National Consultant on Disability Area

Consultant

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, peace and security.

The work of UN Women in Moldova is guided by its Country Strategic Note 2023-2027, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Moldova (2023-2027), UN Women Global Strategic Plan, National Programs and Strategies and aims to contribute to the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Strategic Note focuses on four main areas: 1) Ending Violence against Women; 2) Women’s Leadership and Governance; 3) Women’s Economic empowerment and 4) Humanitarian and Peace development nexus and UN Coordination on Gender equality.

UN Women works closely with other UN agencies in Moldova, under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, to support efforts by the Government, Parliament, civil society, media and communities to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, including from underrepresented groups. Relying and complying with key global norms and standards, such as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) the agency seeks to eliminate and prevent intersectional discrimination affecting women with disabilities.

Despite Moldova having signed up to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), operationalizing the commitment through inclusive and accessible policies, systems, service delivery and budgets still needs further strengthening. Inherent practices such as institutionalization and a medical approach to disability persists and high levels of stigma is observed towards people with disabilities (PWD). Persons with disabilities, including refugees with disabilities in Moldova are experiencing a number of challenges to access the services they need. Interventions for persons with disabilities are often perceived as being limited to specialized services, to be addressed by specialized actors, without consideration to their mainstream needs.

Persons with disabilities in general experience stigma and discrimination driven by various attitudinal, environmental, and institutional barriers, prejudice and stereotypes, that are amplified by various crisis (pandemics, humanitarian, etc). PWD face discrimination and other barriers in accessing livelihood and income support, participating in online forms of education, and seeking protection from violence. The perceptions and stereotypes regarding disability vary greatly depending on whether a person interacts with people with disabilities in everyday life. PWDs are accepted by the community as ‘a neighbor’ (persons with mental or intellectual disabilities) or as ‘a friend’ (person with a physical disability). The social distance index (0 to 6, the lower, the better), measured based on the Bogardus social distance scale, places the people with mental and intellectual disabilities (2.6) above the average social distance (2.4), while people with physical disabilities (1.7) are below the average. At the same time, 16% of respondents-people with disabilities associate the disability with ‘discrimination’. Women and girls with disabilities experience double discrimination, which places them at higher risk of gender-based violence, sexual abuse, neglect, maltreatment and exploitation. Women and girls with disabilities are far more likely to be victims of violence, and particularly of domestic and sexual exploitation, and estimates show that women with disabilities are 1.5 to 10 times more likely to be abused than non-disabled women. As per the Equality Council practice, gender and disability accounts for circa 39% of discrimination complaints solved in 2019.

As part of various projects and interventions conducted in previous years, UN Women supported prevention, combating of stigma, discrimination, and violence against women with disabilities, empowerment of women with disabilities, including women refugees in various areas, such as: politics, decision-making processes, advocacy. In addition to this, UN Women supported strengthening institutional capacities of several NGOs working in service provision for persons with disabilities, including on developing/strengthening gender-sensitive internal policies. UN Women also contributed during 2023 to the development and gender mainstreaming of the new National Programme for social inclusion of people with disabilities, under the leadership of MLSP.

UN Women is further committed to support the implementation of the new national program to be approved in the next period, and to support national authorities, NGOs from the field in the ongoing efforts to mainstream gender and disability in national policies, strategies, plans and contribute to empowerment of women with disabilities, including refugees.

In the above-mentioned context, UN Women is looking to contract a national consultant to provide technical support, advisory and expertise in the work with persons with disabilities for Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and UN Women Moldova CO.

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, peace and security.

The work of UN Women in Moldova is guided by its Country Strategic Note 2023-2027, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Moldova (2023-2027), UN Women Global Strategic Plan, National Programs and Strategies and aims to contribute to the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Strategic Note focuses on four main areas: 1) Ending Violence against Women; 2) Women’s Leadership and Governance; 3) Women’s Economic empowerment and 4) Humanitarian and Peace development nexus and UN Coordination on Gender equality.

UN Women works closely with other UN agencies in Moldova, under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, to support efforts by the Government, Parliament, civil society, media and communities to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, including from underrepresented groups. Relying and complying with key global norms and standards, such as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) the agency seeks to eliminate and prevent intersectional discrimination affecting women with disabilities.

