International Technical Support Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as 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 equality: DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM. The organization operates globally, with a specific focus on various regions, including the Pacific, where it addresses issues such as violence against women, women's economic empowerment, and gender protection in humanitarian action. UN Women aims to eliminate discrimination against women and girls and to empower women as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. The Fiji Multi Country Office (MCO) covers 14 Pacific countries and has field offices in 6 countries, working in partnership with governments, regional organizations, civil society organizations, donors, and UN agencies to deliver on its mission.

Job Overview:
The International Technical Support Consultant will play a crucial role in conducting a multi-country Situational Analysis to inform the design of a Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Pacific Programme. This position requires providing technical, analytical, and drafting support to the International Lead Consultant throughout the assignment. The consultant will be responsible for supporting desk reviews, data analysis, stakeholder consultations, and drafting sections of the Situational Analysis and associated reports. The consultant will work closely with the UN Women Fiji MCO Markets for Change (M4C) Team and the International Lead Consultant to ensure that the analysis is culturally and contextually appropriate. The role is expected to contribute to the overall synthesis of findings and recommendations, ensuring that the work aligns with UN Women’s goals of promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in the Pacific region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will have a variety of responsibilities, including:

• Supporting the desk review and synthesis of policies, strategies, and research related to women’s economic empowerment.
• Contributing to data analysis, thematic synthesis, and comparative analysis across different countries.
• Assisting in the design, documentation, and analysis of stakeholder consultations.
• Drafting sections of the Situational Analysis and Policy & Programme Recommendations reports as assigned by the Lead Consultant.
• Preparing presentation materials and validation documentation.
• Ensuring timely incorporation of feedback from UN Women and stakeholders.
• Conducting field-based qualitative data collection, such as interviews, and summarizing key findings.
• Providing contextual insights to inform the evaluation’s analysis and reporting.
• Collaborating with the International Lead Consultant to ensure the evaluation approach is culturally and contextually appropriate. 1
• Reporting to the Lead Consultant and contributing inputs to the overall synthesis of the project.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s equivalent or higher) in Economics, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Sociology, Public Policy, Law, or a related field. Alternatively, 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 at least five years of progressively responsible experience in gender equality and/or economic development research, particularly focusing on women’s economic empowerment and the informal economy. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in gender and economic studies, including research, analysis, and drafting of technical outputs. Experience working in Pacific Island States or similar contexts is essential, along with strong qualitative and quantitative research skills. A background in gender studies, economics, sociology, or development studies is preferred, and familiarity with feminist economic principles is an asset.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s equivalent or higher) in relevant fields such as Economics, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Sociology, Public Policy, or Law is required. A first-level university degree with additional qualifying experience may also be considered. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of gender equality and economic empowerment in various contexts, particularly in the Pacific region.

Experience:
The consultant should have at least five years of relevant professional experience if holding a Master's degree, or seven years if holding a first-level university degree. This experience should include supporting gender equality and economic development research, with a focus on women's economic empowerment and the informal economy. Candidates should have a proven track record in conducting gender and economic studies, including research, analysis, and drafting of technical outputs. Experience in Pacific Island States or similar development contexts is highly desirable, along with strong skills in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

Languages:
Fluency in both written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Pacific languages is considered an asset, as it may enhance communication and engagement with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy assignment will be home-based, with expected travel to Pacific Island countries as needed. The duration of the assignment is up to 120 working days over a period of 5 months, starting in March 2026 or as soon as possible. The consultant is expected to allocate a minimum of 40% of their effort to the Markets for Change (M4C) project during this period. Payments will be disbursed in instalments upon submission and approval of deliverables, and the consultant will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered. UN Women will cover the air ticket cost for travel to the duty station and back to the home country at the end of the assignment, up to a maximum of USD $5,000.00 on a reimbursable basis.