SSA Consultancy: Two Positions
 UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to End Violence Against Women
 Location: South Asia Sub-Regional Office, New Delhi
 Last Date: January 6, 2011

UN TRUST FUND IN SUPPORT OF ACTIONS TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

TERMS OF REFERENCE

SSA - 2  Independent Consultants

South Asia Sub Regional Office 

Date  of  Issue:   21 December  2010

Closing Date:      06 January 2011 

Background and Purpose

The UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women (“UN Trust Fund”) was established through UN General Assembly Resolution 50/166 in 1996 with UNIFEM (part of UN Women) as its Administrator on behalf of the UN system. The UN Trust Fund is a leading global multi-lateral mechanism supporting national efforts to end one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world.

The UN Trust Fund’s annual grant-making process, through its widely publicized Call for Proposals, operates on core principles of ensuring an open, fair, transparent, competitive and merit-based process. The UN Trust Fund focuses on supporting country and local implementation of laws, policies and action plans to address violence against women, while maintaining flexibility in terms of responsiveness to a wide range of forms of violence, national and emerging priorities and needs, and diverse approaches. By 2010, the UN Trust Fund had supported 317 programmes in 124 countries and territories with over US$ 60 million.

On 23 November 2010, the UN Trust Fund launched its annual Call for Proposals for an eight-week period spanning 23 November 2010 – 20 January 2011 (see UN Trust Fund Call at http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/violence_against_women/trust_fund.php).  Online applications for proposals will be accepted from governments, civil society organizations and United Nations Country Teams in English, French, and Spanish.

Activities and Deliverables

The UNIFEM (part of UN Women) South Asia Sub-regional Programme Office is seeking the services of a short-term consultant to screen incoming applications through an online system and make recommendations based on criteria set forth by the UN Trust Fund.   

The consultant is expected to have sound knowledge of gender-based violence and will review applications submitted by governments and civil society organizations from the South Asia sub-region, which includes the following:

·         Verifying that each proposal complies with the elements stipulated in the 2010 Call document and cross-checking that all supporting documentation received is accurate. 

·         Providing an objective assessment of applications based on guidelines and criteria set by the UN Trust Fund.

·         Recommending the top 10 applications (in collaboration with another consultant reviewing the same set of applications), and providing the necessary justifications for their selection;

·         Providing a summary of recommendations for each recommended application, based on the Fund’s criteria and an assessment of the needs, quality, and rationale of the proposal.

·         Preparing an introductory note for each of the countries where the recommended initiatives would be implemented. The note should include a brief country context, the relevant provisions against violence against women in each country (legal framework and policies), and the main institutions involved in the implementation of these provisions. 

·         Preparing an analytical brief that documents trends and emerging topics in the field of violence against women as can be observed from the demand for UN Trust Fund resources specific to the region, including highlighting any lessons learned or feedback from the application review process itself. 

Competencies

·         Excellent written and spoken fluency in English.

·         Knowledge of women’s rights and gender issues globally, expertise on violence against women programming

·         Knowledge of women’s organizations and governmental agencies working on women’s rights and violence against women around the world

·         Understanding of programme cycle and monitoring and evaluation frameworks

·         Ability to produce a high volume of quality content

·         Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines  

Qualifications:

·         Either an advanced university degree in Gender, Development Studies or related field and a minimum of 5 years experience in the field of women’s rights; or a Bachelor’s degree with over 10 years experience in the field of women’s rights. 

·         Prior experience in grant-making and in the United Nations System and/or non-governmental organizations is an asset.  

Timeframe

The Consultant will be hired for a period of 15-20 days starting  21 January 2011 (this may be extended depending on the no. of concept notes received for the sub region. The online submission deadline is 20 January 2011, 11:59PM New York Time).  

Applications to this vacancy should be sent to:

unifem.jobs.in@unifem.org

and/or

unwomen.jobs.in@unwomen.org 

mentioning “Short term consultant to review applications to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women 2010 call for proposals” in the subject line. Last date for receipt of applications is COB 6 January 2011.  

Candidates should also complete a United Nations Personal History Form (P.11), available at ( http://mirror.undp.org/angola/LinkRtf/p11.doc ). The completed P-11 form and detailed CV should be submitted along with the application.  

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.