Despite Moldova having signed up to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), operationalizing the commitment through inclusive and accessible policies, systems, service delivery and budgets still needs further strengthening. Inherent practices such as institutionalization and a medical approach to disability persists and high levels of stigma is observed towards people with disabilities (PWD). Persons with disabilities, including refugees with disabilities in Moldova are experiencing a number of challenges to access the services they need. Interventions for persons with disabilities are often perceived as being limited to specialized services, to be addressed by specialized actors, without consideration to their mainstream needs.

Persons with disabilities in general experience stigma and discrimination driven by various attitudinal, environmental, and institutional barriers, prejudice and stereotypes, that are amplified by various crisis (pandemics, humanitarian, etc). PWD face discrimination and other barriers in accessing livelihood and income support, participating in online forms of education, and seeking protection from violence. The perceptions and stereotypes regarding disability vary greatly depending on whether a person interacts with people with disabilities in everyday life. PWDs are accepted by the community as ‘a neighbor’ (persons with mental or intellectual disabilities) or as ‘a friend’ (person with a physical disability). The social distance index (0 to 6, the lower, the better), measured based on the Bogardus social distance scale, places the people with mental and intellectual disabilities (2.6) above the average social distance (2.4), while people with physical disabilities (1.7) are below the average. At the same time, 16% of respondents-people with disabilities associate the disability with ‘discrimination’. Women and girls with disabilities experience double discrimination, which places them at higher risk of gender-based violence, sexual abuse, neglect, maltreatment and exploitation. Women and girls with disabilities are far more likely to be victims of violence, and particularly of domestic and sexual exploitation, and estimates show that women with disabilities are 1.5 to 10 times more likely to be abused than non-disabled women. As per the Equality Council practice, gender and disability accounts for circa 39% of discrimination complaints solved in 2019.

As part of various projects and interventions conducted in previous years, UN Women supported prevention, combating of stigma, discrimination, and violence against women with disabilities, empowerment of women with disabilities, including women refugees in various areas, such as: politics, decision-making processes, advocacy. In addition to this, UN Women supported strengthening institutional capacities of several NGOs working in service provision for persons with disabilities, including on developing/strengthening gender-sensitive internal policies. UN Women also contributed during 2023 to the development and gender mainstreaming of the new National Programme for social inclusion of people with disabilities, under the leadership of MLSP.

UN Women is further committed to support the implementation of the new national program to be approved in the next period, and to support national authorities, NGOs from the field in the ongoing efforts to mainstream gender and disability in national policies, strategies, plans and contribute to empowerment of women with disabilities, including refugees.

In the above-mentioned context, UN Women is looking to contract a national consultant to provide technical support, advisory and expertise in the work with persons with disabilities for Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and UN Women Moldova CO.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under this announcement, UN Women seeks to contract one national consultant to provide expertise and advice in amendment of relevant legislation, policies, regulations in line with CRPD and Istanbul Conventions, and other connected technical support in the framework of implementation of the above-mentioned treaties and not limited to. The consultant will provide technical assistance, guidance, facilitation, and regular exchange of knowledge and expertise where necessary to the relevant national authorities and UN Women CO.

More specifically, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• To input the draft laws/regulations in the disability, EVAW, economic empowerment, other connected areas, in line with the CRPD and Istanbul Conventions and based on best national and international practices;
• Prepare and conduct presentation in public consultations, working groups and provide inputs, intervention where needed, including for advocacy purposes;
• Provide technical expertise in revision of relevant studies, research and data analysis in the area;
• Provide technical support and advice to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection or other relevant stakeholders in the area;
• Provide support and inputs in elaboration of concept notes for communication campaign and initiatives.

All written deliverables should be agreed with Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, UN Women and be provided in English, in electronic copy. Note that all materials, including images will remain property of UN Women and cannot be used without UN Women’s permission.

INPUTS

UN Women will provide the Consultant with the background materials, as well as other relevant information with regards to implementation of the tasks under this TOR.

TRAVEL AND OTHER LOGISTIC ARRANGEMENTS

This is a home-based consultancy. As part of this assignment, there will be a maximum of up to 20 trips to City (up to 2 trips/month).

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Consultant’s performance will be evaluated against such criteria as: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered. All reports must be provided in English, electronically.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Payment will be disbursed to the consultant in instalments, after completing the assignment, upon submission of the report/ reports on deliverables and certification by the supervisor that the services have been satisfactorily performed and shall be all inclusive.

COMMUNICATION AND REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

The Consultant is expected to report and coordinate regularly with the UN Women disability focal point about the progress of the deliverables. The proposer is also expected to inform in a written form UN Women of any unforeseen challenge or risk that might occur during the duration of the assignment, as well come with a backup plan to ensure the accomplishment of deliverables.

