National Consultant on Innovations

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; the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development; human rights; as well as 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 Country office (CO) in Kyrgyzstan acts as a knowledge broker and promoter of innovative approaches and technologies for accelerating the progress on gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE). The CO works on testing new approaches aiming to create a space for state and civil society partners to ensure full engagement of rights groups with their concerns as well as solutions within the processes of planning and implementation of policies and actions on GEWE promotion.

Within the past two years the CO has piloted Design Thinking (DT) approach enabling reaching out to the wide range stakeholders following the ‘whole of a society’ mobilization principle. UN Women provided an expert support for conceptualization and adaptation of Design Thinking, which was a business tool, for the purposes of GEWE in different thematic areas, such as women’s political participation and leadership, EVAWG, women economic empowerment, climate change adaptation by ensuring interventions in those areas to be women centric and responding to their real needs. It is important that DT approach allows to consider different women’s profiles including those displaying multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination.

In 2022 UN Women has signed the partnership agreement with WFP for joint implementation of the project “Promotion of participatory gender- and nutrition sensitive climate change adaptation measures” aiming at implementation of a complex set of objectives. Within this partnership it is planned to facilitate participatory community consultations by applying social innovation tools, such as Design Thinking approach, ensuring inclusive human rights based and gender transformative principles. The work will be done in selected 11 aiyl okmotus (AO) in 8 districts of Batken, Osh and Naryn provinces within project “Promotion of participatory gender- and nutrition sensitive climate change adaptation measures”.

UN Women CO in Kyrgyzstan is seeking the services of a National Consultant on Innovations to support the CO in conceptualizing the application of different innovative tools for accelerating the progress towards GEWE, including through creating platforms for service providers, CSOs and activists from different rights groups to jointly co-create solutions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UN Women Country Representative and under technical supervision of the CO Head of Programme, and in close coordination with CO programme team, the consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

Conduct at least 1 interview with each thematic team of the CO staff and partners to review and document key results from application of innovative tools in the areas of women leadership, EVAWG, HIV, women economic empowerment and climate change adaptation.
Develop the Mapping and strategic review of CO experience on testing innovative approaches, including data on involved partners, the outputs and results of the experiences, brief feedback on their take-aways, and information on further application of knowledge and tools in their life/work.

Conduct desk review of social innovations (in-country and global experience), which can be applicable for programming in different areas of promoting GEWE (EVAWG, women’s right is political, economic and social spheres)

Develop a Concept Note, which provides a vision, objectives and strategic directions for application of innovative approaches in different areas of promoting GEWE (EVAWG, women’s right is political, economic and social spheres), including CO Action Plan on Innovations. The outline of the Concept to be discussed with and approved by the CO before the process of development of a full-fledged Concept
Provide technical assistance to the CO in the process of advocating for application of social innovations with partners (at least 2 meetings and 1 consultations)
Provide an overall guidance and ensure the quality of processes and documents within 11 community consultations on gender responsive climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction undertaken by application of DT approach (11 pilot ayil okmotus)
Conduct at least one workshop on DT as required (ex. TOT, thematic area to be specified as needed)
Develop reports capturing the process of consultations on innovations

Expected deliverables:

Report on at least 5 dialogues and interviews with CO partners related to experience in testing innovative tools and approaches
Document on Mapping of CO experience on testing innovative approaches
Report on desk review of social innovations (in-country and global experience)
Concept Note on use of social innovations for programming
Guidance and quality control of DT processes on gender responsive climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and other priority themes
Report on DT workshops (at least 4 workshop, ex. Community consultations, TOT and others)
Report on the assignment

Timetable and key deliverables

It is anticipated the assignment will take up to 40 working days over a period of 3,5 months.

Task

Anticipated

number of days

Guidance and quality control of DT processes on gender responsive climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (11 pilot ayil okmotus and 7 province level sessions) and other priority themes

Up to 20 days within September – November

- Document on Mapping of CO experience on testing innovative approaches

- Report on desk review of social innovations (in-country and global experience)

Up to 8 days

by mid October

- Report on at least 4 dialogues and interviews with CO partners related to experience in testing innovative tools and approaches

- Report on DT workshops (at least 4 workshop, ex. Community consultations, TOT and others)

Up to 7 days by mid November

- Concept Note on use of social innovations for programming

- Report on the assignment

Up to 5 days

By 10 December

Total number of days anticipated

40 days

Schedule of payments:

Payment for this consultancy will be based on the achievement of each deliverable and certification that each has been satisfactorily completed. Payment will be based on the submission of the SSA report along with the timesheet and relevant annexes as supporting documents for the achievement of deliverables.

