Consultant to revise and finalize UN programme addressing economic empowerment of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Background

Based on the agreement between the several participating agencies, a programme development is to be undertaken with the purpose of revising and finalizing the Joint UNCT Programme on the Economic Empowerment of Women.

This initiative responds to the new mandate of UN Women and builds on the work of several UN Agencies , including their successful development and implementation of a number of joint projects and activities in promoting gender equality. It also follows the increased awareness in the UNCT on the need for an intensified collaboration and joint programming and implementation to counter the mounting obstacles to the socio-economic development in the form of administrative complexities, political stalemate and the increasing donor fatigue.

BiH still copes with deep-rooted, patriarchal stereotypes regarding the role and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society at large. Gaps in the policy development and slow implementation of the adopted legislation constitute important structural obstacles to achieving gender equality. Furthermore the complex division of roles and responsibilities within the different levels of the government presents a significant challenge to applying uniform, holistic approach to gender mainstreaming across the different sectors. Improvements are needed in both strengthening institutional capacities and enhancing cooperation between the gender mechanisms and the key ministries and the civil society organizations in order to increase gender mainstreaming in all aspect of government work, primarily policy development and budgeting as the means for achieving gender equality. Gender inequality in BiH is probably most visible when we examine economic activity, including labour market and entrepreneurship and participation in the economic decision making processes.

BiH has the lowest level of female participation in the workforce in the South East Europe – while women are 51.4% of the population, they constitute only 32.4% active labour force[1]. Even in the most feminized sectors, such as health care where women constitute the majority (employees in the health sector and healthcare beneficiaries) women are virtually absent from the management and policy development structures governing the sector. The recent figures on the employment rates for females ages 15 -65, show the rate of 23.4% A significant gender difference can also be observed in the educational structure of the unemployed: 17,6% of out of all unemployed women have university education, while that percentage among men is only 7,5%[2]

Other forms of discrimination influence the level of economic participation of women, most notably the fact that the rights for parental leave are regulated differently in different parts of BiH, as well as the fact that maternity leave is not always paid[3], and that some women are left jobless after becoming pregnant.

The precarious economic reality the women are facing was recognized in the latest Concluding Comments (June 2006)[4], of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) directed to the State Party (BiH). The Committee urged the country to (among other):

• Ensure women’s participation in all political, economic and social transformation processes;
• Prioritize data collection and include comprehensive sex-disaggregated statistical data in its next report;
• Encourage media to project positive images of women and of the equal status and responsibilities of women and men in the private and public spheres;
• Collect data on incidence of domestic violence against women and, based on such data, continue to develop sustainable strategies to combat this human rights violation;
• Implement temporary special measures to increase women’s political representation and their representation in all other decision-making positions;
• Ensure gender equality in educational opportunities, particularly for Roma girls;
• Bring to justice public and private employers who violate equality provisions under the Law on Gender Equality and labor regulations;
• Eliminate occupational segregation and narrow the wage gap;
• Integrate a gender perspective into all health sector reforms; reduce maternal mortality rates; ensure women and girls’ access to information and services regarding sexual and reproductive health;
• Ensure that all national poverty alleviation programmes fully benefit women, in particular marginalized groups of women.

Despite the activation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) as the first formal step towards realizing the integration goals, and the activation of Reform Agenda, progress is still lacking. The key obstacles to achieving gender equality in BiH are mirrored in the discriminating social norms and the pervasive lack of knowledge and awareness among the general public about the key correlation between gender equality and socio-economic development[5]. One of the main gaps in the work on gender equality is the lack of data. The absence of statistic and analytical research creates gaps and inconsistencies in the policy and legislative work, and often serves to misdirect available funding. Women in BiH face a particularly precarious reality – they are excluded from the political and decision making processes, they have disproportionately limited access to employment and many of them are subjected to gender based violence.

Advancing women’s economic security and rights is recognized as a priority area in UNDAF, as a result of persistent challenges to gender equality and socio-economic development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Combined strength and experience of several UN Agencies will support women to reshape conditions at both ends of the economic spectrum – from boosting women’s participation in economic policy- making to supporting efforts to provide women and their communities with practical skills needed for securing sustainable livelihoods.

Potential priority areas of advancing economic empowerment of women in BiH are:

• Support to the government to develop policies aimed at increasing women’s participation in labor market (including data collection and improvement of the analytical capacities for the active labor market policy development, and gender responsive policies and budgets);
• Economic empowerment of rural women (needs assessment, land rights, access to active labor market policies)
• Support to women entrepreneurs (including the cooperation with the private business under the economic empowerment principles);
• Migration, trafficking and labor;

The task force of representatives of participating agencies will oversee the process of the formulation of the UNCT BiH Joint Programme on the Economic Empowerment of Women. The modalities of the UNCT BiH Joint Programme on the Economic Empowerment of Women will be in compliance with UN rules and regulations.

