National Consultant on Gender Equality and Governance Reform

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an entity of the United Nations established in July 2010, with the mission to advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women globally. 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 in multiple countries, working towards the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving 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 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.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant on Gender Equality and Governance Reform will play a crucial role in supporting UN Women’s initiatives aimed at enhancing women's political leadership and fostering gender-sensitive reforms within political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This position is part of the Joint Programme Gender Equality Accelerator (GEA), which is financially supported by the European Union, Sweden, and Denmark. The consultant will provide technical and methodological support to political parties, contributing to the development of practical tools, evidence-based assessments, and capacity-building processes that advance systemic and sustainable change. The consultant will report to the Governance and Leadership Programme Coordination Specialist and will work closely with the Programme Management Specialist and the Programme Assistant. The overall goal is to increase women's representation in governance and decision-making processes while ensuring that these processes are inclusive and accountable.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting a gender audit of political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which includes preparing a detailed work plan for the implementation of gender audits, collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, and drafting tailored gender audit reports for each political party. The consultant will also provide regular updates on the status and progress of implementation through monthly email reports and meetings, and prepare a final consultancy report outlining results and recommendations. The scope of work includes:

• Gender Audit of Political Parties (43 working days): a) Prepare a detailed work plan for the implementation of gender audits, including methodology and timelines; b) Collect and analyze data to draft tailored reports with findings and recommendations.
• Reporting and Recommendations (2 working days): a) Provide regular updates on implementation status; b) Prepare a final consultancy report in English not exceeding 10 pages.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master’s degree or equivalent in Law, Political Science, Gender Studies, Social Sciences, International Relations, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates must have at least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in gender equality, democratic governance, public administration reform, or political participation. Experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, drafting analytical reports, and delivering training or presentations in politically sensitive environments is also required. Proven experience conducting or contributing to institutional gender audits is desirable, along with experience working with UN organizations or intergovernmental processes related to gender equality.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as Law, Political Science, Gender Studies, Social Sciences, or International Relations. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by additional qualifying experience. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively contribute to gender equality and governance reform initiatives.

Experience:
The consultant is expected to have a minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible experience in areas related to gender equality, democratic governance, public administration reform, or political participation. This experience should include at least 2 years in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, as well as experience in drafting analytical reports and delivering training or presentations in high-level, politically sensitive contexts. Proven experience in conducting institutional gender audits is a plus, as is familiarity with UN processes related to gender equality.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian is required for this position. This linguistic capability is essential for effective communication and reporting, as well as for engaging with diverse stakeholders in the political landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, with the possibility of requiring some presence at UN Women premises in Sarajevo. Any necessary travel will be pre-arranged and approved in consultation with the supervisor, with travel expenses covered by UN Women. The total number of working days for this consultancy is 45, with specific deliverables and timelines outlined in the job description. The consultant will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures, including undergoing rigorous reference and background checks.