National Consultant on Gender Equality and Governance Reform

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 equality and women's empowerment. 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 numerous countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, where it implements programs like the Joint UN Programme Gender Equality Accelerator (GEA), which aims to advance gender equality and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The organization emphasizes collaboration with governmental, civil society, and international partners to create sustainable institutional changes that promote gender equality.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant on Gender Equality and Governance Reform will play a crucial role in supporting women's political leadership and fostering gender-sensitive reforms within political parties, parliaments, local governments, and supreme audit institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The consultant will provide technical and methodological support across multiple stakeholders, 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 be responsible for developing a practical learning and orientation tool for women candidates, conducting gender audits of political parties and a parliament, providing technical support to audit institutions, and preparing reports and recommendations. This position requires a strong expertise in gender equality, governance reform, political participation, and institutional transformation, with a focus on creating sustainable institutional change that enhances women's representation and strengthens democratic governance.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include:

• Development of a Practical Learning and Orientation Tool for Women Candidates, which involves designing a user-friendly political planner tailored for women candidates in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Conducting a Gender Audit of Political Parties, which includes preparing a detailed work plan, collecting and analyzing data, and drafting tailored gender audit reports for three political parties.
• Conducting a Gender Audit of a Parliament, which involves preparing a work plan, collecting and analyzing data, and drafting a tailored gender audit report for one parliament.
• Providing Technical Support to Audit Institutions, which includes developing an 'audit universe' document, delivering training sessions, and providing ongoing technical advisory support.
• Reporting and Recommendations, which involves providing regular updates on the status of implementation and preparing a final consultancy report outlining results and recommendations. The total expected duration for the consultancy is 110 working days, with specific deliverables and timelines outlined for each task.

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 5 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 in politically sensitive environments is also required. Experience working with audit institutions and conducting institutional gender audits is desirable, as is experience with UN organizations and processes related to women's empowerment and 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 for understanding the complexities of gender equality and governance reform.

Experience:
The position requires at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in areas related to gender equality, democratic governance, public administration reform, or political participation. Candidates should have experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, drafting analytical reports, and facilitating discussions in high-level, politically sensitive environments. Experience with audit institutions and conducting gender audits is also beneficial, as is familiarity with UN processes related to gender equality.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian is required for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication and engagement with diverse stakeholders in the context of gender equality and governance reform.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based but may require some presence at UN Women premises in Sarajevo. Any travel will be pre-arranged and approved, with expenses covered by UN Women. The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and seeks candidates who demonstrate awareness and sensitivity regarding gender issues, accountability, and effective communication. The consultant will be expected to adhere to UN Women's policies and procedures, including a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the organization's aims and objectives.