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Sri Lanka: National Consultant - Women, Peace and Security (Parliament)

Nov 5, 2019 | UNDP
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The WPS agenda has been initiated by the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 (2000) and reaffirmed through the adoption of seven related resolutions (1820, 1888, 1889, 1960, 2106, 2122 and 2242). It highlights the unique needs of women facing conflict and provides a strong foundation for the promotion of women’s participation in decision-making, peace processes, political, judicial and electoral systems, post-conflict peacebuilding and preventing violent extremism.   Member states are encouraged to adopt UNSCR 1325 into their National Action Plans (NAPs), and incorporate it into their national legal and administrative frameworks as a monitoring tool.

The Parliament of Sri Lanka has been identified as one of the pilot parliaments by the UNDP’s global project, The Role of Parliaments as Partners in Women, Peace and Security to progress their self-identified priorities for supporting women, peace and security (WPS) in their home countries. This global project is expected to support parliamentary efforts in supporting implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG-5 on gender equality and SDG-16 on governance, rule of law and peacebuilding.

In the local context, it must be noted that Sri Lanka is still dealing with the after-effects of the three decades of war and religious and ethnic tensions. Sri Lanka does not have a NAP to implement UNSCR 1325. Sri Lanka did not participate in the 2016 Open Debate on Women Peace and Security. Sri Lanka ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1981.  The country is ranked 100 out of 144 countries listed on the Global Gender Gap Index (GGI) for 2016.

Violence against women continues to be widespread. The social and financial issues related to women headed households, and the laws that are discriminatory of women are also some of the grave problems. With regard to women’s political participation, only 6 percent of parliamentarians are women. The Local Government Elections marked the inaugural implementation of the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act No. 1 of 2016 which introduced a mandatory quota of 25 percent for women through a one-third increase in the total number of seats at the local government level. However, there have been problems in the practical implementation of this.  There have been many interventions at different levels by government and non-government institutions as well as civil society and community groups for the advancement and promotion of women’s rights and support to women. However, there is a need to coordinate all these efforts, and put in place a long term, sustainable and viable support mechanism for the advancement and protection of women.

In this background, UNDP Sri Lanka country office has been working with the relevant global project lead and international consultant through UNDP Parliamentary Development Support Project towards reaching the global project’s objectives in line with the practical possibilities and ground realities in the country.

In furtherance of this initiative, UNDP Sri Lanka has been working closely with the Parliament Secretariat and several Parliamentary Committees to review the existing policy, research, data and analysis on WPS; identify critical areas to be addressed and resolved through policy recommendations; support implementation of relevant activities and lobby for a National Action Plan.

UNDP is looking to recruit a National Consultant to provide technical and coordination assistance with regard to the national implementation of the second phase of the said global project. The Consultant will report to the programme manager and work closely with UNDP Sri Lanka’s Gender focal point, Gender Specialist and UNDP Headquarters WPS team and relevant stakeholders.

Scope and Objectives 

The overall goal of the Global project: The Role of Parliaments as Partners in Women, Peace and Security is to strengthen the role of parliaments in implementing the Women, Peace and Security commitments based on the following outputs that center on the country level but incorporate links to regional and global networks.

Accordingly, the Consultant will be contributing to the national implementation of the said project through contributing to the following outputs;

  • Output 1: Members of parliaments and contextually-relevant permanent Committees have improved capacities to oversee the implementation and appropriateness of peacebuilding, security, economic and finance policies and programmes promoting the women peace and security and PVE agendas, including national legislation giving effect to the UNSCR 1325, based on the international best practice and evidence.
  • Output 2: Parliaments have improved capacities to engage in a constructive dialogue with CSOs, media and citizens on women, peace and security and PVE, including by forging linkages with regional and global women’s movements, groups and networks.
  • Output 3: The project makes available to global stakeholders on WPS – including parliaments, civil society and development partners – knowledge products, evidence base and interactive learning materials on parliaments and WPS 

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide technical assistance to draft policy reforms to relevant parliamentary committees, awareness raising at parliamentary and provincial level, strengthening parliamentary oversight and facilitate civil society partnerships on the WPS agenda. 

Expected Outputs/Deliverables

The Consultant will provide the following deliverables; 

Deliverable 1:

  • Provide technical assistance to draft policy reforms for the promotion of WPS for target Parliamentary Committees
  • Conduct a workshop on law reform support for the promotion of WPS Agenda for Members of target Parliamentary Committees.

Deliverable 2:

  • Conduct the workshop on WPS for target Parliamentary Committee Members (MPs) including Members of the Select Committee on Communal and Religious Harmony and relevant Parliament staff.

 Deliverable 3:

  • Contribute to provincial level awareness raising of community leaders in seven provinces on WPS together with the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Women and Gender

 Deliverable 4:

  • Conduct the workshop on strengthening the oversight on national data and policies related to WPS agenda for relevant Parliamentary Committees.
  • Contribute to the discussion and follow up on strengthening linkages of relevant committees with national statistical offices and national security sector actors on WPS agenda.

Deliverable 5:

  • Contribute as resource person to three provincial level consultations by relevant Parliamentary Committees with CSOs working for the promotion of WPS agenda.
  • Act as facilitator to three consultations between MPs and CSOs at Parliament.

Timeframe 

The envisaged time frame of the consultancy is a maximum of up to 60 working days during a period of one year from November 2019.

Competencies 

The prospective consultant should, as a minimum, have the following functional and technical competencies:

Technical 

  • At least 5-7 years of technical experience in the field of gender, peace and/or security;
  • Strong analytical and research skills;
  • Excellent organisational and planning skills;
  • Excellent report writing and presentation skills;

General 

  • Strong analytical skills, and an ability to distill key messages;
  • Knowledge and understanding of the socio-political context in Sri Lanka;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Partnerships 

  • Maturity and confidence in dealing with Parliamentarians and senior members of national institutions and non-governmental organizations;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Good team player with ability to maintain good relationships.

Results 

  • Proven delivery of high-quality results, in a timely manner;
  • Ability to plan own work and use time efficiently, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience 

Education: 

  • Degree in social sciences, development studies or related field, preferably with a focus on gender studies;

 Experience:

  • At least 5-7 years of technical experience in the field of gender, peace and/or security
  • Demonstrated expertise in gender related research and policy level analysis
  • Documented experience in conducting gender-related trainings, knowledge sharing, facilitation of strategic/action plans
  • Experience in working with high level government officials in Sri Lanka
  • Experience in working with parliament would be an advantage

Languages: 

  • Excellent command of the English, Sinhala and/or Tamil languages

How to apply: 

To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org.

The application should contain:

  • Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work;
  • Updated CV to include qualifications/competencies and relevant past experience in similar projects and contact details of 3 professional referees who can certify your competencies, professionalism, quality of writing, presentation, and overall suitability to this TOR;
  • Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on a combination of factors including cover letter, the credentials on offer, and a brief interview (optional) and the offer which gives the best value for money for UNDP

Please send the Financial Proposal separately to the following e-mail address: consultants.lk@undp.org stating the vacancy number/position in the subject line.

Financial proposal

All Inclusive Daily Fee: LKR (_____________________________________)

Amount in words: (Rs._______________________________________________________________)

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Daily Fee” including his/her consultancy and professional fee, travel (economy class flights is required to and from the Duty Station) honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is 65 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided.  Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts.

Payment of services

Payments will be based on the submission of written reports specifying the tasks accomplished and corresponding number of work days put in towards achieving the deliverables outlined above.