National consultant for development of guidance note on mainstreaming gender in sports

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National 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.

With the financial support of the Peacebuilding Fund of the United Nations (PBF), UN Women co-implements the project “Youth for Inclusion Equality and Trust” in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo (1)” with UNDP (lead agency), UNFPA and UNESCO. The project aims to support young men and women of the Western Balkans to promote constructive and fact-based narratives, and contribute to building trust, intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity, gender equality and social cohesion in the region.

The project aims at addressing the priority conflict drivers of hate speech, divisive narratives, negative gender norms and a deficit of reconciliation within the region.

UN Women Albania is currently developing regional youth-led research on the linkages between gender equality, social cohesion challenges and sustainable development in the region. A regional awareness raising campaign will follow to further share and disseminate the research messages.

To further advance gender equality, eliminate gender stereotypes and creative a safe and inclusive space for young girls and boys in sports, UN Women will prepare guidelines for sports agencies/institutions and organisations where youth would become allies in promoting gender equality. This is also in line with the Olympic Agenda 2020+5, aiming to make access to sport in general and the Olympic Games easier for female athletes, and to increase the number of women in sports administration and management.

UN Women is seeking to recruit a Local Consultant who in close cooperation with the Regional Project Coordinator, based in UN Women Albania, will prepare a guideline for mainstreaming gender in sports focusing on football, basketball and volleyball.

The main objective of the consultancy is to provide a comprehensive overview and assessment of gender equality in and through sports in Albania and provide concrete recommendations to advance gender equality in sports, based on best practices and good examples from the Western Balkan region. The guide aims to support sports organizations in creating inclusive and equitable environments that promote gender equality and empower all individuals to participate in sports without discrimination. The guide will provide a review of the key international, regional and national documents and policies in order to increase the availability of evidence and knowledge on sport and gender equality within the Western Balkan region, connecting it to the Albanian context. It will also examine Albania’s efforts towards achieving gender equality in sports and present valuable information and recommendations on the current needs of women and girls in sports in the country through life stories and experiences.

(1) All references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UN Women Albania Country Representative and the direct supervision of the Regional Project Coordinator for “Youth for Inclusion Equality and Trust” project, and in close collaboration with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Sports and Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the consultant is expected to develop a develop a comprehensive and practical gender-responsive guide tailored for sports organizations specifically in football, basketball and volleyball.

The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop a user-friendly, evidence-based, and actionable guide that assists sports organizations in integrating gender-responsive practices into their operations, policies, and programs.

Specific Tasks

• Conduct a thorough review of existing literature, guidelines, and best practices related to gender equality in sports.
• Develop a comprehensive outline and content structure for the gender-responsive guide.
• Develop a data collection plan, including methodologies, tools, and sampling strategies.
• Draft and refine the content of the guide, ensuring it is evidence-based, practical, and tailored to the needs of sports organizations.
• Incorporate case studies, examples, and practical tools that illustrate gender-responsive practices.
• Provide clear recommendations and action points for each section of the guide.
• Design visually appealing and user-friendly layouts for the guide, considering accessibility and readability.
• Incorporate feedback from UN Women and key stakeholders during the development process.

The guidance note will provide:

a)****A multi-sectoral analysis of gender equality within and through sports in Albania

The consultant will develop a country multi sectoral gender analysis in English by examining the legal and policy framework around status, participation, and representation of women and girls in sports (football, basketball and volleyball). The analyses will assess the opportunities, challenges, and disparities faced by women and girls in these sports.

The analyses will consider some key aspects, including but not limited to:

Representation in Leadership and decision-making: Assessing the representation of women and girls in leadership positions within sports organizations, federations, and governing bodies. This includes analyzing the gender composition of boards, committees, and decision-making bodies, as well as identifying any gender imbalances or biases in leadership roles.

Participation Rates: Analyzing the levels of participation in sports by sex, providing insights into the extent of involvement and interest of women and girls in sports. This includes examining the number of men and women participating in different sports at amateur, and professional level.

