National Consultant for Women's Economic Empowerment

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is a United Nations entity 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 on women's rights and gender equality. UN Women operates globally, supporting UN Member States in setting standards for achieving gender equality and working with governments and civil society to implement laws, policies, and programs that promote women's rights. The organization focuses on five priority areas: increasing women's leadership and participation, ending violence against women, engaging women in peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security processes, enhancing women's economic empowerment, and integrating gender equality into national development planning. UN Women has a presence in multiple countries, including Georgia, where it collaborates with state and non-state partners to achieve substantive gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant for Women's Economic Empowerment will play a crucial role in implementing the third phase of the Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus (WEESC) project, which aims to economically empower women, particularly the poor and socially excluded, in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The consultant will support rural women mobilized into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by providing ongoing capacity development interventions tailored to their needs. This position requires the consultant to facilitate access to skills, information, networks, and economic opportunities, enabling women to become farmers, entrepreneurs, or formal sector employees. The consultant will also promote women's participation in local decision-making processes and help raise awareness of discriminatory social norms within their communities. The role is home-based but may require some travel to the target regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli, and Mtskheta-Mtianeti. The consultant will report to the WEESC Programme Analyst and the WEESC Project Analyst, with support from the WEESC Project Assistant.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Provide ongoing support to rural women mobilized into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) through capacity development interventions based on beneficiaries’ needs assessments.
• Assist rural women in obtaining and improving skills necessary to start or develop businesses and agrobusinesses, enhancing their employability or facilitating their entry into the formal labor market.
• Offer continuous capacity development support to mobilized women, including those who are poor and socially excluded, to access social support, information, and knowledge about public services and income-generating opportunities.
• Encourage the formation of networks among beneficiary women engaged in business activities to collaboratively address challenges and strengthen connections with the private sector for integration into value chains.
• Prepare and submit progress reports detailing the activities and outcomes of the consultant's work, with specific deadlines for each report.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires the following qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Political Studies, Public Policy, Social Policy, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with seven (7) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• At least 5 years of work experience in the practical implementation of Social Mobilization methodology and grassroots work with rural women is required for candidates with a Master’s degree, or 7 years for those with a Bachelor’s degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in developing and organizing capacity-building activities is necessary.
• Candidates should have at least 5 years of experience in gender equality, gender mainstreaming, gender analysis, and women’s empowerment issues.
• Excellent verbal communication and facilitation skills are essential, and prior experience in conducting training will be considered a strong asset.
• Experience working with UN/EU agencies in Georgia will be viewed as a distinct advantage.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Political Studies, Public Policy, Social Policy, or other related fields. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with seven (7) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience for candidates with a Master’s degree, or 7 years for those with a Bachelor’s degree. This experience should include practical implementation of Social Mobilization methodology, grassroots work with rural women, and developing capacity-building activities. Additionally, candidates should have experience in gender equality, gender mainstreaming, gender analysis, and women’s empowerment issues.

Languages:
Fluency in Georgian is required for this position, while a working level of English language proficiency is desired. This language requirement is essential for effective communication and engagement with stakeholders and beneficiaries.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, but some travel may be required to the target regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli, and Mtskheta-Mtianeti. The consultant will be expected to submit several progress reports throughout the consultancy period, with specific deadlines for each report. The position is part of a project that aims to empower women economically and enhance their participation in decision-making processes, contributing to the overall goal of achieving gender equality in the South Caucasus.