International consultant _ Conduct PSEA Capacity Assessment of the Existing and New Implementing and Responsible Partners of UNDP CO in Lao PDR (First Cycle)

Background

UNDP CO in Lao PDR: Guided by the global UNDP Strategic Plan (2022 – 2025) and UNDP Country Programme Document for Lao PDR (2022 – 2026) (CPD), UNDP Country Office (CO) in Lao PDR works closely with line Ministries, mass organizations, civil society, development partners, and the private sector at both national and sub-national levels in pursuit of the national socio-economic development priorities defined in Lao PDR’s 5-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and localized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UNDP CO’s work is strongly focused on the provision of policy advice and technical support to the Government in the design and implementation of national legislation and strategies across 4 broad Priority Pillars: (1) inclusive growth and reduced inequalities; (2) UXO clearance and risk education; (3) natural resources, climate change, and disaster risk reduction; as well as (4) effective, responsive and accountable governance.

UNDP CO Gender Equality Strategy: In line with the priorities of the UNDP CO CPD (2022-2026) and the global UNDP Gender Equality Strategy (2022-2025), in 2022, UNDP CO developed a country-level Gender Equality Strategy (2022-2026), which delineates the UNDP CO’s commitment to assist the Government address deep-rooted structural barriers that perpetuate gender inequality and advance sustainable development opportunities. The Strategy provides a pathway to accelerate the CO’s institutional transformation across all the Priority Pillars, and sets out 4 Outcomes and 20 Outputs.

Outputs 2.4 and 2.5 under the operations-focused Outcome 2 aim to streamline UNDP CO’s policy, awareness-raising efforts, and organizational processes on preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), harassment, including sexual harassment (SH), and abuse of authority in the workplace, as well as to strengthen the confidence of all UNDP CO personnel in accessing the Organization’s SEA and SH reporting procedures and conflict resolution mechanisms.

Through the implementation of Outputs 2.4 and 2.5, by 2026, UNDP CO aims to achieve the following targets:

• Target 2.4.1: All staff are informed about SEA/SH and the Organization’s preventative and responsive measures;
• Target 2.4.2: UNDP CO can demonstrate a continued practice to substantially engage staff on SH/SEA issues;
• Target 2.4.2: All partners, registered suppliers, and downstream contractors have an increased understanding of the UNDP CO’s corporate standards and policy requirements on SEA/SH;
• Target 2.4.3: UNDP CO has increased the number of partners, registered suppliers, and downstream contractors that are compliant and implementing the CO’s corporate standards and contract requirements on SEA/SH;
• Target 2.5.1: All staff understand the reporting procedures and how to report a SEA/SH incident;
• Target 2.5.2: At least 70% of staff feel that Management and Senior Management deal effectively with conflicts and grievances in the office.

UNDP CO PSEA Efforts: To monitor the progress against Outputs 2.4 and 2.5 and respective targets set out in the UNDP CO Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2026), in 2022, UNDP CO developed its first PSEA/SH Action Plan for 2022.

The 2022 PSEA/SH Action Plan consists of 16 Activities across 6 Results: (1) coordination; (2) awareness of personnel and partners; (3) mandatory courses; (4) culture; (5) reporting procedures and conflict resolution mechanisms; and (6) accountability. 2 PSEA Focal Points were appointed to facilitate the implementation of the PSEA-related activities of the 2022 PSEA/SH Action Plan.

To facilitate the country-level implementation of the UN Protocol on Allegations of SEA Involving Implementing Partners, under the awareness-focused Result of the 2022 PSEA/SH Action Plan, UNDP CO plans to conduct a PSEA Capacity Assessment of its existing and new Implementing and Responsible Partners by 31 Dec 2022.

OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of the assignment is to conduct a PSEA Capacity Assessment of the existing and new Implementing and Responsible Partners of UNDP CO employing the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s (IASC) Harmonized Implementation Tool, and make tailor-made recommendations to those Implementing and Responsible Partners with PSEA capacity gaps.

