Consultant for Women's Economic Empowerment and Disaster Risk Reduction

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The organization was created as part of the UN reform agenda, aiming to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact on gender equality and women's empowerment. 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 has a significant presence in various countries, including Uganda, where it focuses on Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) initiatives, among other priorities. The organization is committed to fostering partnerships with donors, government partners, international organizations, and the private sector to enhance its programming and impact.

Job Overview:
The consultant position is focused on supporting the expansion of partnerships for the UN Women Country Office, particularly in the areas of Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). The consultant will be responsible for providing program development services, including preparing WEE program briefs, policy position papers, and drafting project concept notes and proposals. The role also involves identifying areas for support within the WEE portfolio, particularly in its intersection with other thematic areas such as Governance and Gender-Based Violence. The consultant will build partnerships and support resource mobilization efforts to fund WEE outcomes, analyze donor information, and develop substantive briefs on cooperation opportunities. Additionally, the consultant will provide technical support for the implementation and management of WEE/DRR programs, ensuring alignment with gender-responsive frameworks. Advocacy, knowledge building, and communication efforts related to WEE/DRR will also be part of the consultant's responsibilities, including developing advocacy strategies and contributing to knowledge management strategies and products.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide program development services to the Women’s Economic Empowerment/DRR Portfolio: Prepare WEE program briefs, policy position papers, and other relevant documents; Assist in drafting project concept notes and proposals; Identify areas for support and interventions within the WEE Portfolio, particularly in its intersection with other thematic areas such as Governance and Gender-Based Violence.
• Build partnerships and support resource mobilization: Develop and implement partnerships and resource mobilization strategies to fund WEE outcomes; Provide relevant documentation on donors and potential opportunities for resource mobilization; Analyze and research information on donors and prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation; Determine programmatic areas of cooperation based on strategic goals of UN Women and donor priorities.
• Provide technical support for WEE/DRR program management: Assist in planning, implementation, and evaluation of WEE projects; Provide inputs to project workplans and budgets; Support results reporting on WEE/DRR in UN Women and inter-agency systems.
• Support advocacy, knowledge building, and communication efforts: Develop advocacy strategies related to WEE/DRR; Contribute to knowledge management strategies and products; Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned for global dissemination.

Required Qualifications:

• Education and Certification: Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, social sciences, Gender Studies, Law, Political Science, Development Studies, or closely related fields; A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree; A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.
• Experience: At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in programs to advance women’s economic empowerment and DRR; Experience in resource mobilization for women’s economic empowerment (concept notes, proposals); Experience in designing and implementing gender-responsive programming, particularly in an East African context; Experience working with local and national partners to design and implement capacity strengthening initiatives; Proficiency in using computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems; Experience working with UN agencies is an added advantage.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as economics, social sciences, Gender Studies, Law, Political Science, or Development Studies. A first-level university degree may be accepted with additional qualifying experience. A project/programme management certification is considered an asset.

Experience:
The consultant should have at least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in programs aimed at advancing women’s economic empowerment and disaster risk reduction. This experience should include responsibilities for the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects. Additionally, experience in resource mobilization related to women’s economic empowerment is required, along with experience in gender-responsive programming, particularly in the East African context.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Knowledge of any other UN official language is considered an asset, enhancing the consultant's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based and requires a full-time commitment throughout the consultancy period. The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity. The consultant is expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures, including a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form are completed to avoid disqualification from the recruitment process.