Consultant for Implementation Guide Development

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance the impact of gender equality initiatives. It merges the work of four distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. 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, promoting mutual respect and equality in its workforce.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in supporting UN Women’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) in finalizing and validating the Regional Push Forward Strategy. This strategy aims to address the acute threats to gender equality in the region, which are exacerbated by regressive narratives and shrinking civic space. The consultant will develop an Implementation Guide that translates the strategy into actionable steps for UN Women teams, ensuring coherence and strategic interventions. This guide will provide operational guidance throughout the programming cycle, from planning to monitoring and scaling up initiatives. The consultant will work closely with stakeholders to ensure the guide aligns with global best practices and institutional frameworks, ultimately enhancing UN Women’s ability to respond to challenges in the region.

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

• Developing a detailed workplan for the strategy finalization and Implementation Guide development, outlining timelines, milestones, and stakeholder engagement.
• Finalizing the draft regional strategy through validation and feedback sessions with stakeholders.
• Creating a draft outline of the Implementation Guide, which will include operational directions, decision-making points, resource requirements, and intervention pathways.
• Revising and finalizing the Implementation Guide based on internal feedback, ensuring it is user-friendly and includes practical tools for implementation.
• Facilitating a validation session with ECA stakeholders to present the draft guide and socialize the strategy.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, Development, Public Administration, or Gender. A Bachelor’s degree with an additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree. Candidates should have a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in gender equality, particularly in developing strategic program guides and operationalizing conceptual frameworks. Experience in drafting programming guidance that incorporates multi-sectoral strategies within international development or UN entities is essential. Proven ability to translate strategies into implementable programs and experience coordinating inter-agency processes in politically sensitive environments are also required.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in a relevant field is required, with a Bachelor’s degree acceptable if accompanied by additional professional experience. The educational background should reflect a strong foundation in social sciences or related disciplines that inform gender equality and development practices.

Experience:
The position requires at least seven years of relevant experience in gender equality, with a focus on strategic programming and operational frameworks. Candidates should have experience in developing programming guidance and coordinating multi-stakeholder processes, particularly in contexts facing gender equality challenges. Familiarity with the political landscape of Europe and Central Asia is highly desirable, as is experience in environments with significant gender equality pushback.

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

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, allowing for flexible work arrangements. The consultant will be expected to deliver specific outputs within set timelines, with payments scheduled upon the completion of key deliverables. The role emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and candidates must adhere to UN Women’s policies and standards of conduct.