S. No

Key Deliverables

Target Date

% of payment

1

- Guidance and quality control of DT processes on gender responsive climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (11 pilot ayil okmotus)

- Document on Mapping of CO experience on testing innovative approaches

- Report on desk review of social innovations (in-country and global experience)

Up to 21 days within September – end of October

Fee of up to 21 working days by the end of October

2

- Report on at least 4 dialogues and interviews with CO partners related to experience in testing innovative tools and approaches, incl., DT workshop

Up to 12 days by end November

Fee of up to 12 working by mid-November

4

- Concept Note on use of social innovations for programming

- Report on the assignment

Up to 7 days

By 10 December

Fee of up to 7 working by 10 December

Total

Up to 40 working days

Inputs:

UN Women CO will facilitate travel arrangements (national) and provide DSA as per actual cost, based on a mutually agreed travel plan.
UN Women will provide the Consultant with relevant background materials and programme documents for the project. Specifically, UN Women will provide access to relevant training materials, reports, research and data.
UN Women will provide access to UN Women Office during working hours to print relevant documents or whenever required to work on-site at any point during the assignment
UN Women will provide logistical support to organize interviews with project beneficiaries, when and if required to develop communication products (stories, interviews)
UN Women will provide all logistical arrangement during dialogues and Design thinking workshop: venue, meal, stationary, transport

Competencies

Core Values:

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.

Respect for 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.

Core 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 behaviour 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:

Higher education in the social sciences or relevant. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience and knowledge:

Proven record of successful application of Design Thinking Approach institutional development and designing innovative public policies into multiple contexts involving users, organizations, and societies.
At least 5 years of experience on designing and facilitating of participatory training workshops, preferably in Kyrgyzstan context.
Experience of applying social innovation approaches; strategic thinking in the field of social development preferably in the field of GEWE programming.
Experience of working on GEWE, especially in Kyrgyzstan context
Experience of working with United Nations or with other international organizations is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Russian, Kyrgyz. Working knowledge of English is an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Higher education in the social sciences or relevant. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience and knowledge:

Proven record of successful application of Design Thinking Approach institutional development and designing innovative public policies into multiple contexts involving users, organizations, and societies.
At least 5 years of experience on designing and facilitating of participatory training workshops, preferably in Kyrgyzstan context.
Experience of applying social innovation approaches; strategic thinking in the field of social development preferably in the field of GEWE programming.
Experience of working on GEWE, especially in Kyrgyzstan context
Experience of working with United Nations or with other international organizations is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Russian, Kyrgyz. Working knowledge of English is an asset.

Application procedure

Applications should include the following documentation package:

- P-11 form including experience in similar assignments. This form can be downloaded at https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process (UN Women Personal History Form (P11)

Financial proposal, indicating a total lump sum to include all costs relating to the delivery of activities as per above description

Financial proposal format:

#

Item

Unit cost in KGS

Number of units

Total cost in KGS

1

Daily fee rate

Up to 40

2

Other related costs (to be specified)

TOTAL

Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant during the contract period. The financial proposal should be provided in KGS. If the proposal is provided in any other currency, it would be converted as per UN exchange rate on the date of post closure.

Evaluation of applicants

The candidates will be evaluated in three stages: according to minimum qualification criteria; technical and financial evaluation.

The selection of candidates:

Technical evaluation criteria (including minimum qualifications):

Nr.

Criteria

Maximum points

1.

Higher education in the social sciences or relevant. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

10

2.

Experience of applying social innovation approaches; strategic thinking in the field of social development preferably in the field of GEWE programming.

20

3.

At least 5 years of experience on designing and facilitating of participatory training workshops, preferably in Kyrgyzstan context.

10

4.

Experience of working on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment and Sexual and Gender based Violence, Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, HIV prevention especially in Kyrgyzstan Context

10

5.

Experience of working with United Nations or with other international organizations is an advantage.

10

6.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Russian, Kyrgyz. Working knowledge of English is an asset.

10

Maximum total technical scoring:

70

Only candidates who have passed over the minimum qualification criteria and have accumulated at least 65 points out of maximum 70 under technical evaluation will qualify for the next stage i.e. evaluation of their financial proposals.

Evaluation of financial proposal

Financial proposal should include daily rate and field trip cost.

Financial evaluation will be conducted according to the method described below:

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion.

A suggested formula is as follows: p=30 (µ/z)

Where:

p - points for the financial proposal being evaluated;

µ - price of the lowest priced proposal;

z - price of the proposal being evaluated