Country: Mali
Closing date: 30 Sep 2018
Location: Home based with frequent visits to Mali
Application Deadline: 30-Sep-18 (Midnight New York, USA)
Additional Category: Gender Equality
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: International Consultant(s)
Languages Required: French English
Starting Date: (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 17-Oct-2018
Duration of Initial Contract: 40 working days (within 2 months’ period)
Expected Duration of Assignment: 40 working days (within 2 months’ period)
Background
UN Women (UNW), 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. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.
UN Women plays an innovative and catalytic role in Mali since its inception in 2011. UN Women Mali Country Office focuses its activities on one overarching goal, namely to support the implementation at the national level of existing international commitments to advance gender equality in line with the national priorities. In support of this goal and thoroughly taking into consideration the specificities of Malian context, UN Women concentrates its efforts and interventions towards the realization of the following strategic goals: Engendering governance, peace and security; Supporting women's economic empowerment; and Promoting women’s rights and protection against violence.
The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) team of UN Women Mali is responsible for providing technical support to the Malian Ministry of Women’s Promotion (MPFEF) and members of the National Monitoring Committee for the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 in areas of women, peace and security including development and implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and subsequent resolutions. In order to reinforce the ongoing efforts especially with respect to the implementation of the NAP on UNSCR 1325, UN Women Mali Country Office is financing a team at the MPFEF dedicated to the coordination and follow-up of the NAP, the Technical Management Unit (UTG), since October 2017. The unit consists of a Coordinator, a Communication expert, an Admin/Finance assistant and is supported by an international Women, Peace and Security Advisor.
As part of its overall work on promoting the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction, UN Women supported the Ministry of Women’s Promotion to develop the current National Action Plan on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The NAP establishes a comprehensive action framework in support of the Government of Mali and civil society’s efforts to make participation of women and inclusion of their perspectives and needs in peace, security and humanitarian processes a reality.
The National Action Plan on the implementation of UNSCR 1325
The current National Action Plan on the implementation of UNSCR 1325 (2015-2017), was developed through a consultative process with national and international stakeholders, identified priority areas, indicators and activities. The overall aim is to promote the participation of women in the implementation and follow-up of the peace agreement. The NAP has been prolonged until the end of 2018 to allow an assessment as well as the development of a new NAP.
The National Monitoring Committee, which was established by a Malian Cabinet decision in 2016 and functional since 2017, is the entity overall responsible for developing, implementing and following up on the UNSCR 1325 NAP. The Technical Management Unit (UTG) is the implementing organ of the National Monitoring Committee, ensuring the everyday coordination and follow-up of the plan.
In its first meeting in November 2017, the National Monitoring Committee assigned the Technical Management Unit with the task to conduct an assessment of the current NAP. This assessment was carried out from November 2017 to April 2018 and identifies strengths and challenges with the plan as well as recommendations for a NAP post-2018.
According to the assessment, strengths include an inclusive process used during the inception phase and a comprehensive content aligned with the peace agreement. There is a coordination structure in place with key actors involved, including relevant ministries, mechanisms of the peace agreement and civil society organizations. Furthermore, there has been an important progress in implementation, for example through the adoption of a law ensuring 30 % gender quota on nominative and elected positions.
Notable challenges include lack of ownership by a broader range of ministries, outdated context analysis missing emerging issues such as violent extremism and indicators are mostly activity-focused and non-aligned with global indicators. Localization/decentralization of commitments is also missing. Based on the recommendations of the assessment, a roadmap for the development of the new NAP has been designed by the Technical Management Unit which includes consultations, the development of a strategic monitoring and evaluation framework and a budgeting process.
Purpose of the Assignment
With the purpose of developing a new high impact UNSCR 1325 NAP, UN Women is recruiting an international consultant or consultants for the development of a Strategic Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (Toolbox) and Budget for the UNSCR 1325 NAP to work closely with the MPFEF and the Technical Management Unit of the UNSCR 1325 NAP. The toolbox will enable the subsequent monitoring and evaluation of the UNSCR 1325 NAP (2019-2023), which is under development. In addition, the budget of the NAP will enable realization of planned actions.
Objectives of the Consultancy Assignment
The main objectives of the assignment are to:
• Produce a result-based Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, including Strategic Objectives and Outputs. The matrix should include SMART indicators, means of verification (source of information/data collection methods), frequency of data collection, guidelines and tools for data collection to identify means of verifications, guidelines for conducting evaluations, reporting system that identify the responsible parties for the reporting and reporting methods and templates. Both quantitative and qualitative indicators should be used to monitor the NAP’s results;
• Define the indicators for the 1325 NAP M&E Framework taking into consideration the global indicators on UNSCR 1325 NAP and bearing in mind the specific situation in Mali; and
• Determine what information is needed to establish a baseline for all identified indicators and prepare a data collection plan and data collection tools to be used by parties responsible for the implementation of the 1325 NAP.
• Elaborate a budget through a process of assigning a cost to each activity in the plan (costing) as well as the planning to ensure that there are specific funds allocated to each activity in the NAP (budgeting).
Duties and Responsibilities
The consultant is expected to:
• Report to UN Women’s Women, Peace and Security Advisor at an ongoing basis;
• Update MPFEF and UN Women team on the progress of the assignment;
• Invite for stakeholders meetings and prepare the agenda, facilitate the discussions and document the meetings, follow up on and disseminate its results as needed and required; and
• Prepare written and visual materials to facilitate the stakeholders discussions as needed.
