Background and Justification
UNICEF ESARO is seeking services of a consultant to assess country and regional office performance against agreed benchmarks. These include (a) Programme expenditures on gender results; (b) Gender staffing and capacity across the organization; (c) Gender performance of country programme management plans; (d) Gender performance on evaluations of UNICEF programmes; (e) Effective knowledge sharing and communications for promoting gender quality.
The tasks involve document review, compilation of information, country interviews and require dedicated time to be concluded and can therefore not be done by staff members.
The UNICEF Strategic Plan 2014-2017 emphasizes gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women as important results across all of the seven outcomes of the Plan: Health; HIV and AIDS; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); Nutrition; Education; Child Protection; and Social Inclusion. The associated Gender Action Plan (GAP) provides guidance and strategic entry points for UNICEF regions, countries and divisions for focusing their programmatic work on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls within the parameters of the Strategic Plan. The consolidated results framework for the programmatic results prioritized in the GAP are drawn directly from the results framework of the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2014-2017. It incorporates 42 indicators in total, 22 tracking progress on the targeted gender priorities, and 20 tracking progress on the broader integration of gender in programming.
In addition, UNICEF has identified five performance benchmarks to track its progress on improving institutional effectiveness in achieving results on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. These benchmarks map to the key areas of systems strengthening, capacity enhancement and resource investment that UNICEF is making in implementing the GAP.
All regions will assess country level performance against the GAP on an annual basis, with the GAP Steering Committee assessing it organization wide. These reviews along with annual reports from countries and monitoring data collected on institution wide performance will inform the report on implementation of the GAP, which will be presented annually to the Executive Board at its annual session. The consultancy results will form an integral part of ESAR report and serve as baseline for future reports.
Scope of Work
1)****Goal and Objective*****:*Under the supervision of the Deputy Regional Directorthe consultant willproduce a final report, including key findings and recommendations for GAP implementation at country and regional office level for discussion at RO with key CO participation*.*
2)****Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered:****240R/A0/09/002/002 Corporate Strategic Plan and Guideline
3)Activities and Tasks:
- Regional gender profile and priorities: The consultant will develop a gender profile on key Gender Action Plan (GAP) related indicators and identify priority gender results for the region (for both gender targeted priorities and sectoral mainstreaming). Specifically the consultant will:
a. Analyse MICS, DHS and other data to develop a draft regional gender profile/dashboard building on GAP related indicators especially as they relate to the five regional priorities (i/ Enabling children to survive and thrive, ii/ Reducing stunting to provide opportunities for children to realize their full potential, iii/ Improving education quality and learning outcomes to prepare children for the future, iv/ Achieving results for adolescents, that help them manage risks and realize their full potential and v/ Scaling upsocial protectioninterventions to reduce child poverty and other vulnerabilities that impede the full realization of child rights. (details in attachment 2)
b. Review programme budget data to clarify expectations of Gender staffing based on GAP standards for the countries in the region
c. Based on key findings, define a draft set of priority gender programming issues and countries in the region (webinar to be organized with RO and COs to discuss).
- Desk review of country programme documents (all 21 countries): The consultant will assess the extent to which priority gender results are integrated in current country programmes for all countries in the region (20 days)
a. Review COARs for 2012 and 2013 and 2014 RAM, and updated results matrices of MTR countries; conduct interviews with COs to assess the extent to which these include gender related results (outcome/outputs), indicators, strategies and activities, including through review of gender equity marker (GEM) and PIDB coding.
b. Provide a comparative analysis to assess key strengths and weaknesses of current gender programming.
- Country assessment (3 countries – MIC, LDC, fragile): The consultant will develop a country level SWOT analysis for enhanced gender programming in 3 countries based on a detailed review of country programme documents and in-country interviews. (Jan/Feb - 3 day mission in 3 countries -> 9 days)
a. Assess the programming environment on gender results (articulation with national gender action plans; UNDAF Action Plan; humanitarian response frameworks, existing partnerships; donor interest)
b. Assess internal strengths and needs for strengthened gender programming (priority gender results, key entry points, knowledge assets/gaps, available expertise and capacities and/or gaps)
The countries will be selected in consultation with the RO and based on the desk review. The RO will facilitate the communication between consultant and Country Offices for their concurrence and facilitation of consultants work.
