CONSULTANCY - TERMS OF REFERENCE
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to
provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its
mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve
their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services
encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement,
microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.
UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff.
UNRWA Gender Equality Strategy 2016-2021, External Consultant, HQ Amman
BACKGROUND
In 2007, UNRWA adopted a Gender Equality Policy which reflects the United Nations System-wide Policy
on Gender Equality (CEB/2006/2) as well as the global instruments and pronouncements on gender
equality and the advancement of women. UNRWA’s Gender Equality Policy commits the Agency to the
achievement of the equality of women, men, girls and boys, as well as to the promotion and protection of
the full enjoyment by women and girls of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Gender Mainstreaming Strategy (GMS) 2008-2009 was developed to outline how UNRWA’s policy
commitment to gender equality would be translated into action. The GMS, developed by UNRWA’s
Gender Taskforce, which consists of Departments and Field focal points, was designed to assist UNRWA
staff and management in mainstreaming gender and integrating equality goals in the Medium-Term
Strategy (MTS) 2010-2015. Although the GMS was initially developed to be implemented over a 2 yearperiod, it was later extended to be implemented in tandem with the MTS for 2010-2015.
In 2014 an evaluation was carried to review how far UNRWA’s commitment to gender equality and
gender mainstreaming translated into policy and practice and identified the critical factors that hindered or
supported UNRWA’s gender mainstreaming efforts. Particularly, the evaluation looked into the four levers
that form the GMS approach in the Agency: 1) creating a structure for change; 2) building the capacity of
staff; 3) ensuring effective communication and outreach; 4) mainstreaming gender analysis and planning.
The evaluations key results were extensively shared within the Agency and the Gender Task Force (GTF)
was actively engaged in reflecting on possible ways forward in view of the new drafting of the Gender
Equality Strategy (GES) for 2016-2021.
Importantly, the development of the new GES will be in line with Agency-wide relevant processes both at
the strategic and operational levels, including the strategic directions provided in the MTS for 2016-2021,
which is currently being finalized, and the implementation plans related to it. In addition, the new GES will
be aligned to the requirements of the UN System-wide Action Plan (UN SWAP). The latter is an
accountability framework with 15 performance indicators for the implementation of the UN system wide
policy on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (CEB/2006/2).
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Purpose:
The external consultant will lead the drafting of UNRWA’s new GES for 2016-2021. The new Gender
Strategy will be concomitant to UNRWA MTS and will look into its priorities, strategic objectives,
outcomes, and indicators’ framework and define the processes and tools that will ensure that UNRWA’s
commitment to gender equality, as defined in the 2007 policy, is operationalized alongside the MTS.
Furthermore, it will build on the learning outcomes of the evaluation exercise and the reflection initiated
with the GTF on possible ways forward, and will have to be in line with the UNSWAP requirements.
Expected Outcomes:
The consultant will work closely with HQ different Departments, Field offices (managers and gender focal
points) and the Gender Unit to draft the new GES 2016-2021 that will outline how gender equality will be
practically operationalized across the Agency. The process will be aligned on the MTS and will enable through the processes, methodologies, and tools defined in the GES - that gender equality is
operationalized in UNRWA services. Furthermore, the GES drafting process will elicit participants’ views
and values, and is expected to contribute to increasing ownership of the gender strategy across the
Agency.
The consultant will report to the Gender Advisor at HQ Amman.
Deliverables:
A draft of UNRWA Gender Equality Strategy for 2016-2021 and its implementation plan defining
processes, methodologies, and tools that will ensure that UNRWA Gender Equality Policy is
operationalized through its MTS frameworks, as well as indicators to measure its results.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Discuss and define with the Gender team the process and methodology and any other relevant
information on the development of the gender strategy;
Review background documentation including other relevant documents such as UNRWA’s
Gender Equality Policy of 2007, the GMS 2008-2009, reports on the implementation and
evaluation of the strategy;
Engage in consultations with senior managers of all programmes, the Field gender focal points,
technical managers and all relevant staff, and stakeholders through Field visits;
Develop the document including the new gender strategy and the implementation plan in three
phases: (i) an outline of the strategy and implementation plan, incorporating the outcomes of
discussion on the methodology and the overall process; (ii) a first draft of the strategy and
implementation plan, incorporating comments on the outline and reflecting the outcomes of both
the review and the field phase; (iii) a final version of the Strategy and Implementation Plan,
incorporating comments on the first draft.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES
Advanced university degree (minimum Master’s degree or preferably PhD) from an accredited
educational institution in gender studies, human rights, political science, development
management or other related fields; and either academic or professional training in social
research methods;
Excellent understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment and gender
mainstreaming;
8 - 10 years of experience in programme management of gender equality, gender mainstreaming
or women empowerment policies/projects/programmes; knowledge of gender equality at the
institutional level; strategy development, preferably for gender mainstreaming;
Excellent writing skills with a strong background in report drafting;
Fluency in spoken and written in English;
Strong analytical and research skills;
Excellent organizational and communication skills;
-
Willingness and ability to travel to all UNRWA Fields of operations as needed during the
assignment;
Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel, and database software.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Understanding the political context situation of Palestine refugees and Palestinian women in
UNRWA’s Fields of operation;
Previous work experience in the Middle East;
Previous work with a UN Agency;
Fluency in spoken and written Arabic.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
The duration of the evaluation should be 8 weeks;
The consultant should be willing and able to travel to UNRWA’s Fields of operation;
Remuneration will depend on the qualifications and experience of the candidate.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants should submit the below at consultancy@unrwa.org clearly indicating the title of this
consultancy “Drafting of the Gender Equality Strategy Consultancy” in the subject line of the
message:
Cover letter;
CV or UN Personal History Form;
Methodological Proposal, which includes the proposed methodology, proposed work plan with
tasks, timeframe and budget;
Evidence of past performance and experience.
The deadline for submission of applications is 21 March 2015.
UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from both women and men.
UNRWA encourages applications from qualified and experienced female candidates. Only those
applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted. UNRWA is a non-smoking environment.