KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Humanitarian, Women, Peace and Security Specialist
Sector: Consulting - Humanitarian, Peace and Security
Position Type: consultancy, short term, part-time
Duration/Level of Effort: 110 days over two years
Position Location: Remote
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
Field Support Services Project (FSSP) Indonesia is a five-year project (October 2019 – October 2024) funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and managed by Cowater International. FSSP provides administrative, financial, procurement, and logistical services, as well as support to the in-country development programming for the Government of Canada through the provision of technical specialists in gender equality, governance and human rights, and environment and climate action and assisting GAC in procuring and managing local development initiatives. These programs take place in Indonesia and the ASEAN regions.
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
1. Background
Canada’s development program in ASEAN supports the ASEAN ’s development priorities and reform agenda for inclusive economic growth and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is aligned with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy’s core action areas of: (1) gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (core action area); (2) human dignity (health and nutrition, education, humanitarian action); (3) growth that works for everyone; (4) environment and climate action; (5) inclusive governance; and (6) peace and security.
Armed conflict affects women, men, girls, and boys in different ways. Women and girls around the world face discrimination based on their gender. Displaced women and refugees are especially vulnerable. They are most vulnerable to conflict-related sexual violence. At the same time, women and girls play a key role in preserving their communities. Their economic and social responsibilities may increase in times of war. They often act as agents of peace, leading movements that eventually bring the warring parties to the negotiation table. Women often address the root causes of a conflict and increase community buy-in. In Southeast Asia, women face rising extremism and targeted violence as COVID-19 exacerbates existing conflict and fragility.
Canada supports the $8.5 million partnership with UN Women and ASEAN in advancing the WPS agenda in ASEAN, and the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) in developing training modules to build regional capacity to implement the WPS agenda. Canada increases its engagement on Indo-Pacific regional security, including through regular senior-official and ministerial level participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum, co-chairing of ARF inter-sessional meetings, and building capacity in the region to respond to security challenges.
Canada’s financial commitment will help address gender equality and discrimination against women and girls in the ASEAN member states, advance Canada’s women, peace and security agenda, and build sustainable peace and security in Southeast Asia. Canada’s support will advance the empowerment of women in peace and security efforts by promoting their participation and leadership in peacebuilding.
2. Objective
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) requires the services of a Humanitarian, Women, Peace and Security Specialist (the Consultant) to provide technical assistance and support to the ASEAN Regional Development Program on humanitarian, women, peace and security, with the management of its international assistance. Specifically, the Specialist provides advice on humanitarian, women, peace and security, engages with relevant humanitarian, women, peace and security work and actors in the country and region, and makes relevant linkages with ASEAN policies and trends and to GAC’s programmes. The Consultant provides analysis for formulation of strategies and briefings to GAC. The Consultant advocates for and represents GAC in his/her area of expertise as requested by his/her supervisor.
The Consultant will report to Head of Development, Mission of Canada to ASEAN in the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta.
3. Description of Services
Working on a day-to-day basis under the direction of Head of Development Mission of Canada to ASEAN, the expected services of the Humanitarian, Women, Peace and Security Specialist will include, but not be limited to:
a) Programme Development and Implementation:
- Identify strategic programme opportunities, approaches and modalities for strengthening humanitarian and women, peace and security programming, in close collaboration with regional development stakeholders and partners;
- Provide input/feedback on the ASEAN Annual Progress Report on humanitarian action and women, peace and security;
- Draft strategy documents, briefs, policy notes and other documents related to women, peace and security in the ASEAN Region; and,
- Oversee the implementation of ASEAN WPS regional initiatives, ensuring interventions are delivered in scope, time and budget, and
- Support in monitoring and analysis of the programme’s environment, carry out timely readjustment of programme
b)Technical Support and Advisory Services:
- Provide high-level strategic advice, drawing on evidence related to WPS, and lessons from other contexts, on navigating entry points to advance WPS in ASEAN region;
- Provide support to programme development for Mission of Canada to ASEAN, and provide technical assistance on WPS programme implementation at country level;
- Undertake interventions aimed at strengthening the capacity of key regional institutions and mechanisms with the aim of promoting the women, peace and security agenda in the ASEAN region;
- Collaborate substantively with partners to ensure the integration of gender perspectives and attention to global commitments in peace making processes across the region;
- Design and facilitate high-level meetings/workshops/consultations relevant to the women, peace and security and humanitarian contexts in ASEAN region; and
- Produce and disseminate a range of knowledge products on WPS for different stakeholders – internal and external, and
- Coordinate and/or collaborate effectively with other FSSP technical consultants when needed.
c) Strategic Partnerships:
- Develop networks and build credible working relations with key regional partners in support to women, peace and security programmes; and
- Partner with other donor agencies to enhance collaboration, resource mobilization and joint programming to influence priority setting on women, peace and security issues.
d) Provide oral and written briefings on the above.
e) Any other relevant tasks as assigned by Head of Development Mission of Canada to ASEAN.
4.Deliverables/Outputs
The Humanitarian, Women, Peace and Security Specialist is expected to work in close cooperation with Head of Development, Mission of Canada to ASEAN at the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta to produce deliverables as follows:
General Outputs to be produced by the Consultant
1) Quarterly Work Plan: Detailed quarterly work plan including GAC’s input with interlinking activities that cover all activities and deliverables with deadlines and timelines. QA must be factored in.
