The objective of this assignment is to drive the implementation of the MedProgramme Gender Mainstreaming Strategy, including through:
• Technical support for the direct implementation of the Gender Action Plans for CPs 1.1 and 4.1;
• Technical guidance and support to Executing Partners for the implementation of the Gender Action Plans for the Child Projects;
• Regularly populating and updating the MedProgramme gender monitoring framework with data gathered from the Child Projects of the Programme;
• Enhancing the capacity of all MedProgramme Executing Partners on gender mainstreaming, through capacity-building/training activities and provision of gender inputs and technical advice, including through the facilitation of the MedProgramme Gender Community of Practice.
For the IMAP-MPA Project:
The Gender Specialist will provide technical support for the development of an integrated set of tasks that will result in a Gender Assessment and a Gender Action Plan for the project. The Gender Action Plan will set forth specific action points mainstreamed within the Project and to be eventually integrated in its results framework, corresponding actions, indicators, timelines, responsible parties, and budget allocations, to address the gender issues.
Office-based
The duration of the assignment is for a period of fourteen and a half (14,5) full-time working months are added over 16 months from the time of signing of the consulting agreement.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. United Nation’s Environment Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This consultancy assignment is for the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) – MedProgramme Coordinating Unit (MedPCU), Athens, Greece in the framework of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Mediterranean Sea Programme (MedProgramme): Enhancing Environmental Security (GEF ID 9607). Within the context of this contract, the consultancy assignment will also include tasks for the EU-funded project entitled “Towards achieving the Good Environmental Status of the Mediterranean Sea and Coast through an Ecologically Representative and Efficiently Managed and Monitored Network of Marine Protected Areas“ (IMAP-MPA Project).
GEF-UNEP MedProgramme: The MedProgramme represents the first GEF programmatic multi-focal area initiative in the Mediterranean Sea aiming to operationalize priority actions to reduce major transboundary environmental stresses in its coastal areas while strengthening climate resilience and water security and improving the health and livelihoods of coastal populations. The MedProgramme is implemented in nine beneficiary countries sharing the Mediterranean basin: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Morocco and Tunisia. It involves a wide spectrum of developmental and societal sectors, ranging from banking institutions, the private sector, governmental and non-governmental bodies, industry, research, media, and various other organizations. It builds on the work of UNEP/MAP and previous GEF investments in the region which have enriched the knowledge on the Mediterranean environment and unraveled the implications of climate change and variability; strengthened countries’ mutual trust, cooperation and common purpose; consolidated the partnership among countries, UN bodies, civil society organizations, bilateral donors and the European Union (EU); and tested on the ground the feasibility and effectiveness of technical and policy instruments aimed at addressing major present and future threats to environmental sustainability and climate related impacts. The MedProgramme is expected to deliver a set of complementary results embracing three categories of priorities identified by the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) for the Mediterranean Sea which are translated into three components of the Programme: i) Reduction of Land-Based Pollution in Priority Coastal Hotspots and measuring progress to impacts; ii) Enhancing Sustainability and Climate Resilience in the Coastal Zone; and iii) Protecting Marine Biodiversity.
In line with the GEF Council approval of the MedProgramme and the GEF CEO endorsement of its related Child Projects 1.1 (GEF ID 9684), 2.1 (GEF ID 9687), 2.2 (GEF ID 9685), 3.1 (GEF ID 10158), 4.1 (GEF ID 9686) and the SCCF Project (GEF ID 9670), the MedProgramme should execute a specific Gender Mainstreaming Strategy (GM Strategy) aimed at: i) Providing an overarching and harmonized “Gender Mainstreaming Strategy” for the MedProgramme; ii) Supporting and building capacity of Child Projects as they implement the Strategy through gender-responsive actions within the specific context of each project; iii) Monitoring implementation advancements and consistency, as well as cohesion and complementarity of gender focus across the entire portfolio; and iv) Benefitting, over the long term, the UNEP/MAP system, by serving as an entry point and testing ground for mainstreaming gender in the programme of work of UNEP/MAP.
The GM Strategy will adopt a transformative approach posing a gender equality vision for the MedProgramme that questions established categories and implements positive action measures towards gender-responsive actions in the Mediterranean region. The GM Strategy will be a means (process) to an end (greater gender equality) among the beneficiary countries of the MedProgramme.
IMAP-MPA Project: The overall objective of the EU-funded IMAP-MPA Project is to contribute towards the achievement of Good Environmental Status (GES) in the Mediterranean Sea and along its coast. In so doing, the project proposes to consolidate, integrate and strengthen the ecosystem approach (EcAp) for Marine Protected Area (MPA) management and their sustainable development. This will be done through the monitoring and assessment of environmental status in the Mediterranean Sea and its coast, including MPAs, in a comparative and integrated manner.
