UN WOMEN: SUB-REGIONAL STRATEGIC PLANNING CONSULTANT

The East and Horn of Africa is host to a number of regional organizations that are working on regional integration for development of the Africa region. These include: the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), which includes Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda; the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which includes Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda; and the East African Community (EAC), which includes Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda; the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CENSAD, which includes Djibouti, Eritrea and Sudan. All countries of the sub-region are members of the African Union (AU). The countries of the sub –region have a population of more than 257 million, rich in ethnic and cultural diversity, with an average of 60% below 25 years of age. They include some of Africa’s largest countries, namely Sudan in geography (2.5 million sq kms) and Ethiopia in population (79.4m); as well one of its smallest countries, Djibouti (0.7m). The region has a mix of conflict and post conflict countries of Somalia, Sudan and Uganda; and fairly stable nations such as Tanzania and Kenya. The region has witnessed efforts towards democratic governance with varying degrees of success from single party regimes opening the space through regular multiparty parliamentary and Presidential elections in the last two decades in all countries except Somalia. However, the region is still characterized by internal struggles for power and resources surfacing as inter-tribal conflicts, which tend to undermine development gains in the region. The unresolved conflict in Somalia continues to affect the rest of the region particularly in movements of people across borders, and more recently from the impact of money laundered from Somali pirates’ activities in the Indian Ocean. Over 80% of the population of the sub-region lives in rural areas engaged in subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry. Parts of many of the countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan) are arid and semi arid with regular droughts which negatively affect livelihoods and development; while Uganda and parts of Kenya and Tanzania have favourable climates for agriculture and untapped natural resources including minerals, crude oil and natural gas. In 2010 the countries registered growth varying between 7% and 2.6% (Ethiopia 7%, Tanzania 6.4%, Uganda 5.8%, Sudan 5.2%, Djibouti 4.8%, Eritrea 4%, Kenya 4%, and Somalia 2.6%). However, large percentages of the populations in these countries live below the poverty line (Eritrea 50%, Kenya 50%, Northern Sudan 48%, Southern Sudan 90%; and Djibouti 42%, Ethiopia 38.7%, Tanzania 36%, and Uganda 35%). While investments in social sectors and services have increased as part of the effort to achieve Millennium Goals, challenges of leadership, poor management and corruption have inhibited economic progress and created an overall atmosphere of continual poverty and political instability in the region. Millions of people in the sub-region depend on food assistance due to constant droughts and over dependency on rain-fed agriculture as well as persistent conflicts in some of the countries. In addition, while HIV infection rates have reduced significantly down to single digits, the sub-region continues to have a serious crisis with almost 6 million people infected with HIV. The epidemic combined with high rates of maternal and child mortality place a major constraint on the already overburdened health systems. The sub-region has had some of Africa’s most serious and longest internal conflicts. Disputes between Southern and Northern Sudan since independence in 1956 and more recently the Darfur region crisis in 2002 / 2002 have led to international mediation leading to a number of Peace Agreements and the presence of Peace Keeping and Integrated United Nations Missions including: the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005 and the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS); and the Darfur Peace Agreement (PDA) of 2006, presence of the UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The Somalia conflict which started as early as 1976 with the attempts to annex the Ogden plateau of Ethiopia deteriorated into an internal clan war that divided the nation and has led to almost 2 million Somalis fleeing into neighbouring countries. International efforts to bring the conflict to an end continue with an African Union Peace keeping force intended to protect a transitional Government. The 32 year long Eritrean war of independence from Ethiopia, under which it was governed as a province, led to cessation and creation of the new Eritrean nation in 1993. However, conflict over borders with Ethiopia continued with many deaths and many fleeing into exile. International mediation and arbitration followed, including the presence of a UN Mission for several years. These conflicts have negatively affected the development of the countries of the sub-region with movements of people seeking refuge; internal displacement (2.3 million people live in camps in Darfur region of Sudan alone); disruption of services; a general sense of insecurity including incidents of terrorism; and the more recent piracy in the Indian Ocean. UN Women, through its Sub-regional and Country programme Offices, has been trying to address the gender dimensions of above inequality. UN Women has country offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Work in Somalia is managed remotely from Nairobi, Kenya. UN Women had planned to initiate work in Eritrea and Djibouti this year. This could not happen due the ongoing internal changes. However, UN Women would like to ensure that remote support could be initiated to these two countries from 2012.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions and key results expected: Conduct relevant literature survey to document gender equality and women’s empowerment specific background information, needs, baseline data, good practices and intervention/scale-up opportunities (key literature to review are indicated further in the ToR); Prepare Sub-regional strategic planning documents for the East and Horn of Africa Regional Office (EHARO) through comprehensive strategic gender equality and empowerment needs assessment through extensive consultation at various levels involving stakeholders (inter-governmental bodies, other UN agencies, donors, civil society, etc); Identification of the most suitable response strategies and activities, and costs and management requirements thereof as part of the strategic plan including the timeframe for implementation of the strategies and activities; Synchronization of the Outcomes, Outputs and Indicators across the annual work plans including the Country Office annual work plans and the sub-regional annual work plan; Liaise with EHARO key staff, in particular, the Regional Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Officer, and the country programme managers for relevant information and review as may be required Any other related tasks mutually agreed between the Consultant and UN WOMEN. Components of the Sub-regional strategic planning documents: Results matrix covering development and management results including monitoring and evaluation plan (Outcomes, outputs, indicators baseline, annual targets, monitoring methods, sources of progress data verification, responsible person) and resources required; Recommendations for data collection methods, tools and data management system for the purposes of programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting; Annual workplans for 2012 and 2013 for both development and management results in given formats with costing; Strategic Notes to explain the annual workplans in a given format (max 4-5 pages). Key literature to review (but not limited to): Format for Strategic Note and Annual Workplan templates for the development results and management results; UN Women global strategic plan; The Strategic Notes and the Annual Workplans from the countries under EHARO; Regional gender mainstreaming study; Regional law review study; Regional law reform advocacy strategy; Compendium on violence against women; Progress of the world’s women report 2011; Baseline study report for UNiTE to end violence against women campaign; Africa-wide Rural women’s livelihoods programme document; Fund for Gender Equality documents; UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women guidance documents; Sub-regional strategy 2008-2011; Ongoing sub-regional initiatives related documents; Available core and non-core funding information document; Compendium of African Sub-regional HUman Rights Documentation. Deliverables and time frame: Hold an Inception Meeting with the Regional Programme Director and Regional Evaluation Specialist – on 12 Sept 2011; Prepare and submit detailed Action Plan for undertaking the task – by 12 Sept 2011; Literature review – by 14 Sept 2011; Prepare Results Matrix template as specified in the Point 1 under the sub-section ‘Components of the Sub-regional strategic planning documents’, and background material for consultations with key stakeholders and for conducting a Planning Workshop with EHARO staff – by 16 Sept 2011; Conduct a half a day Planning Workshop with the EHARO staff to solicit information and clarify information – 19 Sept 2011; Key informant discussions with key stakeholders’ representatives based in Nairobi, namely, IGAD Liaison Office and National Coordinator of ICGLR in Kenya and regional offices for UN Habitat, UNEP and UNICEF – by 20 Sept 2011; Key informant discussions with donors such as DFID, SIDA, and others who cover two or more countries from Nairobi and with other key stakeholders via teleconference, namely, EAC, UN Resident Coordinator’s Offices in Eritrea and Djibouti – by 22 Sept 2011; Preparation of draft strategic planning documents – by 27 Sept 2011; EHARO workshop for validating the strategic plan - on 28 Sept 2011; Submission of final strategic plan – on 30 Sept 2011; Post submission support for 2 days after submission of the final report including incorporating suggestions and for completion of any unplanned tasks related to this process – 02 Oct 2011.

