International Expert

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Reference number	TOR-VNM-2022-010 (please refer to this number in the application letter)
Title	International expert on CEDAW and human rights
Purpose	To provide technical assistance for the amendment and supplementation of Gender Equality Law of Viet Nam
Duty Station	Home-based and visit Viet Nam to participate in the policy dialogues/meetings for the amendment and supplementation of Gender Equality Law of Viet Nam
Contract duration	From 1 July 2022 to 15 December 2023 (64 working days)
Contract Supervision	Programme Specialist
Application deadline	21 May 2022

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.

II. OBJECTIVES

The objective of the consultancy is to ensure that the upcoming amendment and supplementation of GEL is in line with international standards that Viet Nam committed on gender equality and other human rights treaties.

III. SCOPE AND SPECIFIC TASKS

Under the supervision of the UN Women Programme Specialist, the international consultant will apply relevant international best practices and experience to support the development, amendment, and supplementation of the Gender Equality Law in Viet Nam.

Through international best practice and an analysis of existing international commitments on gender equality and human rights to which Viet Nam has committed to, the consultant will:

Task	2022	2023
· Provide advice for the definitions of terminology in the GEL such as gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, direct discrimination, indirect or adverse effect discrimination, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, and others… (as per the discussion among stakeholders) · Provide advice for the for temporary measures to address gender inequalities in all areas identified in the amended law, including on those temporary measures. · Provide advice on terminology and provide suggestions on indirect discrimination to ensure that all forms of discrimination are included in the law, including indirect or adverse effect discrimination; that the regulation of gender-based discrimination meets international standards; and also facilitates greater gender equality mainstreaming in gender-neutral policies and legislation · Provide advice on the possibility of expanding the scope of the GEL in addition to the eight sectors of the current law, for example, administration of justice, the environment, defense and security, religion, and other fields of life. · Advise on other technical issues on the GEL as requested by the government based on discussion with UN Women.	Q4 4 days	Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 6 days
· Based on the draft of the amended GEL, develop a report that recommends concrete CEDAW-based wordings for the GEL amendments and supplementations, including for the structure of the GEL itself.	Q4 8 days	Q1, Q2, Q3 12 days
· Based on the draft of the amended GEL, contribute for the development of the report that analyses the consistency of the proposed amendment and supplementation of the GEL with the international commitments that Viet Nam has made on gender equality		Q1, Q2, Q3 8 days
Participate in informal meetings and policy events to share international experience on the various topics relevant to the amendment and supplementation of the GEL from a CEDAW perspective as part of UN Women’s advocacy efforts in Viet Nam (if the COVID-19 safety situation at the moment allows it, if not, the international consultant will virtually participate)		Q2, Q3, Q4 10 days
Provide inputs to the policy brief and advocacy recommendations targeting policymakers and development partners in Viet Nam to advocate for the amendment and supplementation of the GEL that meets the international standards to which Viet Nam is committed.		Q1, Q2, Q3 10 days
Other technical support requested by the government on international experience that is relevant for the amendment and supplementation of GEL in Viet Nam.		Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 6 days
TOTAL	12 working days	52 working days

IV. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

The international expert will work under the direct supervision of UN Women Programme Specialist. During the consultancy, the consultant will work closely with the international consultant that supports UN Women and the government for the review of the 15-year implementation of GEL and amendment of GEL. The work of both consultants is expected of complement and strengthen each other.

The consultant will be ultimately responsible to UN Women Country Representative in Viet Nam.

V. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT AND DUTY STATION

Duration of Assignment: The tentative contractual period is from 1 July 2022 to 15 December 2023.

Duty Station: Home-based and virtual participation into the technical meetings organized by UN Women Viet Nam, and in-person participation in selected policy dialogues in Viet Nam (as requested and agreed). UN Women will arrange the travelling following the UN travelling policies. Thus, the consultant will not be required to include the travelling cost into the financial proposal for the consultancy.

