Gender Mainstreaming Review Consultant – New Generation of Common Country Analysis (CCAs) and the United Nations Sustainable Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs) in Africa (2 Positions)

Location : Home-based, with the possible mission to Nairobi, KENYA

Application Deadline : 14-Aug-23 (Midnight New York, USA)

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : International Consultant

Languages Required : English French

Expected Duration of Assignment : 45 Working Days

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.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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 centre of all its efforts, 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. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. In support of UN Women’s Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (GEWE) mandate and the realization of women and girls rights contend in key normative frameworks such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), Agenda 2030, Maputo Declaration, Agenda 2063 and others; UN Women focuses on key strategies such as gender mainstreaming in governance, peace, security and humanitarian action; supporting women’s economic security and rights; and promoting women’s rights and protection against violence are employed.

The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) is the foundational and most important instrument for planning and implementation of UN Development activities at country level, translating the vision of Member States into UN actions and impacts on the ground. Embodying a spirit of true partnership, the UNSDSF maps the UN development system’s collective response to the 2030 Agenda and national development priorities, in agreement with each host government. It is critical that all UNSDCFs adhere to the system wide accountability the guiding principles: gender equality and women’s empowerment, leave no one behind and human rights-based approach (GEWE, LNOB and HRBA) (the first three of the six guiding principles).

The Common Country Analysis (CCA) is an integrated evidence-based analysis by the United Nations system of the prospects for sustainable development in a country in which it maintains operational development activities. The CCA serves as the analytical baseline for the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (Cooperation Framework) and provides the basis for policy dialogue and prioritization with stakeholders on sustainable development strategies and solutions. The Common Country Analysis (CCA) responds to the urgency of the 2030 Agenda by delivering an evidence-based analysis of the context for sustainable development in the country. The analysis integrates the overall commitment of the United Nations (UN) to UN Charter values, the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle, and international norms and standards. It rests on traditional and non-traditional quantitative and qualitative data and sources, including a broad, regular consultation process. The CCA, a UN independent analysis of the country context, is a living document which is updated annually to examine changes in the national context and related impacts on sustainable development.

Anchored to the Regional Collaborative Platform (RCP), the Peer Support Groups (PSGs) are an important part of the broader UN architecture at the regional level. The PSG serves as a quality assurance mechanism for the Cooperation Framework cycle, serving as an interface between the UNCTs and UN entities’ Regional Directors, seeking to enhance the UN’s collective programmatic strategy on country and sub-regional issues. Hence, the PSGs, in its focus on quality assurance support to United Nations country teams by ensuring that the Common Country Analysis and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, are expected to be guide UNCTs in meeting the criteria set out in the Cooperation Frameworks guidance, including on the gender and LNOB mainstreaming.

There are 53 United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs) in Africa, working on sustainable development to ensure full collaboration and coordination of UN efforts in addressing key challenges that transcend countries. According to the Country Cooperation Framework Status Dashboard, currently there are 45 Common Country Analysis (CCA) been finalized, while 39 of the new generations of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) have been signed with the Governments.

Based on the recent desk review of 11 CCAs and 9 UNSDCFs conducted by UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) late 2022, several promising practices on gender mainstreaming in the CCA and UNSDCF cycle have been highlighted in the ESA region; including the systematic engagement of gender experts and Gender Theme Groups (GTG); usage of sex, age and disability disaggregated data (SADD) and its extensive analysis in the CCA; clear CCA alignment between UNCT commitments and national, regional and international frameworks on gender equality, to which 90% of assessed countries have complied with. Regarding the assessed UNSDCFs, the best practices included UNCT roadmap with clear gender mainstreaming strategies; gender-responsive theory of change (ToC) and the most importantly, the evidence of either a stand-alone gender outcome or sufficient gender mainstreaming across all outcomes.

While these good practices indicate a promising trend on gender mainstreaming in the CCAs and UNSDCF’s, a number of gaps and further recommendations have been drawn for the desk review. There is need to move from gender sensitive results to gender transformative results, while strengthening gender disaggregated and sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE) data, the latter is absent in CCAs and UNSDCFs on the continent. Investing technical resources and quality time to engage issues of human rights, LNOB and GEWE, while strengthening the role and capacities of GTGs in its technical support to ensure UNCT leadership in successful gender mainstreaming.

Three years into the UN Development System Reform, UN Women East and Southern Africa (ESA) and West and Central Africa (WCA) Regional Offices in partnership with the Development Coordination Office (DCO) will conduct a comprehensive assessment of level of GEWE mainstreaming in the new generations of the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Africa-wide, capturing lessons learned and promising practices, key challenges and gaps, and opportunities for gender mainstreaming in the Cooperation Framework cycle.

Objective of the assignment: The objective of this assignment is to assess the level of GEWE mainstreaming in the CCAs and UNSDCFs to support the UN Country Teams the Regional Peer Support Group (PSG), Resident Coordinators and UNCTs in Africa in strengthening gender mainstreaming to ensure better accountability of UNCTs towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in the CCAs and UNSDCFs in line with UN corporate policy in this area.

Purpose of the exercise:

•  Establish a baseline on the level of GEWE integration in the CCAs and UNSDCFs at Africa regional level;
•  Provide the Resident Coordinator Offices and UNCTs in Africa with recommendations and guidance to strengthen gender mainstreaming across the outcome areas and the overall Cooperation Frameworks;
•  Facilitate dialogue across UN agencies on system wide accountability to gender mainstreaming to strengthen UNCTs role in supporting the integration of GEWE in the CCA and UNSDCF cycles;
•  Assess whether lessons from the SWAP gender equality scorecards, Gender equality Marker (GEM), national gender equality policies and other relevant normative frameworks, e.g Beijing +25 Platform for Action (BPfA) and Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) have fed into the planning process of the CCAs and Cooperation Frameworks;
•  Identify challenges which hamper UNCTs, Resident Coordinator Offices and Peer Support Groups (PSG) in meaningful integration of gender concerns in the new generation of CCAs and CFs; Capture and amplify good practices in supporting national priorities to advance GEWE.

