Support the Office of the Senior Women Protection Advisor at the Un Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

The National Consultant, attached to the Office of the Senior Women Protection Advisor (OSWPA), will support the UN Mission in South Sudan’s (UNMISS) effort in assisting parties credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape and other forms of sexual violence in South Sudan to uphold their commitments to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). The purpose of the consultancy is to support the consolidation and implementation of key commitments made by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the pro-Machar Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) as well as other parties to the conflict to address CRSV and support for the integration of CRSV perspectives into their work.

The OSWPA National Consultant will provide technical support for the initial steps regarding the implementation of the “Action Plan for the Armed Forces on addressing conflict-related sexual violence in South Sudan” (Joint Action Plan) launched by the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs and senior leadership of the Joint Defence Board (JDB) on the 19th of June 2021. This Joint Action Plan builds on and unifies the earlier SSPDF and SPLA-IO action plans on addressing CRSV. The UN Security Council, in its resolution 2577 (2021) identifies the implementation of the Joint Action Plan as one of the benchmarks for the possible review of the arms embargo, with an emphasis on the training, sensitization, accountability, and oversight of the defence and security forces, and requests the South Sudan government to report to the Council not later than 15 April 2022.

The OSWPA National Consultant will be based in Juba for the duration of the consultancy and be willing to travel within South Sudan if needed. S/he will be placed in the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs. The consultant will work under the supervision of UNMISS Senior Women Protection Advisor and the overall guidance of the Director of the Human Rights Division (HRD).

One of the core areas of OSWPA’s mandate is to assist parties to the conflict in addressing CRSV and mainstreaming CRSV considerations in the security sector reform as well as the overall peace process. Given that the Joint Action Plan has now been adopted and launched, technical support is required to kickstart its implementation. This will be achieved by closely working with officials of relevant institutions in South Sudan including the Ministry of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs, the SSPDF, SPLA-IO, SSOA and relevant mechanisms for security arrangements. Some of these activities are carried out in local languages and a national consultant has a comparative advantage in this regard.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose of the Consultancy

The national consultant will be tasked with the responsibility to work closely with officials of relevant institutions in South Sudan in a local language including the Ministry of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs, the South Sudan People Defence Force (SSPDF), SPLA-IO, SSOA and relevant mechanisms for security arrangements.

Scope of Work

Facilitate the implementation of the Action Plan for the Armed Forces on addressing conflict-related sexual violence in South Sudan through:

• Support the establishment of a Joint CRSV Committee mandated to oversee the implementation of the unified action plan (Oversight Committee).

• Attend meetings of the Oversight Committee and provide secretariat support.

• Provide technical support to the Chairperson and Members of the Oversight Committee to track advancement in the implementation of specific activities of the Joint Action Plan.

• Review regular reports on the implementation of the Joint Action Plan.

• Upon need, conduct field visits to engage relevant stakeholders as part of monitoring and supporting the implementation of the Joint Action Plan.

• Identify progress and gaps in the implementation of the Joint Action Plan on addressing CRSV and suggest interventions as appropriate.

• Submit monthly reports outlining progress and gaps in the process of implementation of the Joint Action Plan. Monthly reports to include recommendations on possible entry points for UNMISS’ technical assistance to strengthen compliance by with obligations on the prevention and response to CRSV by different parties.

• Provide secretariat support to relevant meetings (organization, minute-taking, etc.)

Deliverable

• Draft various documents including notes to file, minutes, workshop reports, monthly updates etc.
• Submit monthly reports outlining progress and gaps in the process of implementation of the Joint Action Plan on addressing CRSV in South Sudan, including recommendations (deadline: 30 days after the start of the consultancy and subsequently after 30 days).
• Submit minutes of meetings held with and by members of the Oversight Committee mandated to track advancement in the implementation of the Joint Action Plan (deadline: 3 days after each meeting).
• Submit minutes of meetings held with relevant officials of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs and members of relevant mechanisms for security arrangements and the SSPDF/unified national army (deadline: 3 days after each meeting).
• Draft various documents including notes to file, minutes, workshop reports, monthly updates etc.
• Submit monthly reports outlining progress and gaps in the process of implementation of the Joint Action Plan on addressing CRSV in South Sudan, including recommendations (deadline: 30 days after the start of the consultancy and subsequently after 30 days).
• Submit minutes of meetings held with and by members of the Oversight Committee mandated to track advancement in the implementation of the Joint Action Plan (deadline: 3 days after each meeting).
• Submit minutes of meetings held with relevant officials of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs and members of relevant mechanisms for security arrangements and the SSPDF/unified national army (deadline: 3 days after each meeting).
• Provide a final report with detailed analysis of the status of implementation of the Joint Action Plan to address CRSV and support for the integration of CRSV perspectives into the work of unified security forces in South Sudan. (Deadline: end of consultancy as an end of assignment report).
• Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Demonstrates diplomacy and tact in dealing with sensitive and complex situations.
• Strong communication, team building, interpersonal, analysis, and planning skills.

Professionalism

• Knowledge of key concepts related to protection of civilians, gender and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence/Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. Shows ability to suggest ways to mainstream gender and address sexual violence perspectives into governmental processes and mechanisms.
• Good drafting, monitoring, and reporting skills.
• Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, formulate options.
• Draws conclusions and make effective recommendations, particularly in relation to addressing the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations. Ability to formulate policy advice, position papers and reports for the attention of senior managers.
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter.
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results.
• Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns.
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from
• others and responds appropriately.
• Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication.
• Tailors’ language, tone, style, and format to match audience.
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain harmonious working
• relationships in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity for diversity.
• Ability to motivate, listen and integrate all members of a team. Ability to develop a consensus among people with varying points of view.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping other team members informed.

Technological Awareness

• Keeps abreast of available technology.
• Understands applicability and limitation of technology with regards to the work of the office.
• Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks.
• Shows willingness to learn new technology.

Planning & Organizing

• Organizes and accurately completes multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions, deadlines, available resources, and multiple reporting relationships.
• Plans, coordinates, and organizes workload while remaining aware of changing priorities and competing deadlines.
• Establishes, builds, and maintains effective working relationships with staff, partners and beneficiaries to achieve the planned results.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree with demonstrated three years of experience in the relevant field.

Experience:

• At least three (3) years of relevant work experience with demonstrated experience related to the field of human rights/ gender issues/humanitarian/ protection issues particularly with women.
• An understanding about mandates of the armed forces and key law enforcement agencies, an understanding of key provisions of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) which have an impact on the prevention and response to conflict-related sexual violence.
• Experience in working closely with the military and/or police and/or armed groups is an added asset.
• The Consultant must have computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, ability to use Internet and email.
• The Consultant must be willing to travel within the country if needs emerge.

Language:

Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required. Arabic language is desirable.

Institutional arrangements

• The Consultant will be contracted for two (2) months.
• The Consultant will report to the Programme Specialist of the Peace and Community Cohesion Project, who will review and approve delivery of outputs.
• The Consultant shall provide his/her personal laptop for the assignment.

Evaluation Criteria

Offers received will be evaluated using a Combined Scoring method, where the qualifications and proposed methodology will be weighted 70%.

Criteria to be used for rating the qualifications and methodology

Technical evaluation criteria (total 70 points)

• Relevant Educational Experience (30%)
• Relevant Work Experience and competencies as per TOR Requirements (40%)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points in the Technical Evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial evaluation (total 30 points)

All technically qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals receive points according to the following formula: p y (/z)

Where:

• p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated
• y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal price of the lowest priced proposal
• z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.