Consultancy: Preventing and Responding to Gender Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace, Gender & Rights, PD - NYHQ, Requisition #513976

The purpose of this consultancy is to undertake a short research assignment that will produce a brief mapping of recent effective practice, policies, and results in addressing gender discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

Background & Rationale

After hearing from staff members across the organization, UNICEF Executive Director Henriette Fore has committed to take action to end discrimination in every UNICEF office and work environment. 

Gender discrimination, harassment and abuse of power have no place in any work environment — especially in an organization like UNICEF, which has always been driven by the core values of respect, inclusivity and caring. 

The Executive Director is forming an Independent Task Force to review current practices and provide recommendations to effectively and systematically prevent and address workplace gender-related discrimination, harassment and abuse of power. This represents an important step in our broader journey towards eliminating discrimination and abuse of power of any kind.

The mandate of the Task Force is to provide recommendations to UNICEF on measures to address workplace discrimination and harassment with a focus on gender-related dynamics, specifying timeframe and urgency. The Task Force will work for a period of approximately 6 months, beginning June, 2018

The Task Force will be supported by a secretariat led by Principal Advisor Gender and Development at UNICEF and consisting of a Project Manager and support staff.

An Internal Reference Group (IRG) will also act as a support body to the Secretariat and Task Force. The IRG will serve as both a sounding board and a resource to the Task Force and Secretariat, providing consultation and feedback to align the Task Force’s deliberations and recommendations with a) UNICEF’s aspiration to be a workplace free of gender inequality, harassment, discrimination and abuse; and b) operational and actionable steps for undertaking the necessary shifts in organizational systems and culture.  

To support the work of the Independent Task Force, UNICEF is seeking a consultant to undertake a research assignment to map effective policies and practices to prevent and respond to gender discrimination and harassment in the workplace

Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to undertake a short research assignment that will produce a brief mapping of recent effective practice, policies, and results in addressing gender discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

Scope of work

To undertake this assignment, the consultant is expected to:

• Undertake an initial planning discussion with the Task Force and Secretariat;
• Produce a brief (2 page max) methodology and reporting template for the consultancy;
• Carry out web-based research into recent evidence of effective practice, policies, and results in addressing gender discrimination and harassment in the workplace – with a focus on practice within UN agencies, other development agencies and commercial businesses;
• Produce a concise (20 page) summary of effective practice, policies, and results in addressing gender discrimination and harassment in the workplace;
• Present the summary via skype to the Task Force and Secretariat.

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Program Manager, Independent Task Force on Gender Discrimination and Harassment. 

Expected results:

The consultant is expected to deliver:

1. A 2-page proposed methodology and reporting template
2. A draft summary report of effective practice, policies, and results in addressing gender discrimination and harassment in the workplace. This report will summarize the results of the web-based research conducted by the consultant, and include recent examples of effective practice, policies and result from a diversity of UN, non-UN development and commercial organizations. The report will be no longer that 20 pages in length, excluding annexes where necessary.
3. A final summary report of effective practice, policies, and results in addressing gender discrimination and harassment in the workplace. This report will be delivered one week after consolidate feedback is received from UNICEF.

Payment will be made on the acceptance of deliverables by UNICEF, see below timeframe.

Duty Station: The consultant will be home-based for the duration of the contract.

Timeframe: 

Start date: 23 July 2018     
End date: 30 September 2018 

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline

• An Advanced University degree (Master's) in human resources, gender and diversity, or related areas of expertise.
• A minimum of 4-5 years of relevant working is required 
• Considerable familiarity with the issue of gender and diversity in the workplace, including evidence of prior research in this area.  
• Significant demonstrable experience of producing high quality reports 
• Understanding of the work of the UN, and UNICEF an advantage.
• Fluency in English (reading & writing) is required and French will be considered an asset.

Application Material: Applications must include:

• Detailed curriculum vitae including a description of main achievements;
• Submission of at least 2 products and/or writing samples related to this TOR scope;
• Minimum of three references that include the name of the contact person, title and contact information.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Remarks

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.