Procurement Notices

The objective of the consultancy is to assist in incorporating gender considerations into the implementation of the Kiribati LDCF Food Security project. In alignment to the project’s objective of building adaptive capacity of vulnerable Kiribati communities to ensure food security under conditions of climate change, the consultancy will attempt to incorporate gender equity into the two main outcomes of the project. Addressing challenges to gender equity and its contribution to reaching the project’s objective. The consultancy will also build the capacity of the project management unit (PMU) and the relevant Kiribati Government stakeholders to support the UNDP country office in Fiji to mainstream gender equity in the implementation of the project.

Primarily, the LDCF investment supports the realization of two components and related activities of the project. The activities per the two main components of the project are designed to build synergies, increase awareness, and generate much more informed and strategic use of natural resources so that ecosystem integrity is able to continue to function as the foundation of food security needs.

The project document has a very limited explanation under Gender Consideration. It covers the basic requirement of collecting disaggregated data by gender and a general description of the project’s efforts to assimilate gender equity into the implementation. This assignment has three (3) objectives in consultation with women and youth groups, key government and civil society groups focusing on women and gender empowerment in Kiribati. These are to:

1. Undertake a Gender Assessment for the project and deliver the Gender Assessment Report.
2. Develop a Gender Strategy and Action Plan which will lay out the operational process for ensuring the approach to women’s empowerment and achieving gender equity. The strategy must:
   1. Capture Kiribati’s national polices and strategies on gender;
   2. Assess conditions in Kiribati that affect gender-responsive project design and;
   3. Integrate gender considerations in the project indicators, targets and activities
   4. Incorporate UNDP and Global Environment Facility (GEF) requirements on gender
   5. Include an action plan to put the above stated strategy into quantifiable actions. This will include a clear description of activities, a tentative timeline and indicative budgets for the activities from the existing output budgets.
3. Build the capacity of the Project Management Unit and relevant stakeholders involved with the implementation of the project on the Gender Strategy and Action Plan through training.

Scope of Work

The main duty of the consultant will be to provide support and project management expertise on implementation of the project, with specific reference to Developing the Project’s Gender Strategy and Action Plan.

Expected Outputs, Deliverables and Timelines:

The expected outputs, deliverables and timelines are as follows:

1. Draw a workplan and approach/methodology for the consultancy. – by 30 October 2019;  
2. Conduct Gender Assessment by 30th November
3. Design a draft Gender Assessment, Gender Strategy and Action Plan – by 10th December 2019;
4. Conduct training on incorporating gender considerations into the project, including on the Gender Strategy and Action Plan – 20th November 2019
5. Submission and approval of  the Gender Assessment Report, Final Gender Strategy and Action Plan – by 31st January 2020

Institutional Arrangement

The Gender Consultant will report directly to the Deputy Team Leader (RSD Team) in UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji. The consultant will also work very closely with the Project Manager in Kiribati, the Regional Technical Specialist – Climate Change Adaptation at the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub and other members of the UNDP team as relevant.

The Gender Consultant shall maintain an appropriate consultation and co-ordination with the Country Focal Point (Environment and Conservation Department of the Ministry of Environment, Land and Agricultural Development – ECD, MELAD). Likewise, with the identified Government Partners, Responsible Parties, NGO’s and the other government and community stakeholders.

The IC will have to provide for her/his own resources (laptop, etc.) and s/he will have to get along with the available room/space provided in-country.

Duration of the Work

The expected duration for the Gender Expert Consultancy work is 40 days – specifically from 8 Nov – 31st January 2020.

Duty Station

Duty station shall be home-based with at least 15 consecutive working days of the consultancy to be in Kiribati. The placement of these 15 consecutive days will depend on the consultant’s discretion as best it suits to get the maximum benefit from the in-country mission. The consultant may be expected to visit the Country Office in Suva within the duration of this consultancy period.