Access to Sports: Evaluating the accessibility of sports facilities, training programs, coaching, and resources for men and women in all their diversity is crucial. The analyses will examine factors such as availability, affordability, and proximity of sports infrastructure, as well as identifying any barriers that disproportionately affect women and girls of various groups.

Media Coverage: Examining the portrayal and visibility of male and female athletes in media coverage and broadcasting. Analyzing the quantity, quality, and tone of media representation of violence against women in sports and potential gender disparities and stereotypes perpetuated by sports media.

Pay Equity: Investigating the discrepancies in pay and financial rewards between men and women athletes. Analyzing salary structures, prize money, endorsements, and sponsorship deals to identify any gender-based gaps in remuneration within the sporting industry.

Support and Development Programs: Evaluate the existence and effectiveness of gender-specific programs aimed at promoting and developing talent in sports. This includes initiatives focused on grassroots development, scholarships, mentorship, and coaching opportunities tailored to the needs of men and women.

Policies and Legislation: Assessing the presence and impact of policies and legislation that promote gender equity and inclusion in sports. This involves analyzing laws related to equal opportunity, anti-discrimination, and gender-based violence prevention, as well as their implementation and enforcement.

The comprehensive analysis of these factors, policymakers, sports organizations, and advocates will help gain insights into the gender dynamics within Albania's sporting landscape. This analysis can help identify areas for improvement, design targeted interventions, and promote gender equality and inclusivity in sports.

b)****Recommendations and steps for creating inclusive and equitable sporting environments that promote gender equality.

Some of the key focus areas would be:

• Offer guidance and concrete indicators to sports organizations, clubs, federations, and other stakeholders in the sports industry mainly football, basketball and volleyball, to ensure that their policies, practices, and programs are sensitive to gender-related issues and promote equal opportunities for all individuals regardless of gender.
• Guidance on integrating gender perspectives into all aspects of sports organizations, including governance, decision-making processes, policies, and programs.
• Outline strategies with measurable indicators to increase and encourage the participation of girls and women in sports, addressing barriers such as stereotypes, cultural norms, and lack of resources.
• Provide sex disaggregated data to identify disparities, track progress, and inform evidence-based decision-making.
• Provide concrete policies, reporting mechanisms, and support services recommendations on creating safe and inclusive sports environments that are free from harassment, discrimination, and violence.
• Share best practices from other countries or regions that have successfully addressed gender disparities in sports.
• Propose a framework for monitoring and follow-up of gender mainstreaming in sports with measurable indicators.

Main expected outputs/deliverables:

1. A comprehensive review of existing literature, guidelines, and best practices related to gender equality in sports, in Albania and in the region. (2 working days)
2. A work plan that includes timeline and a proposed outline and methodology for the consultancy (to be consulted with and approved by UN Women). (1.5 working day)
3. List/mapping of key stakeholders/interviewees/people of influence and interest in Albania on to GEWE and sports (0.5 working day)
4. Questionaries/data collection tools tailored to the target interviewees (decision-making representatives, stakeholders, etc. in sports and sports practitioners. (2 working day)
5. Interviews with identified stakeholders at least 3 per each sports category (football, basketball and volleyball). (3 working days).
6. Interviews with minimum 5 sportswomen/girls and 3 sportsmen/boys per each sport discipline. (5 working days)
7. Draft report with analyses of interview findings, desk review etc. and to be shared for feedback with UN Women Albania. (4 working days)
8. A final guidance note which would include a country analyses and concrete recommendations. (5 working days)
9. Power point Presentation of main analyses finding and guidance for gender mainstreaming in sports which can be used during meetings. (1 working day)
10. Launch the Guidance note during an event in the frame of the 16 Days of Activisms against GBV (1 working day).

All deliverables should be agreed with UN Women and be provided in English, in electronic copy. Reports and timesheets need to be duly signed and submitted to UN Women as per agreed deadlines.

