Background

NOTE

Application procedure:

• Application with a CV must be submitted online via this website. Please click on “Apply Now” Tab and complete required fields and upload CV. Please note that website accepts only one document therefore, if you would like to upload more than one document, please make sure to combine it into a single one.
• Financial offer in a form of completed and Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and availability - https://tinyurl.com/Offeror-Letter - Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 108162.

Gender equality is a principle that flows through the engagements of UNDP in its internal and external activities. With participation of Country Office Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in Gender Equality Seal (2021-2023), gender equality is becoming increasingly mainstreamed in UNDP supported policies, strategies, action plans and projects on development, environment, community engagement, digital actions, etc.

When it comes to gender equality, in the past few years, BiH has made significant progress in terms of legislative and policy development and harmonization to support government efforts in meeting BiH’s requirements of the EU integration processes – it set up the legislative and policy frameworks for gender equality and has become a regional leader in that area. Important legal steps have been taken with Conventions, Laws and Gender Action Plans promoting gender equality, strategies adopted to reduce domestic violence, and institutional mechanisms set up to mainstream gender.

However, significant work still needs to be done both in terms of achieving parity and gender-sensitization of the institutions to ensure stronger gender integration of approaches and actions into the government structures.

The Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions (GES) is UNDP’s key organizational instrument towards achieving these goals. It sets standards in the area of equal opportunities and includes a comprehensive method developed and implemented globally to effect change in organizational culture, by introducing gender equal practices and policies to ensure decent work and working conditions for women.

The Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions recognizes the efforts made by institutions at three levels. First, in the degree of political commitment to gender issues inside and outside the institution. Second, in the management of the public policy cycle in all its phases, from planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation. And third, in its own organizational and institutional management, enabling the integration of the gender perspective in all its areas and levels.

With this initiative, UNDP intend to offer targeted support to two state level institutions the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH and the Ministry of Defense of BiH in undergoing an internal transformation process to strengthen institutional capacities for gender mainstreaming ensuring greater gender equality and women’s empowerment in their respective areas of competence. The Agency for Gender Equality of BiH will have a co-lead role in this process.

The specific goal of implementation of the GES process is to incentivize and support the selected state level institutions in justice and security sectors to empower women at work by adhering to the international conventions that BiH has signed, fully respecting BiH legal employment rights and by improving institutional policies and practices for gender equality.

Duties and Responsibilities

To this end, the consultant, under leadership of the UNDP  project coordinator,  will be supporting implementation of the following activities related to phase I of the GES process:

• Support two selected  institutions in the implementation of the GES throughout process:

1) Online self-assessments:

• Provide assstance to the public institutions in the implementation of staff surveys and the collection of quantitative data
• Provide continous advice and technical assistance to the public institutions in the collection of evidence
• Support the Public Institutions in the use of the GES online platform

2) Development, implementation, and monitoring of the Action Plan for Improvement: accompany the development and implementation of the gender equality policy and action plan.

3) Preparation for the external evaluation: Support the PI in the evaluation process to obtain the Gender Equality Seal, working on the requirements of evidence and necessary documentation of the institution.

• Provide on job mentoring, design and deliver training sessions on gender equality and the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions, to institutional staff, in close coordination with the Global Gender Equality Seal Team (online and in person trainings).
• Facilitate and moderate public events (kick off meeting, round tables, etc.) creating and generating content for events, and conducting the analytical and all relevant follow up work.
• Support the institutions in preparing all relevant materials and producing the self-assessment report for institutions.
• Participate in all capacity building activities organized by the Gender Equality Seal, necessary for the advisor to provide adequate support to the institutions advised.
• Any other activities required to ensure adequate and sustained support to the participant public institutions including preparation of draft action plans.

The consultant will be responsible for developing the following products within the period established by this contract. The technical specifications of the products are only indicative, and the final ones will be established with the consultant once the consultancy has begun.

• Product 1: Content and reports of  gender equality training sessions for the staff of participant public institutions (the number of training sessions to be identified in coordination with GES global programme team)
• Product 2: Documentation of the self-diagnosis of  two public institutions.  
• Product 3: Assesment report, per public institution, analyzing the results of the self-assessment produced by the institutions, with clear and targeted recommendations for development of action plans for improvement
• Product 4: One Action Plan, per public institution, elaborated, including recommendations for the public institutions to operationalize and monitor it.
• Important: With each one of the products, the consultant should also present a report of the activities developed during the period and the time invested.

The consultant will have to develop a work plan with a schedule at the beginning of the consultancy that must be approved by the contractor before starting the activities.

Deliverables/outputs

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• MA degree in gender, social, legal, economic, psychology  sciences.

Experience:

• At least seven years of experience working on gender equality, particularly in the development of gender analysis, gender research and assessments. Experience in gender equality certification systems would be an asset
• At least 5 years’ experience in designing and facilitating capacity building activities on gender equality.
• At least 3 years’ experience working in public administration/governance related areas or institutions. Experience on gender mainstreaming in public administration would be an asset.
• Experience working with multilateral organizations and the UN system would be an asset.

Languages Requirements:

• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English; Knowledge of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Excellent methodological and participatory planning skills.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria:

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation

Individual  will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the candidate whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) 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%
• * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Interested candidated must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Cover letter explaining why they are the most suitable for the work. 
• Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work;
• Personal CV/P11, including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.