Consultant: CT Performance Indicators for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNCT Scorecard)

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 TCPR, and to ensure a comprehensive response to many of its recommendations, the UN Development Group (UNDG) 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 wide range of tools and processes that emerge from the UNDG for use by 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 standards for UNCTs to assess their performance, and to identify gaps and progress across the system.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose of the Scorecard exercise To assist UNCTs in identifying areas in which they are meeting or not meeting minimum standards. 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. To identify where technical assistance can support the achievement of minimum standards. To share good practice in supporting national priorities to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. Purpose and requirements of the consultancy A consultant is required to implement the Scorecard as follows: Background document review: Number of days: 5 (Home-based) Scorecard and Users’ Guide CCA, UNDAF and UNDAF AP UNDG. Common Country Assessment and United Nations Development Assistance Framework. Guidelines for UN Country Teams on Preparing a CCA and UNDAF. February 2007. UNCT planning and programming documents National Plan of Action on Gender Equality and/or Women’s Empowerment, CEDAW related documents, PRSPs or their equivalent, UNCT joint programmes UNCT budgets, Joint Programme budgets Agency Projects and budgets Readers’ Group comments, 180 degree assessment materials Interviews: Number of days: 5 (Male’-based) Resident Coordinator Gender Theme Group Monitoring and Evaluation Theme Group Other UN staff Regional Director Team Counterparts, including women’s machinery, other government ministries (eg planning), and civil society Approximately 15-20 interviews Completion of draft Scorecard and narrative report Number of days: 3 (Male’ based) Verbal debriefing with RC/UNCT, completion of final Scorecard, narrative report and follow-up matrix, and debrief with UNDG Task Team Number of days: 2 (Male’ based) Total: 15 Days Deliverables A comprehensive report detailing the chapters for the report. It should include a lessons learnt section with relevant annexes (reference documents, list of interviews/TOR etc) A PowerPoint presentation for the UNCT Work setting: Place, timing and duration of assignment: 15 working days over a period of 3 weeks in January 2012 Briefing/debriefing arrangements: the consultant will be briefed/debriefed by the UN Gender Theme Group The consultant is expected to maintain close contact with the UN RC Office for facilitation, UNFPA as the chair of the GE theme group and UN women should he/she need some clarification on the score card Specific Conditions Basis of payment – Lump sum after completion of the assignment Format of outputs; Written report Ownership of output: The report is owned by the UN Maldives Conditions of payments: Payment will be paid upon submission and acceptance of the final report (e) Fare and DSA for 12 days (10 working days plus one weekend) will be provided.

Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Post graduate degree in development studies/Law or related field In-depth knowledge of the UN programme in-country At least 3 years experience of work on gender mainstreaming Working knowledge on results based management Ability to complete the Scorecard, narrative report and follow-up matrix in English

Consultant: CT Performance Indicators for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNCT Scorecard)