International Consultant for Gender Responsive Budgeting

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Established in July 2010, UN Women was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact in promoting gender equality. The organization advocates for the interests of women and girls globally, assisting UN Member States in setting international norms and standards for achieving gender equality. UN Women collaborates with governments and civil society to develop laws, policies, programs, and services necessary for implementing these standards. The organization operates in multiple countries, focusing on five priority areas: strengthening women's leadership and participation, eliminating violence against women, involving women in peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security issues, empowering women economically, and ensuring gender equality is central to national development planning and budgeting processes. UN Women also coordinates efforts to promote gender equality throughout the UN system, making it a pivotal player in global gender advocacy.

Job Overview:
The International Consultant for Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) will play a crucial role in advancing gender equality initiatives in Kazakhstan. This position involves working under the direct supervision of the UN Women Programme Specialist and Project Manager. The consultant will be responsible for reviewing existing materials on GRB in Kazakhstan, updating the draft Roadmap for integrating GRB into public sector planning and budget processes, and preparing recommendations for promoting GRB within the framework of the National Development Plan. The consultant will also develop methodological guidelines for formulating indicator systems for public sector planning and budgeting from a gender perspective. This role requires a deep understanding of international good practices in gender budgeting and the ability to analyze opportunities for integrating GRB tools into regulatory legal acts. The consultant will also be tasked with organizing roundtable discussions and conducting training sessions for government agencies, thereby facilitating capacity building and knowledge sharing on gender-responsive budgeting practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the International Consultant include:

• Reviewing materials on the development of GRB in Kazakhstan and providing technical support to UN Women in preparing presentation materials for potential development partners.
• Updating the draft Roadmap for integrating GRB in public sector planning and budget processes based on international best practices.
• Preparing recommendations for promoting GRB in the National Development Plan and other strategic documents.
• Developing methodological guidelines for gender perspective indicators in public sector planning and budgeting.
• Analyzing opportunities for integrating GRB tools into regulatory legal acts and preparing proposals for improving the regulatory framework.
• Proposing the establishment of a specialized organization within the Kazakhstan Institute for Public Development (KIPD) to provide advisory and training services on GRB.
• Organizing a roundtable discussion in Parliament with key Ministries on the updated Roadmap for implementing GRB.
• Conducting a one-day training on GRB for government agencies, including preparation of training materials and a report.
• Conducting a one-day inception training for KIPD aimed at establishing a specialized organization for GRB advisory and training services.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a University Degree in economics, finance, public financial management, social policy, gender studies, or public administration. Candidates must have at least 7 years of experience in Gender Responsive Budgeting, with proven experience in reviewing legislation and developing recommendations for improving the regulatory framework in the field of GRB. Extensive experience in public finance management, strategic planning, and gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE) mainstreaming is essential. Additionally, candidates should have proven experience in conducting training sessions on GRB for government agencies and experience working with governments, UN agencies, or other international organizations. Experience in GRB in Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan, will be a significant advantage.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a University Degree in a relevant field such as economics, finance, public financial management, social policy, gender studies, or public administration. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of gender-responsive budgeting and its implementation in public sector planning and budgeting processes.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in Gender Responsive Budgeting. Candidates should have a strong background in reviewing legislation and developing recommendations for improving regulatory frameworks related to GRB. Extensive experience in public finance management, strategic planning, and mainstreaming gender equality and women's empowerment is essential. Proven experience in conducting training sessions on GRB for government agencies is also required, along with experience working with governments, UN agencies, or other international organizations. Experience specifically in GRB in Central Asia, and particularly in Kazakhstan, will be considered a significant advantage.

Languages:
Excellent written and spoken Russian is mandatory for this position, as the final report must be submitted in Russian. A working knowledge of English will be considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration with international partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The International Consultant is expected to work remotely but will need to travel to Astana to conduct training sessions and roundtable discussions with Parliament members. All travel expenses will be included in the contract sum. The position is likely to be project-based with a focus on the specific deliverables outlined in the job description. UN Women emphasizes a commitment to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that recruitment and employment decisions are made based on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history.