Kyrgyzstan: Gender Mainstreaming and Project Management Consultant - Only for Kyrgyzstan citizens

Objective/purpose of the consultancy/services

UNICEF Kyrgyzstan is starting the implementation of a three-year project titled STEM for Girls in partnership with Cle de Peau Beaute. The goal of this project is to improve education and job prospects for adolescent girls in STEM areas in a supportive school, family and community environments. UNICEF Kyrgyzstan is recruiting a Gender mainstreaming and Project Management Consultant who will act as the primary focal point for this intervention, covering and supporting project management, planning, implementation and monitoring, as well as communication, knowledge management and partnerships. The Consultant will also be tasked with ensuring gender integration in UNICEF programmes and projects during this period in the absence of Gender Officer.

Scope of work and key tasks

The consultant will coordinate project activities with UNICEF colleagues, relevant partners and stakeholders at the national and regional level. He/she will have the following tasks:

Programme Management and Coordination

1. Explore potential partnerships, inform about the project and establish partnerships with the Government, private sector, and civil society partners;
2. Develop and consult with relevant UNICEF team members terms of references and other selection documents as per UNICEF guidelines and templates to announce and select implementing partners;
3. Prepare for and oversee the conduct of the project launch event with the participation of key stakeholders;
4. Provide overall coordination and undertake the day-to-day management of the project;
5. Ensure coordination and linkage between components implemented by different implementing partners, as well as with external partners implementing / interested in a similar area;
6. Report on implementation progress to the donor and for UNICEF internal reporting processes;
7. Provide input for narrative and financial reports to the Programme Coordination Unit;

Programme Planning and Implementation

1. Develop consolidated annual work plan, based on the inputs of implementing partners and in collaboration with colleagues and stakeholders;
2. Develop an annual expenditure forecast;
3. In collaboration with M&E and communications teams, develop and monitor implementation of the logframe, M&E plan and Communications and Visibility plan as per donor requirements;
4. Coordinate the implementation of activities;
5. Conduct programmatic visits and plan for assurance activities as per HACT requirements;
6. Track progress, results and implementation and monitor funds utilization;
7. Develop Terms of Reference for project consultants/experts and project documents with implementing partners as required.

Communications, Knowledge Management and Partnerships

1. Support the implementation of communications and visibility activities;
2. Support the development of various communications tools and products as required;
3. Ensure dissemination of information and knowledge management for effective project implementation;
4. Document lessons learned, best practices and success stories as required;
5. Ensure institutional memory on the project by documenting progress and results;
6. Keep a record on all project deliverables, documents, files, etc.
7. Establish and maintain working relations and/or partnerships with partners and stakeholders (Ministry of Education and Science, business associations, UN and non-UN development partners);
8. Perform any other duties as required.

Gender Integration in UNICEF programmes and projects

1. Review and integrate gender aspects in the ToRs, knowledge and media products at the request of the Deputy Representative;
2. Provide substantive support in the development of concept notes and project proposals where the primary objective is to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Reporting and supervision

The consultant will report to and work under the supervision of the Deputy Representative UNICEF Kyrgyzstan with substantive support from the Chief Child Survival and Development and the Programme Associate. The consultant will work in collaboration with Education colleagues in Kyrgyzstan and other relevant programme colleagues.

Qualification/level requirements

1. Advanced university degree in social sciences, development studies or a related field;
2. Five years of experience in the area of gender equality, empowerment of women and girls;
3. Experience with school-based gender-responsive adolescent programming;
4. Work experience in programme planning, management, coordination and implementation;
5. Experience of facilitating partnerships with Government, civil society and private sector required;
6. Sound writing and communication skills in English and Russian;
7. Ability to work efficiently both independently and as part of a team;
8. Good organizational skills, including multi-tasking, and the ability to set priorities and meet deadlines within a dynamic environment;
9. Competent in using Microsoft Office applications;
10. Fluency in English and Russian, knowledge of Kyrgyz is an asset.

