Location : Jerusalem, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Application Deadline : 13-Oct-10
Type of Contract : SSA
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English
Duration of Initial Contract : 40 days
In August 2009, the Council of Ministers approved a new approach for developing the Palestinian National Development Plan (PNDP) 2011-2013, aimed at creating sectoral and cross-sectoral strategies as an entry point to developing the Palestinian National Plan.
The new planning approach seeks to link policies to planning as well as planning to budget preparation. The approach also integrates recurrent and development budgets into one budget and shifts from budgeting on a line item basis to programme-based budgeting. This approach brings about several extremely significant advantages. It will eliminate production of national development plans that are detached from the public budget; rationalize policies; identify priorities; rationalize expenditure; and ensure an enhanced level of transparency and accountability. Linking planning to the budget as well as preparation of the integrated recurrent and development budget in line with the Palestinian National Policy Agenda (PNPA), and the medium term expenditure framework (MTEF). approach are important steps that will enable the Palestinian Government to rationalize the management of available resources, safeguarding an effective and efficient use. This will include the development of a general framework for channeling external support in accordance with the agenda of national policies and priorities. By promoting and consolidating the implementation of this approach, PNA ministries and government bodies will present logical justifications for defining their respective allocations in the public budget, thereby up-scaling the administration of public funds and serving development purposes and higher national interests.
The Ministry of Women's Affairs (MoWA), assisted by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM - Part of UN Women), led a consultative process with all stakeholders (Government, NGOs, Private Sector, and donors) in the country to develop a cohesive Cross-Sectoral National Strategy on Gender Equality issues (CSNGS). The NGS was officially submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Administrative Development (MoPAD) in March 2009, and incorporated accordingly into the 2011-2013 Palestinian Development Plan (July 2010).
Concretely, the CSNGS analyses the situation on the ground, focuses on the gender gaps in all fields (citizenship rights, rule of law, residence rights, family law, violence against women, political participation, education, health, women with special needs, poverty, and so forth), and suggests interventions to bridge these gaps through the collective coordination and action of the various PA ministries, women's organisations, and civil society organisations.
The full implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the concrete application of the CSNGS will obviously depend on the level of institutionalisation of gender issues and concerns in the work of the PA ministries, as well as on the adequate allocation of funds across ministries.
Another aspect that constitutes an essential instrument in the achievement of the CSNGS objectives, and that simultaneously underscores a major issue of concern, is the need for the full incorporation of the forthcoming 2011-2015 National Strategy to Combat Violence Against Women (VAW).
Over the past five years, the PA has gradually intensified its investment in the fight to combat VAW. In short, the Authority formally adopted Security Council Resolution 1325 (a landmark resolution addressing the different impacts of conflict on women and men); the Palestinian Legislative Council also adopted a decree demanding the provision of protection for abused women (2005). On 8 March, 2009, President Mahmoud Abbas endorsed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and in 2008, the Palestinian Cabinet approved the formation of a National Committee to Combat VAW.
The latter, which comprises 12 PA ministries and representatives from the Al Muntada Coalition to Combat VAW, as well as from the General Union of Palestinian Women, is responsible, in coordination with MOWA, for the implementation and monitoring of the 2011-2015 National Strategy to Combat VAW.
The implementation of CSNGS deeply relies on the PA's commitment to support this plan through following the necessary procedures and measures, as well as allocating the adequate funds, as each PA ministry is expected to adopt one of the strategic objectives addressed in the Strategy to Combat VAW based on its area of specialisation.
Gender budget analyses examine any form of public expenditure or method of raising revenues and link national policies and their outcomes to the gendered distribution, use, and generation of public resources. Gender budget analyses also contributes to monitoring and accountability systems.
By identifying the implications on women relative to men, gender budget analyses can highlight gaps between reaching policy goals and the resources committed for their implementation. It can also elucidate heretofore-unseen hindrances to reaching stated objectives, which can lead to reprioritization of expenditures and revenue raising, and to a restructuring of the budget process. Gender analysis has the potential to ensure the inclusion of gender-related implications in budgets.
Duties and Responsibilities
In light of the above, and building on the assessment of entry points for Gender Responsive Budgeting in the oPt 2010-2013, conducted by UNIFEM HQ -GRB Unit (December 2009), these terms of reference relate to a consultant who will assist UNIFEM in developing a comprehensive and detailed action plan for gender balanced budgets, that address the needs of disadvantaged women and men, in addition to giving full attention to other marginalized groups, such as women victims and survivors of violence.
