National Gender Expert (NO-B)

Job Posting Organization:
The job is posted by UNFPA Uzbekistan, which is part of the United Nations Population Fund. UNFPA is dedicated to ensuring that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The organization works in over 150 countries, focusing on reproductive health, gender equality, and population issues. UNFPA Uzbekistan specifically aims to improve access to quality social services for vulnerable populations in the country, particularly in the context of gender-based violence (GBV) and social protection.

Job Overview:
The National Gender Expert will serve as the Project Coordinator for the 'Uzbekistan Innovative Social Protection System for Inclusion of Vulnerable People (INSON)' Project. This role involves providing technical, coordination, and implementation support across the project, ensuring that all interventions are anchored in the national policy and institutional context. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for effective implementation, coordination, and technical follow-up of UNFPA-supported outputs under the Agreement. The position requires close collaboration with various stakeholders, including government entities, service providers, and international partners, to enhance the quality and accessibility of social services delivered to vulnerable populations, particularly survivors of GBV.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Gender Expert will perform a variety of functions, including:

• Project Coordination and Implementation: Act as the primary coordination focal point between UNFPA, NASP, PIU, the World Bank, and national stakeholders; ensure timely and effective implementation of project outputs in line with the agreed workplan; coordinate inputs across government entities and partners; support the organization and follow-up of technical meetings and consultations.
• Technical and Operational Support: Deliver outputs related to GBV multisectoral response and service quality; contribute national expertise to policy documents and action plans; facilitate alignment of project outputs with national legislation and reforms.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation: Ensure effective communication and coordination among all stakeholders; facilitate consultations and validation processes; strengthen coordination mechanisms across sectors involved in GBV response.
• Monitoring, Reporting, and Knowledge Management: Contribute to progress reports and technical briefs; support data collection and documentation of good practices; ensure outputs align with project indicators and reporting obligations.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree in law, public policy, social sciences, social work, gender studies, or a related field. Candidates should have at least 7 years of professional experience in GBV programming, social protection, or multisectoral service delivery in Uzbekistan. Demonstrated experience working with government institutions and coordinating multi-stakeholder processes is essential. Strong knowledge of national legislation and service delivery systems related to GBV is required, along with experience in supporting policy development and drafting standard operating procedures (SOPs). Excellent analytical, facilitation, and drafting skills are necessary for this role.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as law, public policy, social sciences, social work, or gender studies. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of gender issues and social protection systems in Uzbekistan.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of professional experience in areas related to GBV programming, social protection, or multisectoral service delivery specifically within Uzbekistan. This experience should include working with government institutions and engaging in multi-stakeholder processes, demonstrating the ability to navigate complex institutional frameworks and contribute effectively to policy development and implementation.

Languages:
Fluency in English, Uzbek, and Russian is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication with various stakeholders, including government officials, international partners, and local communities.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to start in May 2026 and will last for 8 months. The consultant will work from home but will need to travel to various regions in Uzbekistan as required. Payment will be made monthly based on the completion and acceptance of deliverables by UNFPA Uzbekistan staff. The consultant will report directly to UNFPA Uzbekistan and will be supervised by the National Programme Specialist on Gender and Social Norms Change. All deliverables must be drafted in English, Russian, or Uzbek, and the ownership of outputs will be shared among UNFPA, NASP, and the World Bank.