Consultancy assignment: Gender Consultant –Youth LEAD initiative
Duty Station: Juba, South Sudan Reporting to Youth LEAD Specialist Duration of contract: 4 Months Fee Level: Corresponding to P-4 level
Background Youth is a critical transition period from childhood to adulthood when young people evolving capacities provide important yet often ignored opportunities for positive engagement in their communities and societies. The age for youth varies from country to country and context to context. The African Union Youth Charter defines youth as every human being between the age of 15 and 30 years and this is in line with the definition adopted by the United Nations and Ministry of Youth, Sports and Recreation in South Sudan.
The rationale to invest in youth in South Sudan is clear. Young people between the age of 15 to 30 years constitute about 40 per cent of the total population of South Sudan currently estimated at 8.2m. Given that 70% of the population is under the age of 30 , the number of the youth is expected to increase rapidly in the next few years, implying the strategic significance of investing on the youth at this time.
Moreover, the youth have no well-established organizational structures, networks and forums to air their voice, make policy and advocacy dialogue in a coordinated and sustainable manner. Their participation and contributions in media, peace development and good governance is quite limited.
The existence of a patriarchal society and other socio-cultural norms further complicate the situation of girls. The Youth LEAD (leadership, empowerment, advocacy and development) initiative aims to address these challenges by developing and operationalizing a succinct gender equality strategy for the initiative.
The following project level results are planned in the Youth LEAD initiative:
• Improved access to youth friendly spaces and services, including those that address the particular needs of girls and young women (i.e. sexual/ Reproductive Health, Gender Based Violence, gender-specific psycho-social counselling, income-generating activities) for young people
• Improved knowledge and skills of young people in literacy, numeracy, health (HIV, RH, hygiene), nutrition, food security, employment and livelihoods, sustainable use of land and water, gender equality, and peace building
• Enhanced leadership and participation by young people in peace building, in the governance of Youth Friendly Spaces and other youth-centred programming (government, civil society), and in gender-responsive dialogue and advocacy on issues that are critical to their lives
• Enhanced knowledge and skills of targeted government ministries, Civil Society Organisation’s and young people, on child protection systems and youth enabling environments, including gender-responsive, youth-centred policies, programs and services
• Enhanced knowledge and skills of targeted government ministries and CSOs in core management, administrative, and programming functions, including gender-responsive and environmentally sustainable programming
To enable the achievement of the above planned results, it is crucial that a gender analysis and gender equality strategy be developed to inform the implemnation of Youth LEAD initiative.
Justification
UNICEF and partners are committed to integrating gender issues in its programmes and approach in order to ensure the development and participation of girls and the realisation of their rights and overall contribution to poverty reduction and socio-economic development in South Sudan. The gender analysis and subsequent development of the gender equality strategy will enable the Youth LEAD initiative engage communities and stakeholders on gender equality issues and to better address gender issues within the project.
Specific Tasks and Responsibilities
The objective of the consultancy is to develop a Youth LEAD initiative (project level) gender equality strategy that assesses gender equality issues related to project activities and results the project has planned. The consultant will undertake a gender analysis and a gender equality capacity assessment of implementing partner organisations to inform the development of the project level gender equality strategy. Both tasks will be undertaken with an objective of identifying specific barriers, challenges, opportunities for achieving projects gender equality results and the equal participation of boys and girls ensuring equal benefits.
Major duties and Responsibilities
Undertake gender analysis and develop a practical concise context informed project level gender equality strategy that will inform the project on gender equality focussing on the following key issues: • Equitable access by both boys and girls to project components • Strategies for promotion of gender equality and ensuring equity and equitable involvement of boys and girls • Capacity needs of both boys and girls for them to be fully involved and benefit from Youth LEAD
The gender equality strategy will identify issues that require specific activities to address existing gender inequalities and how the project can make use of existing opportunities to achieve greater gender equality.
Develop an operational framework for the gender equality strategy specifying key gender equality capacity building activities responding to gaps identified in the gender equality strategy.
Methodology The consultant will: • Work closely with key partners, government counterparts (Ministry of Youth and sports, Ministry of Education) and youth organisations to assess their capacities to deliver on gender equality programming. • Engage and undertake state level consultations with key staff, partners and stakeholders including young people on gender dimensions, perspectives and key issues for consideration during the gender analysis and gender equality strategy development. • Utilise participatory approaches and gender analysis frameworks during the consultations enabling the active participation of key stakeholders including young people. • Develop and submit electronic copies of the gender equality strategy and other deliverables stipulated below.
Expected deliverables
• Work plan • Gender equality capacity assessment report of Implementing organisations • Project level gender analysis report • Project level gender equality strategy proposing strategies that will respond to identified capacity gaps in the partner assessments. • Final report
Minimum Qualifications and Experience:
• Advanced university degree in related, social sciences or its equivalent with a strong background working with adolescents and youth. • At least 8 years’ experience in Gender with proof of past undertakings • Strong professional knowledge in gender strategy development, gender frameworks, women’s empowerment with particular relevance to education, adolescent and youth issues, particularly in conflict settings, preferable in the Horn, East or Central Africa. • Should have good communication and analytical skills. • Knowledge and experience of South Sudan is an added asset.
General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics
- A working week is defined as 5 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly. S/he is not paid for weekends or public holidays.
- The consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for the consultants/individual contracts prior to the assignment, and to document that they have the appropriate health insurance.
- DSA for journeys outside duty station (Juba) as per existing UNICEF rule
- The consultant will be provided a work station at the UNICEF Juba office
- UNICEF will provide a laptop and all office supplies related directly to the task for the duration of the consultancy.
- If any field mission is undertaken, the movement of the consultant will be facilitated by UNICEF; thus access to UNICEF transport will be authorized.
- The consultant will comply with UN security rules and regulations.
- Fees for the consultant will be dependent on the completion of deliverables as well as hand-over notes and submission of a consultancy Performance Evaluation Report (PER).
Policy both parties should be aware of - The consultant is not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement. - No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant. - No travel in lieu of the contract will be undertaken by the consultant to the duty station without prior submission of insurance cover and waiver in the event of injury while executing the duty. - The consultant will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget. - Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation. - The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' must be completed by the consultant upon arrival, at the HR Section
Competencies required:
i) Core Values (Required) • Commitment
• Diversity and Inclusion • Integrity ii) Core Competencies (Required) • Communication
• Working with People
• Drive for Results
iii) Functional Competencies (Required) • Persuading and Influencing
• Applying Technical Expertise • Planning and Organizing
• Adapting and Responding to Change
• Coping with Pressure and Setbacks
Submission of Applications:
Applications will be considered only if accompanied by an updated CV and completed United Nations Personal History (P-11) form, as well as the two most recent performance appraisals or performance evaluation reports to: UNICEF South Sudan Country Office, Human Resources Unit via email: jubavacancies@unicef.org A blank UN Personal History Form (P11) in MS Word format is attached. All applications are treated with strict confidentiality. The deadline for receipt of applications is 04.06.2012.
UNICEF is a smoke-free environment.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.
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