TWO ( 2 ) SENIOR ADVISORIES IN FINANCIAL INCLUSION OF WOMEN

Location : Panama, PANAMA

Application Deadline : 15-Sep-23 ( Midnight New York, USA )

Additional Category : Gender Equality

Type of Contract : Other

Post Level : Other

Languages Required : English Spanish

Starting Date : ( date when the selected candidate is expected to start )

Oct 2, 2023

Duration of Initial Contract : 12 months

Expected Duration of Assignment : 12 months

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

I. Organizational context

The United Nations entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, UN Women, based on the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works to eliminate discrimination against women and girls; for the empowerment of women, and to achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, for human rights, in humanitarian actions, in peace and security. By placing women’s rights as the central axis of their work, UN Women leads and coordinates the efforts of the United Nations System to ensure that gender equality and mainstreaming commitments are translated into actions around the world. At the same time,exercises substantive and coherent leadership to support the priorities and efforts of Member States, building an effective partnership with the government, civil society, as well as with other relevant actors.

UN-Women comprehensively address the root causes of inequality from a perspective of transforming systems of reproduction of gender inequalities and discrimination and with a peacebuilding approach around:

•  Voice, leadership and autonomy of women
•  Strengthening multilateral and regional regulatory frameworks, and laws, policies, and institutions that promote gender equality at the national and sub-national levels;
•  Effective participation and protection of women in all areas of peacebuilding, security, and humanitarian action
•  Equitable access of women to services, goods and resources;
•  Financing of gender equality and the empowerment of women;
•  Positive social norms, including the participation of men and boys;
•  Production, analysis and use of gender statistics; and
•  Coordination of the United Nations system for gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The Strategic Plan 2022-2025 seeks to achieve gender equality, the empowerment of all women and girls and the full realization of their human rights. The Strategic Plan is based on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women ( CEDAW ), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council on women, peace and security and subsequent Resolutions of this agenda, the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and other outcomes of relevant intergovernmental processes, as resolutions of the General Assembly and agreed conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women.UN Women contributes to the implementation of the Regional Gender Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean and to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by placing the Sustainable Development Goal ( ODS ) 5 gender equality at the center of the SDGs and in coordination with all other Objectives in order to ensure comprehensive progress.

II. Background

In recent years, the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean have experienced notable advances in the economic field. However, the challenge of equating ourselves to the most developed countries remains. Financial inclusion is a highly relevant topic at the round tables on how to combat poverty and face inequality in middle-income countries; like those in our region. Although studies on such inclusion have multiplied, relatively few apply a gender perspective, and even fewer focus on all its dimensions, the most basic being access.

In order to deepen the work that UN Women promotes in the Latin American and Caribbean region in terms of financial inclusion, support country offices in this area, and support the implementation of the Inclusive Financial Ecosystem program in Central America through technical assistance and development of knowledge products, tools and methodologies, it is intended to hire a consultancy in the form of a retainer for 12 months.

Duties and Responsibilities

III. Objective of consulting

The main objective of this consultancy is to provide technical assistance on the subject of financial inclusion to the Regional Office and UN Country Offices Women of Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the needs and demands that occur. The result of the consultancy aims to contribute to reinforcing the regional agenda and the work of the country offices and to provide methodologies and other instruments to encourage and raise awareness of financial inclusion.

IV. Scope of the objectives

The successful performance of the owner will effectively contribute to the development of quality projects and results related to the theme of financial inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean; in particular, the consultant is expected to be called for the development of the following activities:

•  Develop context analysis, including existing legal, institutional and public policy frameworks related to the issue of financial inclusion in different countries of the region.
•  Develop policy and argument documents to encourage different national actors to promote progress in legal frameworks, institutional and public policy for the promotion of financial inclusion in the countries of the region.
•  Facilitating inputs to support political dialogue with key actors from governments, civil society, financial institutions, collective actors and regional entities for the promotion of financial inclusion in the countries of the region.
•  The collection of data and basic information for the production of policy documents, concept notes, presentations, etc. linked to the theme of financial inclusion.
•  The elaboration of proposals for the design of public policies and legal frameworks to promote financial inclusion.
•  The design of program and project proposals that serve to mobilize resources on the subject of financial inclusion.
•  The development of materials, guides and presentations and the accompaniment of capacity development processes, advice and training of various actors to promote financial inclusion.
•  The analysis and systematization of experiences developed in the countries and of knowledge generated ( guides, toolbox, case studies, and others ) in terms of financial inclusion.
•  The generation and review of knowledge products that disseminate learning about financial inclusion.
•  The organization and systematization of consultation processes and validation processes for tools, trainings and knowledge products.
•  Participation in seminars and panels to position the importance of advancing financial inclusion in the countries of the region.
•  Identifying opportunities for the exchange of experiences and south-south cooperation between different countries in the region for the promotion of financial inclusion.
•  Any other activity that may derive from the needs for advice and technical support to the regional office and country offices in the region in the development of initiatives, proposals for programs on financial inclusion.

