Individual consultancy services (international) to support the UNCT Turkmenistan Comprehensive SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard

Job Posting Organization:
The job is posted by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), which is a UN agency established in 196

• UNFPA's mission is to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The organization operates in over 150 countries and territories, focusing on reproductive health, gender equality, and population issues. UNFPA aims to promote the rights of individuals and couples to make informed choices about their reproductive health and to support countries in achieving their development goals through population and development strategies.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to support the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Turkmenistan in implementing the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard. This initiative is part of a broader effort to mainstream gender equality and women's empowerment within UN operations. The consultant will assess the effectiveness of the UNCT in promoting gender equality, resource allocation, and progress on gender parity. The role involves collaborating with the Interagency Assessment Team (IAT) and the UN thematic group on Human Rights and Gender to identify areas of improvement in gender mainstreaming practices. The consultant will facilitate a participatory self-assessment process, ensuring that the assessment team leads and owns the process. The consultancy is expected to last for 20 working days, from May 14, 2026, to September 10, 2026, and will include both home-based work and in-country missions to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will have several key responsibilities, including:

• Assisting UNCTs in identifying areas where they meet or do not meet the minimum UNSDG requirements for gender mainstreaming.
• Facilitating constructive dialogue within the UNCT regarding the status of support for gender equality and women's empowerment.
• Identifying opportunities for technical assistance to achieve minimum requirements.
• Sharing and reflecting on existing practices to advance gender equality.
• Conducting a background document review, including UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard Technical Guidance and Framework, and relevant national reports.
• Supporting the UN Human Rights and Gender Theme Group and IAT through a 4-day in-country self-assessment, including pre-mission briefings and gender analysis of verification documents.
• Facilitating working sessions to develop the SWAP implementation Action Plan.
• Drafting the UNCT-SWAP narrative report and consolidating the Action Plan based on agreed follow-up action points.
• Presenting the final assessment to the UNCT.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires advanced qualifications and competencies, including:

• An advanced (Masters) degree in social and political sciences, human rights, or gender equality.
• At least 7 years of practical experience in gender mainstreaming in development, including evaluations or assessments at national and international levels.
• Previous experience with the UN on gender equality is considered an asset.
• At least 3 years of experience in results-based management, review, and/or evaluation.
• Experience in gender data collection and analysis, including interviews, surveys, and focus groups is preferred.
• Familiarity with the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard and experience in conducting gender training for development agency staff is preferred.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced (Masters) degree in relevant fields such as social and political sciences, human rights, or gender equality. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively contribute to the consultancy's objectives.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of practical experience in gender mainstreaming within development contexts. This includes experience in conducting evaluations or assessments at both national and international levels. Candidates should also have at least 3 years of experience in results-based management, review, or evaluation, demonstrating a solid understanding of how to measure and assess gender-related initiatives and outcomes.

Languages:
Proficiency in written and verbal English is mandatory for this position. This language requirement is crucial for effective communication, reporting, and collaboration with various stakeholders involved in the consultancy. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is set to last for 20 working days, from May 14, 2026, to September 10, 2026, and will involve both home-based work and in-country missions to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The consultant will be expected to conduct a 4-day field mission to participate in meetings with UN agencies. The consultancy fee will be calculated based on the P-4 level of the UN Salary Scale for Professional and higher categories effective January 1, 2026, and will be paid in a lump sum upon successful completion of deliverables. UNFPA promotes a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and healthy work-life balance, encouraging women and individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.