International Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to advancing women's rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of all women and girls. Established as the lead UN entity on gender equality, UN Women works to shift laws, institutions, social behaviors, and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. The organization partners with governments, women's movements, and the private sector to translate progress into lasting changes. UN Women operates globally, focusing on four key areas: leadership, economic empowerment, freedom from violence, and women, peace, and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, as well as humanitarian action. In Bangladesh, UN Women supports the government in implementing commitments to international standards on gender equality and women's human rights, as outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2026 and the UN Women Bangladesh Strategic Note (SN) 2022-202

• The organization collaborates with various stakeholders, including civil society, women's organizations, youth, UN agencies, and donors, to promote gender equality and women's empowerment.

Job Overview:
The International Consultant will play a crucial role in supporting the Communication unit of UN Women Bangladesh in curating a commemorative coffee table book for the Beijing+30 initiative. This consultancy aims to ensure the professional curation of the book, which will highlight 30 changemakers from Bangladesh who have significantly contributed to advancing gender equality, alongside 30 art pieces created by young female artists. The consultant will be responsible for leading the overall curation process, ensuring that the book reflects the commitments of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action while resonating with diverse audiences. The consultant will enhance the visibility and impact of the changemakers and artists' contributions, ensuring that the publication is accessible, inspiring, and aligned with UN Women’s communication and branding standards. The consultant will work closely with the Communication Analyst and the Deputy Representative to achieve these objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake several key tasks, including:

• Conducting initial consultations with the UN Women Communication team to clarify objectives, approach, and structure of the book, resulting in an agreed work plan and schedule.
• Reviewing existing materials, including 30 changemaker stories and 30 artworks, and providing recommendations on gaps and narrative emphasis.
• Refining and researching stories, revising drafts while maintaining original structure and length.
• Developing a draft introduction to the book, either standalone or aligned with the UN Women Country Representative’s introduction.
• Editing stories and the introduction to ensure journalistic flow and alignment with the Beijing Declaration themes.
• Incorporating feedback from UN Women to finalize the stories and introduction.
• Conducting copy editing and quality control of the manuscript.
• Selecting key highlights and pull quotes from the stories.
• Curating a selection of accompanying artwork and photographs in collaboration with UN Women. 1
• Providing recommendations on layout and design in consultation with a designer. The total assignment is expected to take 36 days over a period of four months, with specific deliverables and timelines outlined for each task.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Literature, Development and Gender Studies, International Relations, Journalism, Mass Communication, or a related field. Candidates must have at least 10-12 years of experience in editorial leadership, content curation, and publishing, including commissioning, editing, and curating large-scale publications across print and digital formats. Relevant thematic expertise in human rights and women’s rights is essential, demonstrated through research, reporting, and editorial work. Experience working as a consultant/editor for international organizations, UN agencies, INGOs, and research institutions is required, along with a proven ability to deliver high-quality knowledge products and reports. Candidates should also have experience in copy-editing, quality assurance, and manuscript preparation for publication with international publishers or academic institutions, ensuring alignment with professional editorial standards and advocacy-focused storytelling.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as Literature, Development and Gender Studies, International Relations, Journalism, or Mass Communication. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of gender issues and the necessary skills for effective communication and curation of content.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10-12 years of experience in editorial leadership and content curation. Candidates should have a strong background in producing high-quality publications, including multi-author books and international reports. Experience in thematic storytelling linked to advocacy on women’s rights and human rights is crucial. Additionally, candidates should have a proven track record of working with diverse stakeholders, including governments and international organizations, and should be familiar with the political, social, and cultural contexts of South Asia, particularly Bangladesh.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, including strong writing skills. This proficiency is essential for producing high-quality editorial content and ensuring effective communication with diverse audiences. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required for this position.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based, with no daily subsistence allowance (DSA) paid at the duty station. Travel outside the duty station may be required, and any such travel will be covered by UN Women, with the consultant receiving a per-diem not to exceed the United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate. The assignment is expected to commence on 25 October 2025 and conclude by 25 February 202

• The consultant’s performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of services delivered. UN Women is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and adheres to a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives.