Background

Background/Context

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. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women is mandated to lead, coordinate and promote accountability for the implementation of gender equality commitments across the UN System. Across Asia and the Pacific, UN Women promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment. UN Women implements programmes (including normative and advocacy) in 41 Member States in the region, including Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam, through direct implementation as well as implementing partners, which include government entities, non-governmental organizations, private sector, UN agencies, non-UN intergovernmental organizations.

At the global level, the Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda all recognize the commitment needed to address climate change and disasters respectively. These frameworks also recognise that combating, adapting and responding to climate change and disasters needs to be achieved while respecting and promoting human rights as well as gender equality and the empowerment of women. Commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment includes promoting leadership of women in all their diversity and people from marginalised groups including those people living with disabilities, ethnic minorities, among other groups in climate action and DRR. To achieve these ambitious global goals, increased technical capacity will be necessary for national governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), regional institutions and other stakeholders to meet these commitments and achieve sustainable development.

In this regard, UN Women supports national government and other stakeholders to ensure that investments made to tackle climate change and disaster risk reduction adopt human rights approaches are gender response. UN Women formulated its climate change and disaster risk reduction programmes based on the evaluation of current progress, capabilities and challenges facing the Asia and the Pacific region and based on consultation feedback. Currently climate change and disaster risk reduction initiatives are being implemented at the regional level, but also in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia India, the Philippines, the Pacific region, and Viet Nam. In addition, UN Women also implements the five-year programme: EmPower: Women for Climate Resilient Societies in Asia and the Pacific in partnership with the UN Environment Programme.

UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) aims to establish a diverse pool of consultants for placement on a retainer pool, accessible to Regional Office, Multi-Country Offices (MCOs) and Country Offices. It is seeking technical support from international consultants under a retainer contract to contribute to programme development, knowledge management, and coordination functions for the Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Portfolio and targeted activities. The consultant will be integral in advancing UN Women’s deployable response capacity and serve as gender capacity to support UN’s coordinated responses in the region.

The detailed terms of reference for specific assignments will be developed by the hiring manager in consultation with selected consultants. Each consultant will be expected to work on specific deliverables as required by the relevant office, within their respective expertise.

*Note: While on retainer, there is no guarantee of work, and selected consultants retain the right to decline assignments based on their availability and expertise.

Objective of the consultancy

The objective of this consultancy is to provide specialized support in conducting gender analysis and supporting assessments pertaining to climate change, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and the environment in Asia and the Pacific region. The consultant will focus on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment within climate change and DRR discourse by conducting thorough analyses of gender trends and context-specific assessments on gender-based vulnerabilities to climate change and the environment more broadly.

Furthermore, the consultant’s work will support current and future UN Women programming on gender, climate change, DRR, and the environment, including on areas such as gender in climate-resilient agriculture, gender responsive climate finance and more.

Duties and Responsibilities

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

Under the supervision and guidance of Regional Portfolio Lead for disaster risk reduction and Climate Change, or regional specialists on disaster risk reduction and climate, and/or disaster risk reduction focal points/specialists, and/or deputy representatives in MCO/Country Offices, this retainer pool seeks experience in climate-resilient agriculture, gender-responsive climate finance, disaster risk management, sustainable development, environmental sustainability, community resilience building and more.

Below is a list of a wider range of skillsets relevant to disaster risk reduction, and climate change portfolio. We encourage applicants with relevant experience in any of the mentioned areas to apply. If you possess a subset of these skillsets, we would still be interested in considering your application.

• Provide up-to-date information on regional trends in climate change mitigation and adaptation and analyze their strategic implications for UN Women’s climate change and environment programming.
• Assist in translating global and regional developments in climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as climate change financing mechanisms, into strategic planning and direction for UN Women’s climate change programming.
• Support the preparation and review of concept notes on gender and climate change/DRR/environment for project activities and new programmatic areas of work.
• Assist in ensuring effective and efficient support to UN Women’s climate change and environment programmes and activities, including collaboration with UN agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Assist UN Women focal points across the region to build capacity to integrate gender in climate change and environmental programming.
• Assist in providing support to training on climate change, gender equality, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and environment Participate in technical reviews of national and regional climate change and gender equality policies.

*Note: The service will be rendered on “on call” basis. UN Women does not warrant that the maximum of contract amount will be purchased during the term of the Agreement. While on retainer, there is no guarantee of work, and selected consultants retain the right to decline assignments based on their availability and expertise.

Competencies

Competencies

In addition to aforementioned requirements and qualifications, it is important that the consultants share the core values and core competencies of the organization.

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: https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Good technical knowledge in the field of climate change/environment
• Adaptability and commitment to continuous learning
• Good analytical skills
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management
• Strong project management support skills
• Good networking and partnership building skills

Required Skills and Experience

Required Qualifications

Education and Certification

Master’s degree in Gender and Development, Disaster Management, Sociology, Statistics, Environmental science, or other relevant disciplines. (A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree).

Experience

• A minimum of 1 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in providing policy and program advice on climate change, disaster risk reduction and/or environmental action with a focus on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Demonstrated experience working with stakeholders to advance gender equality in disaster risk reduction and address climate change and environmental change, particularly within the Asia and Pacific region.
• Experience in monitoring trends and identifying opportunities to integrate gender equality into climate/environment programming, including support to organizing and assisting in capacity building, knowledge sharing and seminars.
• Having UN experience and international organization will be an advantage.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of other language spoken in the Asia-Pacific region, or any UN official language is an asset.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit an electronic application to hr.bangkok@unwomen.org with salila.klongboonjit@unwomen.org and sirinapa.visessmith@unwomen.org in copy, not later than 9 May 2024, 23:59 hrs. Bangkok time.

Submission package includes

• Personal History Form (P11) which can be downloaded from UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc (live.com)
• Application letter explaining your interest in the consultancy and why you are the most suited candidate for this position.
• Updated CV

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11).

If applying through the system, Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. So please consolidate your (all) required documents into 1 file prior to attachment.

Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment. Please merge all documents into one document to attach.

Payments

Payments for this consultancy (retainer) will be based on the achievement of each deliverable and certification that each has been satisfactorily completed. Payments will not be based on the number of days worked but on the completion of each stated deliverable within the indicated timeframes.

UN Women does not warrant that the maximum number of working days will be purchased during the term of the Agreement. The consultant can only be engaged through the issuance of Quantum Purchase Order, based on the agreed Contract every time the UN Women wishes to procure the service.

UN Women Statement

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.)