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.

In 2015, on 25 September, the United Nations General Assembly adopted unanimously the Resolution 70/1 Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender equality and women’s empowerment is at the heart of the agenda, as numerous goals and targets address structural barriers to achieve equal rights and opportunities between women and men, girls and boys.

One of the key areas of concern is the economic empowerment of women. It is expressed in targets and indicators of SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls) and SDG 8 (Promote inclusive and sustainable development, decent work and employment for all). Progress toward it depends not only on the adoption of a set of public policies by governments, but also on the existence of an enabling environment and active engagement of the corporate sector. This is also relevant to the achievement of SDG 1 (Poverty Reduction), SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) and SDG 17 (Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development).

About 90 per cent of jobs in the world are in the private sector. This represents a huge potential to implement transformative actions in the world of work and social responsibility in favour of women, benefiting the whole society. There is an increasing consciousness, interest and commitment of private and public sector companies on the value and benefits of gender equality and the economic empowerment of women and its role to achieve it.

UN Women - in partnership with the European Commission is implementing a  regional programme “Promoting Economic Empowerment of Women at Work in Asia – WeEmpower Asia” to contribute to the economic empowerment of women, recognizing them as beneficiaries and partners of growth and development, by increasing commitment of private companies to gender equality and women´s empowerment and strengthening companies’ capacities to implement these commitments. The programme will ultimately contribute to the achievement of gender equality through enabling women’s labour force participation, entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and thus their full and equal participation in society.

The guiding platform will be the Women’s Empowerment Principles. The WEPs are a set of Principles for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. Coordinated by UN Women and the UN Global Compact, the Principles emphasize the business case for corporate action to promote gender equality and women's empowerment and are informed by real-life business practices and inputs gathered from across the globe.

Targeting women led enterprises and networks, multi-national companies, and relevant stakeholders in selected Asia countries, the project will promote business opportunities for women entrepreneurs and women-owned enterprises in Asia and their business relations with Europe, while supporting inter-regional dialogue and exchange of good practices to increase the capacity of the private sector more broadly in the implementation of gender-sensitive business culture and practices. The programme will cover seven countries: India, Indonesia, China, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. It will also have a regional component under the responsibility of UN Women Region Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP).

In India UN Women is partnering with India chapter of the UN Global Compact, that is, Global Compact Network India (GCNI) through a Memorandum of Understanding to engage with the Private and Corporate Sector companies/organization for adoption and implementation of Women Empowerment Principles though knowledge sharing, capacity building, advocacy and outreach activities and events.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the Programme, UN Women seeks the services of a National Consultant to support the UN Women and GCNI in implementation of the WeEmpower Asia programme’s activities in India.  The National Consultant will provide management, coordination and administrative support functions with a range of partners including private sector companies, corporates, chambers of commerce, industry federations, government departments/ministries, SMEs, relevant networks and organisations. The National Consultant is expected to function as an independent secretariat at GCNI and provide management and coordination support as per detailed work plan agreed between UN Women and Global Compact Network India.

Under the overall supervision of Country Programme Manager-WeEmpower Asia Programme and  day to day direct  supervision of the Executive Director, GCNI and in close consultation with the Programme team/s, the national consultant will provide managerial and coordination support in implementation of the work plan developed under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between UN Women and GCNI. 

Specifically, the consultant will undertake the following tasks: 

• Under direct guidance and supervision of the Executive Director, GCNI function as an independent secretariat and facilitate interactions, meetings, events around Women Empowerment Principles.  S/he also provides briefing material, documentation, research and administrative support to GCNI/UN Women pertaining to the WeEmpower Asia (WEA) Programme. 
• Responsible for independently planning and coordinating, on a day to day basis, potential activities with programme partners, e.g.  GCNI network companies, organisations, private sector companies, WEPs Signatories, women entrepreneurs, SMEs and other key stakeholders.  Also leads the activities/events in promotion and endorsement of WEPs by corporate sector.  
• In close consultation with GCNI programme colleagues identifies synergistic opportunities in GCNI network’s events/activities, develop work plans and resource mobilization prospects.  
• Liaises closely with existing and potential WEPs signatories for administering WEPs GAP Analysis Tool
• Liaises closely with WEPs signatories and other companies to keep a track of regular progress (numbers of beneficiary companies/entrepreneurs/women employees) on the WEPs implementation and follow ups with Companies implementing one of more Women Empowerment Principles in their companies.  
• S/he will develop an offline database as per the WEA programme indicators for monitoring and reporting as per the programme outcome/output indicators.
• The National Consultant will also undertake background research and analysis on WEPs and related subjects and provide briefing material, fact sheets, media updates in run up to the WEPs capacity building programmes, trainings, meetings, launches and other public events. 
• The national consultant will actively network with relevant stakeholders such as industry federations, women entrepreneurs, SMEs, networks, private sector companies, government and civil society organisations to identify areas of collaboration.
• S/he will be expected to submit a detailed monthly progress report as per UN Women SSA format and agreed work plan.

Expected Deliverables:

• March 2021- February 2022 - Existing and potential WEPs signatories identified and liaised for awareness generation and outreach activities;
• March 2021- February 2022 - WEPs GAP analysis tool administered to existing and potential WEPS signatories and followed up;
• March 2021- April 2021 - A plan of tasks, activities, trainings, events, public programme leveraging GCNI’s existing initiatives on gender equality and women’s empowerment developed;
• Monthly - Meetings/interactions with committee on WEPs, government departments, GCNI and other private sector company networks, entrepreneurs, industry federations, UN agencies, facilitated and discussion documented;
• As per schedule - Background research, briefing material, fact sheets, media updates in run up to the WEPs capacity building programmes, trainings, meetings, launches and other public events developed;
• As per schedule – Trainings for senior leadership positions/HR Heads/Procurement Heads of existing and potential WEPs signatories organized;
• Post scheduled trainings - Impact of the training programme tracked/monitored and documented through follow ups;
• Monthly - Network with industry chambers of commers (e.g. FICCI, CII, ASHOCAM, CAG) for mainstreaming WEPs in their programmes/companies established;
• Monthly - An offline database to enable monitoring of WEPs implementation developed;
• Monthly - Submit monthly narrative and statistical progress report of the activities under the MoU.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UN Women’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to design, planning and implementation of programme, managing data, reporting;
• Ability to provide input to and use new IT based systems.

Leadership and Self-Management:

• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Good understanding of gender and development in South Asia;
• Demonstrable ability to work in a team;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Good writing and communication skills;
• Excellent computer literacy and skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Business / Public Administration / any Social Sciences.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management/support.  Experience in programmes on women’s economic empowerment, private sector will be desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in undertaking basic research, coordination financial management, programme implementation including providing necessary operational, administrative and programmatic support.
• Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages.
• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.

Language:

• Strong written skills in English and good command over Hindi as medium of communication.

Application:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

• All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded http://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/about-us/jobs;
• Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment, please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment;
• Applications received after the close date will not be accepted;
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Evaluation and Selection Criteria

Criteria for shortlisting of CVs will be based on the following assessment:

• Required Degree and Qualification (5 points);
• Expertise and Experience relevant to the assignment (10 points);
• Demonstrated experience in basic research, financial management, programme implementation (5 points).

The evaluation process for selection of the candidate will be based on the following assessment:

• Interview (80 points)
• Written Test (20 points)

Please Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.