Consultant for UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard Assessment

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women (UNW) is an entity of the United Nations dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Established in July 2010, UN Women was created to consolidate the efforts of various UN bodies that previously focused on women's issues, including 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. UN Women works in numerous countries, providing leadership and support to member states in their efforts to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization is committed to placing women's rights at the center of its initiatives and collaborates with civil society and other stakeholders to ensure that gender equality commitments are translated into actionable results.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to facilitate the comprehensive UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard assessment, which evaluates the effectiveness of the UN Country Team (UNCT) in gender mainstreaming and promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. The consultant will develop an action plan that outlines priority measures to enhance collective action and accountability regarding gender equality. This role requires close collaboration with various stakeholders, including the UN Women Programme Specialist/Coordinator and the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO). The consultant will be responsible for conducting background research, facilitating consultations, and preparing reports that reflect the findings of the assessment. The position emphasizes the importance of participatory methods to ensure that the Technical Team involved in the assessment owns the process and outcomes.

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

• Facilitating the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard assessment process, which involves planning, consultations, and validation sessions with UNCT members and the RCO.
• Assisting UNCT entities in identifying compliance areas and gaps in meeting UNSDG requirements for gender mainstreaming.
• Stimulating constructive dialogue within the UNCT regarding current performance in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment, while identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Sharing best practices to support national efforts in promoting gender equality.
• Conducting a thorough review of relevant documents and data to inform the assessment process.
• Preparing an inception report outlining the methodology, work plan, and stakeholder engagement approach.
• Drafting the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard report, including a methodology section and action plan based on assessment findings.
• Presenting the draft report and action plan to the UNCT for feedback and endorsement, and finalizing the report based on this feedback.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in social and political sciences, human rights, gender equality, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted. A project/programme management certification is considered an advantage. The role requires a strong commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as the ability to evaluate and integrate information from multiple sources. Excellent research and analysis skills are essential, along with knowledge of the context in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT) and the institutional mandates of UN agencies regarding women's rights.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in social and political sciences, human rights, gender equality, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree if accompanied by relevant work experience. A project/programme management certification would be beneficial.

Experience:
A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in gender mainstreaming within development programs/projects at both national and international levels is required. Candidates should have experience in results-based management, review, and evaluation, as well as in gender data collection and analysis. Previous experience with the Gender Equality Scorecard and working with UN agencies is desirable, particularly in the Arab region, including Palestine.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, while proficiency in Arabic is desirable. This linguistic capability is essential for effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders in the region.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, with the possibility of a one-week field mission for data collection, contingent on the security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security situation. The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and requires competencies in gender awareness, accountability, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement. UN Women is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and adheres to a zero-tolerance policy regarding misconduct. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.