More specifically the following activities need to be undertaken:
1. Develop 2011-2013 UNIFEM action plan on gender responsive budgeting, including strategic objectives, suggested actions points and related activities, justification, potential partners, timeframe, and methodology that will set the framework for implementing gender budgeting initiatives.
2. Design and implement a capacity-development programme for UNIFEM oPt staff on gender responsive budgeting, including the following: tools and methods to be used on GRB work; the relevance of GRB initiatives to the work of UNIFEM oPt in terms of promoting social justice and gender equality; opportunities and challenges for UNIFEM when considering GRB initiative in the near future; and how methods and tools may be adapted to the UNIFEM and local context.
3. GRB initiatives for advancing human rights and monitoring standards: Develop a detailed proposal to support the implementation of the Action Plan to roll out the 2011-2015 National Strategy to Combat VAW, as well as its implementation - in specific sectors bearing in mind the cross-sectoral dimension of implementing this strategy - as follows:
* To examine budget allocations to combat gender violence by focusing on sectoral budgets dealing with the justice system, the civil police, the Reform and Rehabilitation Centres, and social welfare including the health sector
* Set the basis for monitoring use of available resources for the elimination of VAW including review of: (1) the level of access to free legal, health, and economic support services for survivors; (2) allocation and distribution of funds; (3) the sectoral and inter-sectoral allocations to MoWA and/or institutions (MoSA, MoI) coordinating efforts to address violence against women and girls
* Provide guidance on how to supporting MoWA, MoSA, MoI, MoH, MoL and MoJ in their annual planning and budgeting work bearing in mind the cross-sectoral dimension of implementing this strategy
* Costing budgetary requirements for the effective implementation of 2011-2015 National Strategy on VAW (and cross-referencing with regard to budget allocations in the PNDP)
Expected results:
The GRB Consultant is expected to deliver the following results:
1. Capacity development programme on GRB for UNIFEM staff is conducted within the duration of the consultancy
2. 2011-2013 Gender Responsive Budgeting Action Plan for UNIFEM oPt fully developed including rationale and justifications, results expected, activities, timeframe, associated budget, guidelines and methodology on how to implement it
3. The proposal should address among other aspects the following ones: (1) What changes would need to be introduced in MoF budgeting processes to better respond to gender equality needs (change in process, political commitment, guidelines etc.); (2) What changes would need to be introduced in budget policy making in priority sectoral ministries or departments; (3) What mechanisms would need to be introduced to regularly track budget responsiveness to gender equality in priority sectors
4. Comprehensive and detailed proposal to support the implementation of the Action Plan to roll out the National Strategy to Combat VAW, as well as its implementation - in specific sectors bearing in mind the cross-sectoral dimension of implementing this strategy - is developed
Reporting:
The final report will need to be provided to UNIFEM oPt upon completion of services. Upon certification of successful obtainment of results a certificate of fulfillment will be signed by UNIFEM oPt office staff member as a prerequisite for payment under the agreement.
Competencies
Corporate
* Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNIFEM's values and ethical standards
* Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNIFEM
* Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Functional
* Good understanding of the Gender budgeting work in Jerusalem
* Good understanding of the Government Planning and budgeting frameworks
* Good understanding of programme finances and demonstrated experience of formulating, tracking and reporting against budgets
* Strong analytical skills
* Excellent in time management, demonstrated capacity of multi-tasking, and working effectively under pressure for extended periods and meet strict deadline
* Demonstrated experience of working in challenging knowledge-based and results based management environment
* Ability to engage substantively with networks of professionals in Public Finance Management and others in this field
* Proficiency in applying knowledge tools and products to work
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
* Ability to work independently and be able to effectively interact with various constituencies
* A strong team player, willing to lend a hand to other team members and partners when required
* Good skills in using office software applications, intranet and internet based applications
* Resourcefulness, initiative and a high sense of responsibility
Required Skills and Experience
Education
*
Advanced degree or equivalent, preferably in applied social science
Experience
* Minimum of 10 years work experience in related field
* Prior experience working on gender, development and/or governance issues
* Familiar with gender budgeting and governance issues in the Middle East region
* Deep understanding of economic governance and national planning processes
* Expertise on Gender Responsive Budgeting at policy level
* Strategic thinking and proven expertise in gender analysis
* Strong written and verbal communication skills
* Effective interpersonal skills
*
Proven track record in research in the field of gender and economics, and in-depth knowledge of qualitative research methods
* Proven track record in capacity development activities
Language requirements
* Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
* Arabic will be an asset
Apply Now at https://jobs.undp.org/cj_apply.cfm?job_id=19382