Republic of Moldova

Team of National Consultants to provide gender expertise and capacity building programmes for Women Associations from Defence and Security Sectors based on strategic plans

Vacancy Number: Pr21/02195

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	25 Mar 2021, 23:59 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:	Service Contract
Starting date:	01 Apr 2021
Reference to the project:	UN Women
Expected Duration of Assignment:	Up to 70 working days within a 9 calendar months period
Supporting Documents: Terms of Reference Annex I. Price Proposal Guideline and Template Personal History Form (P11) UN Women UN Women Conditions of Service Consultants

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.

 

In 2018 UN Women Moldova Country Office started to implement its new Strategic Note (SN) for 2018-2022, which is aligned with the Republic of Moldova–United Nations Partnership Framework for Sustainable Development 2018–2022 and the Global Strategic Plan of UN Women. Under its current SN, UN Women cooperates closely with the government, civil society, academia, private sector and the media to advance social, economic and political rights and opportunities for women and girls, placing special focus on those from marginalized, excluded and under-represented groups. These include rural women, Romani women, women with disabilities, women living with or affected by HIV, women survivors of violence, women migrants, elderly women and others. UN Women’s operation in Moldova focuses on bringing about concrete change in the lives of women and the society towards the long-term impact of achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the country. Specifically, the SN 2018-2022 advances progress under the following three Impact Areas (IA): IA1: More women fully participate and lead in gender responsive governance processes and institutions, including in the security sector, IA2: Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy, IA3: Public authorities, institutions and communities prevent violence against women and girls and deliver quality essential services. Towards these Impact Areas, UN Women works with variety of national and international partners to challenge gender-based stereotypes and towards the creation of an environment, whereby women act as key agents of change towards greater equality and development, in partnership with men and boys.

Rationale

UN Women supported the process of developing the National Strategy for Gender Equality for 2017-2021 adopted in April 2017. Under its “Gender Equality in Peace and Security Sector” area of intervention and forth overall objective on “Ensuring gender equality in the security and defense sector”, the Strategy envisages two specific objectives to be achieved as a result of implementation of a set of 13 activities, such as promotion of women in managerial positions in security and defense institutions, enhancing capacities of the personnel of in-line institutions on promotion and implementation of policies on ensuring gender equality in security and defense sector, raising awareness of the personnel from in-line ministries on equal treatment and work-life balance, including in the Curriculum of subjects on gender equality in security and defense sector, development of mechanism to prevent and control sexual harassment, ensuring implementation of the CEDAW Committee’s General Recommendation no. 30 and of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UN SCR 1325) on Women, Peace and Security, etc.

 An important breakthrough occurred in May 2017, when after months of deliberations and advocacy, a Government Decision was adopted (Order no. 54-d from May 29, 2017) which formally launched the process of developing National Action Plan (NAP) on the Implementation of UN SCR 1325. UN Women provided extensive technical support to the Government in raising awareness and knowledge on the women, peace and security agenda and on gender mainstreaming in the security and defense sector, in the process of preparation for and development of the NAP on UN SCR 1325. In March 2018, the National Programme on Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security for 2018-2021 and the Action Plan on its implementation were adopted. The National Programme recognizes the key role women play in peace building and ensuring security and proposes concrete actions to address barriers against increased representation and influence of women in the security sector in the Republic of Moldova.

 UN Women is committed to provide continuous support to relevant governmental institutions, including to Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Internal Affairs, on promotion of the women, peace and security agenda and on achieving specific results envisaged in the National Programme. The cooperation between UN Women and the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Republic of Moldova, were consolidated with the signing of 2 Memoranda of Cooperation in 2018 (July and August respectively). The main objective of the Memoranda is to increase institutional capacities and knowledge of the institution in the areas of gender equality and implementation of UN SCR 1325 and other WPS-related Resolutions. Specifically, the Memoranda of Cooperation seeks to contribute to reduce the stereotypes about the role of women in the security and defense sector, to improve the opportunities for women and men from the system to reconcile the professional and family life, to prevent and respond to discrimination, harassment, and gender-based violence within the sector, etc.