The details of the Implementing and Responsible Partners of UNDP CO are indicated on the TOR

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK

The International Consultant will work under the supervision of the UNDP CO Gender Advisor with the overall guidance of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.

The tasks of the International Consultant will include:

1. Facilitate the PSEA Capacity Self-Assessment of the existing and new Implementing and Responsible Partners of UNDP CO:

• Organize a briefing session for the existing and new Implementing and Responsible Partners of UNDP CO on: (1) the purpose of the PSEA Capacity Assessment; (2) the generic overview of the PSEA Capacity Assessment, including the steps, timelines, and responsibilities; (3) the detailed overview of the PSEA Capacity Self-Assessment stage, including self-rating and list of relevant supporting documents;
• Compile all PSEA Capacity Self-Assessment forms and relevant supporting documents from the existing and new Implementing and Responsible Partners of UNDP CO.

      2. Conduct an external PSEA Capacity Assessment of the existing and new Implementing and Responsible Partners of UNDP CO:

• Assess and score the PSEA capacity of each existing and new Implementing and Responsible Partner of UNDP CO based on a set of 8 Standards on PSEA Organizational Policies and Procedures. Compliance with each Standard has to be assessed individually and rated with “Yes” or “No”. The number of Standards met will provide the basis for the Partner’s “SEA Risk Rating” and reflect the Partner’s current capacities;
• Compare the PSEA Self-Assessment and External Assessment scores and reflect the findings in the tailor-made recommendations.

       3. Identify Implementing and Responsible Partners with PSEA capacity gaps and make tailor-made recommendations:

• Make tailor-made recommendations to those Implementing and Responsible Partners with PSEA capacity gaps in one or several areas, outlining appropriate activities for them to increase the number of PSEA Standards met within 3-6 months of entering into, or continuing, a partnership agreement.

Competencies

• Strong analytical and writing skills
• Ability to work independently and/or with minimal guidance

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications: 

Advanced University Degree (Master’s level) in social development or gender studies, the rule of law, human rights, or a related field  

Experience:

• At least 6 years of professional experience in the fields of PSEA/SH, prevention and/or protection from gender-based violence (GBV), gender mainstreaming, humanitarian affairs, staff misconduct and discipline, or a related field; working experience as an in-country PSEA Focal Point/Coordinator would be an asset
• Demonstrated experience in conducting comprehensive partner capacity assessments
• Familiarity with the global UN PSEA structures, policies, procedures, and tools
• Experience in the ASEAN region would be an asset

Languange:  English proficiency; working-level Lao and/or Thai would be an asset

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HOW TO APPLY

Requirements for submission of proposals 

All interested and qualified International Consultant should apply on-line using the following links: 

UNDP Lao PDR Country Office website at https://www.undp.org/laopdr/jobs  or  

In order to make your submission, please read the relevant documents available on the link below 

1. TOR (Annex I)

2. IC General Terms and  Conditions Annex II

3. Offerors Letter to UNDP Annex III

4. P11 Form

5. IC - Contract Template

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

1. Technical Proposal (Free-Form):

• Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work; 
• Providing a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work, including the work schedule for the delivery of outputs/deliverables; 
• P11 Form: Education and work experience, including past experience in similar projects and contact references of at least three references for whom you have rendered preferably the similar services; 

       2. Financial Form (OFFEROR's LETTER): Lump sum offer with clear cost breakdown against each deliverable.

Instructions for Online Submissions: 

• Step 1:  Please prepare all required documents electronically; 
• Step 2: Combine all the required documents in ONE SINGLE FILE (preferably in PDF; however, Word format can also be accepted) and upload to the UNDP Jobs website using the link above; 
• Step 3: After that, you will receive an auto-reply from the UNDP Jobs website if your offer is received successfully. 

Incomplete Proposals or Proposals received after the deadline will be rejected. 

Note:  Any request for clarification must be sent in writing before the submission deadline to the following email: surith.sengsavang@undp.org