The project design recognizes that gender-mainstreamed integrated monitoring and MPA policies, which include both genders and different social groups in planning and execution, can simultaneously maximize resource protection (through compliance and low resistance) and provide an opportunity for empowerment (through alternative livelihood options and devolved authority). Accordingly, and in line with the approved activities and budget of the IMAP-MPA Project, the Project Management Unit will require the services of a Gender Specialist during its first year of implementation to develop a specific Gender Assessment and Action Plan for the project.
To this aim, there is a need for a Gender Specialist to drive the implementation of the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy throughout the duration of the programme. At the Project Steering Committee organized in March 2021 for Child Projects 1.1, 2.1, 2.2 and 4.1, the governing bodies approved the workplans and budgets for 2021-2022, including budgets for the services of a Gender Specialist to support implementation of the Child Projects’ gender action plans (see the respective reports of the Project Steering Committee Meetings: UNEP/MED WG.494/06; UNEP/MED WG 496/07; UNEP/MED WG.497/08; and UNEP/MED WG.495/08). Furthermore, there is also need for a Gender Specialist to continue supporting the development of Gender Action Plans for the additional Child Projects that will become operational in the second half of 2021 (the SCCF Project [GEF ID 9670], Child Project 3.1 [GEF ID 10158], Child Project 1.2 [GEF ID 9717]).
At the same time, the IMAP-MPA Project has needs for the services of a Gender Specialist to lead a series of actions that will produce a Gender Assessment and Gender Action Plan for the project. For this work, UNEP/MAP is proposing to engage a Gender Specialist to contribute to the MedProgramme, in order to support a coordinated approach for gender mainstreaming throughout its portfolio of extrabudgetary projects
The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the MedProgramme Management Officer and the IMAP-MPA Project Manager, and under the overall supervision of UNEP/MAP Deputy Coordinator.
Tasks: Under the direct supervision of the MedProgramme Management Officer and the IMAP-MPA Project Manager, and under the overall coordination and guidance of UNEP/MAP Deputy Coordinator, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
1) Prepare a detailed work plan and timetable for the extension of the assignment;
A. Provide technical support for the effective implementation of the MedProgramme’s Gender Mainstreaming Strategy and the monitoring of its progress
2) Support the execution of the Gender Actions Plans of each Child Project across the portfolio;
3) Develop an overall Gender Monitoring Framework responsive to both the UNEP/MAP and GEF requirements;
4) Provide inputs to Terms of References (TORs), identify and evaluate outsourced gender experts to support the execution of the Child Projects’ action plans and provide quality assurance, following UN Environment rules and regulations;
5) Provide support to MedProgramme CU in establishing and/or maintaining partnerships with relevant actors within and outside the Mediterranean Region
6) Provide technical guidance to the selected consultant to design, organize and implement an in-depth gender mainstreaming training to enhance the capacity of MedProgramme Executing Partners and UNEP/MAP staff;
7) Provide gender mainstreaming technical inputs to the MED PMU for inclusion in the progress reports, expenditure forecasts, procurement plans, annual Project Implementation Reviews and other administrative/reporting processes provided on a regular basis as needed; as well as MAP, UNEP and GEF events and platforms as appropriate.
8) Provide technical inputs to launch and organize regular meetings of the MedProgramme Gender Community of Practice (CoP);
9) Prepare at least one (1) Annual Assessments on Gender Mainstreaming at the MedProgramme-level, to be presented during the Annual Stocktaking Meeting;
10) Contribute to the preparation, organization and execution of Project Steering Committee Meetings for all Child Projects with regards to gender component);
B. Provide technical support for the development and implementation of the Gender Action Plan for the IMAP-MPA Project
11) Develop an online stakeholder survey questionnaire on gender in support of the IMAP-MPA project and undertake a gender-sensitive stakeholder mapping to identify key gender stakeholders;
12) Undertake a comprehensive desk review on gender mainstreaming in MPAs by reviewing available resources on gender in MPAs, marine pollution and coastal livelihoods and draft a ‘Gender in MPAs’ report that will inform project activities;
13) Support to identify gender entry points for MPAs through consultations with participating countries and relevant stakeholders;
14) Support the development and implementation of the IMAP-MPA Gender Action Plan based on findings of the desk review, survey responses and stakeholder consultations.
Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree in the field of environment, social sciences, or communication is required
Experience: Relevant work experience in environmental or international development aid projects, with some experience in the execution of technical capacity projects linked to the environment and gender mainstreaming, ideally in the Mediterranean is required in particular at least in two of the aspects listed below:
- Execution of tasks including the analysis of sex-disaggregated data;
- Definition, monitoring and reporting on gender mainstreaming activities and projects in the field of the environment, ideally in the context of the GEF, Regional Sea Conventions and or Marine and Coastal Areas;
- The principles and practical application of the GEF gender policy and priorities.
- Establishment and development of strategic partnerships to support GM;
- Design of monitoring and evaluation tools to assess the progress and impacts of specific actions;
- Strong analytical skills, ability to effectively articulate and present findings in writing are required;
Language: - Fluency in English is required;
- Working knowledge of French is an asset.
Good knowledge of the UNEP/MAP system and the GEF context in the Mediterranean region is an asset;
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.