 In the framework of the Memoranda of Understanding between UN Women and the Ministry of Defense, and UN Women and Ministry of Internal Affairs, UN Women has committed to provide support to the National Army Women's Association (NAWA), National Association of Women in Internal Affairs System (NAWIAS), and Association of Women in Police (AWP) to strengthen its internal capacities on gender mainstreaming and advancing the WPS agenda. In this respect, UN Women Moldova is seeking to contract a National Consultant to provide extensive support in developing a strategic development plan for all three associations (NAWA, NAWIAS, and AWP).

 During 2019 – 2020 UN Women Moldova offered technical guidance, coaching, advice and various type of other support through engagement of national consultants and/or Responsible Partners for advancing the Associations‘ activity by undertaking a comprehensive desk review of the relevant legal framework to identify the current state of affairs and  development of their own Strategic Development Plans, regulations and other internal documents from  gender perspective.

Building on the progress obtained so far, based on received support request, UN Women decided to continue to offer its support for all three associations (NAWA, NAWIAS, and AWP), including Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova and National Penitentiary Administration, for capacity building on organisational development and leadership based on their already developed Strategic/Annual Plans to ensure gender mainstreaming and advancing the WPS agenda within defence and security sectors.

Scope of work

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the UN Women Programme Specialist, Programme Analyst and Programme Officer of Women in Leadership and Governance Area, the selected national consultant/s will support the NAWA, NAWIAS, AWP, Customs Service, and National Penitentiary Administration, in strengthening their organizational-administrative capacities and implementation of their specific activities as per own strategic development plans to advance the WPS agenda within defence and security sectors from gender perspective.

Deliverables

The assignment should be carried out within a period of 9 months, not exceeding 70 working days, with the incumbent being responsible for delivering the following outputs:

• Monthly reports on major tasks performed and the results, related to support provided to the associations, Custom Service and Penitentiary Administration including detailed description of carried out activities and provided support, collected data, recommendations on strengthening collaborations between UN Women and mentioned security and defence institutions, etc. Information, analytical work papers in GEWE aspect etc.

The following to be attached to the monthly reports:

1. Agendas of the meetings organized with representatives of each association and agenda, plus materials provided before and during the coaching session; The list of participants shall has disaggregated data.
2. A map of implemented activities by different national and international actors on gender equality in the security and defence sector that engage the associations and their members;
3. A map with interventions and fundraising opportunities. Draft projects of the Strategic Development Plan for each Association;

And others, as may apply.

 

Requirements for experience

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Minimum Requirements:

Education

• Master’s Degree in gender, human rights, law, political science, sociology, communication, public speaking, international relations, international economics, security or other related fields.

 

Experience

• At least five (5) years of proven track record of working on gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Republic of Moldova;
• At least three (3) years of professional experience in coordinating and managing strategic planning and evaluation processes of policy documents;
• Previous work experience in analysing/developing policies or provision of recommendations and/or amendments to national legal framework.
• Experience in conducting trainings in public speaking during 5 years.
• Experience in conducting participatory trainings, workshops, and presentations will represent an asset.
• Experience in working with UN agencies is an asset.

Language Requirements

• Excellent command of Romanian, Russian and English languages.

Documents to be included

Interested candidates must submit via online submission system the following documents/ information to demonstrate their qualification:

• Letter of Intent with justification of being the most suitable for the work, vision and working approach, specifically indicating experience of promoting gender equality and strategic planning
• Duly filled Personal History Form (P11) and/or CV, including records on past experience in similar projects/assignments and specific outputs obtained; P11 can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment;

 

Financial proposal

Financial proposal (in MDL) - Specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference). The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (daily rate and number of anticipated working days and any other possible costs); Please see Annex I.

 

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