Regional Consultant on Gender-Responsive Budgeting

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is 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, merging the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system focused on gender equality. UN Women operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men. In Ukraine, UN Women supports national and sub-national authorities and civil society in advancing commitments under various international frameworks, including CEDAW and the Beijing Platform for Action. The organization is actively involved in addressing the gendered impacts of the ongoing conflict and contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5, which focuses on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women's Dnipro Sub-Office, established in 2023, enhances its operational presence in eastern Ukraine, working closely with local authorities and civil society to promote gender equality in recovery contexts.

Job Overview:
The Regional Consultant on Gender-Responsive Budgeting will play a crucial role in providing technical expertise and capacity development support to regional and local stakeholders in Ukraine. This position is designed to strengthen institutional capacities and facilitate the integration of gender equality considerations into regional planning, budgeting, and recovery processes. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Head of the UN Women Dnipro Sub-Office and will be responsible for conducting participatory needs assessments, gender analysis, and providing capacity development training. The consultant will also engage in stakeholder coordination to promote coherent implementation of gender-responsive budgeting initiatives across selected regions. This role is vital in ensuring that public resources are allocated effectively to address the specific needs of women and men, thereby contributing to more transparent and inclusive governance.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct participatory needs assessments by facilitating dialogue meetings with regional and local authorities to identify institutional needs related to gender-responsive budgeting. This includes mapping the local public financial management cycle and identifying key institutional actors involved in local budgeting processes.
• Perform gender analysis of selected budget programmes using GRB methodology, preparing detailed reports with practical recommendations for local authorities.
• Provide capacity development and advisory support to regional and local authorities, including mentoring and technical assistance in applying GRB tools.
• Facilitate stakeholder coordination and partnerships among UN Women, local authorities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to advance GRB initiatives.
• Contribute to knowledge and analytical outputs, including reports and documentation of good practices and lessons learned.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced (Masters) degree in Public Policy and Administration, Public Finance, Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field. A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience in gender equality and women’s empowerment, gender-responsive budgeting, or public finance is required. Proven experience in conducting gender analysis and developing gender-responsive policy recommendations is essential. Experience in providing training to government officials and technical advisory support on GRB is highly desirable. Familiarity with public financial management systems and programme-based budgeting processes is also required.

Educational Background:
An advanced (Masters) degree in relevant fields such as Public Policy and Administration, Public Finance, Economics, or Social Sciences is mandatory for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of gender-responsive budgeting and public finance management.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly in the context of gender-responsive budgeting and public finance. Experience working with regional or local authorities in eastern Ukraine is considered an asset, as is experience with UN Women or other UN agencies.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but the primary requirement is strong communication skills in both English and Ukrainian to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The assignment will be hybrid, combining online and in-person engagement, with potential travel to selected oblasts in eastern Ukraine. Travel costs will be covered by UN Women. The consultant will work under a contract that may include specific deliverables and timelines, with a total of up to 127 working days expected for the completion of the assignment. The position emphasizes the importance of gender sensitivity and inclusivity, aligning with UN Women’s core values and competencies.