Consultant for Gender Responsive Law-Making Processes

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women (UNW) is an organization grounded in the vision of equality as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Established in 2010, UN Women works towards the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women, and the achievement of gender equality. The organization operates globally, with a mission to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action. UN Women provides leadership in support of Member States’ priorities, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. The organization has a unique capacity to support Member States in strengthening global norms for gender equality and women’s empowerment, promoting coordination across the UN system, and undertaking operational activities to translate global norms into local legislation and policies. UN Women has been active in the State of Palestine since 1997, focusing on gender equality and women's empowerment in alignment with national priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

Job Overview:
The Consultant for Gender Responsive Law-Making Processes will play a crucial role in building the capacity of legal teams within the Official Gazette Bureau (OGB) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in Palestine. The main objective of this consultancy is to enhance the understanding and skills of legal personnel in drafting and reviewing legislation from a gender perspective. This involves providing legal advice to government entities to ensure compliance with international human rights conventions, particularly CEDAW. The consultant will work closely with UN Women’s technical team and will be responsible for developing training materials, conducting training sessions, and submitting reports on the training outcomes. The consultant will also be expected to integrate gender and women's rights perspectives into laws and regulations, thereby contributing to the broader goal of promoting gender equality and combating violence against women in Palestine.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Inception Phase: Develop an inception report detailing the work plan and methodology, including theoretical and practical components. Meet with UN Women’s technical team and OGB and MoJ focal points to discuss objectives and deliverables.
• Implementation Phase: Identify training needs and topics with OGB and MoJ focal points. Prepare training materials and assessments. Conduct six days of training sessions covering topics such as gender equality, international legal frameworks, national legal frameworks, principles of gender-responsive law-making, and tools for gender analysis in legislation.
• Reporting: Develop and submit a training report for each group, outlining proceedings and outcomes. Submit a final narrative report detailing the assignment, achievements, methodology, lessons learned, and recommendations.
• Deliverables: Complete the inception report within one week of contract signature, and successfully conduct training and submit the narrative report within three months of contract signature.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: A master’s degree in law, gender studies, human rights, or public policy is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Experience: At least three years of experience in legislative processes, law drafting, and reviewing laws from a gender perspective is required. Experience in gender equality, women’s rights, and violence against women is essential. Experience in capacity building related to women’s access to justice and gender equality is also required. Familiarity with the UN system or international organizations is desirable, as is experience with the justice system. A sample of training material and a training report related to legal reform must be included in the application.

Educational Background:
A master’s degree in law, gender studies, human rights, or public policy is required for this position. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to gender-responsive law-making processes.

Experience:
The position requires at least three years of relevant experience in legislative processes, specifically in drafting and reviewing laws from a gender perspective. This experience should include a strong focus on gender equality and women’s rights, as well as violence against women. Additionally, experience in capacity building, particularly in areas related to women’s access to justice and gender equality, is required. Familiarity with the UN system or international organizations is desirable, as is experience within the justice system, which will enhance the consultant's ability to navigate the complexities of legal frameworks and gender issues.

Languages:
Fluency in Arabic is mandatory for this position, as it is essential for effective communication with local stakeholders and legal personnel. Additionally, a working knowledge of English is required to engage with international standards and frameworks, as well as to communicate with UN Women and other international partners.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based but requires frequent field visits to partner institution main offices in the West Bank, Palestine. The contract duration and seniority level are not specified in the job ad, and there is no mention of compensation or benefits. The consultant will be expected to engage with various stakeholders, including government entities and civil society organizations, to ensure the successful implementation of the training and capacity-building initiatives.