UNICEF WARO
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS
PART I
Title of Assignment
Gender consultant (benchmark review) (P-4)
Section
Location
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Home based with missions to 3 country offices and Dakar (DSA
and travel)
55 working days over a period of 4.5 months
Duration
Background and Context
UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan (GAP) 2014-2017 was approved by the Executive Director in April
2014 and presented to the Executive Board in June 2014. The GAP specifies how UNICEF will
promote gender equality across all of its work at the global, regional and country levels, in
alignment with the Strategic Plan 2014-2017. The GAP elaborates further the gender dimensions of
the programmatic results across the Strategic Plan’s seven outcome areas along with the relevant
indicators for measuring success. It also specifies the steps UNICEF is undertaking with regard to
institutional effectiveness in implementing the programmatic work on gender, through
commitment of resources and strengthening of staffing, capacity and systems.
As such, the GAP provides guidance and strategic entry points for UNICEF regions, countries and
divisions for focusing their programmatic work on gender equality and the empowerment of
women and girls within the parameters of the Strategic Plan. The consolidated results framework
for the programmatic results prioritized in the GAP are drawn directly from the results framework
of the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2014-2017. It incorporates 42 indicators in total, 22 tracking progress
on the targeted gender priorities, and 20 tracking progress on the broader integration of gender in
programming.
All regions will support quality assurance, technical assistance and oversight functions to support
gender programming at country level, and will assess country level performance against the GAP on
an annual basis, with the GAP Steering Committee assessing it organization wide. UNICEF will
report annually to the Executive Board on progress with the GAP, providing updates on both the
programmatic results and on the performance benchmarks to track progress on institutional
effectiveness. These include (a) Programme expenditures on gender results; (b) Gender staffing and
capacity across the organization; (c) Gender performance of country programme management
plans; (d) Gender performance on evaluations of UNICEF programmes; (e) Effective knowledge
sharing and communications for promoting gender quality.
Justification
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UNICEF WCARO is seeking services of a consultant to conduct a baseline assessment that will
inform regional planning to implement the UNICEF Gender Action Plan across countries in West and
Central Africa.
The tasks involve document review and analysis, compilation of information, country interviews
and require dedicated time to be concluded
Objective and expected results
The main objective of the assessment is to develop and test tools to inform RO analysis, planning and
coordination of regional and country level efforts to deliver on GAP programmatic and institutional results in
WCAR in 2015 and beyond. As such, it will also provide template that could be used ultimately to generate
baseline for WCAR annual reporting on implementation of the GAP
Expected results
(a) Regional gender profile developed for WCAR
(b) Tools and materials developed and tested in 3 selected countries
(c) Report with lessons learned, and finalized tools and materials for implementing the GAP
priority results in WCAR
(d) Proposed plan for assessing all countries in WCAR for gender
Proposed approach to undertake the assessment
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Meeting with the supervisor for orientation
Regular interaction with a consultant from the Gender and Rights Section on the format
and methodology of the regional profile and country tools
Meeting with the gender working group at regional office
Review of data, key literature, UNICEF global and country documents
Interview of in-country staff
Proposed protocol, methodology and tools and material, timetable for regional gender
profile, priority gender results and indicators, country level work to be approved by the
supervisor before pilot-test
Finalize the protocol, tools and materials after the pilot-test.
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Tasks, Deliverables and Timeframe
Activities and Tasks:
1. Develop a gender profile and draft gender priorities for the region (15 days): The consultant
will analyse data and undertake a rapid literature review on key GAP programmatic indicators
in West and Central Africa to assess major trends and identify priority gender results for the
region (for both gender targeted priorities and sectoral mainstreaming). The regional profile
should be grounded in a gender analysis of child outcomes in the region, showcasing the
relevance, scope and urgency of key GAP results to Country Programmes (see the Concept
Note in the annex). Specifically the consultant will:
a. Develop a draft regional gender profile/dashboard using MICS, DHS and other data
and/or studies around key GAP related indicators especially as they relate to key
priorities identified in the WCA Regional Office Management Plan 2014-2017.
b. Review country programme budget data to clarify expectations of Gender staffing
based on GAP standards for the countries in the region.
c. Based on key findings, define a draft matrix of gender programming priorities and
priority, high burden countries in the region for discussion with the RO and Country
Offices (webinar to be organized).
