UN Women: National Consultant to provide support in conducting an emergency response intervention for vulnerable women and their dependents, shelters in the context of COVID-19 impact.

Vacancy Number: Pr22/02373

Location:Chisinau
Application Deadline: 21 Jan 2022, 23:00 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:Individual Contract
Starting date: 31 Jan 2022
Reference to the project: UN Women
Expected Duration of Assignment:Up to 70 days (January – November 2022)
Supporting Documents:
Annex I
Annex II
General Terms and Conditions for Consultants
P-11 template
Terms of Reference
UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract



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.


The work of UN Women in Moldova is guided by its new Country Strategic Note for 2018-2022, aligned with the Republic of Moldova–United Nations Partnership Framework for Sustainable Development 2018–2022, the Global Strategic Plan of UN Women for 2018-2021, the National Strategy on Gender Equality for 2017-2021 (NSGE), the National Strategy for Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence for the Period 2018-2023, and aims to contribute to the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Strategic Note focuses on three main areas: 1) strengthening women’s participation in politics and decision making; 2) economic empowerment of women and 3) ending violence against women and girls. To achieve progress under these areas, UN Women works with a variety of national and international partners and as part of different national and regional initiatives.


In the context of world-wide pandemic due to new corona virus COVID-19, announced by WHO on 12 March 2020, UN Agencies undertook interventions to embark more on supporting national response to halt, reverse and eliminate the outbreak in Moldova, focusing on both lifesaving (health specific), as well as community engagement and public health awareness and communication to limited exposure to the infection. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, UN Women has been at the forefront in providing evidence on its impact on women and men, in advocating for building back better in gender responsive manner, as well as in mobilizing jointly with the UN sister agencies and women’s NGOs/ grassroots organizations, in providing direct support and assistance to people and families most in need of immediate supplies and protective items.


During 2020, with the funding support from the UN SGs COVID-19 MPTF, participating UN agencies (UNICEF, UN Women and IOM) were able to make considerable contribution to the country response to COVID-19 in the Republic of Moldova. To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the most vulnerable, UN Women was able to provide direct support to 4157 direct beneficiaries from both banks of Dniester river (exceeding the initial target of 3500), 616 indirect beneficiaries, 14 staff of NGO Vesta and 500 members of multidisciplinary teams in the form of masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, surface sanitizers, food packs, packs with hygienic and cleaning products, packs with pads for women and diapers for kids and adults. In addition to that during 2020, 3,279 social assistants and social workers, from 36 territorial structures of social assistance across the country, including the Transnistrian region have been equipped with personal protection equipment (PPE) containing locally produced respiratory protection masks, gloves and disinfectant solutions to better respond to cases of gender-based violence as well as to better respond to the needs of the most vulnerable groups of persons. Also, 579 women and girls from Moldova, including from Transnistria region - representing 353 women and girls affected by violence, 156 women migrants (including some affected by violence, or in high risk), 42 women with disabilities, 28 women with children with disabilities- 2 men and 54 children could cope with stress/benefit from a strengthened general and specialized services during COVID-19 pandemic due to the provision of on-line essential services provided by 6 national and local NGO’s with UN Women support for a 4-month period in total.


During 2021, over 4835 direct beneficiaries (3522 women and 1313 men from vulnerable groups) and 6563 indirect beneficiaries, people in vulnerable situations, including older persons, people living with HIV, persons with disabilities and their families, Roma families and children in vulnerable situation from both banks of the Dniestru river, single mothers have improved their resilience against COVID-19. Also,55 staff and volunteers of 48 NGOs and Initiative groups from both banks of Dniestru river working at the national and local level, who are members of the NGO Task Force on COVID-19 and Human Rights, have been supported to provide direct social support services in response to the immediate needs of people in vulnerable situations. At the same time, UN Women thanks to the support of the Japanese Government and the Government of Sweden, has worked with State Agency for Small Medium Enterprise Development (ODIMM) and Business Pre-Accelerators to support women in recovering or starting new business to recover from the impact of COVID-19.


In line with the Socio-Economic Response Plan12, under Activity 2.1, Increasing the access of vulnerable women and their dependents to food and other essential supplies, including prevention supplies and following Output: Women from vulnerable groups (including Roma women, women with disabilities, sex workers, single mothers, women with low or no income and others) have access to food, personal care and hygiene products, and protection supplies, UN Women will conduct another intervention with support of Netherlands with the aim to contribute to the improvement of the well-being of people of Moldova, in particular of the most vulnerable women. The intervention will equip women from underrepresented groups and their families from selected communities with essential products and protective equipment, in order to improve their resilience against COVID-19 and its consequences.

For this initiative, additional coordination support is critical for managing the successful implementation of the COVID-response activities.

Objectives and expected outputs

The UN Women Country Office seeks to contract a local individual outreach consultant (hereinafter “the Consultant”) to provide coordination support to the Country Office team in the implementation of the COVID-response activities for 10 months period. She/he is expected to work closely with UN Women delegated personnel for this intervention, beneficiary institutions and stakeholders in order to deliver professional, effective and qualitative services. The Consultant is expected to carry out the following tasks:


- Provide overall coordination support in accordance with UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and strategies for successful implementation of the project activities;
- Draft ToRs/technical specifications, letters, contribute with inputs to the procurement plan;
- Keep abreast communication with beneficiaries and relevant counterparts, from both CSO’s and Government organizations, including service providers from different regions of the country, regarding the beneficiaries' needs, distribution of goods, etc;
- Ensure the collection of beneficiaries' needs and prepare aggregated lists for procurement of goods and distribution;
- Support and monitor the distribution of good/services to beneficiaries;
- Maintain records on receipt and distribution of goods, ensure proper documentation of processes, monitor contractors’ performance;
- Organize, compile documentation on organized interventions/activities, ensures collection and use of materials for visibility activities (photos from ONGs with products received, beneficiaries);
- Prepare periodic reports on activities done;
- Draft reports, concept notes, agendas, minutes for coordination meetings;
- Support the UN Women team in preparation of briefing materials and presentations related to COVID-response activities;
- Other related tasks.

Requirements for experience

Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Rights, Gender Equality, Public Administration, Law, Business Administration or related fields;


Experience:
- 4 (four) years of progressively responsible experience in project management, in supervision of various project activities;
- One similar intervention supported is an asset;
- At least 2 years of experience of communication, cooperation with organizations at local level and beneficiaries;
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.);
- Experience with UN is an asset.


Language skills:
- Fluency in Romanian is required; Good knowledge of English is an asset;
- Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Russian, Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language would be an asset.

 

Documents to be included

Interested candidates are invited to submit their online applications by January 21, 2022 with the following documents.

1. Duly filled Personal History Form P11 and the CV

2. Letter of Intent to include a brief overview about which of your previous experiences makes you the most suitable candidate for the advertised position.

3. Financial proposal (Annex I and II);

 

Financial proposal

Financial proposal – specifying a total lump sum amount for the task specified in Terms of References. The Financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (daily rate). Please see ANNEX I and ANNEX II.