Consultant for Gender Justice Study

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the United Nations reform agenda to enhance gender equality and women's empowerment globally. The organization aims 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 operates in multiple countries, focusing on various issues related to gender equality and women's rights, and works closely with governments, civil society, and other stakeholders to promote gender-responsive policies and programs.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in revising, validating, and publishing a study on women's access to justice in Somalia, particularly focusing on the intersection of Islamic law, customary law (Xeer), and statutory law. The position requires a comprehensive examination of women's rights under Islamic law and how these rights are realized in practice within the Somali context. The consultant will analyze the application of Sharia law across Somalia's legal frameworks and identify barriers and opportunities for women's access to justice. The findings will inform policy dialogue and legislative advocacy, contributing to the broader goals of UN Women in Somalia's Rule of Law workstream. The consultant will work under the guidance of the Country Programme Manager and collaborate closely with UN Women Somalia program staff.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a desk review of existing literature, including the 2021 UN Women study on gender dimensions of the informal justice system, and relevant legal frameworks and human rights instruments.
• Produce an inception report detailing the methodology, analytical framework, and work plan for the study.
• Conduct field consultations across at least three Federal Member States and Banadir, engaging diverse stakeholders, including women, religious leaders, judges, and civil society organizations.
• Organize and facilitate a validation workshop in Mogadishu to present draft findings and incorporate feedback into the final report.
• Produce a final publication-ready report of 40 to 60 pages, including an executive summary, findings, analysis, and actionable recommendations.
• Create a concise policy brief summarizing key findings and recommendations for government and development partner audiences.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in law, Islamic studies, gender studies, development studies, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. The consultant should have at least 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in Islamic jurisprudence and its application to women's rights, as well as experience in legal pluralism and access to justice in fragile contexts. Proven experience in conducting qualitative and mixed-methods research, strong analytical and report-writing skills, and familiarity with the Somali justice sector are essential. Experience working with UN agencies or development partners on rule of law or women's rights programming is advantageous.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in law, Islamic studies, gender studies, development studies, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires at least 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in Islamic jurisprudence and its application to women's rights, as well as experience in legal pluralism and access to justice in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. Candidates should have demonstrated experience conducting qualitative and mixed-methods research in Somalia or similar contexts, with a strong ability to engage sensitively with communities on gender, justice, and religion-related issues.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, and proficiency in Somali (including Af-Maay) is essential for field data collection. Candidates should be able to communicate effectively in both languages to engage with diverse stakeholders and ensure accurate data collection.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is of a hybrid modality, allowing for home-based work with travel to field locations across Federal Member States. The deliverables include an inception report, field consultation report, validation workshop facilitation, and a final updated study report. The expected completion dates for these deliverables range from June to August 2026, with specific payment schedules outlined for each deliverable. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications and competence, and adheres to a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims of the organization.