National Consultant on Supporting Labor Migration Governance through a Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System

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 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 Philippines is jointly implementing the Bridging Recruitment to Reintegration in Migration Governance Programme (BRIDGE) with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to support the Philippine government in achieving Objectives 6 and 21 of the Global Compact for Migration, on fair and ethical recruitment, decent work, dignified return, and sustainable reintegration.

This will be accomplished by ensuring that a) Government initiatives to promote fair and ethical recruitment as well as reintegration services are evidence-based, gender-responsive and coordinated through a people-centered, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach and b) the Government establishes mechanisms to translate evidence into policy and best practices pertaining to recruitment and reintegration through the migration cycle. Both results seek to that ensure human mobility in the Philippines is fully utilized and facilitated in a regular, safe and orderly manner that contributes towards sustainable development effects for migrants, their families and even communities.

UN Women Philippines will contribute to the joint programme by engaging government and non-government actors and organizations to ensure gender-responsive mechanisms specifically addressing gender differentiated needs of migrants as well as coordinate partnership meetings, policy and knowledge exchange to further learn and understand the circumstances of migrant women. To do this, it is tasked to, among others:

Provide technical support through coordination and documentation, activating and supporting the gender and development (GAD) focals of key respective agencies; and
Create/strengthen Gender and Development (GAD) focal points (GFPs), with the provision of technical assistance and regular support to agency GAD focal points and ensuring their participation and representation in various interagency discussions on recruitment and reintegration.

Republic Act 11641 creating the new Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) requires Migrant Workers Offices and Migrant Workers Resource Centers to designate GFPs, who are also expected to serve as the ending-Violence Against Women (VAW) focal points.

In view of the foregoing, UN Women seeks a National Consultant on Supporting Labor Migration Governance through a Gender and Development Focal Point System to provide technical and advisory support to the project team, and assist in the delivery of relevant knowledge, advocacy, and capacity-building products and interventions for BRIDGE and its partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

Services Required

The National Consultant on Supporting Labor Migration Governance through a Gender and Development Focal Point System shall undertake a research study that will:

Map, analyze, and assess the existing GAD focal point systems of Philippine public sector migration governance agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department of Labor and its line agencies (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, National Reintegration Center for OFWs, Philippine Overseas Labor Offices, etc), Department of Foreign Affairs and its Foreign Service Posts, and the Commission on Overseas Filipinos;
Explore GAD focal point systems and similar systems used by migration governance agencies in other countries, particularly migrant-sending countries, and examine good practices and lessons learned;
Formulate actionable recommendations, including possible policies and programs, on how a GAD focal point system could be designed to strengthen labor migration governance and make it more gender-responsive, including within the context of the new Department of Migrant Workers.

The research should build on existing knowledge and literature and should be informed by both quantitative and qualitative approaches, including key informant interviews with relevant agencies, and should adhere to the highest ethical standards.

The National Consultant will be invited to present her/his findings at a conference/forum to be organized by BRIDGE, either virtually or in person within Metro Manila. (If selected candidate is stationed outside of Metro Manila, the presentation may be delivered virtually).

Duties and Responsibilities

No.

Tasks

Deliverables

Target Submission Date

1

Design a research on the topic “Supporting Labor Migration Governance through a Gender and Development Focal Point System” in the Philippine context (20%)

Research brief and outline, including the following:

Proposed research methodology;
Preliminary list of sources to be consulted;
Proposed key informants;
Proposed countries to be covered by comparative review of GFPs (at least 3 migrant-sending countries, ideally in different continents)
Proposed research timeline; and
Risk analysis and risk management strategy.

30 July 2022

2

Map and assess the existing GAD focal point systems of Philippine public sector migration governance agencies, and compare them with similar systems in other labor migrant-sending countries. (30%)

Partial draft research report, including the following:

Review of literature;
Mapping and assessment of existing GAD focal point systems of Philippine migration governance agencies based on desk research and key informant interviews; and
Mapping and assessment of at least 3 other GAD focal point systems in other parts of the world, based on desk research and/or key informant interviews.

30 August 2022

3

Formulate actionable recommendations on how a GAD focal point system could be designed to strengthen labor migration governance and make it more gender-responsive, including within the context of the new DMW. (30%)

Draft research report containing the following, in addition to the items indicated under No. 3:

Policy recommendations on designing an effective GAD focal point system to support labor migration governance;
Relevant recommendations for programs and action points for the new DMW and other migration governance agencies; and
Recommended future new areas of research.

15 September 2022

4

Present the research findings at a forum to be hosted by BRIDGE. (20%)

Final research report; and
15-20 minute presentation, including visuals, on research findings.

30 September 2022

Supervision

Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the BRIDGE National Programme Officer Philippines who will be responsible for the quality assurance of the deliverables.

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:

Excellent analytical skills
Excellent writing skills
Strong knowledge of UN Women processes and systems
Strong networking skills
Strong inter-personal skills, communicate effectively with staff at all levels of the organization;
Ability to work in a highly pressured environment

Required Skills and Experience

Master’s degree or higher in Migration Studies, Gender Studies, Public Policy, International Affairs, Development, Economics, or other fields of Social Science. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
At least 5 years’ work experience relevant to labor migration and gender and development in the Philippine context.
Previous research experience including completion of at least two (2) major research work on topics relevant to labor migration/migration and/or gender and development. (Please provide copies of/link to research output).
Previous work with UN agencies or other international organizations an advantage;
Strong report writing skills (please submit 2-3 writing samples); and
Fluency in English and Filipino.

Contract period and work location

The total duration of the engagement is for a period from July to October 2022. The consultant will have the possibility for remote work in consultation with the supervisor.

Evaluation

Applications will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis:

Technical qualification (100 points); weight: (70%)
Financial proposal (100 points): weight (30%)

A two-stage procedure is utilized in evaluating the applications, with evaluation of the technical application being completed prior to any price proposal being compared. Only the price proposal of the candidates who passed the minimum technical score of 70% of the obtainable score of 100 points in the technical qualification evaluation will be evaluated.

Technical qualification evaluation criteria:

The total number of points allocated for the technical qualification component is 100. The technical qualification of the individual is evaluated based on following technical qualification evaluation criteria: Technical Evaluation Criteria

Obtainable Score

A) Education

Master’s degree or higher in Migration Studies, Gender Studies, Public Policy, International Affairs, Development, Economics, or other fields of Social Science. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

20%

B) Experience and skills

At least 5 years’ work experience relevant to labor migration and gender and development in the Philippine context.
Previous research experience including completion of at least two (2) major research work on topics relevant to labor migration/migration and/or gender and development. (Please provide copies of/link to research output).
Strong report writing skills (please submit 2-3 writing samples);

70%

C) Language and report writing skills

Fluency in English and Filipino is required.

10%

Total Obtainable Score

100 %

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 validation interview.

Financial/Price Proposal evaluation:

Only the financial proposal of candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation will be considered and evaluated.
The total number of points allocated for the price component is 100.
The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened/ evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.