National Consultant to Support Enhancing National Capacities for Gender-responsive Emergency Preparedness and Response with UNICEF in Uzbekistan

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, inclusion!

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

This assignment is part of the multi-year USAID/BHA - funded programme “Strengthening Local and National Capacities for Emergency Preparedness and Response in High Earthquake Risk and Natural Hazard Prone Countries of Central Asia Programme is implemented by UNICEF jointly with the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), Ministry of Health and other stakeholders. The programme focuses on earthquake-informed emergency preparedness and early-action through building the capacities of national and regional partners. As disasters can exacerbate the existing inequalities and risk of women, girls and boys face, a specific attention was given on how to mitigate the risks that will be increased during an emergency.

Further, UNICEF Uzbekistan’s light Gender Programme Review (2023) explored CO’s partnerships with key gender related actors’ women and girls representative Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), UN agencies, national women machinery, and private sector. It has been noted that the CO maintains close partnerships with UN agencies. However, the scope of partnerships with CSOs especially women and girls based CSOs, and NGOs could be further strengthened. At the same time, the limited role and capacity of NGOs and CSOs and insufficient number of CSO service providers offering relevant social support services have been identified as a challenge in promoting such partnerships in the country. None of the programmes identified any type of partnership or collaboration with the private sector. Strengthening partnerships with organization representing gender equality agenda and rights of adolescent girls is a recommended area of focus of the UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan (2022-2025).

To ensure gender and GBV is well integrated in the disaster preparedness and response component, the national consultant will support UNICEF in adaptation of the Gender in Emergencies Strategy Note, GBViE Risk Reduction Tool, the Sendai GAP and conduct capacity building trainings for local level stakeholders and front-line workers on the impact of gender, including for people with disabilities, and GBV in disasters with a specific contextual focus on earthquake and how to effectively identify and mitigate GBV risks within Emergency Preparedness Planning/EPP, in line with IFRC and UNICEF guidelines. In addition, the training package will include topics Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), standards, principles, methodology and tools to be applied in the emergency preparedness and response. Lastly, in order to strengthen UNICEF’s partnerships on gender equality agenda, the consultant will conduct a partnership mapping and develop a strategy, including in emergency setting, of more meaningfully engaging Government, civil society actors and representatives as well as the private sector.

Scope of Work:

The consultancy will be under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Gender and Inclusion Specialist and in close coordination with Emergency Officer and Chief of Child Protection. The consultancy is home-based and will include the following objectives:

1. To enhance capacity of national emergency stakeholders on gender and its application through sharing best practices from the counties hit by the emergency, in particular on gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE) and inclusion of people with disabilities in in emergencies/humanitarian settings. Deliverable: Best practices from other countries, including but not limited to flyers, case studies, case scenarios, video materials, presentations, toolkits etc are shared with national partners as part of capacity building.

2. To support national stakeholders in adaptation and localization of the Gender in Emergencies Strategy Note, GBViE Risk Reduction Tool, the Sendai GAP and conduct presentation sessions for partners on the Strategy Note and Tools. Deliverable: Adapted and endorsed by national partners: Gender in Emergencies Strategy Note, GBViE Risk Reduction Tool, the Sendai GAP.

3. Capacity building trainings are conducted for local level stakeholders and front-line workers on the impact of gender and GBV in disasters, with a specific contextual focus on earthquake and how to effectively identify and mitigate GBV risks within Emergency Preparedness Planning. Participation in online capacity building trainings organized for Central Asian countries by the UNICEF Regional office and engaging national partners. The target regions for capacity building are Tashkent city, Tashkent region, Jizzakh region, Namangan region and Kashkadaryo region. To provide technical support to Ministry of Emergency Situation for the integration of action plans (inclusive of Sendai GAP considerations) into local policy. Deliverable: Report on conducted seminars/trainings on the gender in emergencies and GBV risk mitigations.

