Expert for Development of the Gender Capacity Assessment of Civil Society within Climate Promise Initiative

Background

Montenegro ratified various international treaties in both gender and climate change areas, like the UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)  and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)  that promote a gender-sensitive approach and encourage the signatory countries to mainstream gender into national sustainable development and climate change policies. The Paris Agreement  ratified by Montenegro in October 2017. also obliges the signatories to consider different needs of women and men, their way of life and their ability to adapt to climate change when planning climate change adaptation measures. It is also necessary that States set up their administrative capacities to be able to define responses to climate change, which will be in line with the specific needs of women and men .

Although the Article 2 of the Law on Gender Equality stipulates an equal representation of women and men in all areas of public and private sectors, Montenegro does not have a dedicated policy or a decision related to balanced participation of women and men in climate policies, actions and negotiations. This is mainly due to the lack of institutional awareness and capacity to intersect the two policies.Some positive developments happened in the period 2017-2020, when Montenegro participated in UNDP/UNEP Global Support Program (GSP) pilot for 5 Balkan countries and Lebanon  aiming at building capacities of pilot countries to integrate gender in the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification systems (MRV), following the main priorities of UNFCCC Gender Action Plan.

Two improvements happened in Montenegro as a result of this program. Those are:

• Gender focal point for UNFCCC (representative of the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism – MESPU ) has been nominated.
• Gender and Climate Change Action Plan as a framework for intersecting the two policies has been developed as a cooperative effort of than Ministry for Sustainable Development and Tourism and the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights (coordinating institution for gender equality policies at the time of the above-mentioned project implementation).

The Gender and Climate Change Action Plan identified  three main objectives:

1. Improvement of climate change legislation and policy documents (strategies and by-laws) by introducing a gender perspective, as well as to introduce climate change perspective in policy documents related to gender equality.2. Strengthening of national institutions to mainstream gender into the climate change transparency framework. This priority incorporates three major steps:

a. assessment of the capacities of institution to interlink gender and climate changeb. a set of trainings on gender equality and climate changec. nomination of gender representative into Working Group on Climate Change within the National Council for Sustainable Development.

3. Improvement of the system of collection and analysis of sex-disaggregated data and gender data relevant for MRV and transparency.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the assignment

In order to mainstream gender into the climate change related considerations, it is necessary to focus on the structures, processes and institutionalization of addressing gender equality in the climate change policy formulation and implementation procedures. For effective gender integration of the sectoral gendered implications into the climate change, it is important to conduct analysis and assessments of the existing situation, base on which related recommendations would be provided. An analysis of policy instruments to streamline equality responses in climate change policies is essential, as well as to explore whether those engaged in the policy process have positive attitudes towards addressing gender equalities and the capacity to attempt to do so.An international expert will be engaged to develop gender analysis on gender mainstreaming into the climate change policies, in five areas: a) policy alignment, b) institutional coordination, c) capacity building, d) sex-disaggregated data and gender information and e) dedicated financial resources.In addition, a national consultant is needed to do the capacity assessment of non-state institutions and conduct related consultations on revised NDC and climate change in Montenegro.   

Under direct supervision by the UNDP Project Manager, as well in close cooperation with the gender focal point at the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism, a consultant is needed to develop gender analysis of non-state institutions, as well as to conduct related consultations on NDC, as well as possible intersections between gender and climate change.     An international consultant will be engaged to develop assessment on gender integration into the climate change policy across a range of the following five areas:

a. Policy alignmentb. Institutional coordinationc. Capacity buildingd. Sex-disaggregated data and gender informatione. Dedicated financial resources.

The capacity building assessment to be conducted by international expert will include analysis of the capacities of national institutions dealing with climate change, primarily Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism, but also Ministry of Economy, Capital Investments, Agriculture, Forestry and Waters, as well as relevant national institutions, like Environment Protection Agency, State Statistical Office etc. As already known, not all institutions or sectors have the relevant capacity to integrate gender equality considerations within their climate efforts. A gender analysis will focus on gaps in capacities in relation to both gender and climate change considerations. In some cases, there may be a negative attitude towards addressing gender equality. In other instances, there may be a lack of skills or understanding of the issue. Some sectoral ministries have a gender focal point network within each ministry, and these could prove to be a suitable entry points, if they become more knowledgeable on climate change.

Concurrently, the national consultant will perform the following:

- Exchange of knowledge between environmental/climate change NGOs on one hand and civil and women groups on the other, in order to better comprehend gender dimension of climate change and to encourage them to participate in and to benefit from adaptation and mitigation policies.- Capacity assessment of non-state stakeholders, mapping NGOs dealing with gender equality on one hand and climate change on the other hand.- The assessment will evaluate their capacities and needs in order to:

• understand intersection of gender and climate change
• empower local women and vulnerable groups to participate in climate change policies.

- Conduct consultations with organizations dealing with gender equality in order to get their opinion on revised NDC and related future development of Montenegro.  

Thus, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

Develop Gender Analysis with the above-mentioned information. The result of the gender analysis should provide concrete, action-oriented recommendations for governance, planning and policy to ensure better and informed climate changing planning and reporting.Present major findings of the analysis at various meetings/round tables and provide expert input for set of networking and information and knowledge exchange activities.

Main project deliverables will include the following:

I.  First draft of the Gender Analysis of non-state stakeholders – 10th August 2021.II. Final Gender Analysis – 30th August 2021.III.Report on consultations regarding revised NDC – 30th August 2021.IV. Provide expert input and present major findings at various knowledge exchange meetings/workshops/events – 30th October 2021.

Time duration and travel: 

The assignment will be carried out within 45 working days from 5th July until 30th October 2021. Due to the nature of the assignment, the consultant would have to closely collaborate with the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism, i.e. its Division for Climate Change.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University degree in the thematic areas relevant to the assignment (e.g. social, gender studies);

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of experience in development of similar analysis and programmes in gender mainstreaming in different sectors (climate change, MRV systems, adaptation, mitigation).
• Participation in at least 2 similar projects related to gender and climate change, UNFCCC reporting.
• Excellent knowledge of the United Nations Framework for Climate Change (UNFCCC), Paris Agreement, NDC requirements when it comes to gender;
• Demonstrable experience in developing relevant gender analysis, including policy, legal, capacity development and sex-disaggregated data needs and considerations.
• Knowledge of related Montenegrin institutions and stakeholders.
• Experience in policy/regulatory/financial frameworks related to genders and climate change.

Language:

• Fluency in English with good writing, presentation and communication skills.

Criteria for selection:

Combined Scoring method will be used. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: (i) responsive, compliant, acceptable, and (ii) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• Technical criteria weight - 70% (Background and education 10%; Relevant previous experience 20%; Substantial knowledge/Required competencies 30%; Required language 10%);
• Financial criteria weight - 30%.

Only offerors obtaining a minimum 490 points for technical criteria will be considered for the financial evaluation. For more information on procurement methodology for Individual Contractors, please refer to Procurement Notice.

Application procedure:

Interested applicants are requested to submit their applications by June 24, 2021 by using the Apply now button. The application should contain CV or P11 that can be downloaded at https://www.me.undp.org/content/montenegro/en/home/jobs.html. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file.

Only the short-listed applicants will be contacted and requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in EUR) requested for the work envisaged in the section "Description of Responsibilities".