Individual Consultant, Conducting a Comprehensive Gender Assessment in Zimbabwe's Humanitarian Context - UN Women

job Description

Zimbabwe as a country is prone to multi hazards including climate induced humanitarian crises such as erratic rainfall patterns resulting in droughts, floods, extreme temperatures, water scarcity and increased food insecurity. Currently, the country is experiencing the effects of El Nino, which has resulted in disruptions of climatic patterns, including rainfall, and the resultant drought conditions. These climates induced humanitarian crises affect women and girls disproportionately because of pre-existing gender inequalities and social norms that impact on the articulation of their needs, their access to essential services and their ability to cope and recover from shocks. Intersecting aspects of identities, including disability, socio economic status, age, or ethnicity women, can further determine how people are affected and how they recover. Pre-existing gender-based discrimination and inequalities are exacerbated in crisis settings, where women and girls face violence and exclusion, directly affecting their ability to survive, receive lifesaving assistance and recover. Crisis also affects the ability of women to continue to effectively organize, take leadership positions in humanitarian response, disaster, or peace-building settings, and to influence decisions that impact their lives.

Gender sensitive humanitarian preparedness and response plans are critical to ensure the needs of women and girls become the centre of the Country’s humanitarian response mechanisms. In response to the above UN Women aims to ensure effectiveness in addressing gendered needs, working across the humanitarian development peace continuum, and embodying two approaches: i) supporting the mainstreaming of gender in the coordination, planning, prioritization and financing of humanitarian responses in the immediate aftermath of emergencies and humanitarian crises; and ii) contributing to long-term recovery and protecting the rights of women and girls in emergencies and protracted crises through the nexus approach. This will significantly improve the effectiveness of humanitarian action, reduce vulnerabilities, including but not limited to gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, and aid women’s recovery.

Organizational Setting, Reporting and Collaborators

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of and report to the UN Women Deputy Country Representative, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues. The Country Office Humanitarian portfolio team will provide added support.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specifically, the consultant is expected to do the following:

Literature review and Assessment Design: Review existing literature and reports to identify knowledge gaps, then design and implement a comprehensive gender assessment focusing on inequalities in humanitarian contexts.
Data collection and community engagement: Gather gender specific perspectives using qualitative and quantitative methods, including focus group discussions and interviews while engaging local women-led organisations to incooperate their voices and needs.
Recommendations and capacity building: Provide evidence- based recommendations for gender-sensitive programming and identify training needs for local organisations to enhance their capacity to address gender- specific concerns.
Reporting and stakeholder engagement: Prepare a detailed report summarising findings and strategies, present these to relevant stakeholders, and ensure alignment with on-going humanitarian efforts and frameworks within the specified timeframe.

Deliverables

Desk Review will allow the researcher to gather and analyse existing literature, reports and data related to gender issues in humanitarian contexts.
Inception Report will give the (1) consultant’s perspectives, insights and understanding of the assignment based on the desk review of key documents and discussions with UN Women key team; (2) set’s out the plan of action and timeline for accomplishing the assignment; and (3) includes the proposed methodology and tools for the research.
Conduct research, Data collection, capturing and analysis.
Prepare and submit first draft report to UN Women (should be delivered in the agreed timeframe)
Submission of second draft report incooperating feedback from UN Women
Presentation of the key findings at a validation workshop to be organized by UN Women
Final report: inclusive of overall findings and incorporating findings from stakeholders.

Qualifications and Experience

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a field relevant to the assignment, for example in gender studies, social sciences, or another relevant field.

Experience:

At least 10years of proven experience in conducting gender analysis and assessments, particularly in humanitarian contexts.
Strong background in developing and implementing gender action plans and gender sensitive programming across various sectors.
Demonstrated experience in humanitarian responses, including familiarity with the unique challenges faced by women and girls in crises.
Proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis relevant to gender studies.
Experience in identifying training needs and providing capacity building support to local organisations, particularly women led organisations.
Knowledge of evaluating policies and frameworks in alignment with international gender equality standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Experience in engaging with diverse stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies and NGOs, to incorporate their perspectives in assessments and interventions.
Strong skills in preparing detailed reports and presenting findings to various stakeholders, ensuring clarity and actionable recommendations.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Shona & Ndebele is an added advantage.