National consultant on law enforcement on EVAW

Terms Of Reference

I. Background

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the empowerment of Women (UN Women), grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

In Viet Nam, UN Women contributes to the development objectives of Viet Nam’s Socio-Economic Development Plan and the National Strategy for Gender Equality. Its Country Strategy Note for 2022-2026 is aligned to the upcoming UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (CF) 2022-2026 and is focused on supporting Viet Nam’s fulfilment of Gender Equality commitments under The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the promise of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda to “leave no one behind”.

Despite the strong political commitment of the government to addressing violence against women situation, this issue is still persistent in Viet Nam. According to the report “Results of a National Study on Violence against Women in Viet Nam 2019”, nearly 2 out of 3 women (63 per cent) in Viet Nam experienced one or more forms of violence in their lifetime, while 32 per cent in the past 12 months (also referred to as current violence). Violence against women has brought significant impact on women themselves, their families and the economy as a whole. Available evidence shows that women experiencing physical and sexual violence are likely to have a 30.8 per cent reduction in their annual income. Unfortunately, most women (90.4 per cent) who experienced physical and/or sexual violence by ahusband/ partner did not seek help from formal services or authorities. Women especially those who are “marginalized” or in difficult circumstances are often the main target of traffickers (MBNs). Victims of trafficking in persons (TIP) are particularly vulnerable to different forms of violence and exploitation. Data from the Viet Nam’s Steering Committee for Crime Prevention and Control shows that, from 2012 to now, about 7,500 trafficking victims have been rescued among which more than 80% are from ethnic minorities; and more than 90% are women and children.

According to UN Women, cases of violence against women and human trafficking must be handled in a gender sensitive and coordinated manner to ensure victims are not further traumatized; they receive adequate support; and perpetrators are held accountable for their behaviors. Given the important role of police and law enforcement officers in prevention and response to violence against women and human trafficking, during 2022 UN Women Viet Nam has been collaborating with the Ministry of Public Security to develop (1) SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) for frontline publicsecurity officials inproviding support to women experiencing gender based violence and human trafficking; and (2) gender sensitive investigation guidelines for frontline publicsecurity officials on dealingwith cases of violence and human trafficking.

As a next step, the guidelines need to be sent out for professional design and to be widely disseminated and used. As agreed, in 2023, MPS will collaborate with UN Women, to organize a (1) national dissemination workshop and three (3) regional workshops to disseminate and promote the application of the guidelines among frontline public security officials. In this context, UN Women is looking for a senior national consultant to coordinate with MPS and UN Women to organize the above-mentioned workshops.

II. Objective of the consultancy

• Overall objective: To enforce on the use of the gender sensitive investigation guidelines andSOP inproviding support to women experiencing gender-based violence and human trafficking among the frontline public security officials, thus, to further enhance their capacity in preventing and responding to violence against women and human trafficking especially among women migrant workers.

• Specific Objective: Coordinate with MPS and UN Women, as well as with the expert group, in organizing and reporting on:

1. A national dissemination workshop among relevant line ministries and agencies for introducing the gender sensitive investigation guidelines andSOP inproviding coordinated support to women experiencing gender-based violence and human trafficking.
2. Three regional workshops on introducing the gender sensitive investigation guidelines andSOP inproviding coordinated support to women experiencing gender-based violence and human trafficking among frontline public security officials in provinces with high level of GBV/human trafficking.

• Main outputs:

1. A concept note and detail agendas for organising the national dissemination workshop and regional workshop on the SOPs prepared and endorsed by UN Women and MPS.
2. A comprehensive training report on application of the gender sensitive investigation guidelines and SOP submitted to UN Women and MPS in Vietnamese.

III. Institutional arrangement

The national consultant will work under the direct supervision of SAF Programme Analysist and will be ultimately responsible to the UN Women Representative in Viet Nam. He/she will also work closely with relevant officials of the Criminal Police Department (CPD) to deliver the expected results. If the national consultant is not based in Hanoi, UN Women will cover the travelling cost following the UN-EU cost norm to attend the meetings in Hanoi.

IV. Expected deliverables, consultancy days and timeline

V. Payment schedule

It is planned that a national consultant will be recruited through a competitive bidding process to undertake the consultancy. The payment will be made in Vietnamese currency in one installment as follows:

VI. Duration of Assignment and Duty Station

The consultancy will be conducted within 8 days from 15 May – 30 July 2023, home-based in Hanoi, Viet Nam. Travel will be discussed and agreed latter.

VII. Application Evaluation Criteria

The applicant will be evaluated based on technical capacities (70%) and financial proposal (30%). Technical evaluation will be based on the following criteria stated as below:

Core Values and Competencies

In addition to aforementioned requirements and qualifications, it is important that the intern shares the core values and core competencies of the organization.

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:

http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

The weight of technical points is 70% and financial points is 30%. Individual consultants will be evaluated based on Cumulative analysis, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

VIII. Application Procedure and Deadline

Candidates are requested to send the following documents in separated attachment in one application email to [email protected]  by deadline for application on 28 April 2023.

1. Application letter explaining your interest in the consultancy and why you are the most suited candidate for this assignment.
2. Updated CV.
3. Personal History Form (P11). The P11 Form can be downloaded from the following website: http://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/about-us/jobs
4. Financial proposal specifying a daily consultancy rate and a breakdown per deliverable. UN Women will bear the costs of requested travel expenses following the UN-EU cost norm.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Deadline for application: 28 April 2023

IX. Evaluation

The evaluation will be based on the combination of the weighted technical and financial scores (70 per cent technical and 30 per cent financial).

NOTE: Documents required before contract signing:

• UN Personal History Form
• The medical statement from the physician certifying good health to work and travel. (This is not a requirement for RLA contracts).
• Completed UNDSS BSAFE online training course.

EN: https://agora.unicef.org/course/info.php?id=17891

• Release letter in case the selected consultant is government official.