategic Framework, and it will outline major priorities and strategic objectives for the organization on gender equality. The associated action plan will provide the roadmap to deliver on the gender commitments with details specific to the required financial and human resources. The Action Plan will also highlight organization’s programmatic and technical capacity needs to effectively deliver on the strategic gender equality objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Services

A UNCDF gender taskforce has been established under the leadership of the Directorate to lead the gender strategy and action plan. The task team will provide important advice on the strategic priorities for the organization on gender as per our commitments outlined in the new SF.

In addition, UNCDF is initiating an organization wide survey to assess capabilities and gaps on gender equality ahead of the drafting of gender equality strategy and the action plan. The survey will specifically assess existing GE priorities and programmes as well as challenges including those related to human resources and finance. The survey will assess organization’s 1) Human Resources (sourcing and retention of female talent) and Capacities; 2) Financial Allocations; 3) GE Programmes/Gender Mainstreaming capacities; 4) Investments in women’s economic empowerment and 5) Tools/Knowledge on GE. The detailed survey will provide a comprehensive picture of the organization on its commitment to gender equality and will provide important input to develop the new gender strategy and the action plan.

UNCDF is looking to hire a short-term international consultant to lead work on the gender survey as well as the drafting of the gender strategy and the action plan based on the findings of the survey.

The consultant will work closely with the gender focal points, the gender taskforce, Directorate and senior management team to conduct the survey, analyze the data and utilize the findings to draft the gender strategy. In addition, the consultant will conduct interviews (online) with UNCDF staff at Country, Regional and HQ level to inform the strategy. Accordingly, the consultant will be asked to travel to UNCDF HQ in New York to present the findings as well as share the draft strategy and the action plan.

Expected Outputs / Deliverables and Payment Terms

List of Tasks to be Undertaken/Services to be Rendereda

Deliverables/ Outputs Arising from the Completion of Tasksb

Target Due Datesc

Percentage of Contract Price to be Paid (in %)d

• Gender Survey Conducted and Findings Shared with UNCDF - 28 November 2022

• Gender Survey Analysis

28 November 2022

20%

• Draft Gender Strategy outline (including interview notes and initial analysis)

• Draft Gender Strategy outline

15 December 2022

-

• Final Gender Strategy outline integrating input/comments from the gender taskforce –

Final Gender Strategy outline

25 December 2022

20%

• Draft Gender Strategy and the Action Plan (max. 25 pages excluding annexes)

• Draft gender strategy

10 January 2023

-

• Final Gender Strategy and the Action Plan integrating input/comments on the draft report

• Final Gender Strategy and the Action Plan

30 January 2023

60%

Institutional Arrangements

Under the supervision of the Directorate, UNCDF and the technical oversight of the gender taskforce, the consultant will be responsible for drafting a concise action-oriented Gender strategy document responding to UNCDF specific context and mandate. The consultant will also develop an associated gender action plan outlining the specific financial and human resources as well as technical capacities required to deliver the commitments of the Strategy.

The consultant will meet (virtually) with the Gender taskforce for at least 3 briefing/debriefing sessions.

• Briefing session – 28 November 2022;
• Presentation of draft Gender Strategy Outline with Gender Team – 15 December 2022;
• Debriefing session – presentation of gender strategy and action plan with the taskforce and the Management team – 10 January 2023.

Duty Station is Home-Based, with possibility of travel to New York City to draft Gender Strategy.

Competencies

• Excellent organizational and analytical skills complemented by sound interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Demonstrated ability to act independently and exercise sound judgment
• Ability to work closely in harmony international officials at all levels.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in gender, public administration, development studies, or related field.

Experience:

• 7+ years post graduate experience, in an international agency, bilateral donor, civil society organization or research think tank;
• More than 5 years’ experience working with gender strategies and action plans in the past
• Expertise in gender analysis and gender planning and demonstrated expertise in mainstreaming gender in projects and programmes, especially in UNCDF areas of focus;
• Thorough understanding of the gender contexts in LDCs and experience working with government institutions and international or non-governmental organizations supporting gender and development work;
• Familiarity with gender analysis tools and methodologies;
• Familiarity with gender investment tools
• Strong communication skills, and ability to liaise with various stakeholders, including government officials.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English; knowledge of French is an asset.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Submit/upload to the job site your CV or P11 for ICs, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
• Submit duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template, which also contains the financial proposal of the consultant; (Please click here for document), which should be sent separately to financial@[email protected]
• Provide Brief description of why the consultant considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how he/she will approach and complete the assignment
• Financial proposal: The financial proposal shall specify a lump sum amount that is inclusive of professional fees and other incidentals that the consultant expects to incur during the performance of the work. For this purpose, the Letter of Confirmation mentioned in B is to be completed and submitted as instructed.

Note on the Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The financial proposal must make use of the standard template for Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability. The lump sum amount to be quoted must be “all-inclusive”. The target due dates for payments are fixed, and any need for change or extension must be initiated by the consultant, justified and be subjected to mutual agreement by the parties. The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components. If duty travels are expected, the project will cover the cost of the travel and allowances. All travels shall be at the economy class, and if a higher class is preferred, the consultant shall cover the price difference from his/her own account.

EVALUATION

Evaluation will be through combined Scoring method – technical evaluation/desk review will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%;

Technical Evaluation/Desk review (70%)

Criteria will be:

• More than 5 years’ experience working with gender strategies and action plans for international organizations– 25 points
• Strong expertise in gender analysis, gender planning and gender mainstreaming specially in international development field - 20 points
• Past Experience with gender financing approaches and tools – 10 points
• Strong analytical/writing skills with a particular focus on gender analysis – 15 points

Financial Evaluation: (30%)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% at Desk review shall be considered as technically qualified and will be reviewed further for financial evaluation.

The following formula will be used to evaluate the financial proposal:

Lowest priced proposal / Price of the proposal being evaluated x 30%.

Award Criteria

The contact shall be awarded to the applicant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and

• Having received the highest combined weight: (technical scores)70% + financial 30%= 100%.

The first ranked top candidate that achieved the highest cumulative score will be recommended for award.

Important resource link:

• UNCDF Strategic Framework

/mnl

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org