National Consultant to support an International Consultant in developing an EU gender approximation measuring report

Background

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

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.

Since 2010, the European Union and UN Women have developed a close partnership. Working in concert, the European Union and UN Women have made great strides to promote gender equality through shared dialogue, advocacy, and cooperation programs.

The European Union Gender Equality Facility (GEF) in BiH is based on the Action Document for the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) for the year 2018 “EU Gender Equality Facility”. The project is funded and jointly implemented by the European Union and UN Women, through the Project Team in close cooperation with the Agency for Gender Equality BiH (AGE BiH) and the Gender Center of the Federation of BiH (GC FBiH).

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) progress in recent years respecting and promoting Gender Equality is highlighted in a series of international commitments and in national legal and policy frameworks. The main achievements in the field of gender equality and women’s empowerment reside in BiH’s institutional capacity development for the work on gender equality. Indeed, the legal provisions guaranteeing women’s rights and gender equality are largely in place – the Gender Equality Law, the Gender Action Plan, the Election Law amendment instituting quotas, the Action Plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325, and the ratification of the Istanbul Convention are normative achievements that influence the institutional practice in promoting gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As the Government of BiH prepares to align with the broader European Union acquis in a wide range of sectors, it is prioritizing investment in particular sectors with specific areas of social and economic reform, providing for the adoption of a comprehensive sector-based approach to development. BiH’s accession to the European union is structured on the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP), the implementation of which is monitored by the European Commission. Bosnia and Herzegovina applied for EU membership in February 2016. The Commission adopted its Opinion (Avis) on the EU membership application of the country in May 2019, identifying 14 key priorities for the country to fulfill in view of opening EU accession negotiations out of which one priority is targeting gender equality.

GEF aims to strengthen the effective implementation of domestic and international legal frameworks concerning gender equality and women’s rights; mainstreaming gender into European Union integration and planning processes for pre-accession assistance; and strengthen institutional mechanisms for gender equality in line with the European union standards. Furthermore, GEF will support institutions in correctly aligning with the European Union Gender Equality acquis. The focus of the project intervention is on the role and functioning of institutional mechanisms for gender equality and their engagement in all aspects of European Union integration and planning and implementation of pre-accession assistance. Support includes strengthening the gender institutional mechanisms; the Gender Action Plan (GAPs) Coordination Committees and civil servants tasked with providing gender expertise in sectoral areas (gender focal points in ministries); and also the enhancement of capacities for implementing and monitoring GAPs and other relevant policies at the state and entity level. The intervention will address challenges in the implementation of laws and gender equality policies through support to the institutions mandated for gender equality and between coordination and monitoring of gender equality policies and measures.

Pursuant to the Gender Equality Law of BiH, the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AGE) is entrusted with monitoring the enforcement of the law. Furthermore, the Agency, along with the Gender Center of the Federation of BiH (GC FBiH) and the Gender Centre of Republika Srpska (GC RS) (collectively referred to as the “gender institutional mechanisms”) are key institutional mechanisms for gender equality in the BiH Council of Ministers, Government of the Federation of BiH and the Government of Republika Srpska, in charge of directing efforts towards fighting discrimination and achieving gender equality in BiH by developing strategic documents and action plans.

The Directorate for European Integration is a permanent, autonomous and professional body of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which coordinates the processes and activities of the institutions in the integration of BiH into the European Union. Competences of the Directorate are related to the commitments stemming from the integration process, alignment of legislation with the acquis, financial assistance of the EU for BiH, translation of legislation and other documents, and communication and training for various target groups to provide institutional, professional and technical support to BiH integration into the EU.
Additionally, in terms of EU integration process in BiH, at the entity level, there is the Republika Srpska Ministry for European Integration and International Cooperation and the Office of the Federation of BiH Government for European Integration. At the Brcko District level, there is the Department for European Integration and International Cooperation.
The UN Women Country Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina is seeking to recruit a National Consultant who will support an International Consultant in developing a report on measuring to what extent legislation, strategies and policies in BiH in the sectors of a) agriculture and rural development, b) rule of law, c) competitiveness and innovation have been aligned with the EU gender equality acquis. The National Consultant will support the International Consultant with specific local knowledge of of gender equality issues and legislation/strategies/policies in BiH. The National Consultant is expected to closely collaborate with the International Consultant, the gender institutional mechanisms, line ministries, the Directorate for European Integration BiH, other relevant stakeholders involved in EU integration processes and report to the UN Women GEF Project Manager.

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of this consultancy is to strengthen the capacities of targeted institutions in BiH to include the gender perspective. Gender equality being a fundamental value of the European Union, rather than a legislative requirement, the intention is to ensure that the gender perspective is embedded early on in the accession process.

IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE

The specific objective of the assignment is:

Under the supervision and guidance of the International Consultant, provide inputs for carrying out an analysis of selected legislation, strategies and policies (in the sectors of a) agriculture and rural development, b) rule of law, c) competitiveness and innovation) at the level of BiH, RS, FBiH and Brcko District in terms of absorbing the EU gender equality acquis;
Under the supervision and guidance of the International Consultant, provide inputs for identifying any gaps in the aligned of selected legislation, strategies and policies with the EU gender equality acquis;
Contribute to developing a set of recommendations identifying the way forward for effectively absorbing the EU gender equality acquis in said sectors.

Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Specialist and guidance of the EUD Programme Manager and in close coordination with an International Consultant, the gender institutional mechanisms and other relevant partners, the National Consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

• Consultation with stakeholders (to be conducted under the guidance of the International Consultant)

Conduct consultations with the BiH Agency for Gender Equality, the FBiH Gender Centre, the RS Gender Centre (if available) to establish a joint understanding of key gender equality issues in each sector;
Conduct consultations with line ministries at the level of BiH, RS and FBiH, as well as the relevant departments in Brcko District, to identify key legislation, strategies and policies to be analysed;
Conduct consultations with the Directorate for European Integration BiH, the FBiH Government Office for European Integration, the RS Ministry for European Integration and International Cooperation and the Brcko District Department for European Integration and International Cooperation to identify key issues regarding alignment with the acquis;

• After consultations, provide inputs for developing a methodology outlining selected legislation, strategies and policies to be analysed and the overall approach to developing the report.

• Provide inputs for developing the draft report with: i) analysis of selected legislation, strategies and policies (in the sectors of a) agriculture and rural development, b) rule of law, c) competitiveness and innovation) at the level of BiH, RS, FBiH and Brcko District in terms of absorbing the EU gender equality acquis; ii) identification of any gaps in the aligned of selected legislation, strategies and policies with the EU gender equality acquis; iii) set of recommendations identifying the way forward for effectively absorbing the EU gender equality acquis in said sectors.

The draft report will be sent to stakeholders for comments. Written record of how comments have been addressed to be kept.

• Provide inputs for the final report with adjustments made based on comments received.

Throughout the assignment, the National Consultant is expected to:

Keep continuous contact, exchange with and language support to the International Consultant
Maintain communication and good working relations with stakeholders.
Organize briefings with the UN Women GEF Project Manager to provide status updates/reports.

To facilitate the delivery of the above outputs, UN Women will provide the National Consultant with the following:

Project related documents and contacts;
Other documents as necessary.

DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAME

The consultant will be expected to submit the following deliverables within the indicative timeframe:

Deliverables

Indicative Days

Timeline and due dates

1. Inputs for notes from consultations with stakeholders. Submit to UN Women for approval upon review of the International Consultant.

5

17 May 2022

2. Inputs for the methodology. Submit to UN Women for approval upon review of the International Consultant.

3

26 May 2022

3. Inputs for draft report. Submit to UN Women for approval upon review of the International Consultant.

14

18 June 2022

4. Inputs for final report with adjustments made based on comments received, as well as a written record of how comments have been addressed. Submit to UN Women for approval upon review of the International Consultant.

8

20 July 2022

Total

30

The consultancy will last 30 days in the period from 10 May 2022 to 05 August 2022. The assignment will not require presence on UN Women premises. The assignment will not require in-country travel.

REPORTING

All deliverables should be submitted to the UN Women GEF Project Manager in English. Inputs for the final report should be delivered by 20 July 2022. Approval time required to review the deliverables before authorizing payments is 7 days. All deliverables must satisfy the EU/UN Women visibility requirements.

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

Academic Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Law, Agriculture, Rural Development, European Studies, Political Science, Social Sciences, Sociology, Gender/Women’s Studies, Development Studies, Economics or related fields
Master’s Degree or equivalent in similar field will be considered an advantage.

Work Experience:

At least 5 years of experience in analysing programme formulations and experience in socio-economic analysis;
Proven knowledge and understanding of the national legal and policy frameworks, especially in regard to the EU acquis;
Experience (through publications) in producing written analysis of socio-economic issues;
Evidence of solid knowledge of stakeholders in the country, in particular national institutions working in the field of gender mainstreaming and development;
Prior experience in gender mainstreaming into programme formulations would be an asset;
Prior experience in conducting tasks similar to the ones outlined in this ToR with UN/EU agencies in the Western Balkans or similar international organizations will be considered a distinct advantage.

Language requirement:

Excellent English language skills (written and spoken)
Fluency in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian

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.