Consultant for Gender-Responsive Financial Solutions

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance gender equality and women's empowerment globally. The organization merges the efforts of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender issues, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM. UN Women operates in multiple countries, working towards the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between women and men. The organization emphasizes the importance of gender equality in development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational needs.

Job Overview:
The consultancy position focuses on enhancing gender-responsive financial solutions for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those owned by women, in the Caribbean region. The consultant will be tasked with localizing a technical tool developed by UN Women to assess gender inclusivity in financial products and services. This involves engaging with financial institutions in the Eastern Caribbean to identify their readiness, constraints, and opportunities for integrating gender considerations into their offerings. The consultant will also facilitate a regional knowledge-sharing event to promote the adapted tool and encourage its adoption among stakeholders. The ultimate goal is to improve access to finance for women-owned MSMEs and strengthen the capacity of financial service providers to offer gender-responsive financial instruments.

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

• Conducting a desk review of financial institutions in four OECS countries (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) to map the financial landscape and categorize institutions based on their gender integration practices.
• Engaging with stakeholders through structured interviews and focus groups to gather qualitative data on institutional needs, gender practices, operational challenges, and opportunities for inclusive financial mechanisms.
• Analyzing stakeholder insights to identify gaps and opportunities related to gender-responsive finance and producing a concise analytical report summarizing the findings.
• Adapting the UN Women Inclusion Analysis Tool for the OECS context, ensuring its applicability and usability for English-speaking financial institutions.
• Organizing and facilitating a regional knowledge-sharing event to present the adapted tool and its findings, encouraging the uptake of gender-responsive approaches among financial institutions.
• Submitting a comprehensive final report documenting the consultancy's results, including strategic recommendations for advancing gender-responsive finance in the region.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree (or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Business Administration, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of 7 years of professional experience in sustainable financing for MSMEs, with at least 5 years focused on gender-responsive finance and inclusive MSME development. Experience in designing and delivering capacity-building initiatives related to financial inclusion is also required, along with proven experience in conducting institutional assessments and stakeholder consultations within the financial sector. Familiarity with the Caribbean regional context, particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), is considered a strong asset, as are established networks with financial institutions in the OECS region.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as Economics, Finance, Gender Studies, Development Studies, or Business Administration is required. A first-level university degree may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree if accompanied by additional qualifying experience.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of professional experience in sustainable financing for MSMEs, with at least 5 years specifically in gender-responsive finance and inclusive MSME development. Candidates should also have a minimum of 2 years of experience in capacity-building initiatives related to financial inclusion, as well as experience in conducting institutional assessments and stakeholder consultations within the financial sector.

Languages:
Fluency in written and oral English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Spanish is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with a broader range of stakeholders in the region.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, with the possibility of undertaking up to four missions to Grenada, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The consultant will report to the UN Women MCO Caribbean Planning and Coordination Specialist and will work closely with the Communications and Advocacy Analyst. The consultancy is expected to contribute to the Build Back Equal project, which aims to advance economic and social equality for women and girls in the Caribbean, particularly in the context of challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. The final deliverables will include a comprehensive report, an updated database of financial institutions, and adapted tools for financial inclusion.