Consultant for Women’s Economic Empowerment

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact in promoting gender equality. UN Women operates globally, focusing on eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between women and men. The organization works in various thematic areas including governance, economic empowerment, ending violence against women, and humanitarian action. In Uzbekistan, UN Women aligns its efforts with the global Strategic Plan 2026–2029, aiming to ensure that women and girls fully exercise their human rights and participate in sustainable socioeconomic development.

Job Overview:
The Consultant for Women’s Economic Empowerment will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the 'Women’s Economic Empowerment in Uzbekistan' project. This position involves providing technical, analytical, and coordination support in the design, implementation, and monitoring of program activities. The consultant will contribute to regular reporting and strategic updates in line with program objectives. The role emphasizes promoting women-led business development, enhancing access to financial services, and facilitating job matching for women graduates of skills training. The consultant will also engage with various stakeholders, including women entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and government counterparts, to foster an inclusive economic environment for women in Uzbekistan.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a wide range of duties including:

• Providing technical and coordination support for the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO, ensuring alignment with UN Women standards and priorities.
• Supporting the implementation of gender-responsive financial services for women entrepreneurs by assessing existing financial products and developing guidelines and training materials.
• Facilitating job matching and employment opportunities for women graduates by coordinating with training providers and employers.
• Expanding the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) program by promoting its adoption among companies and supporting capacity-building initiatives.
• Contributing to knowledge management and reporting by developing guidance notes, collecting monitoring data, and documenting lessons learned from various activities.
• Engaging with stakeholders to ensure gender-responsive recommendations are integrated into project outputs and reporting.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in economics, gender studies, development studies, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. The consultant should demonstrate a strong understanding of women’s economic empowerment, gender-responsive financial services, and the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders effectively.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in relevant fields such as economics, gender studies, or development studies is required. A first-level university degree may be accepted with additional qualifying experience, emphasizing the importance of formal education in understanding the complexities of gender equality and economic empowerment.

Experience:
At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in women’s economic empowerment, livelihood recovery, or employment-related programming is required. Candidates should have proven experience in designing and implementing skills mapping, gap analyses, and vocational training programs, as well as working with public institutions and the private sector on women’s economic empowerment initiatives.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Uzbek is mandatory, with knowledge of Russian considered an asset. This linguistic proficiency is essential for effective communication and engagement with diverse stakeholders in the region.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration is a maximum of 100 working days until December 31, 2027, with payments made monthly based on approved deliverables. This is a home-based assignment with potential travel to project provinces as needed. UN Women Uzbekistan will cover travel costs according to their regulations. The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and requires strong competencies in stakeholder engagement, effective communication, and problem-solving.