Re-Advertisement: National Consultancy Gender-responsive programming, monitoring and reporting on UNICEF supported development and humanitarian interventions

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, a voice

Gender equality is essential to realizing the mandate of UNICEF to uphold the rights of all children. In 2021, UNICEF ushered in a new gender policy (2021–2030) articulating our vision for gender equality in our programmes, as well as our workplaces and practices, around the globe. The UNICEF Gender Action Plan (2022–2025) charts UNICEF’s way forward with a series of time-bound results that deliver lasting, transformative change for children, adolescents and women worldwide. It affirms that promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is the responsibility of everyone, regardless of organizational role.

The UNICEF Gender Action Plan (GAP) elaborates the steps required to accelerate progress on gender equality across the five Goal Areas of the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025, as well as within institutional systems and processes, with clear indicators and monitoring mechanisms to track change. It is grounded in the human rights principles of non-discrimination and equality and articulates the role of UNICEF, as a collaborator with Governments and other partners, in supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Recognizing that gender discrimination has lifelong and intergenerational impacts, the UNICEF GAP advances gender equality throughout the life course.

How can you make a difference?

1. Purpose of consultancy

The main purpose of the consultancy is to assist the process of gender mainstreaming in the UNICEF Moldova Country Office. While the consultant will be directly involved in implementing certain gender-specific activities, the wider contribution should focus on supporting colleagues across different sections and the management to identify strategies and methods that will enable the integration of gender results and build further capacity of colleagues to incorporate gender equality into their own areas of work.

In alignment with the UNICEF GAP, the role of the Gender Programme Consultant (hereinafter ‘The Consultant’) will be primarily technical and programmatic, with the normative advocacy and coordination roles serving a secondary function. The Consultant will provide authoritative technical guidance/operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results contributing to gender equality in alignment with the UNICEF GAP. The Consultant will support UNICEF Programme sections (Child Protection, Education, Health, Social Protection, Communication) for the development, implementation, and monitoring of high quality gender programming/ projects across sectors targeting both humanitarian and development interventions.

The Consultant will also play a role in:

• mainstreaming gender by prioritizing key gender results within the sector(s) with a strong gender relevance;
• supporting cross-sectional collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on gender, ensuring coherence, maximization of synergies and efficiency in utilization of resources and delivery of results;
• working with programme colleagues and management so that gender results are effectively defined, measured, and reported, and high-quality assessment, research, evidence generation and evaluation on gender programming is undertaken and utilized;
• supporting effective review, assessment, planning, capacity building, and knowledge management on gender;
• supporting the assessment and identification of gender needs for emergency preparedness and response, and provides gender relevant guidance and technical input on emergency programming.

2. Performance indicators for evaluation of results

The performance of work will be evaluated based on the following indicators:

• Completion of tasks specified in ToR;
• Compliance with the established deadlines for submission of deliverables;
• Quality of work;
• Demonstration of high standards in cooperation and communication with UNICEF and counterparts.

3. Key deliverables and delivery dates/timeline*

Support to strategic planning and program/project development (including emergency contexts) – due by 31 May 2023

• Develop UNICEF Moldova Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for 2023-2027 and Action Plan on Gender for 2023-2024;
• Coordinate identification of the areas of focus for gender programming/projects with the greatest potential for impact and scale;
• Support revision of programme documents, including humanitarian once to ensure gender dimension is properly reflected under results framework.

Support to program monitoring , reporting and delivery of results (including emergency contexts) due by 30 September 2023

• Participate in the strengthening of the quality of research and evidence building on gender related programming;
• Support to include gender-sensitive indicators and performance benchmarks, Results Assessment Module (RAM) gender indicators, Gender Equality Marker (GEM) tagging are being included, routinely monitored, analyzed and utilized at the country-level; oversight over gender results and gender expenditures reporting.

Evidence generation, innovation and knowledge management (including emergency contexts) due by 30 September 2023

• Initiate documentation and sharing of the country-level experience in gender programming and lessons learned as part of 2023 Work Plans and Refugee Response Plan (RRP);
• Facilitate the implementation and documentation of innovative practices, approaches and latest technology on media and digital platforms and networks.

Advocacy, networking and partnership building (including emergency contexts) due by 30 November 2023

• Support mapping of potential new partnerships and leverage existing partnerships to accelerate UNICEF GAP implementation;
• Liaise with UNHCR, section leads and emergency focal points to ensure that gender is being considered in the analysis and programming

4. Reporting requirements

The Consultant will work under direct supervision of the Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist and in collaboration with the Deputy Representative and sectoral teams. UNICEF will regularly communicate with the Consultant and provide feedback on deliverables performance and all other necessary support to achieve objectives of the assignment, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to the Consultant performance and the quality of work. All the activities and deliverables undertaken by the Consultant shall be discussed and planned in consultation with UNICEF.

All products will be subject to UNICEF review before approval. All deliverables need to be submitted in electronic format (Word, Excel, Visual etc,) in English.

5. Work location, official travel involved and support provided by UNICEF

Considering the time period for implementation of the assignment, majority of the planned tasks could be done remotely, including face-to-face meetings will be possible. Office space might be provided when needed to ensure related work activities are properly implemented.

In-country duty travel expenses will be covered directly by UNICEF.

UNICEF will provide the Consultant with relevant policies, documents, reports etc., as well as facilitate the contact with relevant stakeholders and partners. UNICEF will ensure timely feedback to all deliverables to be presented by the Consultant.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in the social sciences is desired (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF’s sectoral work (e.g. Health, Nutrition, Education, Social and /or Child Protection, Social Inclusion etc.), required.
• Academic credentials in gender, highly preferred.

Knowledge / Experience:

• Minimum four years of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming and research on gender and development in key issue areas that are the focus of UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan, required.
• Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes/projects on gender and development or any other cross cutting programmes, required.
• Experience in working with international organizations (working with UNICEF/other UN Agencies highly preferred).
• Experience in emergency response , highly preferred.

Language Proficiency

• Excellent communication skills in English.
• Fluency in Romanian.

Skills:

• Strong writing and communication skills especially in team environments, highly preferred.
• Ability to work independently with confidence and self-motivation, necessary.
• Highly organized and proactive with timely production of materials, necessary.

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.

For more details on deliverables and minimum requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

2023_ToR Gender Consultant_VA.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain a Financial Proposal (template below). Please secure the Financial Proposal *.pdf document with a password on document view; the password will be requested only from technically qualified candidates.

Financial Offer_Gender Consultant.xlsx

Applications for this assignment must be received no later than: 20 March 2023

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.