2. Assessment of regional and country programme documents as they relate to gender
priorities (12 countries1 and RO) – 15 days: The consultant will assess the extent to which
priority gender results are integrated in current country programmes for all countries in the
region, identifying major strengths, best practices and relevant gaps and shortcomings. This
review should be done against the regional gender analysis and priority gender results
identified for the region. Among other things, this assessment will review the extent to which
gender technical assistance provided by the Regional Office over 2010-12 (in collaboration
with the Royal Tropical Institute) resulted in enhanced programming and results for gender
equality.
a. Review relevant country documents, including: Situation Analysis, Country
Programme Document, Action Plan, Management Plan (CPD/CPAP/CPMP), Country
Office Annual Reports for 2012-14, relevant InSight Reports (using GEM and PIDB
codes), as well as major evaluations, gender reviews/initiatives, supplementary
project documents, mid-term reviews;
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Criteria for country selection: 4 large, 4 medium, 4 small country programmes, including both development and
humanitarian/L3 contexts, with at least 50% having received RO support on gender as part of the SPAP 2010-13.
Criteria for country selection should also include prioritization of high burden countries based on data analysis
conducted at regional level.
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b. Conduct virtual interviews with COs and relevant Regional Advisers to assess the CO
programme and institutional results on gender, including outcome/outputs,
indicators, strategies and activities.
c. Using state-of-the-art knowledge of causal pathways and proven interventions on
priority gender results, assess major strengths and weaknesses of current
programming strategies and approaches for taking gender results to scale. .
3. Country assessment (3 countries – MIC, LDC, fragile): Based on components 1 and 2 above,
the consultant will work with the supervisor to identify 3 countries for in-country work to
develop a country level SWOT analysis for enhanced gender programming. This work will be
based on a detailed review of country programme documents, online and in-country
interviews and other tools and protocols to be proposed by the consultant in coordination
with the supervisor. (Jan/Feb - 4 day mission in 3 countries -> 12 days)
a. Assess the programming environment on gender results: articulation with national
gender action plans; UNDAF Action Plan; humanitarian response frameworks, existing
partnerships; donor interest.
b. Assess internal strengths and needs for strengthened gender programming: priority
gender results, key entry points, knowledge assets/gaps, available expertise and
capacities and/or gaps.
The countries will be selected in consultation with the RO and based on the desk review. The
RO will facilitate the communication between consultant and Country Offices for their
concurrence and facilitation of consultants work.
4. RO assessment: Building on activities 1-3, as well as review of Regional Office Management
Plan and Annual Work Plans, and in-house interviews with WCARO management and Regional
Advisers, present and discuss a SWOT analysis for integrated RO technical support to and
oversight on gender programming in the region. (3 days)
5. Produce a final report, including key findings and recommendations for GAP
implementation at regional and country level for discussion at RO with key CO participation.
(10 days with 4 day travel to Dakar).
Work relationships
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Under the supervision of the Regional Programme Planning Specialist the consultant will deliver a
regional gender profile, country case studies and key findings and recommendations for GAP
implementation at country and regional office level for discussion at RO with key CO participation.
The consultant will work independently from home for the tasks 1 and 2, for the task 3 the
countries will be selected based on the desk reviews (1 and 2) in consultation between the
consultant, Regional Office supervisor and Country Offices. For Country Office visits, the RO will
contact the selected Country Offices and facilitate the visit, while Country Office focal point will
facilitate the contacts/ appointments with the major stakeholders in the country including UN
partners, NGO/CSO representatives and key donors in the country.
Outputs/Deliverables:
The consultancy aims to deliver a baseline assessment on key GAP performance indicators for
WCAR, as well as a set of findings and recommendations for annual planning and reporting of
regional support to country programming on gender.
