Consultant/ Reporting and Accountability

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has a longstanding commitment to mainstreaming gender equality and promoting women’s empowerment in its work. UNDP’s work on gender is guided by the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the frameworks provided by the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As the UN’s lead development agency, with extensive field presence, UNDP has facilitated the integration of gender equality in the work of Country Offices through core and non-core fund investments and has initiated and implemented numerous innovative initiatives, some in partnership with UNIFEM, that support both government and civil society work on gender issues. The Gender Team is at the forefront of UNDP's commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment. The Gender Team is part of the Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) which provides policy advice and technical support to all of UNDP’s operations. The Gender Team works to implement gender equality as a core objective of UNDP through a two-pronged approach (i) mainstreaming gender in all core practices; and, (ii) dedicated interventions that empower women and promote gender equality. In order to advance their mandate, the Gender Team has finalized the UNDP Corporate Gender Equality Strategy 2008-13 (GES) which outlines in detail how UNDP will work towards gender equality in each of the goals and key results set out in the UNDP Strategic Plan 2008-13. In addition to addressing the gender dimensions of each focus area, the Strategy sets out institutional accountability arrangements which are aimed at ensuring oversight and commitment to achieving gender equality both within the organisation and in the work of the organisation. The Gender Team is responsible for: steering the organisation to achieve the goals outlined in the GES; for representing UNDP in global, regional and interagency fora; for leading UNDPs work with other agencies of the UN in the area of gender equality; for expanding partnerships for UNDP in the field of gender equality; for supporting the Administrator of UNDP in overseeing the realisation of gender parity and gender equality commitments within the organisation through the Gender Steering and Implementation Committee (GSIC) process; and for heading up initiatives such as the elaboration of training tools, policies, practices and programmes to support UNDP as an organisation in achieving its gender equality and women’s empowerment commitments. The Gender Team is organized into the four clusters: Poverty and the Millennium Development Goals Achievement; Governance and Crisis Prevention and Recovery; Institutional Development/Interagency Cooperation; and Environment and Sustainable Development. The Gender Team is in the process of developing the forthcoming Gender Equality Strategy (2014-2017). Within the area of Institutional Development, UNDP is implementing stronger accountability frameworks to track UNDP’s progress in advancing gender equality both in our programming and across the organization. UNDP has adopted the Gender Marker, an accountability tool that enables the organization to better track gender investments.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will perform the following tasks under the overall guidance of the Institutional Development/Interagency Cooperation Cluster within the Gender Team and will support the Management Supporting Cluster too: Assist in developing the Gender Marker Report 2012: consolidate data from country offices, bureaus and units; develop a first draft for consultation, compile and integrate comments; develop a final report (November 2012). In close coordination with the Institutional Development Specialist, support UNDP HQ-units in integrating recommendations from the “Assessment on the Accuracy of UNDP Gender Marker” (August-September 2012). Coordinate a validation process of the “Gender marker Guidelines”: organize meetings with COs, Bureaus and HQ-Units, compile and integrating comments; develop a final draft. (July 2012). Develop tools and carry out trainings related to the gender marker by demand (internal and interagency capacity building activities). Assist in consolidating 2012 Results Oriented Annual Report: develop criteria for selecting examples of gender equality results achieved and measurable impact; identify the best examples of results and impacts emerged from ROAR to feature in the 2012 Annual report of the Gender Equality Strategy; draft a report on 2012 gender equality results achieved (November 2012). Draft and edit the 2012 Annual Report of the Gender Equality Strategy: identify the best examples of results and impacts emerged from ROAR and other source of information to feature in the 2012 Annual report of the Gender Equality Strategy; drafting a report on 2012 gender equality results achieve; edit and select photographs, artworks, charts, sidebars and text boxes. (December 2012). Through a collaborative consultation process: drafting briefings, preparing reports and take minutes of the Gender and Implementation Steering Committee of UNDP. (August-December 2012).

Competencies

Strong knowledge of UNDP programming and policy development. Knowledge of gender issues and analytical work in international development. Experience in result management, accountability, and reporting tools and mechanisms. Experience in research and compilation of information to show results desired. Excellent communication, writing skills, and analytical skills. Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Field experience would be an asset. Expected deliverables: Effective support to the UNDG sub-group to strengthen implementation and coherence of the Gender Marker provided (through the project duration). Training tools and modules on gender equality and the Gender Marker developed (through the project duration Trainings to Country Offices, Units and UN agencies delivered (throughout the project duration). Consultations on the new gender marker guidelines held. A consolidated annual Gender Marker report for 2012 prepared. Effective support to ensure that the results from the qualitative assessment of the gender marker are incorporated into the UNDP’s accountability framework. Compilation of examples of gender equality results achieved from Results Oriented Annual developed. 2012 Annual Report of the Gender Equality Strategy prepared. GSIC briefings and Regional Bureaus reports timely developed

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Master’s degree in development or related field. Experience: A minimum of five years of experience with international organizations, preferably on gender equality issues and with the United Nations. Prior experience with UNDP is preferred. Language: Fluency in English. Working knowledge in another UN language is an asset. Documents to be uploaded when applying for the assignment: Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Proposal explaining why you are the most suitable for the work and providing a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). Financial proposal; Please indicate the daily rate for your services. Remuneration for specific assignments will be established based on the competencies and skills of the consultant and nature of the task to be assigned. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references. Financial Proposal : Contract is based on a daily fee. The financial proposal will specify the daily fee, travel expenses and per diems quoted in separate line items, and payments are made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked upon presentation of an invoice, on a monthly basis, and upon satisfactory performance. Travel: There is no travel anticipated as part of this consultancy services. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the UNDP Gender Team and Individual Consultant prior to travel, and should be reflected in the contract through processing an amendment. Evaluation: Applicants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies: Cumulative analysis: The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: Responsive/compliant/acceptable Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. Technical Criteria weight: 70 maximum Financial Criteria weight: 30 maximum Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process. Applicants are required to fill and sign a P11 Form and submit it together with Curriculum Vitae on the online application. The P11 Form can be obtained at http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc

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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.

Consultant/ Reporting and Accountability