Consultant for Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion in Rural Egypt

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an entity of the United Nations established in July 2010, dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda, merging resources and mandates from four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women 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. The organization works in various countries, including Egypt, where it supports national strategies for women's empowerment and gender equality, aligning its efforts with international commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Job Overview:
The primary objective of this consultancy is to enhance the efficiency of microfinance associations in Egypt, particularly those that serve financially marginalized groups, including members of Savings Groups (SGs) under the 'Ta7wisha' program. This program aims to empower rural women economically by providing them with access to financial services, training, and support for entrepreneurship. The consultant will work closely with the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) to build the institutional capacities of microfinance institutions (MFIs) to design and implement gender lens investing mechanisms. This role involves developing training materials, conducting workshops, and facilitating partnerships to ensure that women in rural areas can access financial resources and improve their economic standing. The consultant will also be responsible for collecting monitoring and evaluation data to assess the impact of the training and capacity-building efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct discussions with the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) to assess the capacity needs of affiliated microfinance institutions (MFIs).
• Design and develop training materials focused on gender lens investing and gender-responsive evaluation for MFIs.
• Deliver capacity-building workshops for MFIs on gender-themed financial products tailored to the needs of the 'Ta7wisha' saving groups.
• Create a work plan for connecting FRA-affiliated MFIs with 'Ta7wisha' segmented groups to extend financial and non-financial services.
• Collect and analyze monitoring and evaluation data, including attendance records and post-training evaluations.
• Collaborate with UN Women consultants and other stakeholders to maximize the impact of the program.
• Perform additional tasks as required to ensure sustainable impact and alignment with program goals.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in finance, social sciences, economics, gender development studies, or related fields is required.
• A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in economics and microfinance, including training skills, is required.
• Familiarity with gender issues and development challenges in rural Egypt is essential.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with government partners, NGOs, MFIs, and community stakeholders is required.
• Excellent analytical skills and a strong drive for results are necessary, along with the capacity to work independently.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or an equivalent qualification in relevant fields such as finance, social sciences, economics, or gender development studies. A first-level university degree may be considered if accompanied by additional qualifying experience, demonstrating the candidate's capability in the field.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in the fields of economics and microfinance. Candidates should have a solid understanding of gender equality and women's economic empowerment issues, particularly in the context of rural areas in Egypt. Experience working with government entities, NGOs, and community stakeholders is crucial, as is the ability to demonstrate strong analytical skills and a results-oriented approach.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and Arabic is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of any other UN official language, such as French, is considered an asset and may enhance the candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, meaning that there will be no requirement for travel as part of the assignment. The role is focused on building the capacity of microfinance institutions to better serve women in rural Egypt, particularly through the 'Ta7wisha' program. The position is expected to contribute to the broader goals of financial inclusion and women's empowerment in alignment with Egypt's Vision 2030 and the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women.