National Consultant for the Development of the Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS)

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, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM, to create a more impactful entity focused on women's rights and gender equality. UN Women operates in numerous countries, providing strategic leadership, technical expertise, and capacity-building to ensure that international commitments are translated into national actions. The organization plays a crucial role in supporting Member States to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 on gender equality and SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions. In Liberia, UN Women works closely with the government, civil society, and development partners to promote women's equal participation and leadership in all areas of political, economic, and social life, thereby contributing to sustaining peace and consolidating democratic gains in a post-conflict context.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant will play a pivotal role in the development and validation of Liberia's third National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security (NAP-WPS). This position requires the consultant to ensure that the process is well-coordinated at the national level, inclusive of diverse stakeholders, and reflective of Liberia's context and priorities. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UN Women Deputy Country Representative and will provide organizational and substantive support to the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP). The consultant's responsibilities will include conducting a desk review, facilitating national and local participatory consultations, developing the NAP-WPS III, and organizing validation workshops. The overall objective is to ensure that the NAP-WPS III is evidence-based, participatory, and aligned with Liberia's national priorities and commitments, especially as the country prepares to transition to its third NAP while assuming a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the period 2026-2027.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake several key tasks: 1) Conduct a desk review and develop an inception report, compiling existing reports and policies relevant to gender and WPS, and mapping relevant stakeholders for consultations. 2) Facilitate national and local participatory consultations, conducting in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with various stakeholders, including government ministries, civil society organizations, and community-level actors. 3) Develop the NAP-WPS III by providing substantive inputs and contextual recommendations, facilitating drafting workshops, and ensuring stakeholder feedback is integrated into the draft. 4) Organize validation workshops to finalize the NAP-WPS III, documenting stakeholder feedback and ensuring national perspectives are accurately captured. The consultant will also be responsible for delivering a final consultancy report with all annexes, ensuring that all tasks are completed within the designated timeline.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master's degree in Gender and Development Studies, International Affairs, or Political Science, along with a Certificate in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting. Candidates must have at least 7 years of experience in the field of women, peace, and security, with proven experience in facilitating high-level consultative workshops for governmental institutions and civil society organizations. Additionally, at least 3 years of experience in providing policy advice and technical assistance on women, peace, and security to government institutions is essential. Prior experience in developing National Action Plans on UN SCR 1325 is considered an asset, along with practical knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM) and experience in conducting research in gender equality and women's empowerment.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in Gender and Development Studies, International Affairs, or Political Science. A Certificate in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting is also required to ensure the consultant has the necessary skills to evaluate and report on the progress of the NAP-WPS III development.

Experience:
The consultant should have a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in the field of women, peace, and security. This includes proven experience in facilitating high-level consultative workshops for governmental institutions and civil society organizations, as well as at least 3 years of experience providing policy advice and technical assistance on women, peace, and security to government institutions. Experience in developing National Action Plans on UN SCR 1325 will be an asset, along with practical knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM) and conducting research in gender equality and women's empowerment.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is essential for effective communication and documentation throughout the consultancy process. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not specified as mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based in Monrovia, Liberia, with an estimated duration of up to 50 days within a 5-month work assignment, tentatively from January 2, 2026, to June 1, 202

• The consultant will engage in regular meetings with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, UN Women, and other stakeholders as required. Travel to designated counties will be necessary to gather data, and this will be facilitated in consultation with UN Women, following their rules and procedures governing duty travel. The consultant's performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered. Payments will be disbursed based on deliverables aligned with the expected outcomes outlined in the Terms of Reference.