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For every child, the right to Opportunity

How can you make a difference?

The overall objective of this consultancy is to provide technical and coordination support to the UN Country Team for the effective facilitation of the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard assessment.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [attach JD/TOR here]

Background and Purpose

The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Uganda is committed to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as a central pillar of its collective efforts to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021–2025. In line with global UN system accountability frameworks, the UNCT will undertake the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard assessment, a corporate mechanism established by the UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) to assess and strengthen gender mainstreaming across UN coordination, programming, and leadership.

The Scorecard provides a structured, participatory approach for UN Country Teams to reflect on progress made in integrating gender equality across all areas of work, identify institutional and programmatic gaps, and agree on concrete follow-up actions to improve performance. It supports the UNCT to strengthen accountability, coherence, and results on gender equality.

In Uganda, this process will be led by the Resident Coordinator (RC), supported by the Human Rights and Gender Advisory Group (HRGAG), with technical leadership provided by UN Women. The assessment will culminate in a set of actionable recommendations and a UNCT Gender Equality Action Plan, reinforcing the collective commitment of all UN agencies, funds, and programmes to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in Uganda.

The consultancy aims to support the UN Country Team in Uganda to effectively conduct the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard assessment. The consultant will lead a structured process that includes preparing an inception report, establishing and orienting the Inter-Agency Assessment Team, facilitating data collection and participatory consultations, coordinating the Organizational Culture Survey and uploading the draft findings on the UNCT-SWAP Platform.

Based on the findings, the consultant will draft a comprehensive assessment report and guide the development of a UNCT Gender Equality Action Plan. The assignment concludes with the finalization of the report and action plan, incorporating feedback from stakeholders to strengthen gender mainstreaming across UN programming, coordination, and leadership functions.

Justification

The UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard is an accountability framework that promotes improved planning, coordination, programming and results for GEWE at the country level, which is linked to support to Member States to achieve the SDGs. It is critical the UNCT-SWAP conduct a SWAP Scorecard because it will support the UNCT in Uganda do a self-assessment and report on their standing with respect to a set of Performance Indicators drawn from inter-governmental mandates and based on review and analysis of UNCT processes.

As per the 2023 UNCT SWAP Gender Scorecard technical notes, comprehensive UNCT-SWAP reports are required once per UNSDCF cycle and are recommended in the planning phase of a new Cooperation Framework to enable the findings to feed into the new Cooperation Framework programming cycle. Comprehensive reports entail assessment of all 15 Performance Indicators and the preparation of an Action Plan.

It is therefore critical that the UNCT accomplishes this task, to assess the performance of agencies against the 15 core SWAP for gender equality and women empowerment and develop the next SWAP, in line with the SDG five and UNSDCF.

Objectives

Overall Objective:

The overall objective of this consultancy is to provide technical and coordination support to the UN Country Team for the effective facilitation of the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard assessment.

The specific objectives are:

• Support the UNCT to assess the level of gender mainstreaming across programming, coordination, and leadership functions using the UNCT-SWAP methodology.
• Facilitate participatory discussions among agencies and stakeholders to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Produce a comprehensive analytical report and UNCT Gender Equality Action Plan to guide follow-up.

Major Tasks

1. Conduct desk review and prepare an inception report outlining methodology, stakeholder engagement plan, and timeline.

• Support establishment and orientation of the Inter-Agency Assessment Team (IAT).

2. Facilitate data collection, validation, and scoring for all UNCT-SWAP indicators.

• Guide participatory consultations and discussions with UN staff, Gender Focal Points, and leadership.
• Coordinate administration of the Organizational Culture Survey (Annex 4 of UNCT-SWAP Guidance).
• Analyze data and prepare a comprehensive UNCT-SWAP Assessment Report (2021–2025

3. Facilitate a session to develop the UNCT Gender Equality Action Plan based on findings.

• Prepare presentation of findings and Draft Action Plan for UNCT and partners.

4. Incorporate feedback from UNCT and other actors into the Action Plan and final report

 

Deliverables

 

1. Inception Report (methodology, tools, and timeline)

• Interagency Assessment Team formation documents

2. UNCT-SWAP Assessment Report Draft.

• Upload the draft findings and action plan on the UNCT-SWAP Platform

3. Draft report and PowerPoint document for UNCT.

• Draft UNCT SWAP Action Plan

4. Final Comprehensive UNCT SWAP Report.

• UNCT SWAP Gender Equality Action Plan.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

 

1. Master’s degree or equivalent in International Relations, Gender Studies, Human Rights, Social Sciences or a related field is required.
2. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in gender analysis, UN programming, and report writing.
• Proven experience with UNCT-SWAP Scorecard assessments.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with the Ugandan context is an asset.
• Technical and capacity building experience in the field of gender and/or human rights of women.
• Fluency in English is required

 

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Functional Competencies:

• Strong analytical, written and oral communication skills, including good presentation skills.
• Familiarity of the Sustainable Development Goals; Familiarity with UN system and UN Women coordination and normative mandates.
• Ability to work within a team.
• Excellent analytical skills with strong drive for results and capacity to work independently.
• Strong planning and organizing skills.
• Ability to take decisions and manage political/cultural sensitivities.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of gender equality issues in peace and security and humanitarian action.
• Familiarity with results-based management and rights-based programming.
• Proficient IT and presentation skills.

 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

 

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.