Consultant for Regional Programming and Coordination in South Asia

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance gender equality and women's empowerment globally. The organization merges the efforts of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM, to create a more impactful entity focused on women's rights and gender equality. UN Women operates in multiple countries, providing leadership and support to Member States in their efforts to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve gender equality. The organization emphasizes strong partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors to ensure that commitments on gender equality translate into action. In South Asia, UN Women supports regional and country-level efforts aligned with global frameworks such as the Beijing Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on key thematic areas including women's economic empowerment, ending violence against women, and women's political participation.

Job Overview:
The consultant will provide strategic and programmatic guidance to enhance UN Women's partnerships and work in South Asia. This role involves ensuring coherent and effective regional programming, advocacy, and partnerships that align with the Strategic Notes of the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. The consultant will coordinate with regional thematic leads and assess the needs and priorities of UN Women Country Offices in South Asia, which includes countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The consultant's responsibilities will include developing an engagement strategy, enhancing visibility and impact of UN Women's work, and identifying resource mobilization opportunities to support subregional work in South Asia. The consultant will also be expected to support regional initiatives related to women's economic empowerment, ending violence against women, and gender-responsive governance, among other areas.

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

• Developing a regional programming approach and coordination plan for South Asia aligned with thematic priority areas.
• Identifying areas of cooperation and partnership with global, regional, and sub-regional entities to enhance gender-responsive programming.
• Supporting regional initiatives on women's labor force participation, entrepreneurship, and care economy.
• Facilitating regional exchanges of good practices and policy approaches to prevent violence against women.
• Supporting advocacy on women's leadership and participation in decision-making.
• Coordinating regional engagement on gender, climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction.
• Strengthening UN Women's engagement with intergovernmental bodies and contributing to regional advocacy messages and position papers.
• Documenting regional good practices and lessons learned.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master's degree in Gender and Development, Public Policy, Sustainable Development, or other relevant disciplines. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. The consultant must possess a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in gender equality, women's empowerment, and development, particularly in the South Asia context. Experience working with global and regional entities relevant to South Asia is considered an asset, as is proven experience in areas such as women's economic empowerment, leadership, and gender-responsive governance.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a Master's degree in a relevant field such as Gender and Development, Public Policy, or Sustainable Development. A first-level university degree may be accepted if combined with sufficient qualifying experience, specifically two additional years of relevant work experience.

Experience:
The consultant should have at least 5 years of practical experience in gender equality and women's empowerment, with a focus on the South Asia region. Experience in working with global and regional entities, as well as proven expertise in areas such as women's economic empowerment and ending violence against women, is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of other languages spoken in the South Asia region is considered an asset and may enhance the consultant's effectiveness in the role.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is part-time, requiring the consultant to work 4 days per week, totaling 80% of a full-time position. The consultant may work onsite in Bangkok or remotely, depending on the agreement reached during the recruitment process. If working remotely, the consultant must be available to work according to South Asia time zones. The role will involve travel throughout South Asia, which will be arranged by UN Women in accordance with their Travel Policy. The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and candidates are expected to adhere to UN Women's policies and standards of conduct.