4. To undertake a partnership mapping to review the scope of current and potential partnerships with gender related actors by UNICEF in the country. To develop a concrete strategy, including in humanitarian setting, of more meaningfully engaging Government, civil society actors and representatives as well as the private sector. Deliverable: Partnership mapping and strategy developed, including in humanitarian setting, of more meaningfully engaging Government, civil society actors and representatives as well as the private sector.

The consultant is expected to deliver the trainings in Tashkent and selected regions using adult learning techniques and mixed methods such as pre-readings, offline assignments, group work, online presentation, and discussion, assessing pre-post knowledge etc. The training will be delivered mostly in Russian and Uzbek, where applicable. The training reports will be submitted in English upon completion within 3 business days. Draft and final reports complemented by training and educational materials.

The partnership mapping will be documented in close coordination with UNICEF sections and consultations with key stakeholders from the Government, CSOs and Private sector.

Scope of activities - Deliverables - Timeline

1. Documentation of best practices from the counties hit by the emergency, in particular on gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE) and inclusion of people with disabilities in emergencies/humanitarian settings. Integration of best practices into capacity building programme of national emergency stakeholders.

Deliverable 1: Best practices from other countries on gender and disability inclusion in emergencies/humanitarian settings and its application is documented and shared, in particular on gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE). Best practices including but not limited to set of recommendations, flyers, case studies, case scenarios, video materials, presentations, toolkits etc - 7 days by April 20

2. To support national stakeholders in adaptation and localization of the Gender in Emergencies Strategy Note, GBViE Risk Reduction Tool, the Sendai GAP and conduct presentation sessions for partners on the Strategy Note and Tools.

Deliverable 2: Adapted and endorsed by national partners:

• Gender in Emergencies Strategy Note
• GBViE Risk Reduction Tool
• the Sendai GAP

Final report on the outcome of the process with challenges, lessons learned and recommendations - 20 days by May 30

3. Capacity building trainings are conducted for local level stakeholders and front-line workers on the impact of gender and GBV in disasters, with a specific contextual focus on earthquake and how to effectively identify and mitigate GBV risks within Emergency Preparedness Planning. To provide technical support to Ministry of Emergency Situation for the integration of action plans (inclusive of Sendai GAP considerations) into local policy.

Deliverable 3: Report on conducted seminars/trainings on the gender in emergencies and GBV risk mitigations. Final report that includes: 1. Executive summary. 2. Main activities conducted in line with the set deliverables. 3. Description of challenges faced during the consultancy mission. 4. A detailed summary of each coaching training, including gender and age disaggregated data of the participants. 5. Annexed Emergencies Strategy Note, GBViE Risk Reduction Tool, the Sendai GAP. Annexed SOPs for the AAP tools.

Total of 10 days for deliverable. -5 days for documentation of the reports. -5 days for each training conducted. Note: Training report is submitted within 3 business days of completion for each training.

4. To undertake a partnership mapping to review the scope of current and potential partnerships with gender related actors by UNICEF in the country. To develop a concrete strategy, including in humanitarian setting, of more meaningfully engaging Government, civil society actors and representatives as well as the private sector.

Deliverable 4: Partnership mapping and strategy developed, including in humanitarian setting, of more meaningfully engaging Government, civil society actors and representatives as well as the private sector.

The assignment will require meeting with each UNICEF sector and development of the partnership mapping and strategy. Conducting a presentation for UNICEF CO for validation of findings. Submission of Mapping and Strategy endorsed by UNICEF - 23 days by August 15

Total: 60 working days

Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Travel: Local travel will be required.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• University degree in law, social sciences, international relations, or other relevant field; advanced degree in the same fields will be an asset;
• Excellent understanding of CEDAW principles with focus on GBV and gender issues in the local context, and experience in conducting gender & GBV training, development of the curriculum, gender analysis and assessments.
• Proven successful experience in conducting trainings
• Experience working with UN Agencies is an asset.
• Good analytical and report writing skills.
• Proficient knowledge of Russian;
• English and/or Uzbek is an asset;

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles 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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.