International Consultant to Support a Study Tour to Norway to Facilitate the Cross-cultural Exchange of Experiences and Learning of Private Sector Representatives in Advancing GEWE Agenda

Consultant Human Rights

Contract

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

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.

The role and power of private sector in accelerating implementation of the SDGs and among others contribute to the empowerment of women cannot be underestimated. Women’s Empowerment Principles – Equality Means Business (WEPs) provides private sector with specific tool to make significant contribution to gender equality and women’s empowerment. Beyond the basic responsibilities of respecting human rights, companies can choose from a menu of options stipulated by the WEPs to advance women’s empowerment within their workplaces, marketplaces, and communities.

In the past 5 years, the private sector’s interest in women’s issues has increased in Georgia. A growing number of businesses have adapted their policies, programmes, and initiatives to create inclusive environments where women and girls can succeed. In addition, companies have created inclusive business models and invested in women’s economic empowerment initiatives. Since 2017 they have been partnering with UN Women to advance women’s rights and advocate for gender equality policies.

With the support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 2017-2020 UN Women implemented the project “A Joint Action for Women’s Economic Empowerment in Georgia” (JAWE). The overall goal of the 37-month project was to ensure that women, particularly the poorest and most excluded, are economically empowered and benefit from development in Georgia. Since its inception in December 2017, the JAWE project has engaged private businesses, public agencies, and women’s groups in the promotion of women’s economic empowerment.

The follow-up work of the project is now being launched as a part of a three-year project “Good Governance for Gender Equality in Georgia (GG4GEG), which is supported by the Government of Norway. The follow-up work of the project seeks to utilize the new developments and arising opportunities in the agritourism and ICT sectors and build on UN Women’s experiences in implementing the JAWE project.

The relevant Outcome of the project covering this direction of work is as follows:

Outcome 2: Women in rural areas benefit from increased income generation opportunities in the agritourism and ICT sectors and fully realize their economic rights with the support of a gender-responsive private sector.

The below output will contribute to the achievement of this Outcome:

Output 2.1: Businesses have increased understanding of Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and skills to implement measures that benefit women, specifically in rural areas.

UN Women’s vision is to have stronger and expanding business driven WEPs community in Georgia that promote gender equality the workplace, marketplace, and community through implementing WEPs. To date, there are 130 WEPs signatory companies in Georgia. By the end of 2022, it is expected that the signatories will reach 200.

UN Women’s vision is to encourage more and more stakeholders to join a network of organizations with similar values and take a greater ownership of the gender equality work by investing in their commitments. Motivating and capacitating the WEPs signatories will help foster the creation of a gender-sensitive ecosystem of companies/organizations that drive the gender equality agenda forward throughout the value chain. Sharing the WEPs implementation progress helps raise awareness and inspires other stakeholders to join and commit to the WEPs. The more companies that are committed, the more ownership they have on the WEPs work, the stronger strides UN Women can make for women’s empowerment.

To ensure that the Georgian private sector companies benefit from the international best practices and lessons learned in advancing GEWE agenda at the workplace, marketplace and community, UN Women Georgia is planning to organize a study tour in Norway for top performing 10 WEPs signatory companies. The study tour will offer a platform to the selected WEPs companies to get acquaint with the Norwegian private sector counterparts and discuss the challenges and opportunities of streamlining seven Women’s Empowerment Principles into the business operation, learn about successful examples and activities and replicate them in their home country.

Taking into consideration Norway’s experience in developing progressive policies to advance gender equality in the private sector, UN Women Georgia is planning to organize a study tour in Norway to provide an opportunity for the private sector representatives from the WEPs signatory companies to benefit from Norway’s experience and lessons learned in advancing GEWE agenda with the specific focus on women’s economic empowerment through gender sensitive investment, gender sensitive procurement and entrepreneurship. The study tour will take place in the third week of August 22-26, 2022 in Oslo. The working language will be English.

The detailed objectives of the study tour are:

- to facilitate the development of new connections, networks and knowledge-sharing partnerships between Georgian and Norwegian private sector companies to advance the GEWE agenda in Georgia, with the specific focus on women’s economic empowerment through gender sensitive investment, gender sensitive procurement and entrepreneurship.

- to increase the capacity of the WEPs signatory companies through identifying and sharing best business cases from Norwegian private sector companies related to women’s empowerment at the workplace, marketplace and community.

- to expose participants to the tools and instruments of advancing gender equality used in Norway at the national, regional and local level, by legislative and executive bodies, especially from public-private partnerships’ viewpoint.

- to demonstrate the role of the private sector and the implementation of their respective gender equality plans for the business profitability and overall economy.

- to facilitate the development of platform to promote thought leadership and gain insights on further joint actions within the Georgian private sector towards GEWE.

The study tour should represent a balanced informational and educational programme with some interactive elements to be included into the agenda. The agenda should include meetings with the representatives of the Government of Norway and government agencies (as may deem appropriate) the private companies, who are champions in advancing gender equality agenda, women’s professional networks, workers associations and other appropriate organizations to deal on best practices in the area of advancing GEWE in the private sector.

To the extent possible the study agenda should be designed to include country-specific examples and practical aspects, tailored to the needs and expectations of the private sector. In addition, the agenda should offer opportunities to initiate partnerships, connect with international counterparts, participate in the field visits to get a profound exposure to knowledge and experience.

