Consultant for Gender Bonds and Blended Finance

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance the impact of gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives. It merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, focusing on eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between genders. UN Women operates in 25 countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, addressing critical issues such as the care deficit and the economic implications of unpaid care work. The organization aims to mobilize resources for care-related investments and improve women's access to education, employment, and public life.

Job Overview:
The consultancy position involves leading a comprehensive regional study on the feasibility and design of gender bonds and blended finance models to support care systems in Eastern and Southern Africa. The consultant will analyze how these financial instruments can mobilize resources for care-related investments, including infrastructure, services, and workforce development. The study will also explore the integration of climate considerations into care investments and the role of public and private actors in financing care systems. The consultant will be responsible for conducting a desk review, data collection, analysis, and report writing, culminating in a comprehensive regional analytical report that includes practical pathways for financing care systems through gender bonds and blended finance instruments.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a desk review of global and regional literature on financing care systems and blended finance instruments.
• Develop an inception report outlining the analytical framework, methodology, and work plan for the study.
• Map existing and emerging blended financing instruments relevant to care systems across 25 countries in the region.
• Analyze the roles of public and private sector actors in mobilizing capital for care systems.
• Prepare a comprehensive regional analytical report that combines region-wide analysis with illustrative country examples.
• Deliver a presentation of key findings for a validation workshop and revise the report based on feedback.
• Support UN Women in disseminating findings through presentation materials or summary inputs as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in economics, finance, gender studies, public policy, or a related field; a PhD is an asset.
• A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in research and policy analysis on sustainable finance and/or the care economy.
• Proven experience working with governments, international organizations, and civil society on innovative financing strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in producing high-quality quantitative research reports, policy briefs, or academic publications.
• Experience working in East and Southern Africa or similar socio-economic contexts.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in relevant fields such as economics, finance, gender studies, or public policy. A PhD is considered an asset. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in research and policy analysis, particularly in sustainable finance and the care economy. Candidates should have a proven track record of working with various stakeholders, including governments and international organizations, to develop innovative financing strategies. Experience in producing high-quality research outputs and familiarity with the socio-economic contexts of East and Southern Africa is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish, is desirable but not required.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is remote, and the contract duration is not specified. The position is expected to be full-time, and candidates should be prepared for rigorous reference and background checks. UN Women emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its recruitment process and has a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct. Selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures.