National consultant for the application of Food Safety practices/standards in medicinal and aromatic herbs, in the area of Gramsh, Albania

Background

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 the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world.

Through its programmes and projects, UN Women is providing technical assistance to national partners (governmental and non-governmental) in the implementation of existing international and national commitments to women’s rights and gender equality, it facilitates networking and exchange of good practices and advocates for women’s rights and gender equality in all areas of life. According to its mandate, UN Women works in five thematic areas, such as leadership and participation, women’s economic empowerment, ending violence against women, women peace and security and governance and national planning fully reflect accountability for gender equality commitments. UN Women is also the lead Agency in coordinating the UN Country Team on gender equality and is chairing the UN Group on gender equality.

Rural women in Albania face many challenges to their economic security, such as: lack of financial support, a weak access to secure land rights, a limited understanding of which businesses are profitable, limited availability to enter the labor force due to disproportionate engagement in unpaid activities and, high dependence from family members. Women’s contribution to agriculture in Albania is vital, with 54 percent of employed women working in this sector. However, such contribution often remains invisible because of the high levels of informality, which often leaves them without protection or social benefits.

To address some of these challenges UN Women, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and with the support of the Government of Italy, is implementing the Gender Rural Equality and Tourism (GREAT) project, a three-year initiative that is contributing to rural women’s empowerment in Albania and is strengthening women’s roles and contribution to rural development. The project is contributing to sustainable economic development of rural women in three targeted regions and their communities by increasing their income and ability to obtain work.

The project is developing the capacities of rural women in running their own business, self-organizing and registering as local groups and improving their access to finance. Simultaneously, GREAT is supporting targeted municipalities to prioritize and promote rural women’s businesses, rural tourism and value chain development. The project is promoting a policy and legislative environment to strengthen women’s economic empowerment and their access to and control over productive assets.

The GREAT project was developed based on the needs identified by UN Women and FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, following recommendations of different studies and country assessments undertaken by these entities. Its main goals are aligned with the priorities of the Italian Government and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS Tirana), in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its core principle of leaving no-one behind. UN

Women is the implementing agency for this project with FAO as the main responsible party that is implementing specific components.

UN Women has previously engaged a civil society organization that supported the implementation of a gender sensitive value chain for medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in the municipality of Gramsh. Through the activities of this intervention a group of rural women was supported to participate in this value chain and respective market systems, increase their know-how in farming and processing and have higher employment opportunities and income.

To support the application of food safety standards and good practices in collecting and processing of medicinal and aromatic plants in the Municipality of Gramsh, through working together with a group of local women and entrepreneurs engaged in this process, the Gender Rural Equality and Tourism project is looking to hire a national consultant who will provide expertise in this area. The consultant is also expected to provide support to the women group when working with equipment that will process medicinal herbs by grinding, deep freezing for hygienic purposes, and measuring their weight for final packaging.

The consultant will be reporting to the GREAT Project Manager and collaborate and exchange information with other project experts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the GREAT project manager, the National Consultant in collaboration with other project experts is responsible for performing the below key tasks:

• Design curricula for trainings on organic standards on food safety, hygiene, processing, mode of operation and protocols, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
• Formulate protocols for final processing and packaging of at least 6 MAPs products:
• Conduct on-site training on applied organic standards on food safety, hygiene, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point F;
• Conduct on-site technical training on processing of organic products, mode of operations and protocols;
• Support the local women group with acquiring knowledge on packaging specifications based on products’ requirements;
• Support the women group with market connections and product presentation to market operators.

Deliverables

• A work plan formulated in collaboration with the UN Women project manager;
• Protocols for final processing and packaging of at least 6 MAPs products submitted:
• Curricula for trainings on organic standards on food safety, hygiene, processing, mode of operation and protocols, and HACCP submitted
• Report on updates on activities delivered as requested by UNW Project Manager

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy.

As part of this assignment, there will be a maximum of 10 (ten) trips to the Municipality of Gramsh.

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:

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

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Strong skills in developing, designing and preparing well-structured, logically organized reports, materials, overviews, briefs, and similar knowledge products.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize straightforward and clear content from a range of complex background documents.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written).
• Focuses on impact and results.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and with a positive, constructive, problem-solving attitude.
• Ability to handle conflict and sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.
• Ability to work and adapt to a dynamic working environment, judgment and results-orientation and ability to perform under pressure.
• Ability to organize and travel independently in intervention areas within Albania.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree in Agronomy, Biology, Rural Development, or related fields.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience on topics related to rural development and agriculture market, and women empowerment in the MAPs value chain;
• At least 5 years of expertise related to market systems of MAPs in Albania and international market;
• Proven experience in conducting training on applied organic standards on food safety, hygiene, processing, mode of operation and protocols, and HACCP;
• Experience in participating to donor-funded projects in Albania would be considered an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.

V. How to Apply

Qualified and interested candidates are required to apply online and submit the following documents:

• Completed Personal History From – P11 (P11 can be downloaded from:https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc )
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page)

How to Submit the Application: To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

• Download and complete the UN Women Personal History Form (P11).
• Merge your UN Women Personal History Form (P11) and Cover Letter into a single file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded.
• Click on the Job Title (job vacancy announcement).
• Click ‘Apply Now’ button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and then click ‘Submit Application;’
• Upload your application/single file as indicated above with the merged documents (underlined above).
• You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.

Notes:

• UN Women retains the right to contact references directly. Due to the large numbers of applications, we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.
• The individual consultants should take the mandatory learning security course prior to commencement of assignment– details will follow before the issuance of contract.

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.)