EMPOWERMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN UGANDA
Brief Job Background
The Government of Uganda is a signatory to and has ratified various international and regional human rights treaties and made commitments on gender equality and human rights as well as empowerment of women through a number of instruments. These include: African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the Rights of Women in Africa, Beijing Declaration and Platform for action, UNSCR 1820 and 1835, the Declaration of the Heads of State and Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Special Session on Sexual and Gender Based Violence held in Kampala (2011), the IGAD Gender policy and strategy document (2004), United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015, etc. A number of these treaties and instruments have been domesticated through national policies, laws and plans of action.
A baseline study conducted in 2012 on the establishment of a multi-sectoral framework for monitoring and reporting on GEWE obligations/ commitments in Uganda highlighted the current status of work by the relevant sectors in relation to the different provisions of various international and regional instruments. The baseline study presents a first step for the government to understand the current status of coordination among sectors, identifies the main challenges in the implementation of the provisions and coordination of government institutions in terms of reporting on national, regional and international instruments on gender equality, women’s empowerment and human rights. For example, although some MDAs (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) already include gender issues in their action plans, these issues are rarely registered and reported when it comes to gathering progress on specific treaty bodies.
Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location :Kampala, UGANDA
Additional Category: Women's Empowerment
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level :National Consultant
Languages Required :English
Starting Date :(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 25-Nov-2013
Duration of Initial Contract : 4 Months
Expected Duration of Assignment : 4 Months
Rationale of the Job:
In the recent years, some progress has been made towards monitoring and reporting on the progress registered in relation to national, regional and international instruments for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. However, this has remained a sole responsibility of the National Gender Machinery, specifically; Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. On the other hand, while the multi-sectoral nature for the protection and promotion of women’s rights and empowerment as well as gender equality is widely recognized, systematic concerted effort, synergy and collaboration from the relevant sectors regarding the implementation of provisions on the GEWE instruments has not been done. Implementation of the provisions of the treaty bodies is carried out in a scattered manner and it doesn't belong to a coordinated framework. Therefore, the reporting system is also affected by the registered isolation in the work.
Taking into account the current challenges faced by the National Machinery on Women in harmonizing report to international and regional human rights and gender instruments, as well as on tracking the progress made by each sectors, a mechanism for implementation and reporting on the instruments is needed. This mechanism will enable sectors/MDAs to plan, programme, implement and report on their sector specific related commitments in the protection and promotion of women’s rights and empowerment as well as gender equality. The framework will also guide interventions in line with government’s reporting on regional and international obligations, as the implementation phase will be accompanied by the recording of progress and therefore to a more coordinated reporting mechanism. The framework should also look at the interaction with existing structures and institutions mandated for submission of reports to treaty bodies (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). For this reason, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD), in collaboration with Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) and supported by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), is seeking to hire a consultant to support them in the process of developing a multi-sectoral framework to monitor implementation and report on such progress on instruments on gender and women’s rights.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
The Scope of work:
The process to develop the multi-sectoral framework will require consultation of a wide range of stakeholders and sectors. The specific tasks include:
- Undertaking a review of the existing institutional mechanism for reporting on government commitments and obligations on gender and human rights;
- Undertake a review of international, regional and national instruments on GEWE, and disaggregate and cluster the areas of concern/provisions/ articles by sector;
- Undertake sector wide consultations to identify and seek concurrence on the roles and contributions of identified MDAs in implementing and reporting on the identified instruments;
- Draft a multi-sectoral framework for monitoring implementation and reporting on international, regional and national commitments and obligations on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s rights;
- Facilitate multi-sectoral meetings, where all sectors are involved to understand their roles and responsibilities in implementing, monitoring and reporting to international and regional instruments on gender and human rights;
- Facilitate both a consultation and a validation workshops with MGLSD, UHRC and other stakeholders on the framework
- Prepare process reports and regularly update the Ministry Management on progress of the task.
