Consultant for Coordination, Access and Humanitarian Response

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is 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. UN Women merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization operates globally, with a significant presence in Afghanistan for over two decades, addressing the unique challenges faced by Afghan women and girls amidst one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. UN Women Afghanistan has five key program priorities: Integrated Programming and Localization, Women’s movement building, Policy and Research, Economic Resilience and Private Sector, and Coordination, Access and Humanitarian Response. The organization is committed to supporting Afghan women and girls, ensuring their voices are central to the development of their country, and protecting their rights and gains amidst ongoing challenges.

Job Overview:
The consultant will provide interim leadership support to the Coordination, Access and Humanitarian Response Unit within UN Women Afghanistan. This role is crucial in the context of the Gender in Humanitarian Action coordination mandate, where UN Women serves as the permanent co-chair of the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group (GiHA WG). The consultant will facilitate the transition of this group into a Gender Coordination Group (GCG), which will encompass both Basic Human Needs (BHN) and humanitarian areas of work. The consultant's responsibilities will include providing technical, advisory, and programmatic support to the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and the Inter-Cluster Coordination Team (ICCT), ensuring that gender analysis and gender mainstreaming are integrated into humanitarian responses. The consultant will also support the emergency scale-up of UN Women programming during crises and coordinate responses to access challenges faced by the organization. This position requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including local GCGs, women-led organizations, and donor representatives, to ensure effective communication and capacity-building efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for leading and providing secretariat support to the GCG, ensuring its operationality and effectiveness across Afghanistan. Key duties include: 1) Leading outreach to Basic Human Needs actors in coordination with the Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) and finalizing the 2026 GCG work plan; 2) Conducting monthly meetings with BHN and humanitarian actors; 3) Supporting local GCGs at the regional level; 4) Providing relevant information on gender issues in humanitarian action to various stakeholders; 5) Offering capacity-building support to the Humanitarian Country Team, ICCT, clusters, and technical working groups; 6) Developing data-driven knowledge products for a gender-responsive humanitarian response; 7) Providing scale-up support to UN Women field offices and partners during emergencies; 8) Monitoring access constraints faced by partners and informing UN Women’s engagement strategies; 9) Establishing and maintaining contact with de facto authorities and relevant stakeholders; 10) Contributing to policy recommendations and strategic planning for humanitarian action.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in human rights, gender, international relations, international development, law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law, or other social science fields. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates should have at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in designing and managing humanitarian programs, particularly focusing on gender and protection in emergencies. Technical experience in inter-agency coordination, especially related to gender, is required, along with experience in building partnerships with de facto authorities, governments, donors, and civil society organizations. Experience in complex humanitarian and emergency contexts is essential, and familiarity with UN operations is desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position includes a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as human rights, gender studies, international relations, international development, international law, or other social sciences. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by two additional years of qualifying experience, demonstrating the candidate's capability to fulfill the role effectively.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in the humanitarian sector, specifically in designing and managing programs that focus on gender and protection in emergencies. Candidates should have technical experience in inter-agency coordination, particularly in gender-related initiatives, and experience working with de facto authorities, governments, donors, and civil society organizations in both international and field settings. Experience in complex humanitarian contexts is crucial, and familiarity with UN operations is considered an asset.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish, is desirable and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is office-based, requiring in-person presence for field travel and attendance at coordination meetings, as well as engagement with de facto authorities. The consultant will be expected to make a maximum of three trips to Kabul and travel to provinces as needed based on emergencies. The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and core competencies including awareness of gender issues, accountability, creative problem-solving, effective communication, inclusive collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and leading by example. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that recruitment and employment decisions are based on qualifications and competence, free from discrimination.