National Consultant to conduct a Capacity Need Assessment of Women in Politics and Decision Making at Local Level

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; 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 center 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.

The Government of Albania has made national and international commitments to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in many different socio-economic aspects. Several international conventions and platforms, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Beijing Platform for Action, demonstrate Albania’s commitment to the realization of women’s rights and the achievement of gender equality.

UN Women Albania Strategic Note (SN) 2022-2026 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, across its interventions, UN Women Albania addresses key thematic areas in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022 – 2026, specifically Outcome C1: By 2026, governance is more transparent and accountable, enabling people and especially vulnerable groups, to enjoy quality, inclusive services, enhanced rule of law and access to justice in line with Albania’s human rights commitments; and Outcome C2: By 2026, gender responsive governance strengthens equality and non-discrimination, promotes women’s empowerment and human rights, and reduces violence against women and children.

In 2021, the government adopted a National Strategy for Gender Equality (NSGE) 2021-2030 which aims, among others, to ensure equal participation and representation of women and men in political life and public decision-making at the local level. Women are well represented in ministerial positions, holding the majority of the posts in the current government. However, they remain under-represented in parliament, holding 50 out of 140 (36 per cent) seats.

Local elections were held in Albania on 14 May 2023. The elections took place in all 61 municipalities. Mayors and local councilors are elected for four-year terms. Mayors are elected in first-past-the-post contests. Local councilors are elected by proportional representation from closed lists. Out of 61 elected mayors, 8 women (out of 15 women candidates overall) were elected. Although, Albania has an electoral gender quota by which 50% of candidates for municipal councils on party lists must be women, not all-party lists respected this requirement. On local councils’ women won approximately 42% of the seats.

UN Women, in synergy with its work on addressing harmful norms and stereotypes works to tackle root causes and barriers that keep women from meaningfully participating and leading political processes. It also works to shift attitudes that view the political sphere as the domain of men, towards inclusive and equality promoting norms, by working in close collaboration with and in support to central and local government and CSO partners.

UN Women supported the establishment of the first National Alliance of Women Councilors in Albania in March 2018, which brought together Alliances of Women Councilors in Albania under a common National Women’s Agenda in support of gender equality and electoral empowerment of women at local and national level*. In the aftermath of the local elections of 2023, it is crucial that the elected women, especially the ones elected for the first time, have the capacities to contribute in advancing gender quality and gender responsive governance and women’s participation at the local, as well as national level.*

In the context and in line with the NSGE 2021-2030, Strategic Goal no. II “Ensuring the equal participation, representation, and leadership rights of women and men, young women and men, girls and boys in all their diversity in political and public decision-making at the local level”, measure II.1.4. ‘Strengthening of the Alliance of Women Councilors and the Gender Equality Committees to implement initiatives that reduce sexism and violence against women, young women, and girls in politics and in election processes, in cooperation and with the support of the Women Members of Parliament Alliance’, UN Women will leverage its previous interventions in the thematic area of Governance and participation in public life, focusing on work with key partners, so that all women are able to fully and equally participate in decision-making, and women and girls can benefit from gender-responsive laws, policies, budgets, services, and accountable institutions.

UN Women aims to provide support in assessing existing capacities and building capacities of elected women politicians on their legislative, representative, and oversight functions. The proposed intervention relates to Output 1.3.5. in the CO’s Strategic Note and AWP 2023: Change agents (CSOs, grassroot groups, citizens, including women rights entities) and women and girls have increased capacities and opportunities to lead, participate, monitor and influence decision making processes and resources for gender equality at national and local level and is in line with the UN Women Strategic Plan 2022-2025: Outcome 5 “Women’s voice, leadership & agency”.

In this framework, UN Women Albania is seeking to recruit a National Consultant to design and conduct a Needs Assessment of the legislative, representative, and oversight capacities of local level women politicians, including on gender-responsive governance capacities in these functions. The needs assessment will inform future programming for local level women politicians based on the identified legislative, representative, and oversight needs identified in the assessment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UN Women Albania Project Coordinator on Women Participation in Politics and in coordination with a local governance expert, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

-Prepare the methodology and workplan (in English) for the assessment based on the TOR with a proposed assessment tool/s and proposed sample (if needed) to best capture the needs for legislative, representative , and oversight capacity development for local level elected women officials following the 2023 local elections.

