National Consultant for the collection and preparation of specific problems and their solutions in 5 sectors of the economy where women are most employed

Consultant

Contract

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Background

UN Women, the United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, was created to accelerate progress towards the fulfillment of their rights around the world. UN Women assists UN member states in setting international norms and standards for achieving gender equality and works with governments and civil society to develop laws, policies, programs, and services needed to implement these standards.

UN Women actively promotes the equal participation of women in all spheres of life, focusing on five priority areas of action: strengthening women's leadership and participation in society; elimination of violence against women; involvement of women in solving the whole range of issues of ensuring peace and security; empowering women in the economy; ensuring the central role of gender equality in national development planning and budgeting processes. UN Women also coordinates work to promote gender equality throughout the UN system.

In April 2022, by Decree of the Head of State, an updated Concept of Family and Gender Policy until 2030 with an Implementation Plan was adopted. The concept is a multisectoral policy document that provides an integrated approach to integrating the principle of equality between women and men into policy documents in all areas and at all levels of decision-making and implementation.

UN Women in Kazakhstan, together with the National Commission for Women, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter referred to as the National Commission), with the support of the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry), is implementing a project within the framework of a related grant “Assistance to Kazakhstan in the implementation of the Concept of Family and Gender Policy, in terms of ensuring gender equality and empowering all women and girls in Kazakhstan and overcoming the consequences of the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic” for the period 2022-2024.

The aim of the project is to support the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan in achieving transformative results for gender equality and women's empowerment in Kazakhstan by integrating gender equality and women's human rights into national reforms in accordance with the Concept and its Implementation Plan. The project has three components covering areas such as (1) strengthening national laws and policies for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, (2) a gender-sensitive approach to education, and (3) women's economic empowerment.

One of the activities aimed at expanding women's economic opportunities will be to conduct a study of 5 sectors of the economy where women are most employed and identify specific problems and prepare recommendations for their solution. At present, special attention is paid to the development of women's entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan. However, women are less represented among business leaders and have more barriers to doing business. To improve the status of women, measures are being taken to empower them.

Despite the fact that activities are being carried out in Kazakhstan to support women's businesses, a number of barriers (access to finance, discrimination, obligations to care for the family and raise children) still hinder their development. In Kazakhstan, in 2021, the share of enterprises headed by women was 18% among large enterprises, 28% and 34% among small and medium-sized enterprises, respectively.

The total share of women-led enterprises in 2021 amounted to 30.46% of all operating enterprises. The main sectors of the economy with a high proportion of women-led enterprises of all active enterprises in the industry are light industry, education, health care, social services for the population, as well as the provision of accommodation and food services and other types of services.

Also, as in many countries of the world, women are more represented, both at the managerial level and among employees in areas with lower profitability. Women lead businesses in trade, agriculture, real estate, while men are more involved in industry, construction, transport and warehousing. Women are practically absent in large and medium-sized businesses and are concentrated mainly in micro-enterprises, with many of them working in the informal sector of the economy.

To stimulate women's entrepreneurship in the sectors of the economy, it is proposed to expand support tools and create conditions for the development of the industry. In this regard, it is necessary to study the existing problems and barriers that entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs, face in their activities, since it is women who face an additional set of gender barriers and inequalities that limit their access to resources and opportunities.

As the statistics of past years show, several industries are distinguished in the structure of the economy, in which women are more represented, and it is these industries that can be called “female”, however, all data is for the 2021 maximum. In this regard, within the framework of this study, it is planned to update all indicators and identify only 5 sectors of the economy where women are most employed and sort out subgroups of industries according to The Nationwide Classification of Economic Activities.

For example, on average for 2021 in Kazakhstan, the share of women in the actual number of employees in the manufacturing sector was 29.3%. This section of The Nationwide Classification of Economic Activities includes 24 main groups. At the same time, the highest proportion of women in the actual number of employees is observed precisely in the production of clothing (83.9%). That is, the light industry in Kazakhstan can be attributed to the "women's" industry.

The share of female employees in the total number of employees in wholesale and retail trade in 2021 was 57.1%. The share of women-led enterprises of all operating enterprises in wholesale and retail trade in 2021 was 28.4%.

