Consultant to Develop Generation Equality: Beijing +25 Commemorative Book for the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) National Chapter for Zimbabwe - Harare

UN Women

UN Women Zimbabwe, the African Union and the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa have been supporting the establishment of the AWLN Zimbabwe Chapter which was launched in February 2020. The African Women’s Leaders Network (AWLN) is a continental platform with the intent to create a fora for existing and emerging women leaders across the continent to share their experiences and to create partnerships across the continent in order to work towards established African and international goals, namely: the Africa Agenda 2036 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In Zimbabwe, the National Chapter initiates actions towards fostering women's leadership, in line with key women’s rights and gender equality frameworks to support the effective engagement of women in the development of the nation. As the AWLN Zimbabwe Chapter maps out, engages and feeds into national, regional and international processes aimed at promoting women’s rights as well as gender equality, the network wishes to highlight key efforts by women in Zimbabwe, youth and AWLN Members to realize as well as promote the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPA). The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is a visionary agenda for the empowerment of women. It is also one of the reference frameworks to analyse the situation of women around the world and to assess the efforts of States in support of women’s empowerment with 12 Key Priority Areas developed around women’s rights. [1]

The AWLN Zimbabwe Chapter and National Youth Caucus have carried out activities under the Network, in line with the BDPA, as a monumental framework on women’s rights and the promotion of gender Equality. In September 2020, the AWLN Zimbabwe Youth Caucus hosted an Intergenerational Regional Round table in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for action. This facilitated a discussion around progress, gaps and successes in the implementation of the Beijing +25. The AWLN Zimbabwe Chapter went on to host a High-level Localized virtual session Generation Equality Forum in March 2021.Launched in the framework of the Beijing +25 review process from March 2019 to September 2020, the GEF is a major global inflexion point bringing together governments, civil society organisations, corporations, influencers and changemakers from around the world to share experiences, provide recommendations as well as define or announce policies towards irreversible progress in achieving gender parity. [2]

These activities served as key in capturing the voices of AWLN Members, Young People, National Youth Gender Advocates, Civil Society around actions to realize the BDPA, Women’s rights and gender equality. The new operational environment created by the COVID-Pandemic was of key importance in these discussions which proffered recommendations and captured narratives around implementation of the BDPA in Zimbabwe. Of importance to the meetings were the experiences of AWLN Members, young people, CSOs in grass-roots communities and at national, regional as well as international level to promote the BDPA.

As a signatory to the BDPA, Zimbabwe has engaged in national reporting to take note of progress, made in Zimbabwe by various stakeholders towards the realization of the visionary agenda set out by the framework to advance women’s rights, promote gender equality and address civil, political, social, economic and cultural inequalities. [3] As part of AWLN’s efforts to promote key frameworks around women’s rights the Chapter would also like to take note of and highlight efforts undertaken by various stakeholders associated with the Network to promote the BDPA. It is to this end that the AWLN Zimbabwe Chapter will engage a consultant to develop a Generation Equality: Beijing +25 Commemorative Book to work to highlight key efforts by women in Zimbabwe, youth and AWLN Members to realize as well as promote the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPA).

[1] Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action Available at https://www.un.org/en/events/pastevents/pdfs/Beijing_Declaration_and_Platform_for_Action.pdf

[2] Information on the Generation Equality Forum obtained from: https://forum.generationequality.org/about

[3] Zimbabwe Government Review Report on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Available at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/13229Zimbabwe_review_Beijing20.pdf

Duties And Responsibilities

Working under the guidance of UN Women AWLN Technical team the national consultant will be expected to develop a Generation Equality: Beijing +25 Commemorative Book. The commemorative book will work to highlight key efforts by women in Zimbabwe, youth and AWLN Members to realize as well as promote the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPA). S/he will undertake the following tasks and responsibilities:

Development of a commemorative book which will include the following components:

Brief gender analysis of the country context since 1980 (Independence) taking stock of progress and challenges regarding the implementation of BDPA and the status of women and girls;

25 profiles of young and older generations of women who have contributed to the advancement of Gender Equality in the country including profiling of the older generation of women who participated in Beijing in 1995;

Forward-looking and action-oriented essay focusing on Generation Equality and the future generation of gender equality activists.

Facilitate a presentation of the book during the launch in conjunction with the Generation Equality Forum Satellite Session being held in June 2021.

Duration Of Assignment

The assignment is home-based. The contract duration is 25 working days over the course of two months.

Milestone Paymetn Schedule

30% of activity budget upon submission of “Gendered Country Context Analysis Essay” and “Forward-looking and action-oriented essay focusing on Generation Equality and the future generation of gender equality activists”.

50% of activity budget upon submission of “Consolidated Final Draft of 25 Profiles produced and finalized with AWLN Zimbabwe input”.

20% of activity budget upon successful completion of presentation of the final book.

Competencies

Core Values

Respect for Diversity

Integrity

Professionalism

Core Competencies

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues

Accountability

Creative Problem Solving

Effective Communication

Inclusive Collaboration

Stakeholder Engagement

Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf?la=en&vs=637

Functional/Technical Competencies

Strong and sound knowledge of women’s rights and gender equality frameworks.

Previous developing reports and publications with a particular expertise on gender equality, women’s rights, and youth programming.

Understanding of rights-based programming of UN agencies and government.

Results oriented, exhibiting high levels of enthusiasm, tact, diplomacy and integrity; and able to work with minimal supervision.

Excellent communication (spoken, written and presentation) skills/fluency in English, including the ability to draft/edit reports, studies and other communications and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise manner.

Education

Required Skills and Experience

Masters degree (or equivalent) in development related disciplines, gender, Governance and peace building, development or other social science fields.

Experience

Strong knowledge of women’s rights including national, regional and international human rights and governance frameworks;

At least 5 years of relevant professional experience working on research assignments and publications on gender, youth and women’s rights;

Experience working with the UN or government in report writing, development of knowledge products or any other publication.

Application

The application should include a cover letter (max. 1 p.), CV (max. 2 p.) and a sample of the applicant’s previous work (report, research or academic article).

Please note that applications without a completed and signed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

UN Women Personal History form (P-11) can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment .

Please note that the platform only takes one upload so you are advised to put together all documents required for uploading.

UNWOMEN is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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