International Consultant for Strategic Note Development

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact. UN Women merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men. UN Women advocates for gender equality based on international agreements such as CEDAW, the Beijing Declaration, and UN security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security Council Resolution 132

• The South Africa Country Office is responsible for advancing gender equality and women's empowerment in alignment with UN Women’s mandate, focusing on ensuring that all women and girls have equal access to opportunities and can reach their full potential.

Job Overview:
The International Consultant will play a crucial role in developing the Strategic Note (SN) for the UN Women South Africa Office for the period of 2026-202

• This position involves conducting a desktop review of key documents, facilitating consultations with various stakeholders, and drafting the SN based on inputs from these consultations. The consultant will work closely with UN Women personnel to ensure that the SN aligns with national priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), and global strategic plans. The consultant will also be responsible for ensuring that the SN is developed through a participatory process that includes voices from marginalized groups, youth, and civil society organizations. The ultimate goal is to create a comprehensive and contextually relevant SN that addresses the unique challenges faced by women and girls in South Africa.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a desktop review of key documents, including the Africa Strategy review and Common Country Assessment.
• Facilitate initial consultations with UN Women Country Office personnel to establish foundational elements for the SN.
• Organize and conduct three sets of consultations with civil society partners, government representatives, and UN agency partners to gather inputs for the strategy.
• Draft a consolidated outcome report from all consultations.
• Plan and facilitate a working session for the UN Women Country Office team to develop the SN.
• Draft the first version of the SN, incorporating inputs from relevant personnel.
• Edit and revise the final version of the SN, including all appendices and frameworks.
• Ensure the SN is aligned with the UN Women Global Strategic Plan and reflects the context of Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) issues.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master's degree in international relations, gender studies, sociology, demography, economics, law, or related fields.
• A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• At least 7 years of experience in planning, programming, reviews, and evaluations, particularly in strategy planning related to human rights and gender.
• Proven experience in conducting inclusive strategic planning workshops and facilitating theory of change processes.
• Knowledge of national development policies and legislative frameworks, particularly in the context of gender equality.
• Extensive experience with UN programming and familiarity with the UNSDCF.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in relevant fields such as international relations, gender studies, sociology, demography, economics, or law. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires at least 7 years of relevant experience in planning, programming, reviews, and evaluations, with a focus on strategy planning in development programs related to human rights and gender equality. Candidates should have experience in designing and conducting strategic planning workshops and should be familiar with the national development and policy frameworks in the region.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Additional language skills may be considered an asset, particularly in the context of the Southern African region.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for a total of 45 days, with payment structured in two installments: 40% upon submission of inception and consultation reports, and 60% upon final submission of the Strategic Note. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UN Women Representative and is expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and standards of conduct.