Consultant for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the United Nations reform agenda to enhance gender equality and women's empowerment globally. The organization merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM, to create a more impactful entity focused on women's rights. UN Women operates in numerous countries worldwide, advocating for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, and promoting their empowerment as essential partners in 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, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications and competence, and adheres to a zero-tolerance policy on misconduct. UN Women plays a crucial role in addressing issues such as violence against women and girls, particularly in regions like Sierra Leone, where cultural practices and societal norms contribute to gender-based violence.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a vital role in strengthening the capacity of women's rights groups and civil society organizations (CSOs) in Sierra Leone to effectively influence and advance progress on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE) and the elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). This position requires a comprehensive understanding of the intersectional issues surrounding gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices. The consultant will be responsible for conducting a thorough mapping of organizations working in this field, developing strategies for movement building among CSOs, assessing existing safe spaces for women and girls, and providing timely reports on their findings. The consultant will utilize an intersectional approach to ensure that the diverse needs of marginalized groups are addressed, thereby promoting a more coordinated and impactful advocacy for ending violence against women and harmful practices. This role is crucial in contributing to the ongoing efforts of the Spotlight Initiative, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls globally.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a comprehensive mapping and profiling of organizations working on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and harmful traditional practices (HTPs) across project locations, identifying their technical and logistical capacities and gaps. Develop a Power and Influence Matrix to highlight the strengths and capacities of each CSO. Deliverables include concept notes with proposed methodologies and a detailed organizational profile report. Estimated period: 1 month (20 working days).
• Develop a Movement Building Strategy that enhances collaboration among CSOs, promoting a shared vision and coordinated advocacy efforts to end violence against women and harmful practices. Deliverables include a comprehensive movement-building strategy for the CSOs. Estimated period: 2 months (40 working days).
• Assess existing safe spaces across implementing districts to inform the establishment and functionality of multi-functional safe spaces for women and girls, measuring their effectiveness. Deliverables include a comprehensive report on all safe spaces within the assignment locations, including functionalities, gaps, and recommendations. Estimated period: 2 weeks (14 working days).
• Provide all required reports in a timely manner, ensuring quality and adherence to deadlines. Deliverables include quality and timely reports as needed.
• Provide an overall final report summarizing the consultancy's findings and recommendations. Estimated period: By 31 April 2026.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of gender equality and women's rights issues, political science, law, and development. They should demonstrate the ability to interact effectively with government representatives and CSO representatives, showcasing proven networking skills and strong writing and communication abilities. Familiarity with the UN system and inter-governmental processes is essential, along with strong IT skills, including proficiency in databases and office software packages. Analytical and interpersonal skills are also crucial for this role.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or equivalent in Law, Human Rights, Political Science, Gender and Development, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant work experience in the field of gender equality and women's rights, including proven experience in women's CSOs or gender-based violence. Extensive substantive experience in women's movements is required, along with experience in programme design and results-based management. Experience working in a multicultural environment and sound knowledge of international standards on human rights and women's rights is essential. Candidates should also have experience working with multi-stakeholder organizations, including governments, CSOs, and UN/multilateral/bilateral institutions, as well as experience in implementing, monitoring, and evaluating development programmes and projects. Relevant reports evidencing experience related to the key activities of this consultancy must be provided.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if they are relevant to the local context or the communities served by the initiatives.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, but it will require frequent visits to the spotlight implementing districts as the assignment demands. The position is expected to adhere to UN Women's core values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. The consultancy will focus on full-time engagement until the completion of the assignment, with a deadline for final deliverables set for 31 April 2026.