Background

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The incidence of violence against women and girls in the Pacific Islands is amongst the highest rates in the world. For example, 64% of women in Fiji who have ever been in an intimate relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a husband or intimate partner over the course of their lifetime[1]. Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a central barrier to gender equality and a cause of widespread violation of human rights across the Pacific[2].

To respond to the high rates of violence in the Pacific, UN Women has developed a comprehensive Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) programme which takes a transformative approach to prevent violence against women and girls at multiple levels (regional, national and community), and to improve survivors’ access to quality response services.

In order to effectively communicate about the scope of the programme, UN Women is looking for a story writer and illustrator to communicate human interest stories and impact of the programme.

[1]Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. (2013). Somebody’s Life, Everybody’s Business. Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. Suva, Fiji.

[2]The Situation of Women in Fiji, Governments 2nd, 3rd and 4th report to the CEDAW Committee

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the Assignment

Under the direct supervision of the EVAWG Technical Advisor and close collaboration with the EVAWG Communications Specialist, the consultant will be responsible for the major tasks:

Task 1: To write five (5) human interest stories with transcribed interview data in a format ready for publication on UN Women’s website.

Task 2: To interview and write five (5) human interest stories with individuals identified by UN Women. The questions will be developed by the consultant and UN Women Communications Specialist. Stories to be in a format ready for publication on UN Women’s website.

Task 3: Develop an illustrated summary of (1) key findings and results from a Pacific Partnership programme summary report and (2) Pacific Prevention Summit, anticipated April 2023.

Duration of the Assignment

The duration of this assignment will be up to 66 working days over 5 months work assignment as per schedule of deliverables with a possible start date from 1 February 2023.

Expected Deliverables

Specifically, the following major tasks shall be undertaken by the International Consultant:

Upon receipt of the final deliverables and prior to the payment of the instalment, the deliverables, related reports, and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women within one week.

All the deliverables shall be agreed with UN Women’s and the MWCPA, and UN Women will be provided in English hard and electronic copy.

Inputs

The selected consultant will work under the overall coordination and direct supervision of the UN Women EVAWG Technical Advisor. The consultant will work closely with the EVAWG Communications Specialist.

The selected candidate is expected to have her/his own laptop, internet access and communication equipment.

Performance Evaluation

The Consultant’s performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

Financial Arrangements

Payment will be disbursed within 30 (thirty) days after receipt and approval of deliverables and corresponding invoice and certification by the UN Women EVAW Technical Advisor that the services have been satisfactorily performed. It is estimated to have 3 installments to be paid to consultants/experts as per deliverable schedule.

Travel

The position is home-based with the consultant based in the Oceania region. No travels are envisaged under the current assignment. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UN Women and the International Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Functional Competencies:

• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations
• Good analytical skills

Required Skills and Experience

Required experience and qualifications

The Consultant should fulfil the following requirements:

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women studies, law, international development, or a related is required.
• A first-level university degree with 2 additional years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level may be accepted in lieu of Master’s degree.

Experience and Skills:

• At least 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with first-level university degree) of proven experience working in EVAWG/gender equality or related field communications, media, illustration and storytelling.
• At least 1 year of proven experience working on EVAWG-related story development, interviews in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Proven experience developing and publishing EVAWG-related stories, preferably in the Pacific.
• Prove experience developing illustrations that communicate findings of reports, research and publications related to gender, EVAWG, women and girls’ rights or issues.
• Experience in Pacific Islands’ development context and socio- cultural, political, and economic systems and knowledge of situation of violence against women in Fiji.
• Experience working with diverse group of people with sensitivity and inclusivity, including effective communication.

Language and other skills:

• Fluency in verbal & written English is required.

Evaluation

Initially, individual consultants will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women studies, law, international development, or a related is required.
• A first-level university degree with 2 additional years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level may be accepted in lieu of Master’s degree.
• At least 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with first-level university degree) of of proven experience working in drafting national level policies and/or papers in the area of Ending violence against women and girls.

