Partnerships Advisor [IFIs] – Lumpsum contract

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian, and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations.

New York Portfolio Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners’ programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) to implement the project activities for the Partnership Facility on behalf of the PBSO.

The Partnership Facility, established under the Peacebuilding Fund in 2019, seeks to advance the strategic partnership between the UN and the World Bank as well as other IFIs, in crisis affected situations through small grants to UN entities for dedicated capacities co-located between UN, WB or other IFIs as well as shared analyses, data, and analytical processes, including deep dives, to contribute towards establishing a common and shared understanding of multidimensional risks and root causes of fragility and conflict and identify and address gaps in planning, resources allocation, and programming, amongst UN and IFI country leadership.

Violence against women and girls is rooted in structural inequality in power relations between women and men. It persists in every country in the world and is one of the most systematic and widespread human rights violations. One in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner. The immediate and long-term physical, sexual, and mental consequences for women and girls can be devastating, including death.

Spotlight Initiative is a flagship programme of the UN Secretary-General and a demonstration fund for the Development Reform of the United Nations. Spotlight Initiative represents one of the largest targeted efforts to end all forms of violence against women and girls. Unique to the Initiative is a whole-of-society approach that places ending gender-based violence at the heart of national development priorities and gives local communities the tools they need to address violence in their specific context. The model simultaneously works to address laws and policies, strengthen institutions and data collection, promote gender-equitable attitudes and provide quality services for survivors of violence and their families. Perhaps most critically, Spotlight Initiative invests deeply in a new way of partnering with civil society, including peacebuilding actors, and women’s movements at every level, strengthening transformative results, sustainability, and civic space.

In Spotlight Initiative’s second phase (launched in early 2024), the initiative is expanding its partnerships to include a number of different funding partners, including bilateral actors, multilaterals (including international financial institutions), and the private sector, among others. Spotlight Initiative has had positive discussions with the World Bank, building on the existing “Troika” format between the European Union International Partnerships Commissioner, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, and the World Bank Managing Director.

The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility, reporting to the Senior Portfolio Manager at UNOPS SDC working closely with the Spotlight Initiative.

Functional Responsibilities

The primary purpose of the consultancy is to support the engagement of Spotlight Initiative with the World Bank by developing a World Bank – Spotlight Initiative Engagement Strategy, including specific elements aimed at strengthening collaboration on Women, Peace, and Security in FCV settings. This includes addressing gendered dynamics of conflict especially as related to GBV, women’s protection and meaningful participation. This also includes a logical framework, budget (for planned activities for future resource planning), and a timeline to deliver on the activities, to be summarized in a Strategy Document and a PowerPoint slide deck.

To develop the World Bank – Spotlight Initiative Engagement Strategy, the consultant will need to engage a range of stakeholders, including Resident Coordinator’s Offices, UN HQ entities, UN Agencies, the World Bank and other IFIs, civil society, and the private sector, among others. Once the draft strategy is written, this will be shared among this group of stakeholders to obtain their feedback and reflections (3 rounds of comments are expected).

In addition, the consultant will develop a strategy for engaging other IFIs, including regional development banks. This strategy will comprise an initial mapping of IFIs, IFI priorities, and potential entry points for Spotlight Initiative to engage with IFIs, primarily through engagement at HQ level, but also providing strategic advice at country and regional levels (including in FCV settings) to aid in the development of new programmes.

Finally, the consultant – through engagement with the initiative’s programme and partnerships team – will present to UN Country Teams (3 regionally focused presentations), sharing guidance on how best to engage the World Bank and other country-level stakeholders. This will include a virtual presentation for UNCTs engaged with Spotlight Initiative programme development and concrete guidance, by way of an information note, to be shared with UNCTs on programme development aligned to Bank gender priorities, including priorities linked to FCV settings (referencing the World Bank Gender Strategy, Approach paper on Gender in FCV settings, and the IDA ‘Lenses’ paper).

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The services requested are expected to be provided between 1 October and 20 December 2024.

Deliverable 1

Develops global World Bank–Spotlight Initiative Engagement Strategy (through 2030), including a logical framework, budget, and a timeline for deliverables and actions, including those linked to key moments and events (Bank Annual Meetings, Spring Meetings, Fragility Forum, FFD conference, UNGA, etc.)
Due date: 30 October 2024
Payment: 25%

Deliverable 2
Develops a high-level engagement strategy focused on identifying additional IFI partners, including regional development banks. This will include a roadmap for engaging the other IFIs based on priorities articulated by the IFIs.
Due date: 30 October 2024
Payment: 25%

Deliverable 3
Presents strategy to stakeholders, including WBG and other IFIs, UN agencies and civil society (at least 6 presentations envisioned), seeking feedback to inform the finalization of the strategy.
Due date: 11 November 2024
Payment: 10%

Deliverable 4

Finalizes global strategy, results matrix/logical framework, budget, and timeline, based on feedback received (3 rounds of comments). Prepares a PowerPoint deck to reflect key messages and outcomes from the strategy for use by Spotlight Initiative Secretariat.
Due date: 20 December 2024
Payment: 30%

Deliverable 5
Provides support to UN Country Teams through regional presentations in their engagement with World Bank and IFIs, providing notes and specific deliverables, including key messages, info note on programme development, and virtual meeting support as required.
Due date: Ongoing through 20 December 2024
Payment: 10%

Education/ Experience / Language requirements

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Education

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Gender Studies, Political Science, International Development, International Relations, Development Economics, Public Administration or any other relevant field
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

Required experience:
At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible work experience in planning, developing, and implementing development programmes focused on promoting gender equality and eliminating violence against women and girls is mandatory.

Desirable experience (The following experience is optional. Candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply):

• Experience working with multiple partners including, government, civil society organizations, donors, and UN Agencies is an asset.
• Strong knowledge of the World Bank and experience engaging with International Financial Institutions.
• Good knowledge and understanding of the key principles and parameters of the Spotlight Initiative is recommended.
• Knowledge of national policy, legal and institutional frameworks related to gender equality and women’s empowerment is an asset.
• Knowledge and solid experience with results-based management is an asset.
• Previous experience working with the Spotlight Initiative or on the Women, Peace, and Security agenda is an advantage.
• Previous experience working in Humanitarian-Development-Peacebuilding collaboration contexts is an advantage.
• Excellent analytical skills with strong drive for results and capacity to work independently is an asset.
• Knowledge of national policy, legal and institutional frameworks related to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Language requirements

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in another official UN language, especially French, is advantageous.