- To disaggregate, cluster and document provisions in the instruments on national, regional and international obligations on women’s empowerment gender equality and human rights by theme and sector. The international treaties identified include, but are not limited to: CEDAW, ICGLR, UNSCR 1325 & 1820, African Charter on Human and People's Rights and the Rights of Women, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the IGAD Gender Policy and Strategy document (2004), the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015;
- To identify sector specific obligations, roles and contributions of each MDAs in fulfillment of government commitment on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s rights;
- To support the MGLSD to develop a framework for monitoring and reporting on various international, regional and national obligations and commitments on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s rights; clearly outlining reporting requirements (dates) sources of information (documents, key implementers) and actors.
- An inception report clearly stating the methodology that will be used to achieve the deliverables to be completed within 7 days;
- A draft multi-sectoral framework for implementation, monitoring and reporting on international, regional and national commitments and obligations on gender equality, women empowerment and women’s rights in Uganda, to be completed within 42 working days;
- A draft
monitoring matrix for the implementation of the provisions of those
instruments monitored in the multi-sectoral framework with clear
indicators of progress/success, to be completed within 29 working days;
A reporting tool for MGLSD and sectors to guide reporting on specific commitments and obligations on gender equality, women’s empowerment and human rights, to be completed within 35 working days.
The award of the contract shall be made to the Individual National Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
- Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
- Highest Combined Score (based on the 70% technical offer and 30% price weight distribution) where the minimum passing score of technical proposal is 70%.
- Relevance of education – 10 points;
- Language skills – 5 points;
- Experience – 25 points;
- Interpretation of the assignment, methodology and work-plan – 30 points.
Price Proposal and schedule of payments:
Payment shall be made in four installments of;
- 10% Inception report, clearly stating the methodology that will be used to achieve the deliverables;
- 30% A draft multi-sectoral framework for implementation, monitoring and reporting on international, regional and national commitments and obligations on gender equality, women empowerment and women’s rights in Uganda;
- 30% A draft monitoring matrix for the implementation of the provisions of those instruments monitored in the multi-sectoral framework with clear indicators of progress/success;
- 30% A reporting tool for MGLSD and sectors to guide reporting on specific commitments and obligations on gender equality, women’s empowerment and human rights.
Ability to work under tight schedule and meet deadlines;
- Knowledge of the required international and regional treaties on gender and human rights;
- Good written and oral communication skills;
- Good knowledge and skills in monitoring and evaluation;
- Skills in facilitating consultative meetings and workshops;
- Strong interpersonal skills.
Education skills:
- A Minimum of a Masters degree in Law, Social Sciences or Public Administration, with a specific focus on gender and development or a related discipline.
- At least 5 years progressive experience in the field of gender and human rights and at least 3 years experience in monitoring and evaluation;
- Previous experience in developing multi-sectoral frameworks for gender equality and women's empowerment will be advantageous;
- Prior experience in developing matrix and reporting tools is necessary;
- Strong experience and proven records in facilitating workshops, meetings and conferences;
- Thorough knowledge of the international, regional and national instruments on gender equality and women's empowerment and human rights;
- Prior experience in working with a UN agency or NGO is desirable.
- Fluency and excellent command of written and spoken English is a necessity.
Applicants are requested to apply online at http://jobs.undp.org by November 18th, 2013 at 2:00 pm East African Time. Applicants are required to submit an application and proposals including the following documents/information in a single document (preferably in Adobe PDF format): to the address below:
The following documents should be submitted:
- Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided on the UNDP website www.ug.undp.org under procurement section.
- A brief methodology on the approach and implementation of the assignment;
Work plan for the assignment.
- Work references - contact details (e-mail addresses) of referees.
UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that will take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.
Please note that the system will only allow you to upload one document, therefore all the technical and financial proposals are to be attached to the CVs and uploaded together at once.
Website for the official advertisement: http://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=41640
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Closing Date: Monday, 18 November 2013