International consultant to provide advisory support on piloting GRB in Tajikistan

Background 

UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women has been created to accelerate up the process of meeting the needs of women and girls across the world. As a part of the UN reform agenda, it brings together resources and mandates, which will subsequently have a lasting impact on the whole community.  

The United Nations of Tajikistan in cooperation with the Government of Tajikistan is implementing the “Financing SDGs in Tajikistan” project.  The project is financed by the Joint SDG Fund and implemented by 3 UN Agencies in Tajikistan: UNDP, UNICEF and UN Women.   The overall strategy of the programme is to employ a two-pronged approach: strengthening policy space and addressing technical constraints to securing SDG financing.  The two-pronged interventions will enable the government to achieve its national development priorities. The programme is particularly important and timely in the context of the challenging economic situation and rising fiscal pressures, resulting in widening of the financing gap to support the implementation of national SDG targets until 2030. Since the government’s approved expenditure budget for FY’2020 equals $2.7 billion while the estimated financing gap (2020-2030) stands at $118 billion, the programme will help the government to approve and implement a realistic financing plan to achieve its national development priorities and SDG targets.  UN Women in Tajikistan will specifically deliver the following result: integrated tool for tracking and reporting of on-budget gender-disaggregated SDG financing vis-à-vis national SDG targets is operationalized by the government, linked to the National SDG Financing Roadmap, and it guides the legislature.

The joint programme is nationally owned initiative anchored in the National Development Strategy for 2016-2030 and with a clear commitment to leave no one behind.  The programme will promote evidence-based policies and actions backed by disaggregated data by gender and other vulnerability metrics.  In the process of achieving programmatic results, the focus will be to build technical and managerial capacities and strengthening partnerships with key government institutions.  Implementation of an integrated resource mobilization strategy also means that the programme will improve accountability and transparency of the government’s budgeting practices to achieve the national SDG targets.

The programme is implemented in close partnership and coordination with Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), Ministry of Education and Science (MoES), the State Committee for Investment and State Property Management (SCISPM) and the Parliament.

Goal and objectives  

Within the framework of “Financing SDGs in Tajikistan” project, the overall objective of the proposed consultancy is to pilot GRB in the MoES budgetary processes and development of “Practical Guide on GRB implementation”.   

 Expected results: 

The expert, together with a national consultant, will contribute to the piloting of “Practical Guide on GRB implementation” through provision of expertise and advisory support to the Academy of Public Administration (APA), members of the interagency working group, and other relevant stakeholders. Namely, support will be provided in:  i) piloting GRB in the education sector; ii) leading and organizing trainings, workshops, meetings and other events on GRB; iii) supporting the interagency working group in piloting gender in the budgetary process of the education sector and iv) documentation of the process and development of “Practical Guide on GRB implementation”. 

Under an overall guidance of the UN Women Country Programme Manager and supervision of National Program Coordinator, the Consultant will perform, but will not necessarily be limited to, to the following tasks:  

• Develop and submit a roadmap on GRB implementation in Tajikistan;
• Advise on the composition of members of the interagency working group, with inclusion of members from two pilot regions and relevant ministries and state bodies on GRB;
• Draft TORs for the members of the interagency working group for MoES in the implementation of the roadmap;
• Provide inputs and comments based on findings of “Gender Responsive Budget analysis of pilot ministries programs and policies in Tajikistan” developed in 2021; review and finalize the development of Module on GRB with APA experts; ensure that the developed/adapted training module is comprised of innovative training approaches and interactive communication methods (case studies, team works, team tasks, contests);   
• Conduct an online ToT for teachers/lecturers of the APA on teaching the Module on GRB;
• Conduct online training for members of the interagency working group on gender analysis in national planning and budgeting system.  Include sessions on: i) GRB in national and local budgeting and planning system; ii) gender analysis: methods and specific tools for civil servants at the level of decision-making;
• Document the process of the development of “Practical Guide on GRB implementation”.  Ensure the documentation includes step-by-step outline, with inclusion of relevant meeting minutes, TORs, references, attachments and annexes;
• Organize regular meetings with members of the working groups, receive reports from members of the working groups and provide inputs, recommendations and challenges identified in piloting GRB;
• Facilitate quarterly workshops for the members of interagency working group;
• Facilitate the process of drafting the “Practical Guide on GRB implementation”;
• Develop and submit an advocacy brief on GRB in Tajikistan;
• Provide advisory and mentoring support to the members of the working group;
• Participate in meetings with relevant stakeholders and PUNOs, as per meeting necessities and requests;
• Development and submission of final consultancy report with reflection of the overall description of implemented assignment, including major achievements, main challenges and constraints, and recommendations.

UN Women will support the following: 

1. Support in facilitation of consultations with interagency WG members; 
2. Support in providing reference materials;
3. Support in organizing online trainings.

Core Values: 

• Respect for Diversity 
• Integrity 
• Professionalism 

Core Competencies: 

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues 

• Accountability 
• Creative Problem Solving 
• Effective Communication 
• Inclusive Collaboration 

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf  

 Functional Competencies:  

• Possesses the ability to work independently, under pressure and meet deadlines; 
• Good knowledge of technical area; 

• Good organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail; 
• Experience in report writing. 
• Proven excellent communication and facilitation skills; 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Social Science, Gender, Economics, Public Administration, Development Studies or related field. 

Experience: 

• At least 5years of proven experience in working on gender equality;
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in the area of gender responsive budgeting;

• Demonstrated ability and track record in working with governments and development partners for Gender Responsive Governance initiation, analysis, roadmaps or studies (example should be attached);
• Familiar with Tajikistan and/or Central Asia context in terms of GRB implementation environment is of added value;
• Previous work and direct working relationships with UN agencies considered an asset. 

Knowledge of languages: 

• Fluency in English is required, knowledge of Russian is a considerable asset. 

 Application Process? 

The application should include: 

• Personal History Form (P-11 form) – including past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted; 

• Financial Proposal:  Specify a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount per deliverable.  No extra payments will be made. 

Candidates should have the ability to quickly produce degree certificates and medical certification (of good health) should they be short-listed in consideration of the consultancy post. 

 Payment Schedule 

 Payment for the services provided will be made by deliverables as per the below table upon achievement of expected results and approval of the deliverable and acceptance of services by the UN Women (PERF) that the services have been satisfactorily performed.  

1. First payment upon submission and approval of the 1st, 2nd 3rd , and 4th deliverables.  
2. Second payment upon submission and approval of the 5th,6th, and 7th deliverables. 
3. Third payment upon submission and approval of the 8th, 9th, and 10th deliverables.
4. Final payment in upon submission and approval of the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14thand 15th deliverables