Consultant for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The organization 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 and builds on 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 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. UN Women is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, employing individuals regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and discrimination.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in strengthening the capacity of women’s rights groups, autonomous social movements, and relevant civil society organizations (CSOs) in Sierra Leone. This position is part of the Spotlight Initiative, a global, multi-year initiative aimed at eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG). The consultant will utilize an intersectional approach to conduct comprehensive mapping and profiling of organizations working on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and harmful traditional practices (HTPs). The consultant will also develop a Movement Building Strategy to enhance collaboration among CSOs, assess existing safe spaces for women and girls, and provide timely reports on the progress of these initiatives. The role requires a strong understanding of gender equality and women's rights issues, as well as the ability to engage effectively with various stakeholders, including government representatives and CSOs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a comprehensive mapping and profiling of organizations working on GBV and HTPs, 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 and a detailed organizational profile report. Estimated period: 1 month (20 working days).
• Develop a Movement Building Strategy that promotes synergy and joint engagements among CSOs for coordinated advocacy against violence towards women. Deliverable: a movement-building strategy for the CSOs. Estimated period: 2 months (40 working days).
• Assess existing safe spaces across implementing districts to inform the establishment of multi-functional safe spaces for women and girls, measuring their effectiveness. Deliverable: a comprehensive report on all safe spaces, including functionalities, gaps, and recommendations. Estimated period: 2 weeks (14 working days).
• Provide all required reports in a timely manner, ensuring quality and timely deliverables.
• Provide an overall final report summarizing the consultancy's findings and recommendations.

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, possess proven networking skills, and have strong writing and communication skills. 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 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, design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design, and results-based management is required. Experience working in a multicultural environment and 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 programs and projects.

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

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, but it will require frequent visits to the spotlight implementing districts as the assignment demands. The consultant will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. The position is part-time, with a contract duration extending until 31 April 2026.