National Consultant for Legal Expertise on Violence Against Women

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 in the area of gender equality. UN Women merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women has a presence in multiple countries, working on various initiatives aligned with international standards and commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Job Overview:
The position of National Consultant for Legal Expertise on Violence Against Women involves providing legal expertise to integrate and update university curricula on the prevention and response to violence against women and domestic violence. This role is crucial in aligning educational programs with international standards and national legislation, particularly in light of commitments under the Istanbul Convention. The consultant will assess existing university disciplines, develop and revise curricula, facilitate stakeholder consultations, and deliver training sessions to build capacity among university representatives. The consultant will work closely with other national consultants providing medical and social expertise, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the integration of these critical topics into higher education.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Consultant will be responsible for several key tasks:

• Assessing current university disciplines/modules related to violence against women and domestic violence, focusing on legal aspects, and providing evidence-based recommendations for improvement.
• Developing or revising curricula/modules/learning units to ensure alignment with international standards and national legislation.
• Facilitating consultations with stakeholders, including university representatives and legal specialists, to validate findings and incorporate feedback into the curricula.
• Finalizing and presenting updated curricula/modules in a structured format suitable for institutional adoption.
• Delivering a Training of Trainers (TOT) session for university representatives to build capacity for implementing the revised curricula.
• Developing a Final Report summarizing lessons learned and recommendations for future capacity-building opportunities. The assignment is expected to be completed within a 7-month timeframe.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in law, legal studies, or a related field relevant to the assignment. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additional training and certification in human rights or related fields are advantageous. Candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of legal frameworks related to violence against women and domestic violence.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in law or a related field. A first-level university degree may be accepted with additional qualifying experience. Candidates with additional training in human rights or violence against women will have an advantage.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 7 years of proven professional experience in areas related to ending violence against women and domestic violence, particularly within the legal field and justice sector. A minimum of 5 years of experience in curriculum development or revision, legislative drafting, or conducting impactful research in public policy related to women's rights is required. Experience in stakeholder engagement and consultation processes, especially with universities and state authorities, is preferred.

Languages:
Fluency in written and oral English and Romanian is required for this position. A working knowledge of Russian is considered an advantage, enhancing communication with a broader range of stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, allowing for flexibility in work arrangements. The assignment will span 7 months, with specific deliverables due at various stages throughout the contract period. The consultant will report to the Program Officer, EVAW, and will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures, including a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The role involves collaboration with other national consultants and requires strong competencies in stakeholder engagement, effective communication, and problem-solving.