V. Contract execution arrangements

The hiring modality “ Retainer ” implies that the consultant will be hired for a daily rate determined in his contract. A cumulative maximum value will be established that will remain as the upper limit and should not be interpreted, nor understood as a financial commitment or guarantee of business volumes by UN Women. It is not exclusive, which means that the parties are open to enter into another or other contracts with another person / s or entity / s.

The specifications related to each product requested, the number of days and the terms will be negotiated and agreed with UN Women and the consultant, case by case. Before the start of each job, the consultant must confirm their availability in written acceptance to carry out the tasks assigned by each request and / or order.

The inputs for carrying out the consultancy, such as equipment, assistant fees, food and local transportation will be borne by the owner. The holder must calculate the value of all costs related to the performance of the work and include them within the price of “ day / job ” in his financial offer.

Financial commitments will be established each time services are requested under the framework contract based on the fixed rate, through the management of an order request agreed between the parties that specifies the scope, products and expected results and an approved purchase order, as indicative of the start of service provision.

Payment will be disbursed after satisfactory delivery of products, previously approved by UN Women and upon delivery of signed payment certificate ( COP ).

The SSA contract determines the inclusion of all costs ( all inclusive ); the Organization will not assume additional costs or benefits to service fees. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the consultant to have health insurance for the contract period and it is recommended that it include medical coverage for diseases related to COVID-19. Medical coverage must be international in cases where the contract requires international missions or assignments.

If selected for this vacancy, it will be required to present proof of medical coverage within the first two months of the contract.

SAW. Performance monitoring and evaluation

The consultancy will be managed by the UN Women Regional Office. The supervision of this consultancy will be carried out by the Regional Coordinator of the Inclusive Financial Ecosystem program, in coordination with the UN Women Regional Economic Empowerment Policy Specialist and the Program Management Specialist. The Consultant is not a United Nations official and will carry out the activities related to his consultancy in a virtual way, from your own workspace as agreed in the work plan.

Three months after the start of the consultancy, an evaluation of the performance of the selected person and the products produced will be carried out, and if it is not favorable, the contract will be terminated by mutual agreement within the following 30 days.

For the proper development of the consultancy, the supervisor will provide the consultant with the existing documents and the information available to UN Women related to the consulting topics. It is the responsibility of the consultant to obtain primary and secondary information from other sources, if necessary.

The consultant will maintain permanent coordination with the supervisor for an effective execution and development of the products requested from this consultancy. As well as, it will provide information as requested within the terms of reference.

If trips and / or transfers are required, for example, to participate in events or provide technical assistance in specific countries, costs will be covered by UN Women, in accordance with the current rates of the Organization for such purposes.

VII. Performance indicators

•  Products / deliverables presented in time and form according to TDRs
•  Quality of work
•  Compliance with expected results
•  Compliance with the aforementioned powers ( Ref. Consultant Profile )

VIII. Intellectual Rights, Patents and Other Property Rights

The right to equipment and supplies that may be provided by UN Women to the consultant/a for the performance of any obligation under this contract, she must remain with UN Women and said equipment must be returned to UN Women at the end of this contract or when it is no longer necessary for the consultant. Said equipment, when returning it to UN Women, must be in the same conditions as when it was delivered to the consultant, subject to normal deterioration. The consultant will be responsible for compensating UN Women for damaged or damaged equipment regardless of its normal deterioration.

