ONLINE PLATFORM/TOOLS TO STRENGTHEN EFFORTS IN MAINSTREAMING GENDER THROUGH ALL POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES
BACKGROUND
Attention to gender and equity is not new. Equity is central to the WHO constitution and the call for health for all which remains central to health and development today. Member States in the Western Pacific Region have made progress on health equity, gender mainstreaming and related concerns for many years. For example, the WHO Regional Committee has long considered gender issues, with resolutions on Women, Health and Development (1984 and 1997) and on Full Involvement of Women in all Aspects of the Work of WHO in the Western Pacific Region (1996).
Gender and equity have been integrated in many regional strategies, including on ageing and health (2013), tuberculosis (2015) and emerging diseases (2016). Equity and gender are core to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as illustrated in regional frameworks on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) (2015) and on SDGs (2016). Historically, WHO's approach has broadened from focusing on women, health and development to gender mainstreaming to recognizing linkages with equity, social determinants, human rights and other cross-cutting concerns.
WPRO's approach also clearly frames attention to gender and equity as a way to improve the effectiveness of health programmes and services, thus, a qualification to be aspired to by all programmes as part of continuous quality improvement. This is in line with language in the WHO's 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13), which frames attention to gender equality, health equity and human rights not as a stand-alone area of work but a corporate function. This also reiterates commitments made under the SDG agenda, that places the principle of leaving no-one behind at the centre of health and development and not only frames attention to gender and equity not merely as ends in themselves but importantly also as necessary tools for achieving all goals and targets. In 2019, an Evidence review of Gender and Health in the Western Pacific Region was performed and a series of Gender Mainstreaming Guidance Notes were developed. These products were used to inform the development of a ‘Basket of Good practices’ for gender mainstreaming, designed to be applied in a practical manner at the country level.
To this end, WPRO is seeking the services of a contractor to develop an accessible online platform to host this ‘Basket of Good practices’ designed to support Member States strengthen efforts in mainstreaming gender throughout all policies and programmes.
The platform will focus on supporting countries in the WHO Region of the Western Pacific. Potential users in these countries may face high latency internet connections, utilize old computers and monitors, and rely on mobile devices.
WHO will write all written content required for the site as well as WHO logos, and branding guidelines, where relevant.
PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY
The purpose of this agreement for performance of work is to develop an online platform which provides practical tools to partners working at the country level to strengthen efforts in mainstreaming gender throughout all policies and programmes. More specifically, this online platform will:
- Present interactive data on Gender and Health in the Western Pacific Region;
- Provide guidance on gender mainstreaming, based on the best available evidence; and
- Provide practical tools and resources for addressing gender inequities, specifically addressing the four key thematic priorities outlined in the White Paper.
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT
Under the supervision of SDH/WPRO, the contractual partner will deliver the following outputs:
Output 1 – Alpha & Beta versions: Develop an overview of the various tools and products that will be made available through the online platform, corresponding to products previously developed through the ‘Basket of Good practices’ designed to support gender mainstreaming at the country level.
Output 2 – Live site: Develop a live, interactive online platform that hosts various tools and products previously developed to support gender mainstreaming at the country level.
Output 3 – System management: Conduct end-user testing with target stakeholders to ensure the online platforms usability.
METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY
- Date (approx): June 2020
- Milestone: Inception meeting to discuss project management plan, design and development of Tool; prepare inception report to align key deliverables
- Responsible: WHO + Developer
- Date (approx): June 2020
- Milestone: Phase 1 development: Alpha-version
- Responsible: Developer
- Date (approx.): 30 June 2020
- Milestone: Virtual meeting to present Alpha-version
- Responsible: WHO + Developer
- Date (approx): July 2020
- Milestone: Phase 1 testing: Convene virtual expert consultation to review Alpha-version and provide feedback to inform phase 2 development
- Responsible: WHO
- Date (approx): 15 July 2020
- Milestone: Virtual meeting to discuss recommendations from phase 1 testing and next steps for phase 2
- Responsible: WHO + Developer
- Date (approx): 15 August 2020
- Milestone: Virtual meeting to present Beta-version
- Responsible: WHO + Developer
- Date (approx): August 2020
- Milestone: Phase 2 testing: Conduct user testing through focused groups to review Beta-version and provide feedback to inform phase 3 development
- Responsible: WHO
- Date (approx): 15 September 2020
- Milestone: Virtual meeting to discuss recommendations from phase 2 testing and next steps for phase 3
- Responsible: WHO + Developer
- Date (approx): September 2020
- Milestone: Phase 3 development: Finalization of Tool, development of content management system, technical alignment with WHO IT system, advance planning for Tool maintenance and support post-engagement
- Responsible: Developer
- Date (approx): 2 October 2020
- Milestone: Project closure: Virtual meeting to present final Tool and workshop to train WHO for system management; Turn-over and project closure
- Responsible: WHO + Developer
TECHNICAL SKILLS &KNOWLEDGE
- • At least 7 years of web design experience, particularly supporting the areas of Health policy or public health;
- • Experience in public health data visualisation;
- • Expertise in developing interactive online tools for use by public health professionals;
- • Experience working with other UN bodies and/or government and large NGOs;
- • Knowledge and experience on the subject matter will be an asset;
- • Excellent command of the English language (both written and spoken) and effective communication skills.
PLACE OF ASSIGNMENT
The primary work can be done in any location.
APPLICATIONS
Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} or Company Profile {for institutional applications} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by COB of 22 May 2020.
Proposals should be structured as follows:
- Capability Statement
- Specific requirements – please provide details of experience as it relates to the specific requirements, including:
- • individual profiles of proposed team members
- • Description of management approach
- • Details of experience with user interface design
- • Details of experience with use interface testing
- • Details of experience in software development
- • Communication strategy
- • Quality assurance methodology
- Technical Capabilities – please provide details of the operating system(s), data base system(s), programming language(s) potential provider intends to use, as well as details as to the status of third party licenses or copyright and third-party hosting, if relevant.
- Proposed timeline, methodology and approach
- Financial proposal – pleas show a breakdown for each phase in USD
- General company information
Please use Tender Notice No. 108033 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.