How to use Gender Helpdesk

The Helpdesk is easy to use:

Step 1: Initiation. You are encouraged to discuss with the Gender Helpdesk how to frame and design the assignment. Contact the Gender Helpdesk by sending an email to suzana.zivkovic@ncgsw.se. If you have access to Gender Advisor/Gender Focal Point at your Department/Unit/Embassy, please also consult her on the scope and purpose of the assignment.

Step 2: Call-off request. Fill out the standard call-off request form and e-mail it to the Helpdesk (suzana.zivkovic@ncgsw.se) with cc to anja.nordlund@ncgsw.se and ulf.farnsveden@ncgsw.se detailing the support that you need and your assessment of how many work days it will require (maximum 10/80 hours). The Helpdesk team will help you further clarify your request if needed.

Tips for initiating a good assignment:

• Gather up all the relevant documentation for the assignment;
• Specify in your request if there is a specific expertise you are looking for;
• Specify whether you think a field visit will be required;
• Think about what the output should look like.

Step 3: Selection of consultant(s). The Helpdesk Team Leaders (Anja Nordlund and Ulf Färnsveden) will reply to your request and assign the expertise needed together with a Quality Assurance expert and inform Sida of the consultant(s) assigned and that the assignment is accepted. This is done within 2 working days from the call-off. Sida can choose to accept the consultants suggested or communicate otherwise. Assigned consultants are ready to start within 5 working days.

Step 4: Discussion and agreement on deliverables. The assigned consultant will contact the Sida staff member requesting the services, to arrange a kick-off meeting to discuss the assignment and agree on the deliverables. This will be followed up with an email summarising the deliverables and timescale. This is an important stage and should not ne skipped.

Step 5: Implementation and QA of the assignment. The consultant will carry out the assignment (e.g. desk study, training, analysis etc.). The final output will be quality assured by the assigned Quality Assurance expert before submission.

Step 6: Approval and documentation. When you are ready to approve the final submission, send an email confirming that you recognize the assignment to be completed with the final submission attached, to (anja.nordlund@ncgsw.se  and ulf.farnsveden@ncgsw.se), the consultant responsible for the assignment and to suzana.zivkovic@ncgsw.se. This step enables the consultants to invoice Sida for the assignment completed as well as for Sida to keep track on approved assignments.

Step 7: Satisfaction questionnaire and assignment closure. The Sida staff member will be sent a short follow-up satisfaction questionnaire and once this is completed, the assignment will be closed.