UN Women will have the right to all intellectual property and other property rights including but not limited to: patents, copyrights and trademarks, in relation to products, processes, inventions, ideas, technical knowledge, documents and other materials that the consultant has prepared or collected accordingly or during the execution of this consultancy, and the consultant/a recognizes and agrees that such products, documents and other materials constitute work carried out under the recruitment of UN Women. However, in the event that said intellectual property or other property rights consist of any intellectual property or property right of the consultant: i ) that existed prior to the performance of the consultant of his obligations under this contract,or ii ) that the consultant could develop or acquire, or could have developed or acquired, regardless of the performance of his obligations under this contract, UN Women will not claim or claim any property interest on it, and the consultant/a will grant UN Women a perpetual license to use such intellectual property or other property rights solely for the purpose and requirements of this contract. and the consultant will grant UN Women a perpetual license to use said intellectual property or other property right only for the purpose and requirements of this contract. and the consultant will grant UN Women a perpetual license to use said intellectual property or other property right only for the purpose and requirements of this contract.

Competencies

IX. Competences

Main competences:

•  Awareness and sensitivity regarding gender issues;
•  Effective communication;
•  Inclusive collaboration.

Functional competences:

•  Optimal writing skills in Spanish and English;
•  High capacity for teamwork;
•  Innovative thinking ability;
•  Ethical values and professional integrity;
•  Correct elaboration of knowledge products;
•  Respect for diversity.

Required Skills and Experience

X. Selection procedure and requirements

The selection process will be carried out through a desk review, in which a formal verification is carried out first that the applications comply with the documentary tests to be examined and the minimum requirements established for the consultancy. Then, the technical evaluation of the applications received is carried out, which will be qualified based on the technical requirements established in the following qualification table: Assessment criteria ( professional profile )

Score

one. Bachelor’s degree in areas related to consulting such as finance, economics, social sciences or the like.

10 points

2. Postgraduate studies in finance, economics, business administration or other related careers or two more years of requested experience.

10 points

3. Specialization studies in gender or at least 2 years of experience working on the themes of gender equality, economic empowerment of women or financial inclusion of women.

20 points

4. At least 5 years of experience in finance, financial inclusion, some of which on issues related to gender equality and the empowerment of women

20 points

5. At least 3 years of work experience in Latin American countries, especially Central America, in areas related to consulting.

20 points

6. Verifiable experience in the elaboration of knowledge products ( systematization, design of instruments or methodologies, publications ) and in the development of training processes ( design of training materials and dictation of workshops, classes or trainings ).

20 points

TOTAL

100 points

The shortlisted candidates may be called to an interview based on competences on the level of knowledge of the thematic area and on the specific topic of this consultancy. The relative weight of the interview in case it is defined to carry it out after the desk review will be 50% of the total score (, that is, 50% by the table of compliance with the requirements and 50% by the interview ).

XI. Documents to be presented for application

•  UN Women Personal History Form ( P11 ), which can be found at the link: htpp://www.unwomen.org/es/about-us/employment
•  Personal identification ( ID or passport )
•  Two ( 2 ) samples of publications / knowledge products

IMPORTANT NOTES.

•  At the time of applying it should load a ( 1 ) only file in PDF format. A guide is attached so that interested people can take this step: https://www.wikihow.com/Merge-PDF-Files
•  UN Women takes no responsibility and only describes one of the many ways to compress application documents. You can use the one you consider prudent.
•  Applications received incomplete or outside the closing date will not be considered.
•  Only those applications that rank in the short list ( at least the three with the highest score ) will be contacted for an interview ( if applicable ).
•  People who apply and who have an employment relationship with public institutions can only be hired if they present proof of work permit ( leave without expiration and a letter of no objection to the carrying out the consultancy, issued by the employing institution. In case the link is with a research institution, academic center or university, the previous clause will not apply.
•  The selected person must have medical coverage and present proof of their coverage in the two months following the signing of their contract.
•  In the event that the consultancy requires travel, medical coverage, vaccines required according to the destination and travel insurance must be confirmed.
•  In case of international consulting, the currency will be in US dollars or the local currency.

Diversity and inclusion

At UN Women we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women hires, employs, trains, compensates and promotes without discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin or any other condition contemplated in the law. All jobs are decided based on the skills, competence, integrity, and needs of the organization.

If you need any reasonable adaptation to participate in the recruitment and selection process, include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero tolerance policy against conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, which include sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. The selected candidates must respect the policies and procedures of UN Women and the rules of conduct required of the organization’s staff, therefore they will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background check will include checking academic credentials and employment history. Selected candidates may need to provide additional information to perform a background check.

The application of those belonging to minority groups, indigenous groups or populations and people with disabilities is encouraged.

All requests will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.