When: To be discussed with Head of Development (HoD) Mission of Canada to ASEAN
2) Back to Office, Reports (BTORs): Detailed back to office reports for every field visit, including a full list of activities, and individuals / companies / institutions met.
When: As Required
3) Quarterly progress report: Detailed activities report highlighting key progress, opportunities, risks, deliverables, and activities of past months, including anticipated spent as appropriate.
Two weeks following the end of the quarter
4) Report on the different documents (proposals, technical analysis, etc.): Detailed activities report on discussion and negotiations with GAC.
When: As Required
5) M&E reporting and analysis: Contributions to Monitoring and Evaluation as required.
When: As Required
6) Meeting minutes and documentation: Write up of all key meetings and upload of supporting documentation onto shared folder provided by the FSSP
when : As Required
7) Report on task(s) as assigned: Any other relevant tasks. As assigned by HoD, Mission of Canada to ASEAN
Unless otherwise stated, the Consultant will, to the extent possible:
- Use both sides of the page when producing documents, reports, etc.;
- Use recycled paper to print and produce reports and other documents.
5. Description of the Consultant’s Profile
GAC requires the services of a Humanitarian, Women, Peace and Security expert with solid knowledge on conflict/peace and security context, which includes issues of humanitarian, women, peace and security, strong relationship and experience working with international development partners.
Competencies
1) Partnerships and Development and Implementation
- Ability to manage for results: translating strategy into achievable plans, with established priorities, monitor them, making periodic adjustments as required.
- Outstanding networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.
- Capacity to work with diverse partners including governments, civil society, women's groups, and academic institutions.
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities, and
- Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines
2) Communication
- Good interpersonal and diplomacy skills
- Ability to use critical thinking, conceptualize ideas, and articulate relevant subject matter in a clear and concise way.
- Excellent writing skills. Strong publication record on issues including gender equality and women, peace and security, and
- Ability to communicate effectively with and relate to people of different cultures, demonstrating an ability to see issues from other perspectives
3) Required skills and experience
The Consultant is expected to possess skills and experience in the following areas:
- Minimum of 7 years of relevant regional/international working experience in a conflict/peace and security context with focus on issues of humanitarian action, women, peace and security;
- Proven track record in the successful development and management of gender equality programmes, as they relate to humanitarian contexts and, women, peace, and security;
- Good knowledge of existing policies, practices and lessons learned on the implementation of WPS agenda, including the international framework and regional contexts;
- Experience providing technical assistance to national and government partners on humanity, women, peace, and security;
- Experience in results-based management (RBM). RBM experience as specifically applied in the GAC context an asset;
- Substantive experience in conducting research and writing for international organizations on women, peace and security. Specific experience on women’s meaningful participation in peace processes is an added value;
- Experienced working with governments, UN bodies, key donors in the region, other multilateral or civil society organization in a developed or developing country highly desirable; and
- Highly proficient in spoken and written English.
4) Educational background
Advanced University degree or equivalent in Political Sciences, Peace and Security, Gender/Women's Studies, Economics or Sociology.
7. Working Arrangements
The Consultant will work from his/her home base with virtual meetings/interviews with GAC/ASEAN colleagues and relevant partners. As necessary, in producing analysis/report/briefs, the Consultant will conduct his/her own literature review and perform triangulation by interviewing experts.
The Consultant will submit deliverables to Head of Development, Mission of Canada to ASEAN at the Embassy of Canada in Indonesia. Payment is conditional upon satisfactory delivery of the assignments. In the event that travel to other regions or cities is necessary and possible, all necessary costs will be borne by GAC, through the Indonesia/ASEAN Field Support Services Project (FSSP).
8. Duration of the Contract
The total expected duration of the assignment is up to 110 days and the contract ends on July 2024. All reports must be finalized and submitted within this period. The Consultant is expected to start around July 2022.
Payments will be processed monthly upon the presentation of a timesheet and invoice detailing the level of efforts for each deliverable.
EVALUATION OF APPLICATION
The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
b) having received the highest score out of the weighted criteria (70% technical score (comprising of 15% technical qualifications desk review, 20% written test, and 35% interview) and 30% financial score.
The proposals that achieve a minimum of 70% for the technical qualifications desk review shall be further considered for an interview and written test. The financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received for the assignment.
Technical Qualifications Desk Review
The evaluation of the technical criteria will be as follows:
St. No Criteria and Points
1. Academic qualifications of the Consultant. 10 points
2. Working experience in a conflict/peace and security context with focus on issues of humanitarian action, women, peace and security. 30 points
3. Knowledge of existing policies, practices and lessons learned on the implementation of WPS agenda, including the international framework and regional contexts. 20 points
4. Proven track record in the development and management of gender equality programmes, as they relate to humanitarian contexts and, women, peace, and security. 20 points
5. Substantive experience in conducting research and writing for international organizations on women, peace and security. 20 points
Total points= 100 points
APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates are encouraged to apply by July 30, 2022 /as soon as possible on our Careers page.
For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.
- CV indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
- Brief statement as to why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
- Financial Proposal shall be submitted in the following format:
- The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily rate for up to 60 working days;
- The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including the daily professional fee and when applicable any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract, excluding travel expenses.
Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.
We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.
ABOUT US
With more than 35 years’ experience, Cowater International is a global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development and has managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, financial and environmental impacts.
Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Cowater International also has corporate offices in Montreal, Quebec; London, United Kingdom; Nairobi, Kenya; and Brussels, Belgium, in addition to project offices in a wide variety of other locations across Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia.
We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International