Most of the enterprises headed by women in the industry structure in 2021 were observed in wholesale and retail trade - 24.5%. At the same time, this industry took the leading place after the education sector in terms of the share of female employees in the industry structure - 13.7%. Thus, it can be said that the wholesale and retail trade industry is a "women's" industry in Kazakhstan.

At the same time, this section of the the Nationwide Classification of Economic Activities includes three main groups:

1. Wholesale and retail trade in cars and motorcycles and their repair;
2. Wholesale trade, except for trade in cars and motorcycles;
3. Retail trade, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles.

The share of female employees in the number of employees in the accommodation and food services sector in 2021 was 65.5% (only higher in sectors such as health and education). The share of women-led enterprises of all operating enterprises in the accommodation and food services sector in 2021 was 39.4%.

This section includes two main groups:

1. Provision of services for temporary residence;
2. Provision of food and beverage services.

In preschool education - the share of women employed in preschool education according to 2021 data was 87.0%. The share of women-led enterprises of all operating enterprises in the field of education in 2021 was 63.8%.

In the healthcare sector, 80% of the employed by the end of 2021 are women. The share of women-led enterprises of all operating enterprises in the healthcare sector in 2021 was 47.2%.

The share of female employees in the number of employees in the sector providing other types of services in 2021 amounted to 64%. The share of women-led enterprises of all operating enterprises in the sector providing other types of services in 2021 amounted to 34.4%. The other services sector ranks third after trade and education in terms of the proportion of women-led businesses (10.8% in 2021).

This section includes three main groups (The Nationwide Classification of Economic Activities):

1. Activities of public associations (organizations);
2. Repair of computers, personal items and household goods;
3. Provision of other individual services.

The third group includes such subgroups as the provision of services by hairdressers and beauty salons, laundry and cleaning of products, etc., in which women are predominantly employed.

In this regard, UN Women is planning to hire a national consultant who will identify 5 main areas of savings for Kazakhstan, will collect industry-wide barriers from open sources and systematize them, by interviewing (survey) studying specific problems and wishes of business entities on support measures and other conditions necessary for business development in the industry, will also review and evaluate the effectiveness of existing measures to support entrepreneurship in these industries and make recommendations based on the information received.

Duties and Responsibilities

The tasks of the national consultant will include the following:

1. Drawing up a work plan indicating the terms of development;
2. To determine 5 industries, where women are mostly employed it is necessary to analyze the following data in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2021-2022:

• main labor market indicators;
• main labor indicators;
• the number of operating legal entities by type of activity, form of ownership and gender;
• operating subjects of individual entrepreneurship by type of activity and gender attitude.

A) Based on the data obtained, it will be necessary to determine the following:

• the main sectors of the economy by group (The Nationwide Classification of Economic Activities) with a high proportion of women-led enterprises in the total operating enterprises in the industry;
• the main sectors of the economy by groups (The Nationwide Classification of Economic Activities) with a high proportion of female employees in the number of employees in the industry.

B) Based on the analysis carried out, it will be necessary to identify 5 sectors of the economy where women are most employed in Kazakhstan by region. Research method: desk research based on the collection of information from open sources for its further systematization and analysis.

3. Collection and preparation of specific problems in 5 selected sectors of the economy:

A) Develop a questionnaire to identify the following reasons and indicators:

• industry-wide and local problems and barriers faced by business;
• opportunities and prospects for business development in industries;
• the effectiveness of existing measures to support entrepreneurship in the industry;
• proposals of entrepreneurs to solve existing problems or support measures necessary for the development of the industry.

B) Make a sample of businesses in each "women's" industry for an interview/survey.

Respondents must be selected in each industry – at least 9 women entrepreneurs and/or women business leaders.

When selecting respondents, the following factors should be considered:

- small, medium and large businesses should be equally represented among the respondents;

- at least 40% of respondents should be from regions with high industry concentration and at least 40% from regions with low industry concentration.

Research method: field research based on oral and/or written survey of respondents, desk research based on the collection of information from open sources, systematization and analysis of the data obtained.

C) Make an analysis of the effectiveness of existing measures to support entrepreneurship in the industry and development of recommendations on tools to support sectors of the economy in Kazakhstan, where women are most involved based on research.

4. Preparation and conduct of the final presentation of the results of the study with the participation of representatives of the National Commission, the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Atameken", UN Women, national partners and women entrepreneurs to discuss proposals for solving specific problems in 5 sectors of the economy.

5. Submit a narrative final report to UN Women in Kazakh and Russian languages.

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:

• Higher education in the field of economics and related industries.
• The presence of a degree in economics, including in the field of research problems and development of entrepreneurship in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Experience:

• Not less than 7 years of professional experience in the field of research and analysis of economic development, entrepreneurship, as well as experience in the field of assistance in the development and support of entrepreneurship, women's economic empowerment;
• At least 3 years of business experience:

- Practical experience and knowledge in the field of the system and support measures provided to entrepreneurs, including women.

- Experience in assessing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

• Experience of working with UN agencies or other international organizations, as well as with government bodies (attach a copy of supporting materials or provide a link to a website where the document is available).

Functional Skills:

Computer skills and IT applications (Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams ZOOM, etc.).

Knowledge of languages:

Excellent writing and speaking skills in Russian and Kazakh.

Applicants must meet the above minimum eligibility requirements, which will be included in the technical evaluation process in the future. The next stage of the evaluation process will support the methodology of combined analysis of the technical proposal (70%) and financial proposal (30%) of the applicant.

Technical evaluation criterion:

Criteria

Maximum

number of points

Education

Higher education in the field of economics and related industries.

100

The presence of a degree in economics, including in the field of research problems and development of entrepreneurship in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

150

Professional experience

Not less than 7 years of professional experience in the field of research and analysis of economic development, entrepreneurship, as well as experience in the field of assistance in the development and support of entrepreneurship, women's economic empowerment;

100

At least 3 years of business experience:

- Practical experience and knowledge in the field of the system and support measures provided to entrepreneurs, including women.

- Experience in assessing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

100

Experience of working with UN agencies or other international organizations, as well as with government bodies (attach a copy of supporting materials or provide a link to a website where the document is available).

50

Functional Skills:

Computer skills and IT applications (Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams ZOOM, etc.)

50

Languages

Excellent writing and speaking skills in Russian and Kazakh.

10

Maximum overall technical score (70%)

700

Only candidates with a minimum of 490 points will be eligible for financial evaluation.

Financial assessment:

The evaluation of the submitted financial proposals will be made on the basis of the following formula:

C low / C x 300, where

C is the price of the evaluated offer; and

C low - this is the lowest price of all evaluated offers among the corresponding offers;

300 is the maximum financial point you can get.

The winner is the candidate who scores the highest score on the total score (according to the results of the technical assessment + financial assessment). The maximum possible score, according to the technical assessment, is 700 and 300 for the financial proposal.

Submission package:

• A letter explaining interest in this position and vision for the development of proposals for the creation of a self-regulatory organization in the field of social entrepreneurship;
• Completed and signed form P11 (form available at http://eca.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment). Applicants without completed P11 forms will be categorized as non-complete applicants and will not be eligible for further evaluation;
• Financial Proposal* in Kazakhstani Tenge, including the total requested amount required to complete all tasks under this Terms of Reference.
• Providing the results of similar work, letters of recommendation from the organization with whom you previously collaborated.

The admin-jobs.undp.org platform only accepts one attachment, so you need to prepare all required documents, scan them as one PDF document and attach them to the online application.

*Each candidate must submit a consolidated financial proposal that includes all of the candidate's expenses required to complete the assigned tasks, including communication costs, travel expenses for the task, etc.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, hires, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by applicable law. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational needs.

If you require any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information with your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of power and discrimination. All selected candidates will be required to adhere to UN Women's policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women staff and will therefore be subject to a thorough background and background check. (A background check will include verification of academic credentials and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information in order to conduct a background check.)

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Added 10 months ago - Updated 10 months ago - Source: jobs.undp.org