Private Sector Development Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance gender equality and women's empowerment globally. The organization merges the efforts of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender issues. UN Women operates in multiple countries, working towards the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between genders. The organization is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications and competence, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, or other characteristics.

Job Overview:
The Private Sector Development Specialist will play a crucial role in the Surging Women’s Employment Flagship Initiative (SWEI), which aims to increase women's employment in the Arab States region by 5% by 203

• This position focuses on enhancing decent employment opportunities for women by fostering gender-responsive workplaces and building transformative partnerships with the private sector. The specialist will be responsible for scaling foundational work on the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and ensuring alignment with SWEI’s employment goals. The role involves defining a partnership approach that transitions from transactional to value-creating partnerships, leveraging critical partners to achieve shared objectives. The specialist will report to the Director of Women Employment in the Green, STEM, and Care Economy and will provide technical support to 17 countries engaged in the initiative.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will lead the negotiation for 5-10 companies to join the SWEI Private Sector Initiative, creating content in collaboration with company technical focal points. Responsibilities include developing a comprehensive roadmap for the initiative, launching a dedicated web tab with monitoring frameworks, and collaborating with communications specialists for effective outreach. The specialist will also conduct assessments to identify opportunities for increasing women's employment, develop strategic sector mappings, and finalize roadmaps for 2026-202

• Additional duties include conducting in-person planning meetings with country-level focal points and performing other tasks as necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, sustainable development, social sciences, or related fields. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. The position requires strong analytical skills, the ability to synthesize program performance data, and excellent networking capabilities. Knowledge of women’s economic empowerment and private sector partnerships is essential, along with the ability to write policy papers and reports.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in relevant fields such as economics, sustainable development, or social sciences is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with additional qualifying experience may be considered. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of gender issues and economic empowerment.

Experience:
At least 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in development, implementation, monitoring, and reporting on programs related to gender and the private sector is required. Experience in providing advisory support to the private sector on women’s economic empowerment is essential, as is experience covering at least four countries in the Arab States region. Familiarity with capacity building for government stakeholders and civil society organizations is desirable, as is experience working with the UN.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is mandatory for this position, as effective communication in both languages is critical for engaging with diverse stakeholders and partners in the region.

Additional Notes:
This is an office-based consultancy role that may require travel. The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity. UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on misconduct and expects all personnel to adhere to its policies and standards of conduct. Candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. It is important for applicants to complete all sections of the application form to avoid disqualification from the recruitment process.