Gender Equality and Human Rights Consultant for UNDP-GEF Project on Healthcare Waste Management

Background

This Terms of Reference (ToR) refers to the regional component of the GEF-funded project entitled “Reducing UPOPs and Mercury Releases from the Health Sector in Africa”. The overall objective of this full-size project, implemented by UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) in partnership with WHO and the NGO Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), is to implement best environmental practices and introduce non-incineration healthcare waste treatment technologies and mercury-free medical devices in four Sub-Saharan African countries (Ghana, Madagascar, Tanzania and Zambia) to reduce harmful releases from the health sector.The project promotes best practices and techniques for healthcare waste management (HCWM) with the aim of minimizing or eliminating releases of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to help countries meet their obligations under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. The project also supports these countries in phasing down the use of Mercury-containing medical devices and products, while improving practices for Mercury-containing wastes with the objective to reduce releases of Mercury in support of countries’ future obligations under the Minamata Convention. Finally, because the project improves healthcare waste management systems (e.g. through improved classification, segregation, storage, transport and disposal) the project also contributes to the reduction of the spread of infections both at healthcare facility level as well as in places where healthcare waste is being handled.The project document has been designed to address the following components (regional and national):

• Activity 1. Disseminate technical guidelines, establish mid-term evaluation criteria and technology allocation formula, and build teams of national experts on BAT/BEP at the regional level (Regional component - implemented by UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub and national component);
• Activity 2. Health Care Waste National plans, implementation strategies, and national policies in each recipient country (National component);
• Activity 3a. Make available in the region affordable non-incineration HCWM systems and mercury-free devices that conform to BAT and international standards (Regional component);
• Activity 3b. Demonstrate HCWM systems, recycling, mercury waste management and mercury reduction at the model facilities, and establish national training infrastructures (National component);
• Activity 4a. Evaluate the capacities of each recipient country to absorb additional non-incineration HCWM systems and mercury-free devices and distribute technologies based on the evaluation results and allocation formula (Regional component);
• Activity 4b. Expand HCWM systems and the phase-out of mercury in the recipient countries and disseminate results in the Africa region (National component and regional component).

Duties and Responsibilities

The objectives of this assignment are to analyze, review and develop technical and policy-relevant materials, including methodologies and tools to integrate gender equality and human rights considerations into the project level implementation. The consultant will carry out the following tasks:

• Carry out participatory social and environmental injustice analysis over healthcare waste management (HCWM) issues in the project in one of the project countries, including gender dimensions;
• In close collaboration with the midterm review consultant, highlight the gender equality dimensions of the evaluation and analyze the gender equality and human rights mainstreaming gaps in the project implementation;
• Develop list of recommendations for HCWM project in the selected country with annual outputs to facilitate implementation of activities that promote gender equality and human rights;
• Develop a short gender equality and human rights training module to be part of HCWM training activities in the project region;
• Participate in the regional project meeting to advise on the results of the analysis, present the list of recommendations for implementation; and conduct a short training session on gender equality and human rights issues in HCWM.

DurationThe Contract will enter into effect upon signature by both parties, expected for 2 (two) months of duration. The international consultant is expected to start in April 2018.Travel requirementsThe consultant is expected to conduct 3 days mission to one of the project countries and 2 days mission to Tanzania in May 2018 to present the final report and to conduct a gender and human rights session during the regional project meeting. Additional travels may be requested by the IRH over the duration of the assignment within the estimated workload. All missions will be arranged by IRH and will be covered separately as per UNDP Rules and Regulations; therefore, related travel costs should be excluded from the financial proposal.Schedule of payments and expected outputsThe total number of days of work is estimated approximately 15 working days. The breakdown corresponds to the expected outputs and schedule of payments as follows:50% of payment upon submission of the interim report including the social and environmental injustice analysis on HCWM, recommendations for midterm review and list of recommendations for implementation.

• Completion of a country mission and submission of the interim report: 3 days mission to a country and 5 days for the interim report (approx. 8 working days; due date – 24 April 2018)

50% of payment upon submission of the final report and completion of the gender equality and human rights training session during the regional project meeting:

• Final report: Full report including the social and environmental injustice analysis, recommendations for midterm review, list of recommendations for implementation and a training module (approx. 4 working days; due date – 4 May 2018)
• Presentation: 2 days mission to Tanzania for the regional project meeting to present the final report and to conduct a gender equality and human rights training session; and 1 day for the mission report (approx. 3 working days; due date – 1 June 2018)

Competencies

Corporate 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; 
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism; 
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment. 

Functional competencies:

• Ability to analyze policy documents and make constructive policy suggestions;
• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
• Capacity building skills and flexibility depending on the public;
• Demonstration of commitment to the Project’s mission, vision and values;
• Good writing and reporting skills;
• Good presentation skills;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations, and to meet tight deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in studies related to gender or human rights on development, environment, sustainable development or closely related area.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of practical working experience in gender equality or human rights issues related to sustainable development;
• Experience carrying out participatory social and environmental injustice analysis including gender inequality; 
• Experience collecting and formulating gender and human rights responsive indicators and sex-disaggregated data, and developing gender and human rights action plans;
• Experience with healthcare waste management related issues is highly desired;
• Experience conducting gender equality and human rights trainings or stakeholder meetings is highly desired;
• Relevant experience in Africa region of the project is desired;
• Experience working with the UN and GEF is desired.

Languages:

• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English;
• Proficiency in French is desired.

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: a) Responsive/ compliant/acceptable; b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.Technical Criteria - 60% of total evaluation – max. 60 points:

• Criteria A - Master’s degree in gender, human rights or other related area – max points: 5;
• Criteria B - At least 5 years of practical working experience in gender equality and human rights issues related to sustainable development – max points: 10;
• Criteria C - Experience carrying out participatory social and environmental injustice analysis including gender inequality – max points: 5;
• Criteria D - Experience developing gender equality and human rights action plans – max points: 5;
• Criteria E - Experience with healthcare waste management related issues – max points: 15;
• Criteria F - Experience conducting gender equality or human rights trainings or stakeholder meetings – max points: 10;
• Criteria G - Relevant experience in the Africa region of the project – max points: 5;
• Criteria H - Experience working with the UN and GEF – max points: 3;
• Criteria I - Proficiency in French – max points: 2.

Financial Criteria - 40% of total evaluation – max. 40 points.

Application procedures

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application. 
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded fromhttp://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV. 
• Financial Proposal* - Total lump sum amount in USD for tasks specified in this announcement. Mission related costs must NOT be included in the price offer as they will be covered separately as per UNDP rules and regulations. 
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

* Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...).Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner. Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.orgGeneral Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply. 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.