National Consultant to conduct a Mid-Term Review of the project “Gender Rural Equality and Tourism”

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. Placing women's rights at the center of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world.

Through its programs and projects, UN Women in Albania is providing technical assistance to national partners (governmental and non-governmental) in the implementation of existing international and national commitments to women’s rights and gender equality, it facilitates networking and exchange of good practices and advocates for women’s rights and gender equality in all areas of life. According to its mandate, UN Women works in five thematic areas, such as leadership and participation, women’s economic empowerment, ending violence against women, women's peace and security, and governance and national planning fully reflecting accountability for gender equality commitments. UN Women is also the lead Agency in coordinating the UN Country Team on gender equality and is chairing the UN Group on gender equality.

Rural women in Albania face many challenges to their economic security, such as lack of financial support, weak access to secure land rights, a limited understanding of which businesses are profitable, limited availability to enter the labor force due to disproportionate engagement in unpaid activities and, high dependence from family members. Women’s contribution to agriculture in Albania is vital, with 54 percent of employed women working in this sector. However, such contribution often remains invisible because of the high levels of informality, which often leaves them without protection or social benefits.

To address some of these challenges UN Women, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Albania, and with the support of the Government of Italy, is implementing the Gender Rural Equality and Tourism (GREAT) project, a three-year initiative that will contribute to rural women’s empowerment in Albania and will strengthen women’s roles and contribution to rural development. The project will contribute to the sustainable economic development of rural women in three targeted regions and their communities by increasing their income and ability to obtain work.

The project aims to develop the capacities of rural women to develop their own businesses, to self-organize and register as local groups, and to improve their access to finance. Simultaneously, GREAT will support targeted municipalities to prioritize and promote rural women’s businesses, rural tourism, and value chain development. Furthermore, it will promote a policy and legislative environment to strengthen women’s economic empowerment and their access to and control over productive assets.

The project GREAT was developed based on the needs identified by UN Women and FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, following recommendations of different studies and country assessments undertaken by these entities. Its main goals are aligned with the priorities of the Government and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS Tirana), in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its core principle of leaving no one behind. UN Women is the implementing agency for this project with FAO as the main responsible party that will implement specific components.

As the project is towards the end of the second year of implementation, UN Women is recruiting a national consultant to support the mid-term review (MTR) of the project with a view of informing the remaining implementation period based on progress and results so far and the intended Outcome.

The MTR will assess the progress toward the achievement of results as specified in the Results Framework of the programme and the overall project implementation plan and timeline. The review will assess early signs of success or failure with the goal of identifying the necessary modifications to be made to set the programme on track to achieve its intended results. The MTR will review the strategy and risks to sustainability as well as identify lessons learned which could be further explored and replicated in the upcoming project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UN Women project manager, in collaboration with government institutions staff, and in close coordination with other UN Women and FAO partners/contractors, the national consultant is responsible for delivering the below:

1. Review Project design/implementation

• Review actual project implementation and recommend potential improvements to the implementation strategy using gender lenses.

2. Review Progress Towards Results, Outcomes/Outputs focusing on:

1. The indicators from programme’s results framework against the progress made towards the set targets.
2. Identification of key barriers to achieving the programme results within the remaining implementation timeframe.
3. Identifying and documenting aspects of the programme have already been successful. Identify promising practices and upscaling opportunities.

3. Review project management and communication arrangements

• Overall effectiveness of the project management, responsibilities, and reporting lines.
• If the project staffing structure facilitates interactions among team members and facilitates project implementation and learning.

• Internal project communication.

• Overall implementation plan and annual work plans and assess any challenges with delivering the project outputs and Outcome in the foreseen timeframe.

• If there were any delays in programme start-up and implementation.

• Examine the use of the results framework/log frame as a management tool. Review if any changes have been made since programme started, or if any changes need to be made in the upcoming period.

• Identify if the programme has the appropriate financial controls, including reporting and planning, that allow the management to make informed decisions regarding the budget spending and timely flow of funds.

• The monitoring tools currently being used.

• Examine the financial management of the budget for monitoring and evaluation.

• If the project’s team fulfills UN Women’s reporting requirements to the donor in a timely manner and in compliance with the quality standards.

• The effectiveness of external project communication with stakeholders.
• External project communication with the public whether proper means of communication have been established or are being established to express the programme progress and intended impact.

