Provincial Consultant for Women's Economic Empowerment

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as the United Nations Entity for 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 on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM. The organization operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve gender equality as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. In Nepal, UN Women aims to support national stakeholders in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment through its Strategic Note (SN) 2023-2027, focusing on women's leadership, economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and the transformation of gender discriminatory norms.

Job Overview:
The Provincial Consultant for Women's Economic Empowerment will play a crucial role in strengthening UN Women's market-driven approach to enterprise development, particularly focusing on private sector engagement. The primary objective of this consultancy is to provide tailored business development support to women entrepreneurs and producer groups, facilitating their access to finance and markets through partnerships with private sector actors. This role aligns with UN Women's Strategic Plan, which emphasizes the importance of women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship development. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Programme Specialist (WEE) and in coordination with the Provincial Coordinator and other stakeholders, ensuring that the business development support is effectively implemented and aligned with the overarching goals of the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key duties, including:

• Business Development and Capacity Building Support: Updating and implementing the Provincial Business Scaling and Market Linkage Plan, providing technical guidance to refine business models, and facilitating connections with financial institutions for credit access.
• Private Sector Engagement and Partnership Building: Mapping potential private sector partners, facilitating coordination on the implementation of Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs), and organizing buyer-seller meetings and exhibitions.
• Promotion of Gender Responsive Procurement (GRP): Developing orientation sessions for private sectors and local governments on GRP, identifying procurement opportunities for women entrepreneurs, and promoting enabling policies for women entrepreneurs.
• Knowledge and Coordination: Documenting good practices and lessons learned, strengthening collaboration among provincial industries, and submitting progress and final reports summarizing outcomes and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong commitment to gender equality and women's economic empowerment, with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. They should demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and maintain effective working relations with diverse stakeholders. Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, are essential, along with the ability to handle confidential information responsibly. The consultant should also have strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage conflicts effectively.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in economics, Business Administration/Management, Agri-economics, enterprise development, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background will provide the necessary theoretical foundation and practical knowledge needed to support women's economic empowerment initiatives effectively.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of professional experience in market-driven business development support and private sector engagement. This experience should include demonstrated expertise in women's economic empowerment, entrepreneurship development, and market system approaches. Proven expertise in designing and facilitating business development services, market linkage support, and buyer-seller engagement is essential. Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies and civil society organizations, is also required, along with a strong track record of producing high-quality technical reports and guidance materials.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Nepali is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but the primary focus will be on these two languages to ensure effective communication with local stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, with travel to provinces as needed. The position is focused on full-time engagement, and candidates are encouraged to mention their preferred working province in their application. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employment decisions are made based on qualifications and organizational needs. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history.