National Consultant to support an International Consultant to conduct a training needs assessment on gender mainstreaming in IPA

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. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality (GE) and gender mainstreaming translate into action globally. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

In line with the European Council’s decision of March 2020 to open accession negotiations with the Country, the SIDA-funded project “Gender Equality Facility” (GEF) aims at supporting the Government of North Macedonia in transposing the EU Gender Equality acquis, strengthening the effective implementation of national and international legal frameworks on gender equality and women’s rights, mainstreaming gender equality into EU integration and planning processes for pre-accession assistance, and strengthening institutional mechanisms for gender equality in line with EU standards. Thereby, GEF supports institutions to correctly align with the EU Gender Equality acquis. The intervention will also address challenges in implementation of laws and gender equality policies by providing support for enhancing coordination and monitoring of gender equality policies and measures. In the medium to longer-term, and in line with the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and the Principles of the EU Gender Action Plan III (2021-2025), the Project aims to secure implementation/application of gender equality legislation, policies and standards through policy dialogue, technical expertise and guidance, development and sharing of good practice, and strategic partnerships and cooperation.

The main partners of the Project are the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA, the main project beneficiary), Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) structures, the Equal Opportunities Department at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP), and National Gender Machinery institutions.

Goal and Objectives

The UN Women Office in North Macedonia is seeking to recruit an experienced National Consultant, who will provide a gender capacity analysis, gap identification, and gender training needs assessment of IPA units, SEA, gender mechanisms, and other relevant institutions and structures, with a specific focus on gender mainstreaming skills and knowledge related to IPA processes.

The work of the National Consultant will be to closely work alongside and to support the work of the International Consultant with specific local knowledge of gender equality issues, government structures and sector governance in North Macedonia. The National Consultant will be directly supervised by the Output Coordinator for Result 1 and will provide high quality and timely delivered inputs to this product, as specified in this Terms of Reference.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the UN Women North Macedonia GEF Project Manager, and the direct supervision of the GEF Output Coordinator for Result 1, and in close collaboration with an International Consultant, the National Consultant will be responsible for performing the below key activities:

Familiarize her/himself with the specific workplan and methodological approach prepared by the International Consultant, and provide input, as needed/upon request.
Coordinate closely with the UN Women GEF Project team, International Consultant, the gender institutional mechanisms and relevant institutions and contribute to establishing a joint understanding of the project context, task, and requirements.
In close collaboration with and under the guidance of the International Consultant, contribute to the preparation of the methodology and workplan for conducting the Training Needs Assessment on gender mainstreaming skills and knowledge related to IPA processes, defining data collection and data analysis methods and timeline.
Provide the International Consultant with relevant documents that are available in English and ensure that key contents of documents available in Macedonian language only are communicated to the expert.
Provide support to the International Consultant in preparation of the assessment tool(s) for conducting the training needs assessment on gender mainstreaming skills and knowledge related to IPA processes.
Provide inputs to defining data collection and data analysis methods and timeline.
Contribute to determining the relevant institutions and specific positions/individuals with whom the training needs assessment will be undertaken.
Under the guidance of the International Consultant, conduct data collection from identified relevant stakeholders, focusing on gender mainstreaming skills and knowledge related to IPA processes and other gender gaps identified in the desk research, to include:
Keep written track records of the implemented activities (such as Minutes of Meetings, Minutes of Focus Groups, audio/video recordings of activities, Questionnaires and Answers to the Questionnaires, and/or Lists of Participants, etc. (where applicable)).
Submit written track records of data collection activities to the International Consultant and UN Women
Support the International Consultant in the analysis process of the data collected from relevant identified stakeholders.
Contribute to the development and drafting of a consolidated Training Needs Assessment report with specific recommendations, in English.

Conduct a Validation Workshop with SEA, IPA structures, the gender mechanism, the UN Women GEF Project Team, and other identified relevant stakeholders; to include:
In close collaboration with and under the guidance of the International Consultant, contribute to drafting the Concept Note, Agenda, and relevant materials.
Conduct a Validation Workshop and collect feedback, comments and inputs from the stakeholders.
Prepare workshop notes and submit them to the International Consultant and UN Women.
Based on the inputs, comments, and results of the Validation Workshop, support the International Consultant in making any required adjustments to the final Training Needs Assessment Report, in English.
Support the International Consultant in preparing a set of detailed recommendations to UN Women for gender capacity development/training for IPA structures, gender mechanisms, and other identified relevant stakeholders.

Throughout the assignment, the National Consultant is expected to:

Keep continuous contact and exchange with the International Consultant.
Participate in the weekly briefings with the GEF Output Coordinator for Result 1 and the International Consultant, to provide status updates/reports.
Provide support to, work in close collaboration with, and be guided by an International Consultant.
Support the verification of inputs and all deliverables prior to their submission to UN Women.

Main expected outputs/deliverables:

Deliverables

Indicative Days

Timeline and due dates

List of relevant stakeholders/institutions/positions/individuals to be assessed, approved by UN Women

1

By 22 October 2021

Technical input for and contribution to the finalization of assessment tools for conducting the training needs assessment on gender mainstreaming skills and capacity in IPA processes, including on aspects of data collection, data analysis methods, and timeline – approved by UN Women

3

By 30 October 2021

Data collected through a process with relevant stakeholder institutions/positions through applying the assessment tools

Written track records from relevant activities.

5

By 10 November 2021

Inputs for the Draft Training Needs Assessment report (in English provided to the International Consultant)

7

By 20 November 2021

Organized and conducted Validation Workshop/s; drafting of Concept Note, Validation workshop/s materials, final notes and completed evaluation forms from workshop participants - reviewed and approved by UN Women

4

By 3 December 2021

Contribution and input for consolidated assessment report, approved by UN Women with specific recommendations, including:

Recommendations for gender capacity/development training on gender mainstreaming in IPA processes
Specific suggestions for capacity development training modules

4

By 10 December

Brief final consultancy report - submitted for UN Women’s approval

1

By 17 December 2021

Total

25

Reporting

Under the overall supervision of the GEF Project Manager and the GEF Output Coordinator for Result 1 at UN Women Skopje Office, the National Consultant will develop and deliver the above listed deliverables in accordance with the indicative timeframe.

All deliverables of an acceptable standard and quality should be submitted to the UN Women and in languages as specified above.

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:

Knowledge Management and Learning

Shares knowledge and experience
Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside UN Women
Development and Operational Effectiveness
Demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills.
Communicates sensitively, effectively, and creatively across different constituencies
Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in communications and outreach/advocacy
Ability to perform a variety of standard specialized and non-specialized tasks and work processes that are fully documented, researched, recorded, and reported
Ability to review a variety of data, identify and adjust discrepancies, identify, and resolve operational problems
Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource

Leadership and Self-Management

Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
Proven networking skills and ability to generate interest in UN Women’s mandate
Identifies opportunities and builds strong partnerships with clients and partners

Required Skills and Experience

Education/Academic Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Law, Public Administration, Gender Studies, European Studies, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or related fields.
Master’s Degree will be an advantage.

Work Experience:

At least 5 years of experience in providing technical support to government on human rights, gender equality and/or gender mainstreaming in different sectors;
A minimum of 3 years of experience in developing and applying gender-sensitive monitoring, evaluation and capacity assessment tools and methodologies
Proven evidence of familiarity with government structures, public administration reform, public management streamlining and modernization;
Experience in organizing and implementing gender mainstreaming trainings, and in conducting/facilitating workshops with government is considered an asset;
Proven knowledge and understanding of the national legal and policy frameworks regarding gender equality, especially regarding the EU acquis and pre-accession process.

Language requirement:

Fluency and excellent writing skills in English and Macedonian, both oral and written. All deliverables are to be prepared and submitted in English.

Other skills:

Good computer skills in Windows environment, knowledge of internet communication and command of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point), Zoom and MS Teams.