Under the auspices of its SEE Programme, and with support from the

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), UNIFEM is

implementing the project Accountability for Protection of Women's

Human Rights on a sub-regional level. The geographical project area

covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia including

Kosovo.

In the context of processes of transition and European integration in

the Western Balkans, strengthening laws and policies aimed at

advancing and protecting women's rights, but moreover, ensuring their

effective implementation, remains a key challenge. Within this

context UNIFEM has identified a specific area of intervention for the

project, namely Gender Equality in Constitutional Reform... .

Under the project, UNIFEM commissioned an analysis of best practices

of engendered constitutions to serve as a basis for country-specific

advocacy strategies during the constitutional reform processes. In

addition, UNIFEM engaged expert consultants to conduct gendered

analyses of the constitutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo,

Montenegro and Serbia, using CEDAW as a means to advocate for the

inclusion of women's rights and gender equality provisions. Through

this process, linkages between CEDAW and constitution-building

processes have been constructively forged. 

UNIFEM has further commissioned an Advocacy Toolkit Knowledge Product

(KP) to guide gender advocates during the implementation of their

constitutional and legislative advocacy strategies in the region. The

Toolkit presents constitutional best practices as models upon which

to draft gender-sensitive advocacy strategies designed to increase

the participation of women in constitutional processes and enhance

duty bearers' obligations to ensure gender quality provisions in

constitutional and legislative texts. While drawing on global best

practices, the KP targets gender advocates engaged in constitutional

and legislative advocacy work in the region to ensure that the tools

respect contextual specificities. 

In order to ensure the quality of this publication, UNIFEM is seeking

a qualified peer reviewer to evaluate the quality, relevance and

applicability of the KP to its target audience in the region. 

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The peer review consultant will be responsible for evaluating in

detail the Advocacy Toolkit KP according to the following criteria:

--    Appropriateness of the KP format, layout and content for the

intended audience;

--    Soundness of the constitutional and gender equality analyses;

--    Applicability of the KP and its content for the regional

context;

--    Quality and appropriateness of the exercises used to draft an

advocacy strategy;

--    Relevance of the recommendations and case studies included as

best practices;

--    Reliability and relevance of the information resources as well

as citations.

The Peer Reviewer will:

--    Comment on "user-friendliness" of the Toolkit KP and

applicability for target audience and context; 

--    Review the soundness of the information, resources and analyses

included;

--    Evaluate the KP's general quality, appropriateness, relevance

and usefulness;

--    Propose recommendations to fill gaps and improve structure and

content.

If the Peer Reviewer has previous knowledge of UNIFEM and its work on

constitutions in this or other regions there should be a general

comparison with the work undertaken by UNIFEM there and the KP.

DELIVERABLES:

--    Detailed evaluation of Advocacy Toolkit KP according to

criteria outlined above in a report format addressing each point;

--    Recommendations to address gaps and improve structure, layout

and content;

--    Some back and forth may be expected between UNIFEM and the Peer

Reviewer as the KP is finalized.

QUALIFICATIONS:

--    Post graduate degree in international law preferred, otherwise

development studies, and/or gender (human rights) studies and/or

international relations, or similar;

--    Advanced knowledge of constitution building;

--    Advanced knowledge of and experience in peer review and/or

evaluation methodologies;

--    Technical and substantive expertise in the field of gender

equality in the Western Balkan context is preferred;

--    Understanding of UNIFEM's mandate and regional activities;

--    Experience of reviewing advocacy materials from a gender

perspective an asset. 

DURATION:

The duration of the contract will be between 10 and 20 January 2008.

The consultant will deliver up to four (4) days' work during this

period and will be paid upon the satisfactory completion of all

deliverables. 

TO APPLY:

Interested candidates are requested to e-mail their application

including a cover letter and full CV, to:

(info.serbia@unifem.org)

BY 07 JANUARY 2007, 5.00 p.m. CET.

For more information, please visit:

(http://www.unifem.sk/index.cfm?Module=Static&page=w&s=jobsi)