Request for Expressions of Interest (Consulting Services-INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT) Assignment Title: Gender Monitoring Officer (GMO), Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security of the African Union

Reference No.: AUC/WGD/COD/17/16C

1. Background

In January 2014, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission appointed a Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security with the mandate to promote the protection and advancement of the rights of women and the active participation of women in conflict prevention, resolution and peace building. The appointment of the Special Envoy indicated a clear determination from the Chairperson to move forward the agenda on women, peace and security in Africa. Indeed, over the years, Africa has developed strong, progressive and articulate policies but their implementation continues to fall far below levels that will bring about real transformation for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Cognizant of this situation, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, urged the AU Commission, through the coordination of the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security to formulate a Continental Results Framework to monitor the implementation by AU Member States and other relevant stakeholders of the various instruments and other commitments on women, peace and security in Africa.
It is in this perspective that the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (OSE) is seeking to recruit a Consultant to support the Office in the finalization of the Continental Results framework and monitoring of its implementation.

2. Objective of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to build on the first report on Women, Peace and Security in Africa launched by the African Union on the margins of the 27th AU Summit in Kigali in July 2016, initial consultations organized by OSE with Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) that have Action Plans for United Nations Resolution 1325 and the draft Continental Results Framework.
She/he will also assess existing monitoring and statistical activities pertaining to women, peace and security in Africa, collect and analyse data from all relevant actors in the region..

3. Scope of the Assignment

To attain the specific objective, the consultant will carry out the following major tasks:

a) Monitor the implementation of commitments made by Member States of the African Union on Women, Peace and Security Agenda using the AU Continental Results Framework;
b) Provide support to Member States and RECs on the compilation and analysis of data to assess progress on the implementation of UNSCR 1325, AUC instruments and other women, peace and security commitments in the region;
c) Facilitate synergy with RECs on the implementation of Women, Peace and Security Agenda;
d) Assess continuously existing indicators on women, peace and security used in Africa, both in regional and national monitoring frameworks and action plans;
e) Ensure the indicators are in line with existing initiatives such as internationally or regionally agreed methodological guidelines and survey methodology;
f) Represent the Office in Monitoring and Evaluation Forums working on issues of Women, Peace and Security and Gender Equality;
g) Prepare the Annual Report on Women, Peace and Security in Africa

Description of Functions:
a) Conduct research and liaise with relevant partners to compile information on women, peace and security’s commitments in Africa, both at the regional and national levels;
b) Develop reporting guidelines on the status of the women, peace and security
a. agenda using the Continental Results Framework;

c) Provide technical support for regular reporting on women, peace and security by African States. Map different monitoring frameworks and identify those indicators that are most widely used, statistically sound and relevant to measure outcomes;
d) Liaise with national governments, including statistical offices and relevant ministries, to ensure the Continental Results Framework is in line with existing initiatives in the region and globally.
e) Analyze compiled data on Women, Peace and Security in Africa, prepare charts and draft factsheets to showcase progress;
f) Prepare short reports, brochures and talking points as needed to disseminate progress on women, peace and security achieved in the region.
g) Perform any other duties, as required by the Special Envoy and/or the Special Adviser and Chief of Staff, Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security.

The assignment will be implemented in the period between September 2017 to February 2017 with a total duration of 6 months. The Consultant would be selected based on the following minimum educational and experience criteria:

Core values and Guiding principles:
Professionalism:
• Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.
Ethics and Values:
• Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.
Organizational Awareness:
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
Team Work:
• Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communicating and Information Sharing:
• Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
Self-management and conflict-management:
• Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others:
• Identify conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.
Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:
• Demonstrate informed and transparent decision-making.
Functional Competencies:
a) Extensive knowledge of the global women, peace and security agenda, as well as related regional priorities in Africa.
b) Experience in peace and security statistics or gender statistics, preferably in Africa, including designing and/or analyzing surveys.
c) Previous experience analyzing the contents of National Action Plans, Regional Action Plans, or other progress assessment measures pertaining to peace and security.
d) Active involvement in the analysis and refinement of monitoring and evaluation frameworks in development settings.
e) Proven track of research and data analysis, including the calculation and monitoring of development indicators utilizing a variety of data sources;
f) Excellent writing and communication skills.
g) Good knowledge of the African Union.

4. REPORTING
The GMO will work under the supervision of the Special Adviser and Chief of Staff of the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security and in close collaboration with the Women, Gender and Development Directorate.

5. QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
a) Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in statistics, gender studies, development studies or political science. A combination of relevant academic qualifications and extensive experience with frameworks and statistics may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
a) Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in statistics, monitoring and evaluation, preferably in the fields of gender and peace and security.
b) At least 4 years of expertise analyzing and fine-tuning development indicators.
c) Languages: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is a substantial advantage.

The African Union Commission now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Individual Consultants must provide information demonstrating that he/she has the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. Consulting firms may propose individual consultant, but only the experience and qualifications of individual shall be used in the selection process, and that his or her corporate experience shall not be taken into account, and the contract would be signed with the proposed individual. This Call for Expression of Interest will lead to the preparation of a Short List of consultants. For evaluation of the expressions of interest the following criteria will be applied:

a) General Education Qualification and Relevant Training (15 points);
b) Experience Related to the Assignment (85 points);

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the with the procedures set out in the Africa Union Procurement Guidelines:.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 8:00-13:00hrs and 14:00-17:00 hours Local Time.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) not later than 15:00 hour’s local time, August 28, 2017.

African Union Commission,
Attn: Carine Toure Yemitia (Mrs.)
Head of Procurement Travel and Store Division
Building C, Room 327
P.O.Box 3243, Roosevelt Street
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4371
Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430
E-mail: tender@africa-union.org