VI. DELIVERABLES AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT

Payments for this consultancy will be based on the submission of the proposal and certification that it has been satisfactorily completed.

Deliverables	% payment	Deadline
First payment	15% of contract value	Before 15 December 2022
A report that includes: · Advice for the definitions of terminology in the GEL such as gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, direct discrimination, indirect or adverse effect discrimination, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, and others… (as per the discussion among stakeholders) · Advice for the for temporary measures to address gender inequalities in all areas identified in the amended law, including on those temporary measures. · Advice on terminology and provide suggestions on indirect discrimination to ensure that all forms of discrimination are included in the law, including indirect or adverse effect discrimination; that the regulation of gender-based discrimination meets international standards; and also facilitates greater gender equality mainstreaming in gender-neutral policies and legislation · Advice on the possibility of expanding the scope of the GEL in addition to the eight sectors of the current law, for example, administration of justice, the environment, defense and security, religion, and other fields of life.
A draft report on that recommends concrete CEDAW-based wordings for the GEL amendments and supplementations, including for the structure of the GEL itself.
Second payment	30% of contract value	Before 30 April 2023
Updated advice on the following issues: · Advice for the definitions of terminology in the GEL such as gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, direct discrimination, indirect or adverse effect discrimination, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, and others… (as per the discussion among stakeholders) · Advice for the for temporary measures to address gender inequalities in all areas identified in the amended law, including on those temporary measures. · Advice on terminology and provide suggestions on indirect discrimination to ensure that all forms of discrimination are included in the law, including indirect or adverse effect discrimination; that the regulation of gender-based discrimination meets international standards; and also facilitates greater gender equality mainstreaming in gender-neutral policies and legislation · Advice on the possibility of expanding the scope of the GEL in addition to the eight sectors of the current law, for example, administration of justice, the environment, defense and security, religion, and other fields of life. · Other technical issues requested by the government
A revised report on that recommends concrete CEDAW-based wordings for the GEL amendments and supplementations, including for the structure of the GEL itself.
Provide inputs to the policy brief and advocacy recommendations targeting policymakers and development partners in Viet Nam to advocate for the amendment and supplementation of the GEL that meets the international standards to which Viet Nam is committed.
Written inputs to the report that analyses the consistency of the proposed amendment and supplementation of the GEL with the international commitments that Viet Nam has made on gender equality
Third payment	30% of contract value	Before 30 August 2023
Final report on that recommends concrete CEDAW-based wordings for the GEL amendments and supplementations, including for the structure of the GEL itself.
Final inputs to the report that analyses the consistency of the proposed amendment and supplementation of the GEL with the international commitments that Viet Nam has made on gender equality
Final inputs to the policy brief and advocacy recommendations targeting policymakers and development partners in Viet Nam to advocate for the amendment and supplementation of the GEL that meets the international standards to which Viet Nam is committed.
Final payment	25% of contract value	Before 20 December 2023
PPTs developed for informal meeting and policy events to share international experience on the various topics relevant to the amendment and supplementation of the GEL from a CEDAW perspective as part of UN Women’s advocacy efforts in Viet Nam
A report that indicated the assistance to UN Women that responds to the request by the government on international experience that is relevant for the amendment and supplementation of GEL in Viet Nam.

VII. QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

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.

1	Master’s degree on Gender and Development, Sociology, Environment, Economics or other relevant field.	10 points
2	Having at least 10 years of working experience on CEDAW, including experience of being a member of the CEDAW committee.	20 points
3	Having a minimum of 10 years working experience on technical advice for the development, amendment and supplementation of gender equality laws or similar laws, including the formulation of policy recommendations at country level.	25 points
4	Having experience in engaging with both government and other national stakeholders to strengthen legal frameworks on gender equality.	20 points
5	Evidence of producing high-quality written reports on gender equality and women’s empowerment in English. Please refer to previous publications/report	25 points

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