Scope of the Strategic M&E Framework (Toolbox) and Budget
The scope of the M&E Toolbox is related to the development of a National Action Plan on the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 (October-December 2018). The work on developing the M&E Framework (Toolbox) and Budget should engage all stakeholders responsible for the development of the UNSCR 1325 NAP through a consultative process. Stakeholders to be consulted include the National Monitoring Committee on the UNSCR 1325 NAP, the Technical Management Unit of the UNSCR 1325 NAP and other national and international stakeholders. In preparing the M&E Framework and the Budget, the consultant is expected to review and analyze best practices of M&E Frameworks and Budgets on WPS from global and regional perspectives. In developing the budget, the consultant is expected to facilitate the costing and budgeting processes. The process of developing the M&E Framework and Budget should entail:
- Develop Strategic Outcomes and Outputs based on the assessment of the current UNSCR 1325 NAP as well as consultations;
- Develop a Results monitoring matrix, including SMART indicators, targets, and means of verification for all indicators and data collection tool for the baseline information;
- Develop a 1325 NAP Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, including results chain and clearly described processes, tools and templates for collecting data and reporting on indicators, as well as a Theory of Change, identifying the pathways to impact and indicating what needs to be assessed;
- Draft an implementation plan for the M&E framework including capacity building and estimated resources needed; and
- Draft a Strategy for the mid-term and final evaluation of the NAP including Evaluation TORs/templates/questionnaires/etc.
- Draft a budget for the NAP through a costing and budgeting workshop with national stakeholders.
Timeframe
The following is the list of tasks and timeframe for the Monitoring and Evaluation Expert to accomplish the contractual responsibilities to develop the M&E Framework (Toolbox) and the budget:
• Task #1: Preparation: Initial briefing for the consultant by main stakeholders (MPFEF and UN Women) on the purpose and objectives of the assignment (1 Day);
• Task #2: Inception phase: Prepare and submit inception report including methodology, and work plan; the inception report will be reviewed and approved by MPFEF and UN Women (3 Days);
• Task #3: Conduct phase: Consultation with Main Stakeholders including semi-structured interviews and workshop with main stakeholders involved in the development of the NAP and the development of the first draft of the M&E Framework, including strategic objectives and outputs (Toolbox) (19 Days);
• Task #4: Debriefing: Present the Draft M&E Framework to Key Stakeholders (1 Day);
• Task #5: Development Phase: Finalize the M&E Framework (3 Days);
• Task #6: Follow-up phase: Receive and incorporate feedback from main stakeholders on the framework (2 Days);
• Task #7: Budget phase: Prepare and facilitate costing and budgeting workshop with main stakeholders and develop NAP budget (8 days); and
• Task #8: Final workshop for main stakeholders to present the final M&E framework and the budget for the UNSCR 1325 NAP (1 Day). Participants are expected to learn how to use the M&E framework for the UNSCR 1325 NAP including how to collect data for the baseline, for MPFEF, members of the UNSCR 1325 National Monitoring Committee and Technical Management Unit, and key responsible parties for the implementation of the 1325 NAP.
• Task #9: Prepare and submit report of final workshop (2 days).
• Total working days: approximately 40.
Expected Deliverables
The following are the expected deliverables for the M&E and budget Expert and:
• Deliverable One: An Inception report for the assignment;
• Deliverable Two: A draft results matrix including M&E Framework (ToolBox);
• Deliverable Three: A final Strategic M&E Framework for the UNSCR 1325 NAP;
• Deliverable Four: A final budget for the UNSCR 1325 NAP; and
• Deliverable Five: A Report and PowerPoint of final workshop.
Management of the Assignment
Under the overall guidance of UN Women Resident Representative and the direct management of the Women, Peace and Security Advisor, in close coordination and consultation with the Ministry of Women’s Promotion, the assignment will be carried out by an international consultant/consultants
recruited by UN Women. The consultant(s) contracted by UN Women will be the sole accountable person(s) for the assignment. The consultant(s) will report directly to UN Women WPS Advisor. The consultant(s) will be responsible for all logistics (office space, administrative and secretarial support, telecommunications, printing documentation, travel etc.).
Competencies
Core values / Guiding principles:
Integrity:
• Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
Professionalism:
• Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
Cultural Sensitivity / Valuing diversity:
• Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity.
Core Competencies:
Ethics and Values:
• Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity.
Organizational Awareness:
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
Communicating Information and Ideas:
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively.
Self-management and Emotional intelligence:
• Creating synergies through self-control.
Knowledge Sharing / Continuous Learning:
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others.
Functional Competencies:
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in monitoring and evaluation/gender budgeting;
• Proven strong coordination and facilitation skills;
• Ability to coordinate between different organizations;
• Strong communication skills in English and French (oral and written);
• Ability to work under pressure and to deliver on time; and
• Results oriented, flexible and with problem solving skills.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
• Master degree or equivalent in the field of management, or social sciences or socio-economic development management or related field.
Experience:
• A minimum of 6 years of work experience in developing and implementing results-based monitoring and evaluation frameworks/gender-responsive budgeting;
• Experience in developing M&E tools and templates and training practitioners on their use (minimum of two assignments or 3 years consecutively as an M&E Officer);
• 4 years of experience working in the women, peace and security agenda in Mali or other crisis contexts;
• Proven experience in developing gender-responsive evaluations (minimum of two assignments related to development evaluations); and
• Experience working with UN agencies and International organizations in general and with UN Women in specific is an asset.
Languages:
• Fluency in English and French is required.
How to apply: