International Consultant to Support the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard Comprehensive Assessment for Tunisia, Home based

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.

A series of UN General Assembly and ECOSOC resolutions have reaffirmed the United Nations’ accountability towards advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women. Crucially, 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”.

As a direct follow-up to the TCPR, and to ensure a comprehensive response to many of its recommendations, the UN Sustainable Development Group (UNDG, now UNSDG) created a Task Team on Gender Equality. 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 2016 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) called 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 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs). As of 2023, there is now an updated version of the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard, which was developed by the global UNSDG Task Team on Gender Equality under the Results Group on Voice, Values and Norms, to align the Action Plan with the SDGs and to it with its entity level equivalent, the United Nations System-Wide Action Plan, drawing on good global practices with motivating, managing and measuring institutional change processes. Furthermore, the 2019 UNSDG’s 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 Tunisia, UN Women advances gender equality through governance, women’s economic empowerment, and the elimination of gender-based violence, working with government, parliament, and civil society to integrate gender across policies, laws, and participation. Since 2011, it has supported equality in the Constitution, parity in electoral laws, gender-responsive budgeting, paternity leave, and positive masculinities. 

The UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard, whose methodology was updated for 8 out of the 15 performance indicators in 2023, measures gender mainstreaming in joint programming through 7 dimensions containing 15 performance indicators. The 7 dimensions are: 1. Planning; 2. Programming and M&E; 3. Partnerships; 4. Leadership and Organizational Culture; 5. Gender Architecture and Capacities; 6. Financial Resources; and 7. Results.

In line with UNSDG requirements, Tunisia UNCT has taken significant steps to increase its gender integration in joint work planning and implementation through the Gender Thematic Group. Since 2021, the GTG, co-led by UN Women and UNFPA, has worked to coordinate and create synergies between UN agencies on gender issues. In 2022, the UNCT Tunisia, with technical support from UN Women, facilitated the development of the first UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard Comprehensive Assessment and Action Plan , followed by annual progress reports in 2023, 2024 and 2025. . The UNCT Tunisia will now undertake the second UNCT-SWAP Scorecard exercise. The results will ensure better accountability of the UNCT towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in line with this new cooperation framework 2027-2031 and global UN GA requirements and to assess status of implementation of commitments, and to identify gaps and corrective actions. The UN Gender Thematic Group will lead this process to complete the UNCT-SWAP GE Scorecard comprehensive assessment in a participatory and timely manner.

Objective of the Assignment: 

Reporting to the Country Representative for the UN Women Tunisia and Libya Cluster Office, and working under the close technical guidance of the UN Women Coordination Focal Point, the Consultant will provide technical support to the Inter-Agency Assessment Team (IAAT), which will lead and own the comprehensive assessment of the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard and the development of an action plan for improvements. Purpose of the exercise:

1. Support the assessment of the UNCT’s performance against the performance indicators and indicators criteria of the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard, including governance, planning, programming, monitoring and evaluation, partnerships, communication, and organizational culture;
2. Identify strengths, gaps, challenges, and good practices in integrating gender equality and the empowerment of women across UNCT processes, programmes, coordination mechanisms, and joint initiatives;
3. Provide inputs on the effectiveness of existing coordination and accountability mechanisms for gender mainstreaming within the UNCT, including the role and functioning of inter-agency gender coordination structures;
4. Support the assessment of the extent to which gender equality considerations are integrated into key UN planning and programming frameworks, including the UNSDCF, joint programmes, common country analyses, monitoring frameworks, and reporting processes; 
5. Contribute to reviewing institutional capacities and technical support mechanisms available to UN entities and partners to advance gender-responsive programming and results-based management;
6. Jointly with the IAAT, develop a roadmap to strengthen the UNCT’s performance and compliance with UNCT-SWAP standards, feeding into the IAAT’s recommendations on quality assurance and technical support mechanisms for gender mainstreaming;
7. Support collective reflection and learning among UNCT members to reinforce shared accountability and ownership of gender equality commitments across the UN system.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work:

The overall objective of the consultancy is to support the comprehensive assessment of the implementation and performance of the United Nations Country Team against the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard requirements, with a view to strengthening gender mainstreaming, accountability, coordination, and system-wide coherence within the UNCT. 

The consultant will provide technical support to the Inter-Agency Assessment Team (IAAT), which will lead and own the UNCT-SWAP Comprehensive Assessment for the UNCT Tunisia, adapting the methodology developed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) to the Tunisia context. The IAAT will be established and capacitated from the beginning of the exercise to lead and own the process, with technical support and inputs provided by the consultant. The assignment is home-based, with possibility to travel to Tunis, Tunisia. It should be carried out within a period of a maximum of three (3) months, not exceeding 25 working days. To support the inter-agency assessment team throughout the process, the consultant will conduct the following activities within the following stipulated timeframes: 

Inception phase: desk review, methodology and workplan development for the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard Exercise in Tunisia (Home-based, 6 working days). Examples include: 

• UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard Technical Guidance and Framework;
• UNCT-SWAP reports for relevant comparator countries in the region and abroad;
• Current country CCA, UNSDCF 2021-2026 and UNSDCF 2027-2031;
• UNCT joint planning, budgeting, and programming document(s);
• UNCT minutes of meetings;
• UN Gender Theme Group’s TOR, annual reports, Minutes and workplans;
• Workplans, annual reports of other UNCT theme groups deliverables as relevant;
• Any other recommended sources.

Support the IAAT in carrying out the in-country self-assessment (office-based from Tunis or home-based, 10 working days)

• Support the collection of data and evidence to rate indicators by the Inter-Agency Assessment Team (IAAT) under the Gender Theme Group;
• Contribute to the gender analysis of verification documents required;
• Provide technical support to the Gender Theme Group co-lead and M&E focal points in organizing working sessions and constructive dialogue with key stakeholders, including Programme staff, M&E teams, results and thematic groups, and partners, to discuss and score areas of performance, feeding into discussions at Resident Coordinator and Heads of Agencies level led by the Gender Theme Group co-lead;
• Adapt and complete the rating matrix based on UN Gender Theme Group discussions and agreements;
• Provide supporting analysis for a debrief with the UNCT (Heads of Agencies), to be facilitated by the UN Women Country Representative or Gender Theme Group co-leads, to discuss findings and proposed actions.

Reporting and presenting results (home-based, 9 working days) 

• Draft UNCT-SWAP comprehensive narrative report, informed by the inputs of the IAAT. 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);
• Contribute inputs to the Action Plan, developed jointly with the IAAT, based on the assessment outcomes;
• Present the draft report, including a summary of the findings of the UNCT-SWAP Gender Score Card Assessment, and Action Plan to the GTG for feedback and validation;
• Support the presentation of the draft report, including a summary of the findings of the UNCT-SWAP Gender Score Card Assessment, and Action Plan to the UNCT, facilitated by the UN Women Country Representative or Gender Theme Group co-leads, 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.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

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 Values and Competencies Framework: 

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.

Education and Certification: 

• Master's degree or equivalent in social and political sciences, human rights, gender equality etc;
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
• PhD degree would be an added advantage.  

Experience 

• At least 5 years of work experience in mainstreaming gender in international development is required;
• Experience in gender data collection and analysis, including interviews, survey and focus groups, is required;
• Experience with the UN on gender equality is desirable;
• Previous experience with the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard, narrative report and follow-up matrix is desirable;
• Previous experience working on results-based management, review and/or evaluation is desirable;
• Experience in conducting gender training for staff of development agencies is desirable;
• Computer skills, internet communication and command of MS Office are required. 

Languages:

• Fluency in English and French is required;
• Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

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.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.