Consultant for Gender Equality Integration in UNSDCFs

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance the impact of gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives. The organization merges the resources and mandates of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM, which focused on gender equality. UN Women operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. The organization is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in supporting UN Women’s efforts to integrate gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE) into the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs) across the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region. This position involves developing a regional knowledge product that documents experiences, lessons learned, and good practices related to GEWE integration in the design of UNSDCFs. The consultant will analyze existing Common Country Analyses (CCAs) and Cooperation Frameworks (CFs), conduct interviews with key stakeholders, and synthesize findings to provide actionable recommendations for future UNSDCF design processes. The consultant will work closely with the Regional Coordination Specialist and will be home-based, delivering the assignment over a period of 20 working days between September and November 2025.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop an inception report outlining the approach, methodology, timeline, and proposed structure of the knowledge product, including a plan for engagement with selected UNCTs and identification of key informants for interviews.
• Conduct a desk review of available UNSDCF Roadmaps, CCAs, and CFs for all 12 UNCTs in the ECA region, using the most recent draft versions where necessary.
• Analyze GEWE integration in CCAs and UNSDCFs using UNSDG guidance and UNCT-SWAP standards, presenting a synthesis of strengths and gaps.
• Undertake a comparative analysis of GEWE integration in UNSDCFs, focusing on leadership, capacity building, and coordination mechanisms at the country level.
• Conduct key informant interviews with ECARO, UN Women Heads of Office, RCO representatives, and GTGs to gather qualitative insights.
• Identify and develop 4–5 brief case studies showcasing enabling practices or challenges related to GEWE integration.
• Facilitate validation discussions with relevant UN stakeholders to refine findings and recommendations.
• Draft and finalize the knowledge product, ensuring it meets the required standards and undergoes peer-review and fact-checking.
• Submit a short consultant report summarizing activities undertaken and challenges encountered.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, Development, Public Administration, or Gender is required. A BA degree with an additional 2 years of experience can be accepted in lieu of a Master's degree.
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in gender mainstreaming in development programmes/projects at national or international levels.
• Experience working on UNSDCF development is an asset.
• Experience in assessing the impact of policies, strategies, and UN capacity building measures from a gender perspective.
• Previous experience with the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecards, narrative reporting, and development of Action Plans is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality analytical reports drawing on data from a range of sources.
• Experience working with UN country teams on gender equality programs or coordination is required.
• Experience working in Europe and Central Asia is desirable.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, Development, Public Administration, or Gender. In cases where candidates possess a Bachelor's degree, they must have an additional 2 years of relevant experience to be considered equivalent to a Master's degree.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in gender mainstreaming within development programmes or projects at either national or international levels. This experience should include working on the development of UNSDCFs, assessing the impact of gender-related policies and strategies, and engaging with UN country teams on gender equality initiatives. Experience in Europe and Central Asia is considered an advantage.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be beneficial but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, meaning no travel is required. The consultant will deliver the assignment over a period of 20 working days between September and November 202

• The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and core competencies including awareness of gender issues, accountability, and effective communication. UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and harassment.