The comprehensive study process is divided in four phases:

•  Inception phase: at the beginning of the consultancy, the consultant will be provided with key references and sources of information for an initial desk review. At the end of this phase a detailed work plan and methodology will be delivered by the consultant. The work plan and methodology will be validated and approved by UN Women and DCO;
•  Data collection phase: based on the developed and validated methodology, the consultant will carry out an in-depth desk review of all available CCAs and UNSDCFs in Africa and conduct consultations to complete data collection and triangulation of information. Interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders, as relevant, will take place. A survey among RCOs on common challenges when preparing CCA and UNSDCF will be conducted;
•  Data analysis and synthesis phase: The collected information will be analysed, and the report will be delivered to UN Women and DCO. A validation meeting will be organized where the consultant will validate the final study with UN Women and DCO. The consultant is expected to present the final results through a presentation to UN Women and DCO;
•  Dissemination and follow-up phase: will be undertaken by the UN Women and DCO.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the DCO and the UN Women ESA and WCA Regional Directors, and day-to-day direct supervision of the ESA Regional Strategic Planning and Coordination Specialist, the consultant will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

•  Prepare a work plan with timeline on deliverables;
•  Outline methodology for the quantitative and qualitative data collection for the assignment;
•  Conduct a review of all 39 available UNSDCFs’ outcome areas and CCAs in Africa, in line with recommendations from the SWAP gender scorecard, to assess the level of GEWE mainstreaming;
•  Outline findings and provide recommendations to strengthen GEWE integration in the CCAs and UNSDCFs to support peer review;
•  Facilitate substantive dialogues across UN Agencies on system wide accountability to gender mainstreaming and hold virtual consultations, key informant interviews and focus groups discussions with selected UNCTs and/or the Regional Peer Support Group (PSG) as well as a survey among RCOs on common challenges when preparing CCA and UNSDCF;
•  Document the gathered qualitative and quantitative data from the consultations, key informant interview and focus group discussions with selected stakeholders;
•  Deliver a comprehensive study on the level of GEWE integration in the new generation of the CCAs and UNSDCFs in Africa;
•  Prepare a presentation of the main findings and recommendations to UN Women and DCO.

Expected Deliverables, Performance Indicators and Schedule: Deliverables

Number of days

Payment schedule

Deliverable 1: Detailed work plan with deliverables and timelines and methodology for the quantitative and qualitative data collection for the assignment.

In the event that the quality is unsatisfactory, the consultant will be required to produce a new version of the draft inception report. The draft report will be in English and French.

5 days

30%

Deliverable 2: Data collection and desk review findings.

The consultant will present the findings of preliminary desk review and gathered qualitative data to UN Women and DCO. Presentation material is to be submitted to UN Women and DCO prior to the debriefing session. Minutes and any supplementary material provided during the session are to be submitted one week after the session.

20 days

Deliverable 3: Draft report

The draft comprehensive study report must include an executive a summary and includes all the relevant annexes.

Prior to submission to UN Women and DCO, the consultant must ensure that the draft report has undergone an internal quality control process through the Consultant’s Evaluation Quality Assurance System (EQAS). If the quality of the draft report is deemed satisfactory by UN Women and DCO (form and substance), the draft report will be circulated to the ESA and WCA GTGs, PCR and PSG in Africa. In the event that the quality is unsatisfactory, the consultant will be required to produce a new version of the draft report in English and French.

7 days

50%

Deliverable 4: Final Report

Address all the comments and make appropriate amendments to the report. For each and every comment, the consultant will indicate in writing how they have responded (“trail of comments”). The trail of comments document is to be submitted at the same time as the updated evaluation report. The final report will be in English and French and will include the actionable recommendations produced through the study.

7 days

Deliverable 5: Final presentation

Prepare and conduct a workshop to present the findings, conclusions, recommendations and lessons captured by the study to UN Women and DCO.

4 days

20%

Deliverable 6: Report communication

A PowerPoint presentation of the final key evaluation findings and recommendations, and a 2-pager on the final key findings (English and French), lessons learned and recommendations.

2 days

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:

•  Ability to lead policy review process through consultation with stakeholders;
•  Very strong background on gender, human rights and intersectionality;
•  Ability to manage time and meet tight deadlines;
•  Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
•  Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
•  Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
•  Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
•  Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
•  Ability to remain calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

•  Advanced (Masters) degree in social and political sciences, human rights, gender equality or a related field. PhD degree is an asset.

Experience:

•  At least 10 years of practical experience of work on gender mainstreaming in development programmes/projects at national and international levels;
•  At least 3 years, within overall practical experience of work on results-based management, review and/or evaluation;
•  Experience in gender data collection and analysis, including conducting interviews, surveys and focus groups;
•  Experience in assessing impact of policies, strategies and measures from a gender perspective;
•  Previous experience with the Gender Equality Scorecards, narrative reporting and development of follow-up matrices;
•  Familiarity with CCA and UNSDCF is an asset.

Language Requirements:

•  Proficiency in written and oral English and French is required;
•  Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

Application: All applications must include (as an attachment) a completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form-en.doc. Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Note: In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion: 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.