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/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master degree or equivalent in sociology, gender studies, public administration or other development related sciences; A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
• Additional training and certification in GE, human rights, VAW etc. would be an advantage.

Experience:

• At least three (3) years of proven work experience in the field of gender equality/disability/ human rights;
• At least one (1) year of experience in providing revision support, inputs to regulations/documents in disability field;
• At least one year of relevant experience in working with/in public institutions and non-governmental sector in interventions in disability.
• Experience in working with international organizations is an asset;

Language requirements:

• Fluency in written and oral Romanian, Russian. Working knowledge of English is required.

Application Procedure:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their online applications with the following documents:

• Duly filled Personal History Form PHF11/CV (downloadable from https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process;
• Letter of Intent to include a brief overview about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position.
• Financial proposal – specifying a total lump sum amount for the task specified in Terms of References. The Financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (daily rate). Please see ANNEX I and ANNEX II.

Initially, individual national consultants will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:

• Master degree or equivalent in sociology, gender studies, public administration or other development related sciences; A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;

• At least three (3) years of proven work experience in the field of gender equality/disability/ human rights;

• At least one (1) year of experience in reviewing regulations/documents in disability field;

• At least one (1) year of relevant experience in working with/in public institutions and non-governmental sector in interventions in the field of disability.

The short-listed individual consultants will be further evaluated based on a cumulative analysis scheme, with a total score being obtained upon the combination of weighted technical and financial attributes. Cost under this method of analysis is rendered as an award criterion, which will be 30% out of a total score of 500 points.

Evaluation of submitted offers will be done based on the following formula, where:

T

is the total technical score awarded to the evaluated proposal (only to those proposals that pass 70% of maximum 350 points obtainable under technical evaluation);

C

is the price of the evaluated proposal;

Clow

is the lowest of all evaluated proposal prices among responsive proposals; and

X

is the maximum financial points obtainable (150 points)

Technical evaluation will be represented through desk review of applications and further interview will be organized, if needed.

1. Technical Evaluation: the technical part is evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR).
2. Financial evaluation: In the Second Stage, the financial proposal of candidates, who have attained a minimum 70% score in the technical evaluation (at least 245 points), will be compared.

Winning candidate

The winning candidate will be the candidate who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring + financial scoring). Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.

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.

The United Nations in Moldova is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Annex I: Price Proposal Guideline and Template

The prospective Individual Consultant should take the following explanations into account during submission of his/her price proposal.

Daily fee

The daily price proposal should indicate a "lump sum amount" which is "all-inclusive"; All costs (professional fees, communications, consumables during field related missions etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor needs to be factored into the proposed price.

UN Women will not withhold any amount of the payments for tax and/or social security related payments. UN Women shall have no liability for taxes, duties or other similar charges payable by the Individual Contractor in respect of any amounts paid to the Individual Contractor under this Contract, and the Contractor acknowledges that UN Women will not issue any statements of earnings to the Individual contractor in respect of any such payments.

Travel costs

No travel is envisaged under the current assignment. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs should be agreed upon, between UN Women and the National Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Daily Subsistence Allowance

Not applicable.

Currency of the price proposal

The applicants are requested to submit their price proposals in MDL. In the case of proposals in other currencies, these shall be converted into MDL using the official UN exchange rate for currency MDL conversion to MDL at the date of applications’ submission deadline.

Annex II: Price Proposal Submission Form

To: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Ref: National consultant to provide technical support and expertise in the work with persons with disabilities

Dear Sir / Madam,

I, the undersigned, offer to provide professional consulting services to UN Women within the scope of the referred Assignment.

Having examined, understood, and agreed to the Terms of Reference and its annexes, the receipt of which are hereby duly acknowledged, I, the undersigned, offer to deliver professional services, in conformity with the Terms of Reference.

My maximum total price proposal for the assignment is given below:

Deliverables

MDL

Daily fee all inclusive

Total price for working days

I confirm that my financial proposal will remain unchanged. I also confirm that the price that I quote is gross, and is inclusive of all legal expenses, including but not limited to social security, income tax, pension, etc., which shall be require applicable laws.

I agree that my proposal should remain binding upon me for 30 days.

I understand that you are not bound to accept any proposal you may receive.

[Signature]

Date:

Name:

Address:

Telephone/Fax:

Email:

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Added 2 months ago - Updated 2 months ago - Source: jobs.undp.org