National Consultants for development of the National Strategy for Enhancement of the Role of Women in Republic of Tajikistan for 2021 -2025

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.

Gender inequality remains the most widespread and sustainable form of inequality worldwide. Gender equality issues, the empowerment of women and girls to live a life free from discrimination are at the top of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To achieve implementation of existing commitments, appropriate responses are needed in law regulations, policies, programs, as well as the changes in social norms and gender stereotypes.

In the process of agreeing national plans and strategies for sustainable development within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, gender equality mainstreaming must be a top priority so that women and girls can fully benefit from its implementation, as well at the stages of planning, decision-making, policy implementation, budgeting and monitoring. National mechanisms have to become an integral part of such national institutions.

Tajikistan has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1993, as well as other international legal documents on gender equality, that played an extremely important role and made it possible to intensify the activities of state structures and civil society in reducing the level of gender-based violence in the country. Provision of effective gender policy, bringing domestic legislation in line with international legislative acts, adopting of appropriate regulatory legal acts, creating institutional mechanisms and extensive educational capacity building on the way of eliminating gender stereotypes and effective achievement of equality of men and women in society speaks about sustained commitment of the Government of Tajikistan in addressing gender issues, protection of women’s rights, active involvement of women in decision-making processes in ensuring a sustainable society.

In 2011 was adopted the “National Strategy for Enhancing the Role of Women in RT for 2011 -2020”, with main purpose to create prerequisites and necessary conditions for full realization of the women’ abilities in all spheres of public life. The separate chapters of the Strategy were devoted to issues of employment and support for women’s entrepreneurship. One of the important indicators of effective gender policy is the level of women’s access to economic and financial resources. The gender component is being actively implemented in the development of strategic national programs, in particular, in the framework of National Development Strategy of Tajikistan until 2015 and the Strategy to Improve the Welfare of Population and, was introduced as an important component in the Country Development Strategy for the period until 2030.

However, there are problems and challenges that the country faces in accelerating and mainstreaming gender equality. Implementation of declared tasks in all adopted strategies, laws and programs requires more effective mechanisms and differentiated approach for target industries and  groups of women, development of new conceptual vision for addressing issues of empowering women and girls by new approaches of the Global Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

In November 2018, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) submitted Concluding Observations to Tajikistan. In broad discussion with CSOs, GoT developed and adopted National Action Plan of RT to implement the CEDAW recommendations for 2019-2022, which envisages the development of National Strategy for Enhancing Women’s Role in RT for 2021-2025.

With this purpose, UN Women is planning to hire the National Consultant(s) for development of National Strategy for Enhancement the Role of Women in RT for 2021-2025, in order to ensure proper identification and comprehensive implementation of gender equality priority actions, participation and promotion of women’s voices in all spheres of public life and achieving sustainable inclusive development of Tajikistan.

Goal and objectives:

The main objective of this assignment is to support UN Women Programme Office in Tajikistan in development of:

a) Draft of the National Strategy for the Enhancement of the Role of Women in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2021-2025 and

b) Draft Action Plan of the National Strategy for the Enhancement of the Role of Women in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2021-2025.

National Consultant(s), in close cooperation with the Committee on Women and Family Affairs under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan (CWFA) and direct supervision of the Country Programme Manager of UN Women in Tajikistan will be responsible for the following tasks:

• To prepare detailed Workplan and develop the methodology for implementation of tasks with description of the key approaches and priorities to ensure de facto equality of men and women, and key factors contributing to the implementation of the National Strategy for the Enhancement of the Role of Women for 2021-2025 (hereinafter NSERW 2021-2025), specified in the ToR;
• To conduct analysis of the implementation the National Strategy for the Enhancement of the Role of Women for 2011-2020, identify strengths and weaknesses of its implementation and develop recommendations for the project development of the NSERW 2021-2025 with taking into account the lessons learned from the implementation of the previous strategy and the priorities of the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan until 2030, gender-related and linked SDG targets, the Beijing Platform for Action, the recommendations of the CEDAW Committee and other relevant bodies;
• As an integral component of the strategy, to develop a separate charter (section) on conducting M&E of implementation of the project NSERW 2021-2025, including indicators of results and impacts;
• To conduct the Round Table and discuss the developed draft NSERW 2021-2025 with relevant ministries and agencies, public associations and development partners;
• To finalize the draft of NSERW 2021-2025 with taking into account the recommendations made during the Round Table, and the develop the Action Plan for implementation of the project NSERW 2021-2025, including a chapter on conducting M&E of the project implementation;
• To maintain continuous communication with the Committee on Women and Family Affairs under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, relevant ministries and agencies, development partners and civil society organizations regarding the issues arising in the work process;
• To address comments and suggestions of the development partners and public associations based on the discussions of the draft of NSERW 2021-2025 and the Implementation Plan of the NSERW 2021-2025, and the provision of the final report describing the results of work and including the final versions of the NSERW 2021-2025 and the Action Plan for implementation of the NSERW 2021-2025.

Expected results:

1. A draft National Strategy for Enhancing the Role of Women for 2021-2025 is submitted with taking into account the lessons learned from the implementation of the previous strategy, the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan until 2030, SDG gender-specific targets, the Beijing Platform for Action, recommendations of the CEDAW Committee and other relevant authorities, as well as the discussions with development partners and public associations.
2. An Action Plan for the implementation of the NSERW 2021-2025 is submitted including a separate charter on conducting M&E of project implementation, with considering the proposals of development partners and public associations based on the results of the electronic mailing.

Expected deliverables

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;
• Critical thinking and good analytical skills.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in political sciences, humanities, legal studies, international relations, human rights, gender equality, or another relevant areas.

Working Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience on gender equality and gender mainstreaming in development programmes and projects at national and international levels;
• Work experience, at least 5 years, as part of the government working groups to develop national strategies, programs and/or action plans to promote gender equality;
• Experience in working groups on the preparation of National Reports and reports on the implementation of international obligations, including the CEDAW Convention and other international treaties.
• Knowledge of the UN System and UN Women’s priorities and mandate is considered an advantage;
• Previous work experience with UN agencies considered as an asset.

Knowledge of languages:

• Proficient in written and oral Tajik and Russian is required, English as an advantage.

Other:

• Good knowledge of the legislative acts and regulations of the Republic of Tajikistan for the development of strategic instruments and mechanisms
• Good computer skills in Windows environment, knowledge of internet communications and command of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Application Process

The application should include:

• Letter of Interest;
• 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; 

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.

Management and financial arrangements

The contractor will report to and work under direct supervision of UN Women Tajikistan Head of Programme.

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 and 2nd deliverables.
2. Second payment upon submission and approval of the 3rd and 4th deliverables.
3. Final payment in upon submission and approval of the 5th and 6th deliverables