National Consultant- Senior Expert on Strengthening Women-led Businesses and CSOs

Job Posting Organization:
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the lead UN agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and has a mission to promote the right of every woman, man, and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. The organization is committed to achieving three transformative results by 2030: ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 emphasizes the importance of addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's and girls' access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and it calls for a collective effort to build forward better while realizing the goals of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Job Overview:
The National Consultant will play a crucial role in the joint UN project 'Women lead the way towards peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security in Bosnia and Herzegovina.' This initiative aims to strengthen the institutional resilience and financial sustainability of civil society organizations (CSOs) that work with conflict-affected and marginalized women, including survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). The consultant will be responsible for leading the implementation of activities focused on women's economic empowerment, enhancing access to public funding opportunities, and improving CSOs' outreach and engagement with public institutions. The consultant will also build strategic advocacy and communication capacities, co-design the workplan and training program, and provide technical support for the development of sustainable, community-based initiatives. The role requires collaboration with a junior expert and involves mentoring selected organizations to ensure effective capacity building.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: 1) Development of Workplan and Technical Preparation: Collaborate with the UNFPA programmatic team to lead the development of a detailed implementation plan for the initiative, including sequencing of activities, thematic framing, and expected outputs. Support the evaluation and selection of CSOs for the training program based on agreed criteria and methodology. Develop pre and post evaluations in consultation with UNFPA. Create detailed training agendas for two capacity-building workshops: Training I on Business Planning and Financial Sustainability of CSOs, and Training II on Access to Public Funding and Grants, Advocacy, and Visibility. 2) Delivery of Training Programme: Lead the delivery of two two-day training sessions aligned with the approved workplan and develop post-training reports documenting session content, participant feedback, and recommendations for follow-up mentoring. 3) Mentoring of CSOs: Provide tailored mentoring to CSOs between training cycles, focusing on public funding access, storytelling, outreach, and institutional positioning. Conduct online one-on-one or small group mentoring sessions based on CSO needs and readiness. Develop or adapt individual CSO business and advocacy plans based on feedback and feasibility, and deliver key conclusions and summaries after mentoring sessions to participants and UNFPA.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Economy, Gender Studies, or related fields. Candidates should have at least 5 years of professional experience in gender equality, social inclusion, economic empowerment, or sustainable development. Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering capacity-building programs, particularly in financial sustainability, business planning, public financing, or institutional advocacy, is essential. Knowledge of institutional funding mechanisms in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including public and donor-funded grants, is required. Candidates should possess excellent consultation and involvement skills, strong analytical skills, report writing skills, and excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold an advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Economy, Gender Studies, or related fields. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of gender equality, social inclusion, and economic empowerment, which are central to the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in relevant fields such as gender equality, social inclusion, economic empowerment, or sustainable development. Candidates should have a proven track record in designing and delivering capacity-building programs, particularly in areas related to financial sustainability and institutional advocacy. Experience in developing or evaluating project proposals, concept notes, or business plans in the context of gender equality is also necessary.

Languages:
Fluency in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian and proficiency in English (both spoken and written) are required for this position. These language skills are essential for effective communication with stakeholders and for delivering training and mentoring sessions.

Additional Notes:
The position is a consultancy role with compensation based on UNFPA consultant rates and the available budget. UNFPA promotes a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. The organization encourages applications from women, individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. UNFPA is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all candidates, regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance, and other administrative requirements.