(retainer) Senior Planning Advisor for Resilient, Inclusive, Smart and Safe SIDS programme

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International 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.

The UN Women MCO Caribbean covers 22 countries and territories in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean, which are part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Strides towards gender equality in the countries covered by the MCO have resulted in gains for women and girls in the Caribbean, relating primarily to high education rates and increases in employment rates. However critical gaps remain. These gaps are further exploited during hazards like COVID-19 and other environmental hazards.

Recent prevalence surveys supported by UN Women, governments and development partners demonstrate that Caribbean prevalence rates of violence against women are at or above the world average. High rates of violence, including sexual harassment, gender-based violence and sexual violence against women and girls (SVAWG) occur also in public spaces, including femicides.

Building on the “Safe Cities Free of Violence against Women and Girls” model, the ongoing EnGenDER, Build Back Equal and the Afro-Descendant Women’s Resilience projects, the “Resilient, Inclusive, SMART and Safe SIDS” programme creates an enabling environment for introducing inclusive, smart and safe urban, peri-urban and rural spaces that are resilient to climate change impacts and natural hazards. The programme improves climate resilient economic opportunities for women, indigenous and youth owned MSMEs and develops capacities of urban planners, development organizations and government agencies in inclusive and empowering urban planning towards public spaces free from violence and harassment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UN Women MCO Caribbean Representative and reporting directly to the Programme Analyst on Climate Change and DRR, the consultant will conduct the following tasks:

• Support the development of a CARICOM SIDS standard for Inclusive Safe Cities including Assessment and Monitoring Tools (adaptation of UN-Habitat HerCity initiative and UN Women Safe Cities models).
• Coordinate consultations with key stakeholders.
• Support update of the Inclusive Safe Cities model.
• Coordinate implementation of assessments in at least 3 cities in Jamaica, 2 cities in Trinidad and Tobago and 1 in Barbados (with appropriate approvals from Ethics Review Committees etc.).
• Develop a tool for assessment of inclusivity, resilience and safety of public spaces like markets, parks and others.
• Conduct gender audit and environmental, disaster risk reduction and safety assessment of target craft markets (Saint Lucia, Dominica and Grenada).

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/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf?la=en&vs=637

Functional Competencies:

• Integrity and Fairness: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work. Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity: Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to maintain networks and partnerships with UN agencies, other international organizations, and national organizations.

Required Skills and Experience

The consultant should meet the following criteria:

Experience:

• At least 15 years of work experience in Urban Planning and/or Urban Renewal.
• At least 15 years’ experience working in the Caribbean region or with Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• Experience working on issues related to women’s empowerment and gender equality is desirable.
• Experience working in the United Nations is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.

Education:

• Advanced University degree in social sciences e.g. Planning, Sustainable Planning and Development, Urban and/or Regional Planning, Urban Geography, Environmental Studies, Development, Business, Economics, Administration, etc.

LOCATION AND DURATION

• The consultancy will be home based, with travel to the project countries COVID-19 restrictions permitting.
• The consultants will be engaged for a maximum of 120 working days during the period 24 January 2022 – 23 January 2024.

REMUNERATION

• The consultancy fee will be negotiated before contracting. Each payment will be based on a predefined and formal agreement between UN Women and the consultant and will be disbursed based on satisfactory completion of agreed deliverables.

• The remuneration for this contract type is an all-inclusive fee, the organization will not be liable for additional cost or benefits. Hence, it is the responsibility of the consultant to take out adequate medical insurance for the duration of the contract and it is recommendable that the policy includes coverage for COVID-19 related illness. The medical coverage should be international when the contract requires missions or international assignment.

• If selected for this vacant post, proof of medical coverage should be presented within the first two months of the contract.

HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, AND COMMUNICATION:

• The consultant must be equipped with a fully functional laptop, which must run at least Windows 7. The consultant must be reasonably accessible by email and telephone (preferably mobile). The use of reliable, internet-based (Skype or equivalent) is required.

REFERENCES:

• Minimum of three client references that include the name of the contact person, title and contact information.

OTHER:

• The consultant contracted will be required to sign a statement of confidentiality and freedom from any conflict of interest with potential future contractors with respect to the TORs and work that they will be delivering

Note:

Submissions to UNDP Jobs are limited to a maximum of 10 MB, virus-free or corrupted contents to avoid rejection, and no more than 1 email transmission. All applications must be submitted through UNDP jobs. Please do not send applications to UN Women staff as they will not be accepted.

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.)