Thematic Consultant (Gender)

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations entity dedicated to 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 in the area of gender equality. UN Women merges 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 collaboration with national and state governments, civil society partners, and development organizations to advance women's political participation, economic empowerment, and prevent gender-based violence. The organization is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and adheres to a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and discrimination. UN Women has a significant presence in various countries, including India, where it partners with the Government of India and other stakeholders to drive initiatives that foster sustainable growth and improve livelihood opportunities for women.

Job Overview:
The Thematic Consultant (Gender) will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive review and gender audit of the Nirbhaya Fund schemes in India. This role involves assessing the implementation of major schemes and programs funded by the Nirbhaya Fund, focusing on their effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, sustainability, and quality and accountability. The consultant will utilize a mixed-method approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate the schemes. The audit aims to identify gaps, good practices, and lessons learned, providing actionable recommendations to enhance the gender responsiveness of government schemes. The consultant will engage with various stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, and service providers, to gather insights and validate findings. The role requires a strong commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women, as well as the ability to analyze complex data and communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences. The consultant will also be expected to lead regional consultations and workshops to discuss the audit findings and recommendations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Thematic Consultant (Gender) will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

• Conduct a comprehensive review and gender audit of Nirbhaya Fund schemes, assessing their implementation at the field level.
• Utilize a mixed-method approach to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, sustainability, and quality of services provided under the Nirbhaya Fund.
• Engage with key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, and service providers, to gather insights and validate findings.
• Develop a gender audit framework/checklist tailored to Nirbhaya Fund interventions.
• Conduct online surveys with officials and frontline functionaries to assess the implementation status and capacity of the schemes.
• Conduct key informant interviews with representatives from relevant ministries, state officials, and civil society organizations to understand sustainability, quality, and accountability.
• Organize and facilitate two virtual regional consultations with key stakeholders to discuss various interventions funded by the Nirbhaya Fund.
• Prepare and deliver high-level presentations and policy briefs targeted at senior officials and stakeholders.
• Draft a final report with recommendations for strengthening Nirbhaya Fund interventions nationwide, including a roadmap for implementation. 1
• Ensure that all deliverables are clearly defined with timelines and means of verification.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires the following qualifications:

• A strong commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women, with demonstrated experience in researching or working on gender issues.
• Strong research and writing skills, with the ability to analyze complex data and communicate findings effectively.
• Initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to work harmoniously with staff members from diverse national and cultural backgrounds.
• Experience in conducting gender audits or evaluations of gender-responsive programs.
• Familiarity with the Nirbhaya Fund and its associated schemes is an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, or equivalent degrees from recognized institutions. A strong academic background in gender issues, social justice, or related fields is essential for this role.

Experience:
The position requires at least 12-15 years of professional work experience in action research, data and policy analysis, and advancing gender equality and women's rights. Candidates should have experience working at the national level on the development of gender-responsive programs, including evaluating policies and conducting consultations for drafting state or national policies. Experience in working with institutional mechanisms to strengthen prevention and response to survivor-centric services is also required.

Languages:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are mandatory. Proficiency in any other Indian language is considered an asset, as it will enhance the consultant's ability to communicate research findings to a variety of audiences.

Additional Notes:
This is a part-time assignment, and the consultant is expected to use their own computer equipment, as the office will not provide any. Travel and DSA will be booked and settled as per SSA norms directly by UN Women upon submission of the required documentation. The evaluation and selection process will include an interview and presentation, with criteria based on required qualifications and relevant experience. The consultant must ensure that all sections of the application form are completed to avoid disqualification from the recruitment process.