National Consultant – Private sector engagement

Contract

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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, empowerment of women, and achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women's rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women Albania is currently implementing its Strategic Note (SN) 2022-2026 which aims to ensure that “All Women and girls enjoy and exercise their human rights in a gender equal society and meaningfully contribute to Albania’s sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development and EU integration”. To achieve such result, UN Women will focus on three outcomes, which mirror verbatim the areas of focus of the United Nations Albania[1]:

1. Increased and more equitable investment in people to remove barriers and create opportunities for those at risk of exclusion.
2. Innovative and integrated policy solutions that accelerate sustainable, productive and inclusive development.
3. Gender-responsive governance that strengthens equality and non-discrimination.

Across its interventions, UN Women Albania will address key thematic area of focus in line with the Global Strategic Plan 2022-2025:[2] ending violence against women, women’s economic empowerment, gender-responsive budgeting, gender responsive governance, as well as promoting cross-cutting principles including the adoption of a human rights and Leaving No One Behind. This approach aims to support the Government of Albania to implement its commitments on human rights and gender equality, in line with its National Strategy on gender Equality (NSGE) 2021-2030, and the EU Acquis Communautaire. All interventions undertaken by the Country Office aim to address structural causes of gender inequality, addressing discriminatory practices and reach women and girls who are at greatest risk of being left behind.

As part of the implementation of its Strategic Note, UN Women will continue strengthening and expanding its outreach to non-traditional partners including private sector companies in Albania under the framework of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). The WEPs are a global community of almost 9,000 like-minded companies that aim to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment within their companies as well as in the community where they operate. In Albania, 53 companies have currently signed the WEPs. Over the years, companies have made an increased contribution to the gender equality agenda in Albania, including through in-kind and pro-bono support to women’s CSOs and to survivors of violence as well as on raising public awareness on women’s empowerment and on ending violence against women.

In this context and with the view of continuing to strengthen engagement of private sector the Country Office is looking to: i) continue expanding this network and reach out to more private sector companies as well as cooperatives, ii) identify avenues in which existing and perspective WEPs signatories can actively be engaged and support financially and technically UN Women programming, in line with the companies’ mandate, iii) ensure adequate relationship management and follow up with key existing and perspective signatories, including through communications activities and initiatives; iv) ensure timely and quality engagement of the companies during international days and campaigns such as the 16 Days, the International Women’s Days and other initiatives led by the country office, including the satellite EXPO.

In this context, the country office is seeking to hire a national consultant who will support such private sector outreach and communications and will contribute strengthen the WEPs initiative in Albania. The consultant will be expected to provide advice on the engagement of companies and identify avenues for their contribution to each thematic area of UN Women’s work, and will be requested to provide support to the organization of events and activities with the companies, preparing companies’ briefs, and provide inputs into reports and other documents as requested. The consultant will also be expected to lead the management of relationships with companies, at both technical and executive level, to enhance their commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in their companies and communities.

[1] See UN Albania UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework: https://albania.un.org/en/153115-government-albania-united-nations-sustainable-development-cooperation-framework-2022-2026

[2] See UN Women Global Strategic Plan here: https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2021/09/un-women-strategic-plan-2022-2025

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the WEPs focal point, and working closely with the UN Women Country Office programme team, the consultant will be requested to provide technical assistance in identifying potential new private sector companies who might be willing to sign the WEPs, support with setting up and initiating meetings and events where the companies’ contribution to UN Women programming could be further explored, and identify opportunities to increase partners’ visibility through communications channels and activities. In addition, the consultant will be requested to sustain and deepen the engagement of existing WEPs signatories including by identifying priority actions for each company to take to promote gender equality within their company and in their community, engage the WEPs signatories during International Women’s Day and the 16 Days of activism to end VAW and other campaigns as well as other UN Women initiatives that involve private sector and women’s entrepreneurship.

Possible duties and responsibilities include (non-inclusive list):

• Continuously update the mapping of potential new WEPs signatories as well as opportunities to strengthen collaboration with existing signatories and identify areas of collaboration.
• Organize events, workshops and working sessions with the WEPs in collaboration with UN Women Country Office and ensure adequate communication and visibility of these engagements.
• Strengthen partnerships with exiting signatories and identify possible entry points for existing private sector companies to enhance collaboration and provide support to the programmatic initiatives carried out by the Albania CO including engagement during UN Women's campaigns and initiative.
• Update and maintain a log of contacts and activities done under the framework of the WEPs.
• Develop outreach plans for engagement of the existing and perspective WEPs signatories and support the plan’s implementation by setting up dedicated meetings and calls between UN Women Albania CO management and WEP partners.
• Develop reports, articles and other written inputs as requested.

Other duties related to engagement with private sector.

Expected deliverables:

• At least 5 new WEPs companies identified and onboarded.
• At least 5 signature events organized with partners.
• Up to five events organized during the 16 days and/or international women’s day with private sector partners.
• At least one webstory prepared on the WEPs each year.
• WEPs mapping and contact log continuously updated.
• Regular reports on the technical assistance provided within the time period.
• Copies of reports, articles, briefs, technical inputs, and other on-demand reports on specific initiatives requested.
• Other events organized as needed/ad-hoc and as requested by supervisor.

Quality of deliverables:

• Quality of relationships with partners is central to success and will be assessed.
• Quality of technical inputs and deliverables will be evaluated for quality and timeliness.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• 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:

• Partnership development and management skills, including with private sector partners.
• Excellent communications, social media and writing skills and previous experience in managing communications initiatives, including on the topic of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Excellent writing skills in English and Albanian.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong initiative-taker.
• Focuses on impact and results for the partner.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications/Education

• Advanced university degree in communications, journalism, international development, gender and social studies, public administration or any other social science related to development and communications).

Work Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, particularly in the areas of communications, social media, public relations, partnerships.
• Specific experience with private sector outreach.
• Previous experience in promoting gender equality and women’s rights.
• Previous experience or familiarity with the UN system or other international organizations.

Language requirement

• Proficiency in written and spoken English and Albanian

Schedule of Payments:

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; (iv) submission of the respective certification of payment.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit their application no later than November 21st 2023.

The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining the applicant’s interest in applying for the position.
• Filled UN Women Personal History Form (P11 form) including past experience in similar assignments and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from: UN Women Personal History Form (P11)please upload the P11 instead of your CV
• Financial Proposal - Financial proposal specifying the daily fee in Albanian Lek. Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall consider 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). Other travel costs different from the above will be covered by UN Women separately.

All applicants should note that this is a retainer contract and therefore there is no guarantee by UN Women of minimum number of days the consultant will be engaged for. The contract will not exceed the total number of working days as stated above. If additional days are required from the consultant, this will be done through a separate contract extension to the parent contract.

Evaluation of applicants:

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ 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 the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Technical Evaluation –70 points:

• Advanced university degree in communications, journalism, international development, gender and social studies, public administration or any other social science related to development and communications); (max 10 points);
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, particularly in the areas of communications, social media, public relations, partnerships; (25 points);
• Specific experience with private sector outreach; (15 points)
• Previous experience in promoting gender equality and women’s rights; (15 points).
• Previous experience or familiarity with the UN system or other international organizations; (max 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)- P11 form
• 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.

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.

• The consultancy post is open to local (Albanian) individuals or foreign individuals with valid temporary or permanent residence in Albania.

• 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.)