UN Women: International Consultant-Programme Management Support, Dhaka Bangladesh (Retainer)

Background

UN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead UN entity on gender equality and secretariat of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, UN Women shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. UN Women partnerships with governments, women’s movements and the private sector coupled with its coordination of the broader United Nations translate progress into lasting changes. UN Women strides forward for women and girls in four areas: leadership, economic empowerment, freedom from violence, and women, peace and security as well as humanitarian action. UN Women keeps the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress–always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are. 

UN Women in Bangladesh supports the government in implementing commitments to international normative standards on gender equality and women’s human rights. In line with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2022-2026, the corresponding UN Women Bangladesh Strategic Note (2022-2026) defines UN Women’s strategic engagement in Bangladesh. The country strategy focuses on strengthening the national structures and mechanisms for gender mainstreaming in policies, plans and budgets; supporting efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women; promoting women’s access to decent and safe work; promoting policies and government investment in women’s empowerment and resilience building in the context of climate change, humanitarian crisis as well as other threats to peace and security. UN Women works with a range of stakeholders in Bangladesh, including the government, civil society and women’s organizations, youth, UN agencies and donors, to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. 

UN Women Bangladesh Country Office (BCO) seeks to engage an International Consultant - Programme Management Support. Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Representative, the consultant will support Bangladesh Country Office (BCO) to provide technical support to facilitate internal and external reporting, strengthen internal capacity on results-based management (RBM) principles, and prepare technical documents to support programme formulation, implementation and review. The scope of work requires substantive experience and in-depth understanding of results-based management (RBM) principles for efficiency and effectiveness in planning, monitoring and reporting of programme results. The consultant should also have experience in capacity development and training on RBM and report writing. 

Objectives: 

       To strengthen and support BCO’s capacity to produce high-quality reports and technical documents for internal and external communication, capacity building, programme development and resource mobilization, applying RBM principles in line with UN Women reporting rules and procedures. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

       The consultant will: 

1. In close consultation with the Deputy Representative, support the capacity development of BCO personnel on programme monitoring and reporting using the human rights-based approach (HRBA) lens in results-based management (RBM) through training, refresher and one-on-one handholding support. 
2. In close consultation with Programme Units and Planning, Monitoring and Reporting focal points, support the preparation, technical and editorial review of internal (semi-annual, annual reports) and external (donor) reports, in line with UN Women reporting guidance and principles, to ensure: 
   1. Results-based reporting - Reporting must include progress on outcomes, outputs and indicators; where activities are reported, they are accompanied by strong result statements
   2. Strengthen analysis in reporting where required in consultation with relevant programme colleagues 
   3. Appropriate use of language using UN Editorial Manual and relevant guidelines
   4. Completeness of documents and annexes
   5. Consistency with previous reports submitted 
   6. Feedback from Regional Office/headquarters and other key stakeholders is incorporated as required

1. Support the  technical and editorial review of project proposals/concept notes, project documents, and other technical documents in line with UN Women policies and procedures (including the Planning, Monitoring and Reporting policy and procedure) and RBM principles. 
2. Provide technical support to Planning, Monitoring and Reporting focal points on any other relevant issues as required (for example, tools development/analysis/feedback on disability inclusion, SOGIESC, religious and ethnic minorities, effective partner monitoring, among others). 

Deliverables:

Deliverables include, but are not limited to: 

• Edited/reviewed six-monthly, annual and donor narrative report drafts with comments and consolidated feedback 
• Dedicated sessions (office-wide and team-wise) to support teams, as required 
• Training package on results-based reporting (presentations and relevant resource materials) 
• Pre- and post-capacity assessment reports of learning sessions for BCO personnel, as required
• Comprehensive concept notes, proposals, tools/learning briefs, project/programme briefs, stories, and other technical documents as required 

Supervision and Performance Evaluation: 

The consultant will undertake the tasks under the direct supervision and guidance of the Deputy Country Representative, with coordination support from Planning, Monitoring and Reporting focal points (both Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar). 

Duration and Work Location: 

The consultant will be home-based with a possibility of travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh if required, for a period of three (3) years on a retainer basis (with a possibility of extension). The consultant will be engaged under a retainer contract, which facilitates direct engagement of the consultant depending on need and availability within the contract period for a pre-agreed fee. 

Travel and DSA: 

If unforeseen travel to Dhaka or elsewhere in Bangladesh is required for this assignment, upon prior agreement/approval from UN Women, such travel expenses shall be borne by UN Women and the individual contractor/SSA shall receive a per-diem not to exceed the United Nations Daily Subsistence Allowance rate in such other location(s) and actual travel cost. 

Payment Schedule: 

Payment will be on an actual needs basis or number of days involved, after submission of deliverables and acceptance by the contract supervisor, in consultation with the relevant requesting unit manager. 

Required qualification:

Core Competencies:

Core Values and Guiding Principles

• Integrity: Demonstrate 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 and valuing diversity: Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity. 

Functional Competencies

• Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.
• Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative.
• Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. 
• Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
• Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.
• Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution. 
• Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.
• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience: 

Education

• Master’s degree in international development, gender/women’s studies, economics, political science or other social sciences with a focus on gender and women’s rights.

Experience and skills

• Minimum 7 years of relevant work experience on issues related to project design, monitoring and reporting using results-based management.
• Proven expertise in the area of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
• Proven expertise in results-based management (RBM) principles and their application (demonstrated by published samples). 
• Previous experience with UN Women preferred; experience in working with government, donors and other UN agencies is an asset.
• Proven track record in policy analysis, development work, monitoring and reporting using results-based management in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Language 

• Excellent command of written and spoken English required. 

Technical qualification evaluation criteria:

The total number of points allocated for the technical qualification component is 70. The technical

qualification of the individual is evaluated based on following technical qualification evaluation.

criteria:

Education Qualification:  30 Point
Experience and Skills: 40 Point
Language (including written sample): 30Point

Only the candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% of total points will be considered as technically-qualified candidates who may be contacted for a validation interview or move further in the selection process.

Submission of Application 

The following documents should be submitted as part of the application:

• Cover letter (one page, including a brief overview of your previous experiences that make you the most suitable candidate) 
• Written sample: minimum one (1), maximum three (3) written sample(s) that are published and digitally available. 

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, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All recruitment/procurement 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.