Competencies

Competencies: Ability to analyze complex issues of multi-disciplinary/sector development management; Ability to understand and analyze the specific policy, legal, institutional and programme contexts that facilitate/ prompt gender equality and empowerment of women; Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English; Ability to coordinate and facilitate meetings/ workshops/ consultations; Ability to work independently and as a team player in multi-cultural environment; Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple tasks; Ability to partner and work with Government, civil society in particular women’s organizations and networks, and private sector agencies.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications: Masters in development studies/social sciences or related field; A certificate in financial or other management course is desirable. Years of experience: Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in the area of strategic planning at national and regional levels; A comprehensive understanding of UN Systems role, in particular UN Women’s mandate Experience in working with international development organizations on gender equality and women’s empowerment issues; Proven record in high quality analytical and documentation assignments related to mulit-sectoral development and humanitarian response strategic planning; Prior experience in using Results based Management planning methods, etc for a UN organization; Proven record of budgeting and experience of dealing with core and non-core resources (or also called unrestricted and restricted); Working knowledge of computers including MS Office package, essential. Documents to be included when submitting the proposals: Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications: Proposal comprising of: Cover note explaining how s/he is the most suitable for the work (max one A4 page); Methodology on how s/he will approach and deliver the work specified above; Financial proposal (please see the section below for guidance); At least 3 references; Personal CV including past experience in similar assignments; P11 form which can be downloaded from the link: http://www.unwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P_11_form_UNwomen.doc (For submission method, please see the General Information on the first page) Please make note that incomplete proposals may get rejected. Financial Proposal Lump sum contracts: The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the ToR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including international travel, meeting costs, daily living expenses, and number of anticipated working days). Travel: All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. UN WOMEN will not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket through most direct route and any charges for excess baggage. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class s/he should do so using their own resources. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. Candidates should check if they are eligible to get visa upon arrival or need to obtain visa prior to travel. Other: The individual consultant will be responsible for their booking their international travel, making local transport arrangement and are expected to bring their own electronic equipment. In the case of unforeseeable travel, UN Women can assist in making these arrangements; For all matters the terms and conditions specified for individual consultants will be applicable. Copy of the general terms and conditions can be viewed on the link: http://www.undp.org.rw/GeneralConditions-IC.pdf Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to jane.oteba@unwomen.org. UN WOMEN will respond in writing or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants who applied.

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.