4. Sustainability

Validate whether the risks identified in the Risk Matrix are adequate and recommend modifications.

What is the likelihood that financial resources will not be available for the implementation of project initiatives after the project ends (identify potential resources from multiple sources that will be adequate for sustaining project outcomes)?

The MTR consultant will include a section of the report setting out the MTR’s conclusions (keeping them at a realistic number) in light of the findings. Recommendations should be succinct suggestions for critical interventions/adjustments that are specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant withing the remaining period of implementation. A recommendation table should be added to the report’s executive summary.

Main expected outputs/deliverables:

• Inception report with proposed MTR methodology, work plan and structure of the MTR report;
• A draft preliminary MTR report and one (1) presentation, to be delivered at a debriefing meeting with UN Women and partners;

• A final report that should include the following in its structure:

• Executive Summary

• Outcomes from the different consultations conducted with project stakeholders
• Introduction (including context, scope, methodology and limitations)
• Key Findings and Conclusions
• Recommendations (modifications/adjustments needed for on-going or future work
• Summary on challenges, lessons learned and promising practices
• Annexes (list of stakeholders/interviewees consulted, list of documents reviewed, etc.).

All deliverables should be prepared and submitted in English language unless otherwise requested by UN Women.

Duration

The national consultant will be contracted for up to 30 (thirty) working days to deliver the items specified above under Main expected outputs/deliverables over the period 20 March – 31 May 2023.

Mid-term Review Approach and Methodology

The MTR must provide evidence-based information that is credible, reliable and useful.

The MTR consultant will review all relevant sources of information (listed below) and any other materials considered useful for this review. The MTR consultant is expected to follow a collaborative and participatory approach ensuring close engagement with the UN Women and FAO project teams, AICS, Ministry of Agriculture and other key stakeholders as relevant.

The MTR consultant should as a minimum review the following documents:

• Signed agreement of the project entitled “Gender Rural Equality and Tourism”, including its annexes (Project document, Project Logframe, Risk Matrix, Project Budget)
• Narrative Annual Report for 2021 including the Progress of Indicators matrix
• Annual Work Plans for 2021 and 2022
• UN Women Strategic Note 2017-2021 including Theory of Change for relevant priority areas
• Communications material (such as project website, published project related stories on UN Women social media, etc.)
• Programme deliverables (such as training materials, studies, policy briefs)
• All monitoring reports prepared by the project (such as monitoring oversight mission reports, meeting minutes, conclusions of the steering committee).
• Steering Committee meeting minutes and related documentation.

All deliverables of an acceptable standard and quality should be submitted to UN Women in English.

Competencies

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:

• Strong skills in developing, designing and preparing well-structured, logically organized guidance materials, overviews, briefs, and similar knowledge products.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize straightforward and clear content from a range of complex background documents.
• Ability to produce knowledge and information materials tailored to the specific target-audience
• and fine-tuned to the purpose and country context.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written).
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with team members.
• Strong initiative-taker.
• Focuses on impact and results.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive, problem-solving attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Education/Academic qualification:

• Advanced degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field is required.

Work experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in gender programming development and implementation;
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of projects/programmes and use of results-based programme management methodologies.
• Experience in conducting research, assessments, and reviews on gender equality and women’s empowerment issues would be an asset;
• Experience in similar assignments with UN agencies and/or international development agencies.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English, both oral and written. All deliverables to be prepared and submitted in English.

Please note that the consultant cannot have participated in the project preparation, formulation, and/or implementation and should not have a conflict of interest with project-related activities.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

• Financial Proposal specifying the daily fee in ALL (Albanian Leke) for the tasks specified above. 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. fees 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 of final draft; and (iv) submission of the certification of payment.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

Qualified and interested candidates are required to apply online: unwomen.albania@unwomen.org no later than 11 March 2023.

• 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 the link: http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment
• Financial Proposal specifying the total lump sum 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.
• Copies or links to similar assignments.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicant’s qualifications and financial proposal. The 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 degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field is required – 10 points
• At least 5 years of experience in gender programming development and implementation – 20 points;
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of projects/programmes and use of results-based programme management methodologies – 25 points.
• Experience in conducting research, assessments, and reviews on gender equality and women’s empowerment issues would be an asset – 10 point
• Experience in similar assignments with UN agencies and/or international development agencies. – 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 follows:

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.

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.)