Duty station and official travel involved

The consultant will be based in Bishkek, with three trips to Osh and surroundings in the course of the consultancy period.

Duration

5 months

Deliverables & Payment schedule

Activity

Due dates

Payment schedule

1. Calls for partnership within project announced, selection process finalized, ProDocs finalized and submitted to PRC

Inputs provided for one project proposal

Outcome work plans reviewed and inputs provided for the integration of gender aspects

25 September 2019

20%

1. Inception meetings conducted with IPs, joint work plan for one year developed, launch event preparations undertaken

Inputs provided for the integration of gender aspects in two ToRs/communication or knowledge products

Outcome work plans reviewed and inputs provided for the integration of gender aspects

25 October 2019

15%

1. Project launch conducted with the participation of key Government, private sector and CSO stakeholders. Other communication and visibility events organized

Inputs provided for the integration of gender aspects in two ToRs/communication or knowledge products

Outcome work plans reviewed and inputs provided for the integration of gender aspects

25 November 2019

15%

1. Inputs for annual reporting provided as per requirements, one communication product (human story) developed on the project progress, assurance activities as per requirements conducted

Inputs provided for the integration of gender aspects in two ToRs/communication or knowledge products

Outcome work plans reviewed and inputs provided for the integration of gender aspects

25 December 2019

15%

1. Annual work plan for the project developed in consultation with IPs and key stakeholders

Outcome work plans reviewed and inputs provided for the integration of gender aspects

15 January 2020

15%

1. Final report on the project implementation, progress and challenges, and handover note submitted

Outcome work plans reviewed and inputs provided for the integration of gender aspects

31 January 2020

20%

Terms of Payment

The Consultant will be paid upon submission of reports reflecting successful completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. The fee proposed by the Consultant shall include the travel related costs (i.e. air-ticket, daily subsistence allowance, terminal expenses, etc.). Estimated daily subsistence allowance shall not exceed applicable UN DSA rates.

As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.

The consultant / individual contractors are required to indicate their all-inclusive fees (including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable) for the services to be provided.

If UNICEF determines that the Consultant needs to travel in order to perform his or her assignment that travel shall be specified in the contract. In cases where travel costs have not been set out in the individual contract, the consultant is expected to submit, within ten days of completion of a specific travel, a voucher for reimbursement of travel expenses to the appropriate Operations / Human Resources manager.

Reimbursements shall only be processed if travel was duly authorized in the individual contract or by an authorized manager of the contracting division or office, in writing and prior to the travel. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and medical insurance for the period of the contract.

Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC).

Consultants and individual contractors traveling on behalf of UNICEF must meet the standard trip prerequisites, including but not limited to Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, the BSAFE Training, Travel Visa, and liability waiver (see Annex 1). Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the consultant.

The Consultant will be paid upon submission of progress reports reflecting successful completion of the above deliverables.

Performance indicators

The Consultant’s performance will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, and quality of the products delivered.

1. Timeliness and quality of research products delivered
2. Quality of TORs and project documents developed
3. Quality of meeting reports and supporting material developed for Project Advisory Committee meetings
4. Activities and annual work plans endorsed by the Project Advisory Committee
5. Timeliness and quality of capacity building activities organized
6. Quality and timely submission of input to the narrative and financial interim report
7. Quality and completeness of the final assignment report submitted on time

Note: In all cases, contractors may only be paid their fees upon satisfactory completion of services. In such cases where payment of fees is to be made in a lump sum, this may only be payable upon completion of the services to UNICEF’s satisfaction and certification to that effect, and any advance on the lump sum may not exceed 30% of the fees. In such cases where payment of fees is to be made in installments, the final installment may not be less than ten per cent (10%) of the total value of the contract, and will only be payable upon completion of the services to UNICEF’s satisfaction and certification to that effect.

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 our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=525533