National Consultant on Gender mainstreaming in Legislation and Care economy

Tasks

Deliverables

Develop an inception report on an investment case for care services and methodology for policy development based on UN Women-ILO policy support tool  in Viet Nam (12 days)

1.1.  Review the UN Women-ILO policy support tool and relevant reports from the pilot countries (Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco and Nepal) and ensure necessary steps are undertaken to adapt it to the country context.

1.2 Conduct an initial briefing with an international consultant economist to learn about the two policy tools and good practices in their application. 

Inception report in English and Vietnamese (refer as the Policy brief 1)

 The inception report covers the country context and study profile, outlining the methodological approach, data collection methods, work plan, and timeline. Background and country context should provide a detailed overview of gendered trends in the labour market and social security system, care arrangements, and time-use surveys. It should assess the level of access to care services and review the motivations for implementing the two policy tools. 

12 days  

1.3 Identify the coverage gaps in the care economy with a focus on Early childhood care and education (ECCE) and long-term care (LTC) sectors and estimate the costs of public investments and expenditures for eliminating the coverage gaps using the short version of the tool.

1.4 Assess the various economic returns to investments in a care sector (focusing on ECCE and LTC services) in the short- and the long-run, using the short version of the tool

Prepare training material and facilitate a training workshop on Transforming Care Systems   to Promote Gender Equality in Viet Nam (13 days)

(2 days for facilitating the training workshop in Viet Nam in June 2025) 

2.1. Based on the technical advice from UN Women, the international consultant and the draft concept note for a training workshop held in person in Viet Nam prepared together with UN Women, develop the training materials, and support in the organization of the training including group work and other learning activities during the t training on policy tools on transforming care systems in Viet Nam 

The final set of PPTs for the training, including the group work guidance (in Vietnamese and English) 

The reference training materials (English) which include the PPTs and note for the group work and other learning activities that can be shared with other UN Women offices in the region 

6 days  

2.2. Be the key facilitator of the training and conduct specific sessions of the training together with UN Women experts. The training workshop is being planned tentatively in Ha Long city in June 2025.

2.3. Deliver a presentation involving key stakeholders, including representatives from UN Women and relevant government entities, to ensure their insights and feedback are incorporated into the final study. These sessions should include guidance and training on how to replicate the first tool for care services. The consultant should also present the plan and timeline for applying the second policy tool

A training report in English. The training is systematically organized and successfully meets the expectations of UN Women, as demonstrated by the pre- and post-evaluation feedback from participants] 

A PPTs in English and Vietnamese involving key stakeholders, including representatives from UN Women and relevant government entities, to ensure their insights and feedback are incorporated into the policy brief 1. 

5 days 

Develop Policy Briefs on transforming care systems in Viet Nam (19 days)

3.1. Conduct a consultation call with the international consultant if required on application of the second policy tool to the Vietnamese context. 

3.2. Apply the second policy tool after the workshop to the Vietnamese context. The economist will synthesize the findings and apply the longer investment tool 2 for the Viet Nam context during the period after the workshop. Draft a policy brief that emphasizes the key issues identified during the training that Viet Nam Country Office can use to advocate for related care policies in Viet Nam. It should thoroughly capture the main discussion points raised in the sessions and present actionable policy recommendations as well as practical guidance on next steps and examples of good practices that emerged from these discussions and findings from application of both the tools. The policy brief must be clear, concise, and structured to provide valuable insights for stakeholders, ensuring that the findings from the training are effectively communicated and can be utilized for future decision-making. Whenever possible, incorporate relevant policy experiences and lessons learned from the Republic of Korea to enrich the content.

Well-structured good practices for the policy brief 2 (refer as the policy brief 2) in both English and Vietnamese version on an enabling environment for transforming care systems that clearly highlights the key policy issues addressed in the training, details the main points of discussion from the sessions, and presents actionable policy recommendations derived from those discussions. It should be concise, engaging, and professional, ensuring it effectively communicates the insights and proposals to stakeholders for informed decision. 

PowerPoint presentations (English and Vietnamese) tailored to the policy brief 2, each including detailed notes to enable VCO's effective use in diverse advocacy efforts. 

7 days 

3.3. Participate in the learning week on transforming care system in Nepal in August 2025 as the resource person on care from Viet Nam to provide better support to VCO activities on transforming care systems  

Key suggestions to be included in the policy briefs 1 and 2  

7 days  

3.4. Present and validate the policy briefs with the relevant stakeholders and support UN Women to advocate for policy amendments to enhance public investment in care services. 

Final report of the policy brief 1 which contains background and context on the care economy in Viet Nam, introduction to the two tools, the investment case for care and application of tool 1 to the Vietnamese context and the importance of whole of government and multistakeholder approaches to transform care work. 

Final report of the policy brief 2: Final Report on the application of the two tools in Viet Nam and findings and insights from the workshop including best practices. The report should include revisions in accordance with the feedback obtained during the validation process, ensuring that all relevant suggestions and insights are addressed. 

5 days 

Providing technical support to the Ministry of Health on gender mainstreaming in the Law on Population (30 days)

4.1. Collect additional evidence (national and international) on the linkage between gender equality, care policies and services with policy issues proposed by the draft Population Law, including low fertility, imbalance sex ratio at birth and ageing population issues. 

4.2. Work closely with UNFPA consultants to provide technical advice on the law drafting team for the development of the Gender Impact Assessment report and gender mainstreaming report (drafted by VNPA).

4.3. Provide technical advice to the draft team on gender mainstreaming in the draft Law, ensure the alignment with international standards including CEDAW recommendations, and national legal framework on gender equality, including responding to questions and comments from the government ministries and the National Assembly.

4.4. Participate in meetings and consultations/workshops organized by VNPA, UN Women and UNFPA and present recommendations on gender mainstreaming in Population Law.

Written inputs to gender impact assessment report of draft Law on Population, highlighting the gender related root causes of low fertility, the gender impact of aging population, the linkage between gender equality, care policies and services with policy issues proposed by the draft drawing evidence and lesson learnt from other country. 

A list of recommendations to ensure gender responsiveness of the draft law aligned with CEDAW recommendation and international standards.

Presentation at meetings and workshops

Providing technical support to the Ministry of Health on gender mainstreaming in the National Target Programme on Population and Development (30 days)

5.1. Develop evidence-based recommendations for the development of gender responsive plan/regulation under the Population Law, ensure gender issues in low fertility rate, imbalance sex ratio at birth, and aging population are addressed by the National Target Programme on Population and Development. 

5.2. Work closely with the VNPA to provide technical advice on gender mainstreaming in the development of the National Target Programme on Population and Development and the alignment with international standards. 

5.3. Participate in meetings and consultations/workshops organized by VNPA, UN Women and UNFPA and present recommendations on gender mainstreaming in National Target Programme on Population and Development as relevant.

A list of policy recommendations on gender mainstreaming in the development of the National Target Programme on Population and Development

Presentation at meetings and workshops

Coordinate a transforming care community of practice  in Viet Nam (15 days)

6.1. Support the establishment and the operation of the care community of practice (CoP) in Viet Nam 

6.2. Support information sharing, technical inputs of various stakeholders to UN Women VCO   programmes and national initiatives related to the care economy.

ToR of the care working group

At least 3 meetings of the CoP organized

Written inputs and comments on documents on care for VCO