Consultant to support Beijing+30 review process on “Peaceful and inclusive societies” and “Environmental conservation, protection, and rehabilitation”

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Commission on the Status of Women will review and assess progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in March 2025. The anniversary is also an opportunity to strengthen action to achieve gender equality and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and other global commitments, such as commitments including those under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security; the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (2015); the Paris Agreement on Changing the Status of Women (2015); and the World Summit on Sustainable Development. In this regard, all States are encouraged to undertake comprehensive national-level reviews of progress in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Governments should collaborate with relevant stakeholders at all levels of preparations for the 2025 review to benefit from their experience and expertise. National reports should cover trends, achievements and remaining gaps and challenges, as well as plans to accelerate implementation at the national level.

The regional commissions will use the national reports to prepare regional synthesis reports throughout 2024. All States are invited to complete their national reports by 1 June 2024. National reports will feed into the global synthesis report that UN Women will submit to the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women to be held in March 2025.

UN-Women and the regional commissions have developed a common Guidance note to assist in and facilitate the conduct of comprehensive national-level reviews. Submission of national reports will take place through an online form that was shared with designated national focal points. The Guidance note is available via the link:   |  

This Guidance note provides questions to orient national reviews and reporting, covering the 12 critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for Action. For practical purposes, the 12 critical areas of concern have been clustered into the following six dimensions/chapters:

1.   Inclusive development, shared prosperity, and decent work

2.   Poverty eradication, social protection, and social services

3.   Freedom from violence, stigma, and stereotypes

4.   Participation, accountability, and gender-responsive institutions

5.   Peaceful and inclusive societies

6.   Environmental conservation, protection, and rehabilitation

Kyrgyzstan in anticipation of the preparation of a national report this year. Under the leadership of the Gender Unit of the Ministry of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic UN Women in close coordination with UN agencies and other development partners will provide technical support and coordination of the Beijing+30 review process. For this, a team of experts will be contracted to lead consultations with relevant stakeholders at all levels of the review process and generate a country report on the state of implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action's six dimensions as per the guidance provided above. This report will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for review before formal submission.

There will be a team of three consultants with one of them as a lead consultant.

Moreover, several important processes will be held simultaneously in Kyrgyzstan:

• As part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality until 2030, it is planned to review the implementation of the current action plan (2022-2024) and develop the next plan for 2025-2027.
• Implementation of the State Programme to support women's leadership until 2030, aimed at creating conditions for the active participation of women in the political, economic and public life of the country, as well as promoting their role in key decision-making.
• Implementation of a programme to support and develop women's entrepreneurship in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2022-2026, aimed at providing and expanding access to financial resources, creating conditions for training willing women in the basics of running a business, and creating conditions for a further increase in the number of women entrepreneurs.
• As part of the implementation of the National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, it is planned to review the implementation of the current action plan (2022-2024) and develop the next plan for 2025-2027.
• The Volunteer National Review (VNR), the second cycle. It will reflect on the country's fundamental and practical approaches to achieving the SDGs, challenges, and successes since the last review, as well as the areas where further work is required.
• The Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the fourth cycle for Kyrgyzstan. It provides an opportunity to report on the actions taken to improve the human rights situations in the country and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights.
• Alignment of national legislation and policies with the provisions of the ILO Convention No. 190 on the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the Workplace, ratified on 29 February 2024. This Convention provides an opportunity to take appropriate action to minimize and prevent violence and harassment in the workplace, to ensure safety and equality in the workplace, and to create conditions for fair and safe labour relations.
• High-level events on women's leadership, women's participation in peace and security processes, the elimination of violence against women and girls, and women's economic empowerment, as part of the Kyrgyz Republic's chairship of the Dialogue of Women Leaders of Central Asia, EXPO and 16-day campaign against GBV.

Considering all these processes, UN Women Country Office plans to hire a national consultant as part of the team to develop the Beijing+30 review report on Peaceful and inclusive societies, and Environmental conservation, protection, and rehabilitation.