Academic Qualifications:

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Women and Gender Studies, Management, Organisation/Community Development, or similar training in Sociology, Development Studies or related fields with focus on gender equality and women's rights/empowerment. 

Years of experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience gender and social development issues and capacity building.

Competencies:

• Experience in conducting trainings and capacity building workshops;
• Experience in conducting research/analysis
• Experience in community consultations and liaising with various Government Ministries and Departments;
• Experience in strategic and action planning at local and national levels;
• Experience in formulating effective action plans;
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural environment with a variety of stakeholders, men and women in communities, authorities (e.g. local government or local leaders), civil society etc.
• Good understanding of key aspects of organization management including report writing, budgeting, governance, inter-agency collaboration etc.
• Good understanding of small island development challenges, especially Pacific region.
• Familiarity with UN human right treaties, with previous reporting experience an asset
• Ability to multi-task and work on multiple initiatives concurrently.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of the Kiribati language is an advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Willingness to work flexible hours.

Financial Proposal:

Lump sum financial proposal inclusive of all cost- Daily fee/Travel/accommodation and any cost associated to undertake this consultancy.

The payment schedule is as follows:

• Twenty percent (20%) of the consultancy fee will be paid following signing of Agreement and submission of a work plan by 30 November 2019;
• Forty percent (40%) of the consultancy fee will be paid following the submission of a draft Gender Assessment Report, Gender Strategy and Action Plan by 13 December 2019
• Forty percent (40%) of the consultancy fee will be paid following submission and acceptance of final Gender Assessment Report, Gender Strategy and Action Plan and Training Workshop Report by 31 January 2020.

Qualification:

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Women and Gender Studies, Management, Organisation/Community Development, or similar training in Sociology, Development Studies or related fields with focus on gender equality and women's rights/empowerment (15%);

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience gender and social development issues and capacity building. Familiarity with UN human right treaties will be an added advantage (15%);
• Experience in conducting trainings and capacity building workshops (15%);
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural environment with a variety of stakeholders; men and women in communities, authorities (e.g. local government or local leaders) and civil society organisations (15%);
• Fluent in English and is excellent in report writing; knowledge of the Kiribati language (10%).

PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

Daily Fee

The IC shall quote an all-inclusive Daily Fee for this consultancy work. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment are already factored into the daily fee submitted in the proposal. If applicable, travel or daily allowance cost (if any work is to be done outside the IC’s duty station) should be identified separately.

Payments

Payments shall be done upon verification of completion of deliverables and approval by the IC’s supervisor of a Time Sheet indicating the days worked in the period.

General Notes on Financial Offer

• UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the Consultant wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using his/her own resources;
• In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed;

Shortlisted Candidates

Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for an interview.

Offerors must send the following documents.

1. CV including names/contacts of at least 3 referees.
2. A cover letter indicating why the candidate considers himself/herself suitable for the required consultancy

Completed template for confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal.

Individuals applying for this consultancy will be reviewed based on their own individual capacity. The successful individual may sign an Individual Contract with UNDP or request his/her employer to sign a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) on their behalf by indicating this in the Offerors letter to Confirming Interest and Availability

Proposal Submission

Consultancy Proposal (CV & Financial proposal Template) should be uploaded on UNDP Jobshop website(https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_jobs.cfm ) no later than, 6th Nov  2019 (Fiji Time) clearly stating the title of consultancy applied for. Any proposals received after this date/time will not be accepted. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to procurement.fj@undp.org. UNDP will respond in writing or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants. Incomplete, late and joint proposals will not be considered and only offers for which there is further interest will be contacted. Failure to submit your application as stated as per the application submission guide (Procurement Notice) on the above link will be considered incomplete and therefore application will not be considered.

• For further information concerning this Terms of Reference, please contact UNDP Pacific Office by email: procurement.fj@undp.org

Incomplete or joint proposals and proposals submitted via medium other than the one indicated in the TOR will not be accepted. Only bidders for whom there is further interest will be contacted.