Consultant for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Policy Brief

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. It 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 issues, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM. 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 works in various countries, including Nepal, where it conducts evaluations to assess its contributions to gender equality and women's empowerment.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in updating the existing policy brief on gender in Nepal. This brief aims to provide a concise, evidence-based overview of the pressing challenges and opportunities related to gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE) in the country. The consultant will work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst and the Nepal Country Office (NCO) team, as well as various thematic working groups, to complete this assignment. The consultant's work will be home-based, with expected domestic travel within Nepal. The consultant will connect with the team during Asia and the Pacific working hours via online platforms. The primary intended users of this evaluation are UN Women Nepal Country Office and key stakeholders, including government entities, civil society organizations, development partners, and other UN agencies. The consultant's contributions will support decision-making regarding the development of the next Strategic Note and enhance accountability for development effectiveness, learning from experience, and mobilizing national stakeholders to advance gender equality and women's empowerment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be involved in various phases of evaluations, including:

• Planning Stage: Reviewing relevant documents such as strategic notes, project documents, donor reports, and evaluation reports to identify efforts relevant to the evaluation topic.
• Inception Stage: Contributing to the development of an inclusive evaluation methodology tailored to the thematic area, including the evaluation matrix and data collection tools.
• Data Collection Stage: Supporting interviews, focus group discussions, and consultations by taking detailed notes and ensuring adherence to ethical guidelines. The consultant will also contribute to evaluation analysis by capturing results, challenges, gaps, and learning pertinent to the evaluation topic, providing translation/interpretation support as necessary.
• Reporting Stage: Providing substantive inputs to the final synthesis report and supporting case studies through inputs on thematic areas. The consultant will also perform other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master's degree or equivalent in Gender, Development Studies, International Affairs, or similar fields. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Candidates must have at least five years of progressively responsible work experience in evaluation, research, review, or assessment related to GEWE, specifically in Nepal. Strong knowledge and understanding of GEWE issues in Nepal, including gender-responsive governance and women's economic empowerment, is essential. Candidates should demonstrate analytical skills with a strong drive for results and the capacity to work independently. Excellent English communication and writing skills are required, and working knowledge of Nepali is an added advantage.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree or equivalent in Gender, Development Studies, International Affairs, or similar fields. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of gender issues and the development landscape in Nepal.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of progressively responsible work experience in evaluation, research, review, or assessment related to gender equality and women's empowerment, specifically in the context of Nepal. This experience should include a strong understanding of gender-responsive governance and women's economic empowerment, as well as proven experience working on gender equality and women's rights in Nepal. Analytical skills and the ability to work independently are also essential for this role.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Nepali is required for this position. Proficiency in both languages is essential for effective communication and reporting, as the consultant will be required to conduct interviews and produce written reports in English while also engaging with local stakeholders in Nepali.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, but domestic travel within Nepal is required. The consultant will need to adhere to the UN Women Evaluation Consultant Agreement Form, which is based on the UNEG Ethical Guidelines and Code of Conduct. All data collected by the consultant must be submitted to the evaluation manager and is considered the property of UN Women. Proper data storage and confidentiality are essential, and the evaluation will follow the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Evaluation. The evaluation process will prioritize ethical considerations to ensure that AI use does not introduce bias or compromise confidentiality. The consultant will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures, including a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims of the United Nations.