The target audience includes high-level management officials (CEOs, COOs, Supervisory Board members, Heads of Departments) from the selected ten WEPs signatory companies. The participants will be accompanied by UN Women project implementation team and an interpreter.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities of the International Consultant are:

• Develop a detailed agenda for the study tour for a group consisted of estimated up to 15 representatives from Georgia (private sector and UN women) and establishing clear objectives and key activities, in close cooperation with the UN Women office in Georgia.
• Arrange all meetings in advance of the study tour and ensure the objectives of the meetings are clearly conveyed to the Norway counterparts/representatives of various public/private institutions and any other relevant identified actors.
• Prepare and submit to the electronic copy of the study tour information package for the participants (handouts, profiles, background information, relevant training materials, analytical materials, etc).
• Coordinate and ensure the successful implementation of the study tour by arranging interpretation (if needed), accommodation, meals, and local transportation in cooperation with the UN Women office in Georgia. The costs of the accommodation, local transportation and meals for the study tour participants will be covered by the UN Women office in Georgia.
• Serve as facilitator during the meetings as needed.
• Prepare a report of the study tour, which should include the assessment of participants’ knowledge gained from the study tour and agreed follow-up interventions/action points.

Deliverables:

The timeframe for the work of the consultant is tentatively planned in the period of 25 July 2022 – 23 September 2022, for 22 working days, home-based. Key deliverables and timeframe are the following:

Deliverable 1: Develop and submit a detailed draft agenda in English for the study tour and logistical details – 8 days, by 5 August 2022;

Deliverable 2: Share final agenda for the study tour including all logistical details and study tour package– 6 days, by 17 August 2022;

Deliverable 3: Coordinate and lead the implementation of the study tour (including the facilitation of the meetings) – 5 days 22 August – 26 August, 2022;

Deliverable 4: Submit a final report in English summarizing the activities of the study tour and the results / follow-up interventions – 3 days, by 23 September 2022.

Competencies

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:

https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Science, Business Administration, or other related fields.

Experience:

• At least three years of experience in the area of gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, gender sensitive investment and gender sensitive procurement.
• At least three years of experience in organizing and implementing study visits and related programmes for people with different background, cultures and languages.
• Previous experience in working with multi-stakeholders essential: governments, private businesses, civil society, community-based organizations, international organizations and other.

Language:

• Fluency in Norwegian and English.

Evaluation Procedure:

The candidates will be evaluated in three stages: according to minimum qualification criteria; technical and financial evaluation.

The candidates must possess the following minimum qualification criteria to be eligible for further technical evaluation:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Science, Business Administration, or other related fields.
• At least three years of experience in organizing and implementing study visits and related programmes for people with different background, cultures and languages.
• Previous experience in working with multi-stakeholders essential: governments, private businesses, civil society, community-based organizations, international organizations and other.
• Fluency in Norwegian and English.

The candidates will be evaluated in three stages: according to minimum qualification criteria followed by technical and financial evaluation.

Technical evaluation criteria (including minimum qualifications):

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Science, Business Administration, or other related fields (max. 50 points)
• At least three years of experience in the area of gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, gender sensitive investment and gender sensitive procurement (max 80 points)
• At least three years of experience in organizing and implementing study visits and related programmes for people with different background, cultures and languages (max 100 points)
• Previous experience in working with multi-stakeholders essential: governments, private businesses, civil society, community-based organizations, international organizations and other (max 70 points)
• Fluency in Norwegian and English (max 50 points)

The maximum total technical score amounts to 350 points. Only candidates who have passed over the minimum qualification criteria and have accumulated at least 245 points out of maximum 350 under technical evaluation will qualify for the next stage i.e. evaluation of their financial proposals.

Evaluation of submitted financial offers will be done based on the following formula: S = Fmin / F * 150

S – score received on financial evaluation;

Fmin – the lowest financial offer out of all the submitted offers qualified over the technical evaluation round;

F – financial offer under consideration.

The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring + financial scoring).

Management arrangements:

The contractor will report to and work under direct supervision of UN Women WEE Programme and Project Analysts.

Financial arrangements:

Payment will be disbursed upon submission and approval of deliverables and certification by UN Women Programme Analyst that the services have been satisfactorily performed as specified below:

• Deliverable 1 – 30%
• Deliverables 2, 3 and 4 – 70%

Application submission package:

• Duly filled in Personal History Form PHF11 that can be downloaded from https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process
• CV;
• Financial Proposal - in USD, indicating daily rate, as well as the total cost offer necessary to complete this assignment.

How to Submit the Application:

• Download and complete the UN Women Personal History Form (P11)- https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process
• Merge your UN Women Personal History Form (P11), CV and the Financial Proposal into a single file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded.
• Click on the Job Title (job vacancy announcement).
• Click 'Apply Now' button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and then click 'Submit Application;'
• Upload your application/single file as indicated above with the merged documents (underlined above).
• You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.

Notes:

• UN Women retains the right to contact references directly. Due to the large numbers of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.
• Applications without the financial offer will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.
• The individual consultants should take the mandatory learning security course prior to commencement of assignment– details will follow before the issuance of contract.

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).

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