The consultant will work under overall guidance by the UN Women Representative and the direct supervision of the Head of the Programme and in close collaboration with other programme team members from UN Women, UN and extended GTGs, and the Lead Consultant, as well as with the Ministry of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration (MLSWM) of the Kyrgyz Republic, The Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Inter-ministerial Working Group (IMWG) in preparing Country Review Report on specific thematic chapters, as well as to key parallel Women, Peace and Security related processes.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Develop two thematic chapters on Peaceful and inclusive societies, and Environmental conservation, protection, and rehabilitation of the Beijing+30 Review report:

•     Conduct desk review of all available informational materials, programme documents, research, studies, and reports on Peaceful and inclusive societies, and Environmental conservation, protection, and rehabilitation.
•      Develop a list of key stakeholders on the provided thematic chapters.
•      Support the lead consultant in developing concept notes and agenda for consultations.
•      Facilitate the consultation sessions and meaningful discussions, gather insights, and ensure diverse voices are heard during the consultation process.
•      Identify success stories, innovative approaches, and challenges faced in implementing GEWE initiatives around Peaceful and inclusive societies, and Environmental conservation, protection, and rehabilitation.
•      Facilitate consultations over the draft report addressing comments.
•      Present the report to the IMWG, National Council on Gender Issues, and others.
•      Ensure the delegated parts of the report adhere to quality standards, accuracy, and clarity.

2. Provide technical support to the MLSWM and the MoI in reviewing the progress of implementing the National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security; in updating the on the implementation of the NAPs in the country; and in facilitating the development of the new NAP 2025-2027 with a focus on women's leadership (WiL) in WPS. Provide input for the Gender Statistics Roadmap.

3. Provide technical support to the Central Asian Women Leaders Caucus (CAWLC), more specifically: lead WPS-related events, prepare analytical notes on WPS, and coordinate WPS-related strategic consultations.

Deliverables

Payment for this consultancy will be based on the achievement of each deliverable and certification that each has been satisfactorily completed. Payment will be based on the submission of the report along with the deliverables described below:

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

The assignment requires partial presence on UN Women premises. UN Women CO will facilitate travel arrangements (national) and provide DSA as per actual cost, based on a mutually agreed travel plan. UN Women will provide the consultant with relevant background materials and programme documents. Specifically, UN Women will provide access to relevant training materials, reports, research, and data.

at least two national consultations in Bishkek and one regional consultation (Osh or Batken) under the leadership of the Inter-ministerial working group

Competencies

Core Values: 

• Respect for Diversity 
• Integrity 
• Professionalism 

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:  

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: 

• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with people from diverse cultures and professional backgrounds, demonstrating excellent interpersonal communication skills;
• Results-based management skills; 
• Strong teamwork spirit, leadership, and facilitation skills;
• Able to multi-task and juggle competing demands.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• Advanced university degree or equivalent (master’s degree in Gender and Development Studies, Economics, Law, Social Sciences or other disciplines relevant to this assignment;
• Computer literacy (minimum MS Word, Excel)..

Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in carrying out GEWE-related assignments at both national, regional, and international levels. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of international GEWE-related instruments with particular emphasis on Beijing Platform for Action, progress, and trends as well as national and international GEWE commitments, policy, legal, and institutional frameworks with a focus on WPS and Environment issues in the Kyrgyz Republic.
• Ability to produce well-written reports and/or programme documents demonstrating analytical ability.
• Experience engaging with multiple stakeholders including governments, state bodies, CSOs, UN/ development partners and donor community.

Languages:

• Fluency in Russian is required.
• Working knowledge of Kyrgyz and English is an asset.

How to Apply:

• Personal CV or P11 (P11 can be downloaded from:  )
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page)
• Copies (or links in the P-11 form) of three publications/reports on GEWE as author or co-author

Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment.

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