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE

To revise the UNCT approach to economic empowerment of women.  

IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE

The objective of this assignment is to synthesise specific objectives of different UN agencies on Womens Economic Empowerment into a single joint programme plan and document. The final Joint UNCT Programme will be submitted for funding.

This will require working with representatives of different agencies, assisting with a reflection on vision, priorities, objectives and focus of different actors. It will include a sense check on changing market characteristics and potential partnerships. Also the design of appropriate approaches for implementation at a policy and programmatic level.

[1] BiH Combined Fourth and Fifth Period Reports to the CEDAW, BiH Gender Equality Agency, April 2011

[2] BiH Agency for Statistics (2017), Women and Men in BiH.

[3] There is no regulation in Bosnia and Herzegovina that deals, on a uniform basis, with the exercising od rights related to pregnancy, delivery and post delivery period of care for a child. Regulating this matter is the responsibility of entities, cantons and Brcko District, while their financial (in)abilities and budget allocation policies directly impact the extent to which these rights will be respected. Unfortunately, a considerable number of women in BiH  never manage to exercise these rights, precisely because of the gender unsentitised budgets, whose creators are allocating funds to other „more priority“ issues.

[4] The next consideration of the State party report by the CEDAW committee is scheduled for July 2013.

[5] Despite the growing global consensus that “gender equality is smart economics”. See, for example, the World Bank’s 2012 Report Gender Equality and Development that makes a 458-pages long case for why gender equality is central to development.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant is expected to deliver the following results:

• Revise UNCT BiH Joint Programme on the Economic Empowerment of Women based on the latest available draft;
• Develop a comprehensive analysis of the related programmes implemented in the past 5 years and the current focus on the economic empowerment investments in the country;
• Review existing information on the economic empowerment of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina provided by the UN agencies and other stakeholders;
• Meet with the task force of representatives of participating agencies  and the key national stakeholders and partners;
• Analyze and incorporate recommendations on the UNCT BiH Joint Programme on the Economic Empowerment of Women provided by the individual UN Agencies;
• Meet with key partners identified in the process and define their participation (roles and responsibilities) in the UNCT BiH Joint Programme on the Economic Empowerment of Women;
• Prepare a draft programme document for comments;
• • Submit a high-quality final version of a UNCT BiH Joint Programme on the Economic Empowerment of Women.

ACTIVITIES, DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAME

The consultant will be expected to complete the following tasks within the indicative timeframe:

• Desk review of relevant documents and comprehensive situation analysis - 5 days;
• Detailed briefings with task force of representatives of participating agencies - 3 days;
• Consultations with the relevant partners and stakeholders - 4 days;
• Formulation of the revised theory of change and validation of proposed approach with the task force of representatives of participating agencies - 3 days;
• Finalization of the document (including the discussion of up to 2 drafts) - 5 days;

The consultancy will last for 20 working days.

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: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, social science or related field, international development, gender studies or similar field supported by relevant experience.

Skills and Experience:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in the social sciences or a related field;
• At least 7 years of professional development-related experience working at the international and national levels;
• Professional experience  in addressing economic empowerment of women from various aspects;
• Knowledge and experience working in the development context of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the particular focus on the economic empowerment of socially excluded groups;
• Knowledge of stakeholder in the country, including the national institutions, CSOs, and the international organizations working in the field of economic empowerment of women;
• Track record of work relevant to the assignment;
• Excellent writing skills.

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents:

• Expression of interest;
• Detailed financial proposal (which includes consultancy fees, travel, accommodation, subsistence etc.);
• UN P11 form.

Please note: All documents have to be uploaded in 1 single file.

EVALUATION OF OFFERS

UN Women applies a fair and transparent selection process that takes into account both the technical qualification of potential consultants as well as the financial proposals submitted in support of consultant applications. Candidate applications will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of applicant qualifications and financial proposal. The contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
• having received the highest score out of below defined technical, interview and financial criteria.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 50 points in the technical evaluation will be considered for an interview. Top 3 candidates (with highest number of points in the technical evaluation) will be interviewed. The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal will be allocated to the lowest price proposal among those candidates who have reached at least 5 points in the interview. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion.

Criteria:

• Technical Evaluation (80%),
• Financial Evaluation (20%)

Evaluation of submitted financial offers will be done based on the following formula:

S = Fmin / F * 20S - score received on financial evaluation;Fmin - the lowest financial offer out of all the submitted offers qualified over the technical evaluation round;F - financial offer under the consideration.

Please note that travel costs should be covered by the consultant.

Qualified women and men and members of minorities are encouraged to apply. UN Women applies fair and transparent selection process that would take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.