Duration and remuneration:

The duration of the initial contract will be up to 25 (twenty five) working days in the period between 9 October – 05 December 2023. The payment will be made in installments upon satisfactory completion of all tasks and deliverables in the assignment, and submission and approval by UN Women.

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

Functional competencies:

• Demonstrated analytical skills on issues related to gender equality, gender-based violence, human rights and related areas.
• Knowledge and understanding of the principles of sustainable human development and human rights approaches especially in sports.
• Good inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking attitude, ability to work in multi-cultural environment.
• Strong understanding of the Albanian context on gender equality as well as the legal and policy framework related to gender mainstreaming.
• Ability to work under pressure in complex situations
• Ability to work in an independent manner, set priorities and organize the workflow efficiently.

Required Skills and Experience

The Consultant will have the following qualifications:

Academic Qualifications:

• Master degree in human rights, social sciences, development studies, gender studies or similar discipline.

Work experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in the areas of gender equality and development, women’s empowerment, gender-based violence, human rights;
• Proven experience in undertaking gender analyses and gender mainstreaming technical support for policy making, implementation and monitoring based on and not limited to international Gender Equality and Sports commitments (CEDAW, Istanbul Convention; Sports for Generation Equality initiatives, IOC Olympic Charter, IOC Olympic Agenda 2020+5, Sustainable Development Goals, European Commission recommendation on gender mainstreaming in sports etc.) as well as the national legal framework and policies related to women’s rights and gender-based violence;
• Previous experience in conducting research, gather data, and analyze information related to gender issues.
• Previous experience with UN and/or other international organizations would be an advantage.

Language requirement

• Proficiency in written and spoken English and Albanian, including gender and policy terminology.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

• Financial Proposal specifying the total fee in Albanian Lek for the task. Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services).
• Payment will be made as per the payment schedule in the contract upon (i) satisfactory completion of tasks; (ii) provision of deliverables specified in the ToRs; (iii) submission of and approval by UN Women; and (iv) submission of the respective invoice/payment certification.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

Qualified and interested candidates are required to apply online:

• A Letter of Confirmation of Interest including a brief description explaining why the individual considers her/himself as the most suitable for the assignment.
• Completed and signed UN Women Personal History Form (P11) that can be downloaded at link: UN Women Personal History Form (P11) https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form-en.doc or http://www.unwomen.org/en/about- us/employment
• Copies/links/samples of previous research/analyses/assessments or guidelines conducted on gender equality or similar fields.
• Financial Proposal specifying a daily fee in ALL (Albanian Leke) for the tasks specified in this assignment, following the instructions under the above section on Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments.

Evaluation of applicants:

Candidate will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicant’ qualifications and financial proposal. Contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received high score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Technical Evaluation –70 points:

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in the areas of research and analyses on gender equality and development, women’s empowerment, gender-based violence, human rights (30 points).
• Proven experience in undertaking gender analyses and gender mainstreaming technical support for policy making, implementation and monitoring based on an not limited to international GE and Sports commitments (CEDAW, Istanbul Convention; Sports for Generation Equality initiatives, IOC Olympic Charter, IOC Olympic Agenda 2020+5, Sustainable Development Goals, European Commission recommendation on gender mainstreaming in sports etc.) as well as the national legal framework and policies related to women’s rights and gender-based violence; (20 points);
• Previous experience in conducting research, gather data, and analyze information related to gender issues. (15 points)
• Previous experience with UN and/or other international organizations would be an advantage. (5 points).

Financial Evaluation – 30 points

• Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.
• The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion. The calculation formula applied is as follow:

p = 30 (µ/z); where: p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated; µ = price of the lowest priced proposal; z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

How to Submit the Application: To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

• Download and complete the UN Women Personal History Form (P11) https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form-en.doc
• Merge your UN Women Personal History Form (P11), the Financial Proposal, and Cover Letter 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.

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.)