Enhance Women’s Business Opportunities through Legal Empowerment Measures

Background 
Progress towards women’s entrepreneurial development in South Sudan has increased over the past five years with a growing number of women led formal and informal business. Women and girls are mainly engaged in mobile businesses selling variety of local beverages, homemade pastry, vegetables and fruits, crafts and pottery. However, these female entrepreneurs continue to face multiple obstacles in their journey imposed by the national legal and regulatory framework as well as unmet daily legal needs. The legal barriers affect their economic empowerment and ability to expand their role in the country’s economy. 
Restrictions on entrepreneurship, including a woman’s ability to open a bank account, sign a contract and register a business in the same way as a man and gender based discrimination in access to finance are some of the biggest obstacles’ women face when running a business. Due to the corruption and inefficiencies at customs borders, and patriarchy in the society, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) continues to impact female business owners who are exposed to such violence at home and during their business activities. The inadequate protection of women’s family rights, their unequal access to ownership, use and control of land and property further constrain them.  
Often unaware of their rights or options available for legal action, women are particularly disempowered and deprived of their rights, voice, and agency, increasing their vulnerability. Moreover, because of the stigma associated with gender-based crimes, a non-responsive police and justice system that is equally slow, expensive, and time-consuming, the abuse and grievances women face are not always reported. Coupled with lack of psychosocial and counselling support for their recovery from such violence, these factors inhibit women led business from growing sustainably and consequently limit their overall entrepreneurial potential.
UNDP, through its Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights Strengthening Programme (2020 – 2023) has prioritized measures on advancing legal empowerment of vulnerable groups including women in the informal business. The programme seeks to empower such groups to use the law to advance their rights and interests, either as individuals or as members of a community, in relation to the state and the market. In light of this, UNDP seeks to contract an international consultant to pilot measures that address sector specific legal restrictions that women involved in informal trade and business in South Sudan face.
Objective
To promote and empower South Sudanese women who are engaged in business activities by addressing the legal barriers they face for their economic empowerment through business and trade. 

Scope of Work: 

Under the guidance of the UNDP Chief Technical Advisor for Rule of Law and Access to Justice, the consultant will work with a network of South Sudanese Women Entrepreneurs Association based in Juba with a country wide to empower them to use the law to become more productive in their business and trade. The consultant will lead the process of developing and implementing a workplan to respond to the legal empowerment needs of the women. This will include:

• A rapid assessment to identify legal challenges and opportunities that women can capitalize on to advance their business and trade.
• Provide information on the relevance of legal aid to the women entrepreneurs and assista them to quickly address the grievances, disputes and violations the face at home and during their business activities. 
• Support the use of branding women’s business commodities to campaign with positive messages on justice for women and the sensitization of the women entrepreneurs on their rights will seek to empower them. 
• Provide support with on-the-job-training for the police together with women on gender-based crimes will create referral avenues for women led businesses to seek protection and remedies from the justice system.
• Engage with local financial institutions to address gender-based discrimination that inhibit access to credit imposed by the law, link such institutions with the women entrepreneurs, and provide complementary support in financial literacy necessary to propel their businesses and trade.  
• Prepare an analytical report on the achievements, lessons learned and forward-looking recommendations that will be used as the basis for scaling up future efforts. 

Key Deliverables:

• Workplan: The draft workplan should be at an advanced stage of completion including the activities and key results that will be achieved as outlined in Section 3 of this Terms of Reference. It will be available to UNDP and the South Sudanese Women Entrepreneurs Association for feedback and shared with the consultant to address the gaps identified during the review.
• Analytical End of Report: The end of assignment report will provide an analysis on the implementation of the workplan outlining the scope and focus of activities, key results achieved, the lessons learned on the importance of combining legal and economic empowerment of women in achieving gender equality in South Sudan, as well as policy and practice related recommendations. 

Commitment to Quality Work:

The consultant shall use an evidence-based approach and ensure the highest standard of work and timely deliverables at every stage of this assignment. In particular, the consultant shall ensure clarity of objectives and process during the engagement with women and other stakeholder; and ensure that the content and format of the knowledge and documents shared meets the highest standard.

Competencies:

• Collaborative and consultative working style;
• Ability to work independently whilst communicating effectively in a timely fashion;
• Excellent coordination and organizational skills;
• Ability to multi-task to meet simultaneous deadlines;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Excellent attention to detail. 

Qualifications and experience;

The following qualifications and experience are required:

• Bachelors level degree in law.
• Sound knowledge and proven experience working in the national legal sector in developing countries especially those countries emerging from conflict;
• Sound knowledge and understanding of the informal business and trade sector, challenges, and opportunities for women;
• Experience in leading discussions, initiatives, and good group facilitation skills;
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English and Arabic;
• Experience and understanding of South Sudan is an added advantage;

Evaluation Criteria:

Relevant Educational Experience (10%) Bachelors level degree in law;

Relevant Work Experience as per TOR Requirements (40%) Sound knowledge and 10 years of experience working in the national legal sector in developing countries especially those countries emerging from conflict;

• At least 5 years working for or with women in the informal business sector in countries emerging from conflict;
• Experience in leading discussions, initiatives, and good group facilitation skills; 
• Experience and understanding of South Sudan is an added advantage;
• Excellent knowledge in gender mainstreaming.

Competencies, Skills & language (20%) Proven ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines, delivers on time and within cost and quality standards;

• Excellent communication and reporting skills;
• Proficiency and proven experience in the use of Microsoft Office suite (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required;
• Proficiency in English and Arabic is a must.

Total (Maximum obtainable points) 70% 70

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.
Financial Evaluation – Total 30% (30 points).