-Conduct desk review of findings from global and national publications, previous interventions targeting women in local decision-making, and other materials as relevant and prepare an inception report of key findings, gaps, opportunities and challenges relevant to the task.

-In close collaboration with and supported by the UN Women team, liaise with relevant representatives of the selected municipalities on the upcoming exercise.

-Prepare a database of the target group in the selected municipalities and their contacts, to ensure outreach during the data collection phase.

-Prepare an electronic version of the final questionnaire (in Albanian) to be disseminated amongst the target group.

-Carry out the capacity assessment exercise as per the agreed methodology, during the post-electoral period (September-October).

-Analyze the results of the assessment and prepare a final report, summary report, PowerPoint presentation, and three tailor-made capacity-building plans based on needs identified in the report for 1) legislative functions 2)representative functions 3) oversight functions (in English).

-Participate in meetings, consultations and other task related meetings and events as requested by the UN Women team.

Expected deliverables:

- A work plan comprising a detailed methodology, workplan and timelines;

- An inception report with the findings of the desk review;

-Need Assessment Tool to best capture the needs for capacity development for elected women officials at local level, after the May 14, 2023 elections (in English).

-A database of the target groups in the selected municipalities and their contacts.

-A report (in English) based on the results of the assessment.

-A tailor-made capacity-building plan for each 1) legislative functions 2) representative functions 3) oversight functions.

-Final consultancy report in English.

All deliverables should be agreed with UN Women and be provided in English (unless noted otherwise), 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 20 working days in the period between July –November 2023. Travel within Albania may be required based on the approved methodology for the assessment. 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:

• Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats, using appropriate IT functionality;
• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities;
• Ability to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints;
• Ability to establish, build and sustain effective relationships with clients, demonstrating understanding of client’s perspective; anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly;
• Ability to thoroughly and methodically collect, verify and record data, demonstrating attention to detail and identifying and correcting errors on own initiative; maintains databases.
• Strong understanding of the Albanian context on gender equality as well as the legal and policy framework related to gender issues at central and local level;
• Strong knowledge of the functioning of local government in Albania in the context of the National Decentralization Strategy and the Organic Law on Local Self-Government.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic requirements:

• Master's degree or equivalent in political sciences, social sciences, human rights, law, gender/women-studies or related fields.

Work Experience****:

• At least 10 years of experience in parliamentary development, electoral processes analyses, women’s political participation and/or governance-related issues in Albania;
• Demonstrated work experience in conducting research, needs assessments and reports on human rights, gender equality, political participation, parliamentary affairs, and related issues.
• Experience in developing and/or building capacities of national and local level decision-makers in political participation, policy development and monitoring, with a special focus on gender issues;

• Previous experience or familiarity with the UN system or other international organizations would be an asset.

  Language Requirements: Excellent written and oral English and Albanian communication skills are required.

Scope of Financial Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

• Financial Proposal specifying the total fee in Albanian Lek for the tasks (20 days).

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).

If the consultant is required to travel on official business to perform their roles and responsibilities, UN Women will cover the DSA and cost of travel to the location as well as their return upon completion 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 of final draft; and (iv) submission of the respective invoice.

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) or http://www.unwomen.org/en/about- us/employment
• Copies/links/samples of previous research/analyses/assessments conducted on human rights, gender equality, political participation, parliamentary affairs, and related issues 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.

NOTE: APPLICATIONS WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL OFFER WILL BE TREATED AS INCOMPLETE AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT.

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:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in political sciences, social sciences, human rights, law, gender/women -studies or related fields (max 10 points);

• At least 10 years of experience in parliamentary development, electoral processes analyses, women’s political participation and/or governance-related issues in Albania (20 points);

• Demonstrated work experience in conducting research, needs assessments and reports on human rights, gender equality, political participation, parliamentary affairs, and related issues (Copies/links/samples of previous research/analyses/assessments developed/conducted on the above areas) - (20 points);

• Experience in developing and/or building capacities of national and local level decision-makers in political participation, policy development and monitoring, with a special focus on gender issues (15 points);

• Previous experience or familiarity with the UN system or other international organizations would be an asset (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 the 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 can 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.)