- RO assessment: Develop a SWOT analysis for RO support to and oversight of gender programming in the region based on a detailed review of ROMP/AMPs and in-house interviews with ESARO management and key regional advisers. (Jan/Feb - 3 day mission -> 3 days)
a. Assess the planned and achieved activities which support or provide oversight to country programming for relevance to gender issues
b. Assess internal strengths and needs for strengthened support to gender programming
5.Produce a final report, including key findings and recommendations for GAP implementation at country level for discussion at RO with key CO participation.(March a total of 10 days with 2 days travel to Nairobi).
4)Work relationships
The consultant will work independently from home for the tasks 1 and 2, for the task 3 the countries will be selected based on the desk reviews (1 and 2) in consultation between the consultant, Regional Office supervisor and Country Offices. For Country Office visits, the RO will contact the selected Country Offices and facilitate the visit, while Country Office focal point will facilitate the contacts/ appointments with the major stakeholders in the country including UN partners, NGO/CSO representatives and key donors in the country.
5)Outputs/Deliverables:
The consultancy aims to ensure that the benchmark for each ESAR country and for the region are established as indicated in the GAP guidance by HQ: offices are expected to report annually against these benchmarks necessitating that the indicators are clearly defined and measurable on annual basis.
The timeline aims for collating and analysing the country office documentation in time for inclusion into each of the country offices workplans and AMP. More detailed country analysis for three countries will take place in the beginning of 2015 and will form a basis for guidance to remaining country offices for more detailed GAP preparation and reporting.
The final report will be presented to the Regional office and to RMT for discussion and endorsement.
DeliverablesDuration
(Estimated # of days or months) Timeline/Deadline Schedule of payment Regional gender profile and priorities 15 days 15 December Desk review of country programme documents (all 21 countries) 20 days 15 January 30% Country assessment (3 countries – MIC, LDC, fragile) 3x 3 days missions January-February 2015 30% RO assessment 3 days mission January-February Final report, including key findings and recommendations for GAP implementation at country levelfor discussion at RO with key CO participation. 10 days
Including 2 day mission to Nairobi 15 April 40%
Reports
Inception report: The inception report to include findings from regional gender profile and from desk review of country programme documents, including a draft set of priority gender programming issues and the extent current CP documents are addressing these. The report to include a summary table where country and region findings are compiled for easy reference. The draft inception report will be discussed by Regional Office Advisors, selected country participants and the consultant to further define the work in 3 selected countries and to inform future action. (webinar to be organized with RO and COs to discuss).
Technical report: This will include the country office reports including SWOT analysis from the three selected countries and from Regional Office: the report will look in depth the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in each of the three different countries and in the regional office highlighting the programmatic areas, internal HR strengths and proposing further action. The common issues are to be included in the executive summary of the report.
Final report: To include key findings and recommendations for GAP implementation at country level summarizing the inception and technical report findings and including the conclusions from the discussion in Nairobi with the Regional Office and key CO participant. The report to include a power point presentation on key findings, bench marks and recommendations in addition to the narrative report. Country reports as annexes.
Payment Schedule
Upon satisfactory deliverables of:
· Inception report: 30%
· Technical report 30%
· Final report 40%
Desired competencies, technical background and experience
a)Education:Advanced university degree, preferably in the Social Sciences, Gender Studies, or other relevant field.
b)States the specialized skills and/or training if needed;
c) Eight to ten years of professional work experience at national and international levels in programming for gender equality and women's rights, including international work experience and field work experience.
- Background/familiarity with mainstreaming gender equality in development and in emergency.
- Knowledge and awareness of gender in emergencies.
d) Competencies:
i) Core Values:
- Commitment
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Integrity
ii) Core Competencies: - Communication
- Working with People
- Drive for Results
iii) Functional Competencies: - Leading and Supervising
- Formulating Strategies and Concepts
- Analyzing
- Relating and Networking
- Persuading and Influencing
e)Languages needed.Fluency in English and a second UN language
Administrative issues
· The consultant should perform the work using own resources (e.g. computer, internet connection) and UNICEF will not provide working space;
· The work can be performed from distance; however consultant presence in Nairobi is required during the start of the consultancy. In the case that the selected candidate resides outside Kenya, travel cost will be provided according to UNICEF’s rule and regulation.
Conditions
As per UNICEF policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.
The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.
How to apply:
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications (a cover letter, CV, and signed P11 form which can be downloaded at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc), quoting the indicative fee range with subject line “Gender Consultant, Ref: ESARO/SSA/RD/2014/029” by cob 6 November 2014. to:
The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address: kenyahrvacancies@unicef.org
Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