The timeline aims for collating and analysing the country office documentation in time for inclusion
into each of the country offices workplans and AMP. More detailed country analysis for three
countries will take place in the beginning of 2015 and will form a basis for guidance to remaining
country offices for more detailed GAP preparation and reporting.
The final report will be presented to the Regional office and to RMT for discussion and
endorsement.
Deliverables
Regional gender profile and
priorities
Desk review of country
programme documents (12
countries)
Country assessment (3 countries
– MIC, LDC, fragile)
RO assessment
Final report, including key
findings and recommendations
for GAP implementation at
country level for discussion at
RO with key CO participation.
Duration
(Estimated # of days
or months)
15 days
15 days
12 days (3x 4 days
missions)
3 days
10 days
Including 4 day
mission to Dakar
Reports
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Timeline/Deadline
Schedule
of
payment
15 January
6 February
30%
8 -28 February
2015
March 2015
30 March 2015
30%
40%
Inception report: The preliminary report to include findings from regional gender profile and from
desk review of country programme documents, including a draft set of priority gender programming
issues and the extent current CP documents are addressing these. The report to include a summary
table where country and region findings are compiled for easy reference. The draft inception report
will be discussed by Regional Office Advisors, selected country participants and the consultant to
further define the work in 3 selected countries and to inform future action. (webinar to be organized
with RO and COs to discuss).
Technical report/country case studies: This will include the country office reports including SWOT
analysis from the three selected countries and from Regional Office: the report will look in depth the
strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in each of the three different countries and in the regional
office highlighting the programmatic areas, partnership environment, internal HR strengths and
proposing further action. The common issues are to be included in the executive summary of the
report.
Final report: To include key findings and recommendations for GAP implementation at country level
summarizing the inception and technical report findings and including the conclusions from the
discussion in Dakar with the Regional Office and key CO participant. The report to include a power
point presentation on key findings, bench marks and recommendations in addition to the narrative
report. Country reports as annexes.
Details/reference to AWP areas covered: 381R/A0/09/900/002/004
Payment Schedule
Upon satisfactory deliverables of:
 Preliminary report, methods and tools report:
30%
 Technical report
 Final report
30%
40%
Desired competencies, technical background and experience
Education: Advanced university degree, preferably in the Social Sciences, Gender Studies, or other
relevant field.
States the specialized skills and/or training if needed;
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Eight to ten years of professional work experience at national and international levels in
programming for gender equality and women's rights, including international work
experience and field work experience.
Background/familiarity with gender programming and mainstreaming gender equality in
development and in emergency.
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Strong substantive, programmatic and research skills in gender along with sectoral
expertise in at least two of the following sectors: Health, Education, WASH, Protection or
Adolescents.
Solid knowledge and understanding of global gender equality issues, specifically relating to
children and women, and the current trends, methods and approaches.
Previous experience and knowledge of UNICEF programmes an asset.
Familiarity and work experience in the region an asset.
Competencies:
 Core Values:
- Commitment
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Integrity
 Core Competencies:
- Communication
- Working with People
- Drive for Results
 Functional Competencies:
- Leading and Supervising
- Formulating Strategies and Concepts
- Analyzing
- Relating and Networking
- Persuading and Influencing
Languages needed. Fluency in French and English required
Administrative issues
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The consultant should perform the work using own resources (e.g. computer, internet
connection) and UNICEF will not provide working space;
The work can be performed from distance; however consultant presence in Dakar is
required during the start of the consultancy. In the case that the selected candidate resides
outside Senegal, travel cost will be provided according to UNICEF’s rule and regulation.
Conditions
As per UNICEF policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is
allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per
cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel,
may be necessary.
The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions
for individual contracts.
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Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications (a cover
letter, CV, and signed P11 form which can be downloaded at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc), quoting the indicative fee range with subject
line “Gender Consultant WCARO ” by cob 05 December 2014 Via email to pbabos@unicef.org and
wcarohr@unicef.org
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 the organization.
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