The shortlisted individual consultant will be further evaluated based on a cumulative analysis process, with a total score being obtained upon the combination of weighted technical and financial attributes.

Cost under this method of analysis is rendered as an award criterion, which will be 30% out of a total score of 100 points.

Evaluation of submitted offers will be done based on the following formula:

where:

Technical evaluation will be represented through desk review of applications. Interviews and/or written tests will be organized if needed only, depending on the short-listed candidates’ qualifications.

Technical Qualification Evaluation Criteria: The technical part is evaluated based on its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR).

Financial Qualification Evaluation Criteria: In the Second Stage, the financial proposal of candidates, who have attained minimum 70% score in the technical evaluation (at least 49 points), will be compared.

WINNING CANDIDATE

The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring financial scoring).

Submission of application

Interested candidates are requested to submit fully completed application on the UNDP Vacancy Site.

Submission Package:

• Cover letter explaining the suitability of the consultant: applicants are encouraged to address experience and qualifications listed in the ‘criteria for technical evaluation’.
• Duly filled Personal History Form (P11) and/or Curriculum Vitae (CV) of Consultant including records of experience in similar assignments and specific outputs obtained; P11 can be downloaded at: https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment
• Financial proposal – specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (daily rate and number of anticipated working days and any other possible costs).
• Please read, use and complete ANNEX I and ANNEX II below to provide your financial proposal.

Applications without a complete financial proposal will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment. UN Women reserves the right to accept or reject any bid.

The consultancy recruitment process will be governed by the rules and regulations of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

UN Women Statement on Diversity and Inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check).

Annex I

Price Proposal Guideline and Template

The prospective Individual Contractor should take the following explanations into account during submission of his/her price proposal.

1.Lump Sum Amount

The price proposal should indicate a "lump sum amount" which is "all-inclusive"; All costs (professional fees, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Individual Contractor needs to be factored into the proposed price.

UN Women will not withhold any amount of the payments for tax and/or social security related payments. UN Women shall have no liability for taxes, duties or other similar charges payable by the Individual Contractor in respect of any amounts paid to the Individual Contractor under this Contract, and the Contractor acknowledges that UN Women will not issue any statements of earnings to the Individual contractor in respect of any such payments.

Contract price is fixed to activities/deliverables indicated in the ToR, regardless of the changes in the cost components (such as days invested for completion of the deliverables.)

2.Travel costs

As this is a home-based consultancy, no travel costs are envisaged for this assignment.

3.Daily Subsistence Allowance

Not applicable.

4.Currency of the price proposal

The applicants are requested to submit their price proposals in USD.

In case of proposals in other currency, these shall be converted into USD using the official UN exchange rate for currency conversion at the date of applications’ submission deadline.

Annex II

Price Proposal Submission Form

[ Mandatory document for the Consultant to complete and submit]

To: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Ref: Individual International Consultant – To prevent the Fiji National Action Plan to prevent Violence Against Women / VAW, UN Women Fiji MCO

Dear Sir / Madam,

I, the undersigned, offer to provide professional consulting services to UN Women within the scope of the referred Assignment. Having examined, understood, and agreed to the Terms of Reference and its annexes, the receipt of which are hereby duly acknowledged, I, the undersigned, offer to deliver professional services, in conformity with the Terms of Reference.

My maximum total price proposal for the assignment is given below:

Estimated Costs (in USD$)

*** Please be informed that for shorter assignments than a full day, the daily rate will be pro-rated into hourly rate.

I confirm that my financial proposal will remain unchanged. I also confirm that the price that I quote is gross, and is inclusive of all legal expenses, including but not limited to social security, income tax, pension, etc., which shall be required applicable laws.

I agree that my proposal shall remain binding upon me for 60 working days.

I understand that you are not bound to accept any proposal you may receive.