Background

At the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly, Member States, in adopting the Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review (TCPR) of Operational Activities for Development of the UN System called on all UN organizations to: “mainstream gender and to pursue gender equality in their country programmes, planning instruments and sector-wide programmes and to articulate specific country-level goals and targets in this field in accordance with the national development strategies”.

Further, ECOSOC Resolution 2004/4 - Review of Economic and Social Council agreed conclusions 1997/2 on mainstreaming the gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system requested: “the Secretary-General to ensure that all United Nations entities develop action plans with time lines for implementing the agreed conclusions 1997/2, which address the gap between policy and practice identified in the Secretary-General’s report, with a view to strengthening commitment and accountability at the highest levels within the United Nations system as well as to establishing mechanisms to ensure accountability, systematic monitoring and reporting on progress in implementation”.

As a direct follow-up to the QCPR, and to ensure a comprehensive response to many of its recommendations, the UN Development Group (UNDG, now UNSDG) created a Task Team on Gender Equality as a sub-group of the UNDG Programme Group. The goals of the Task Team are: to support more consistent and coherent action among UNDG member agencies to mainstream gender equality and promote women’s empowerment at the country level; and to ensure that gender equality and women’s empowerment are mainstreamed into the tools and processes that emerge from the UNDG for UN Country Teams (UNCTs).

In 2006, the UNDG Task Team on Gender Equality commissioned a background paper on accountability mechanisms in UNDG agencies. This paper reviewed accountability for programming in support of gender equality in ILO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WFP and found that: “A common understanding of how to apply gender mainstreaming in UN operational activities is needed. This is because if there is no agreement on what constitutes a minimum level of actions to support gender equality, how will it be possible to hold agencies and UN Country Teams accountable for this.

Reaching agreement across agencies on what constitutes a minimally acceptable performance to support gender equality, through an agreed set of indicators, would contribute to stronger guidance and accountability”. Subsequently this background paper was endorsed at the UNDG Principals’ meeting in July 2006, where agreement was reached on development of a UNCT-level “Accounting for Gender Equality” Scorecard that sets minimum requirements for UNCTs to assess their performance across the system. The Gender Scorecard was endorsed by the UNDG in 2008 in response to the UN Chief Executive Board for Coordination 2006 Policy on gender equality and the empowerment of women (CEB/2006/2) to establish an accountability framework for assessing the effectiveness of gender mainstreaming by UN Country Teams.

The 2016 QCPR calls for the United Nations development system to expand and strengthen the use of the Gender Scorecard as a planning and reporting tool for assessing the effectiveness of gender mainstreaming in the context of the UNDAF (OP 83; now Cooperation Framework). Furthermore, the 2019 UNSDG United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Guidance calls for UN entities to “put gender equality at the heart of programming, driving the active and meaningful participation of both women and men, and consistently empowering women and girls, in line with the minimum requirements agreed upon by the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) in the UNCT System-wide Action Plan (SWAP) Gender Equality Scorecard” (para 20).

In this vein and in line with internal assessments, the UNCT SWAP-Scorecard methodology has been revised in tandem with the United Nations System-wide Action Plan for gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-SWAP) to ensure greater alignment with the UN-SWAP and the SDGs, drawing on good global practices with motivating, managing and measuring institutional change processes.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021-2025 for Tunisia was agreed to by the UN and the Government of Tunisia is a 5-year strategy for to promote a secure, stable, and prosperous country. The UNSDCF outlines the UN’s common vision and the expected contribution of the members of the UN family in support of Tunisia's political, economic, human rights, and developmental priorities. While the UNSDCF provides the overall vision for UN system-wide engagement in the country, it is to be implemented through the country programmes of its specific UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes, as well as through joint programming in priority areas where it is of strategic importance to leverage a wide range of UN capacities and resources. Progress made against the overall commitments outlined in the UNSDCF will be jointly monitored by the Government of Tunisia and the United Nations on an annual basis and reviewed at mid-term.

In order to ensure better accountability of UNCT towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in line with UN corporative policy in this area, the UN Country Team will use the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard (UNCT-SWAP) to assess status and identify gaps and corrective actions. An Inter-Agency Assessment Team (IAAT) will be created with representatives from each agency to lead this process on behalf of the UNCT, to complete the scorecard process in a participatory and timely manner.

Objective of the Assignment:

Reporting to the Country Representative for the UN Women Tunisia Libya Conflict Cluster office, the International Consultant to Conduct the UNCT UN-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard Assessment will facilitate the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard and assess the effectiveness of the UN Country Team in gender mainstreaming, promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment as well as to provide a set of actions for improvements. Purpose of the exercise:

• To assist the UNCT in Tunisia to identify areas in which the team is meeting or not meeting minimum UNSDG minimum requirements on gender mainstreaming practices and performance.
• To stimulate a constructive dialogue within the UNCT about the current status of support for gender equality and women’s empowerment, and how it can be improved, with the development of a concrete action plan.
• To identify where technical assistance from the regional and / or global level can support the achievement of minimum requirements.
• To share good practices developed by UNCTs to support national priorities to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible to facilitate the development of the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard for the UNCT Tunisia, based on the methodology developed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG).

The Inter-Agency Assessment Team (IAAT) will be tasked and capacitated from the beginning of the exercise to lead and own the process, with the close support and guidance from the consultant. The group will enable inter-agency stakeholders to work collaboratively and contribute to the review of the UNCT’s performance against minimum GEEW requirements.

The assignment is home-based. It should be carried out within a period of maximum 2 months, not exceeding 25 working days. To guide and support the inter-agency assessment team throughout the process, the consultant will conduct the following activities within the following stipulated timeframes.

Background document review and preparation of methodology and timeline for the UNCT-SWAP GES exercise in Tunisia (6 working days):

• Conduct a desk review of key documents, including the below:
  1. UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard Technical Guidance and Framework
  2. UNCT-SWAP reports for relevant comparator countries in the region and abroad
  3. Current country CCA and UNSDCF 2021-2025
  4. UNCT joint planning, budgeting, and programming document(s)
  5. UNCT minutes of meetings
  6. UN Gender Theme Group’s TOR, including annual reports, Minutes and or workplans
  7. Workplan, annual report etc. of the UNCT Communications Group
  8. Workplans, annual reports of other UNCT theme groups as relevant
  9. and other recommended sources
• Develop a methodology and timeline for the assignment, and present this to the Tunisia UNCT as required.

Assistance and support for the IAAT with the in-country assessment: (10 working days)

• Facilitate working sessions with and provide technical support to key stakeholders such as the Resident Coordinator; Heads of Agencies; key programme staff; M&E teams, partners, etc. to discuss and score areas of performance.
• Support the collection of complementary data and evidence to rate indicators
• Conduct gender analysis of verification documents required to help the IAAT rate areas of performance
• Complete the rating matrix based on IAAT discussions and agreements.

Reporting and presenting results (9 working days)

• Draft UNCT-SWAP narrative report, informed by the inputs of the IAAT. The report should include a title page noting the country covered, the name and contact details of the consultant, and the date of the report. The report should also include a methodology chapter, outlining the methods used, and briefly summarize any constraints faced (e.g. lack of time, lack of access to documents or staff);
• Prepare Action Plan based on agreed follow-up action points identified through the assessment.
• Present the draft report, including a summary of the findings of the UNCT-SWAP gender score card assessment, and action plan to the UNCT (or to representatives as delegated by the UNCT) for feedback and endorsement.
• Complete the final draft of the UNCT-SWAP narrative report and Action Plan based on feedback, including from the UNCT HOAs.

LOGISTICS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

• The consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment.
• The consultant will be responsible for providing their working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.), must have access to a reliable internet connection and be in reliable email contact for a set number of hours that align with the UN’s business hours.
• The consultant is expected is expected to work home based for 25 days and to virtually participate in meetings with UN agencies, partners and stakeholders as per the agreed work-plan.

* Consultant are expected to be equipped with all materials and equipment needed to perform their tasks for example laptop, software etc..

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality inputs to programme development
• Timely and quality implementation of Programme/Portfolio/ activities against set workplans, timelines, and budgets in line with the Annual Work Plan
• Timely and quality technical assistance
• Quality and timely inputs to reporting
• Strong relations with partners and stakeholders
• Enhanced best practices and lessons learned documented and circulated

Competencies

Core Values

•     Respect for Diversity: Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity;
•     Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of the United Nations in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct;
•     Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work, including strong technical expertise in gender issues.

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/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf?la=en&vs=637

Functional Competencies

• Strong commitment to and good understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment issues;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Strong organizational skills and strong self-direction;
• Strong research and communication skills;
• Ability to prioritize and work under pressure with colleagues at all levels,
• Knowledge of gender mainstreaming and desired knowledge of the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced (Masters) degree in social and political sciences, human rights, gender equality etc.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience
• 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’ experience of work on results-based management, review and/or evaluation;
• Experience in gender data collection and analysis, including interviews, survey and focus groups;
• Previous experience with the Gender Equality Scorecard, narrative report and follow-up matrix;
• An understanding of the inner workings of the UN System;
• Experience working in North Africa/Arab States region.

Language Requirements:

• Fluent in French and English, working level of Arabic is an asset;

IT Skills:

• Computer skills, internet communication and command of MS office

Evaluation Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for the financial evaluation.

Criteria Weight Technical: 70% (70 points)

• Education: 20 points
• Experience 30 points
• Language 20 points

Financial: Lowest Financial Proposal: 30% (30 points)

The points for the Financial Proposal will be allocated as per the following formula:

• Contract will be awarded to the technically qualified consultant who obtains the highest combined score (financial and technical);
• The points for the Financial Proposal will be allocated as per the following formula: (Lowest Bid Offered*)/ (Bid of the Consultant) x 30;

'Lowest Bid Offered' refers to the lowest price offered by Offerors scoring at least 49 points in the technical evaluation.

Application:

Interested Individual Consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• A cover letter with a brief presentation of your consultancy explaining your suitability for the work and link to portfolio of work;
• UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment;
• Personal CV; and Financial proposal; Proposed inclusive daily rate.

The above-mentioned documents should be merged in a standalone file including all attachments, since the online application submission only permits to upload one file per application. Incomplete submission can be a ground for disqualification.

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.)