Consultancy: Developing a toolkit for gender data in fragility and humanitarian settings

Background

The production of gender statistics is embedded in a long history of pronouncements on the importance of statistics for underpinning evidence-based policy formulation, planning, monitoring, and evaluation. Examples include the reporting requirements for Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) as adopted by the United Nations in 1979 and the specific references made to the critical importance of gender statistics in the Beijing Platform for Action (1995).

The need for the strengthening of gender statistical systems was further emphasised after the adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda with its 17 goals and considerable measurement imperatives. Regionally, the Africa Agenda 2063- the Africa we want was adopted in 2015 and it highlights additional statistical requirements as articulated in the first 10-year plan as well as the Afica Program on Gender Statistics (APGS). UNECA acts as the sceretairat of the APGS. UNECA,  with the African Development Bank Group (The Bank) and UN Women are the three lead agencies for the APGS on the continent. One o fthe activities coordinated jointly by this group is the annual Africa inter-agency regional gender statistics forum (AGSF). At the most recent AGSF, which took place in November 2023 in Casablanca,  Morrocco, a recommendation was made to develop a tookit with guidelines in support of the production and use of gender statistics in fragility and humanitarian settings. It was agreed that UN Women will lead the development of this inter-agency toolkit.   

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. To date, most of the gender data and statistics work that we have done in the region have been under the umbrella of the global .

During Phase II of Women Count the project focuses amongst other things on adopting a diverse range of strategies to address gaps in emerging gender statistics thematic areas. One of these include the production and use of gender data in fragility and humanitarian settings.   The strategies will include basing all data collection on stakeholder needs and then ensuring that users such as for example politicians, policymakers, humanitarian stakeholders, and the media have the necessary skills to use this gender data. One of the primary mechanisms that will be used to achieve this will be the institutionalization of user-producer dialogues, advocacy and targeted capacity building initiatives.

This specific consultancy is framed within this context and represents a collaboration between UN Women, UNECA and the Bank. It particularly seeks to develop a toolkit/guidance note that can be used by government officials, Civil Society Organizations, UN agencies, INGOs, consultants, and academia to facilitate the production and use of gender data and statistics to inform advocacy, strategy formulation, planning, resource allocation, monitoring and evaluation in fragility and humanitarian settings. The guide is meant to be practical and provide ample examples of how the production and use of gender data unfolds in practice in fragility and humanitarian settings.

The specific objectives of the Toolkit/guidance note are (i)  to improve knowledge in the mainstreaming of gender into Humanitarian Statistical Systems; (ii) to promote continued capacity building and learning by producers and users of gender statistics in humanitarian areas. 

The consultant will be supervised by the Gender statistics specialist of the UN Women ESA-RO, but a steering committee consisting of UN Women, African Development Bank and UNECA as well as other UN agencies as required will guide the consultant at key steps during the process of developing the toolkit.

Scope of Work:

The overall goal of the project is to develop a pratical toolkit with tips on how to produce, disseminate, and use gender data and statistics to inform advocacy, strategy formulation, planning, resource allocation, monitoring and evaluation in fragile and humanitarian settings. This work should be in support of key humanitarian planning and operational processes.  

Duties and Responsibilities

Deliverables:

1. Inception report that describes what the toolkit will look like and what it will include;
2. One toolkit consisting of 30-50 pages. It should include practical examples from countries in the region and should be compiled as a collection of practical ‘Ideas and Tips’ on data production and evidence use in fragile and humanitarian settings;
3. Facilitate a virtual expert and humanitarian stakeholder validation session of the toolkit at the end of May 2024;
4. Facilitate a session at the 2024 AGSF, to be held in June 2023 in Gaborone to launch and socialize the toolkit;
5. All reports/toolkits and PowerPoints must be completed and presented in either English. 

Breakdown of interim milestones and deliverables

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism 

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: 

Functional Competencies

• Demonstrable statistical and related experience in the Africa region, specifically in transition or fragile countries;
• Demonstrated knowledge or experience in organizing information and materials for knowledge sharing and learning;
• Knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and national efforts to implement them is strongly preferred;
• Excellent writing skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in statistics, economics, humanitarian work, gender, sociology, development studies, or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years experience in working in the field of data/research/evidence production and use in fragile and humanitarian settings;
• Work experience in Africa, preferably in more than one country;
• Experience in working with the UN or other international/regional entities.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.

All applications must include (as an attachment) a completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from 

Please note that the system will only allow one attachment and candidates are required to include in the P-11 form links for their previously published reports and articles completed within the last two years. Applications without the completed and signed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Notes:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.