Consultant for the Development of a Common African Position on Care Work

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance the impact of gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives. The organization merges resources and mandates from four previously distinct parts of the UN system, focusing on the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women, and the achievement of gender equality. UN Women operates globally, with a mission to ensure that every woman and girl can exercise her rights and live up to her full potential. The organization is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, promoting mutual respect, and adhering to a zero-tolerance policy on misconduct. UN Women has a significant presence in various countries, working collaboratively with governments, civil society, and other stakeholders to advance gender equality and women's rights.

Job Overview:
The Consultant will support the African Union Commission in developing a comprehensive, evidence-based, and consensus-driven Common African Position on Care Work. This position aims to inform and advance the transformation of care work across Africa, addressing the systemic undervaluation of care work that perpetuates gender inequalities and limits women's economic opportunities. The Consultant will lead the preparation of a position paper that will be considered and adopted by African Union policy organs. The role involves conducting situational and policy analyses of care work in Africa, mapping country assessments, and reviewing existing frameworks and policies. The Consultant will also facilitate stakeholder consultations to gather data and best practices, ensuring that the Common African Position aligns with AU processes and negotiation priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Consultant's responsibilities include:

• Conducting a situational and policy analysis of care work in Africa, including mapping country assessments of unpaid and paid care work and their socio-economic impacts.
• Reviewing existing AU frameworks and Member State policies related to the care economy.
• Conducting inclusive stakeholder consultations to gather data, evidence, and best practices.
• Drafting the Common African Position aligned with AU processes and negotiation priorities.
• Supporting the validation and finalization of the Common African Position for submission to the STC-GEWE.
• Preparing an inception report detailing methodology, stakeholder mapping, and a work plan with a timeline.
• Conducting desktop analysis to guide the drafting of the Common African Position.
• Developing a draft Common African Position that includes vision, guiding principles, strategic pillars, financing strategies, and an implementation framework.
• Presenting findings at validation workshops, including the Africa Care Forum. 1
• Delivering a final consolidated research package that is publication-ready.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in law, human rights, international relations, or other social science fields. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A project/programme management certification is considered an added advantage. Candidates should demonstrate strong technical expertise in report and guideline development, change management, partnership development, and stakeholder engagement.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as law, human rights, international relations, or social sciences. A first-level university degree may be accepted with additional qualifying experience. A project/programme management certification would enhance a candidate's profile.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 7 years of experience in areas related to gender equality, care economy, social protection, or labor policy. They must demonstrate experience in developing regional or continental policy frameworks and producing high-level political declarations and policy documents. Familiarity with AU policy frameworks and Agenda 2063 is essential, along with experience working in policy spaces in Africa. Previous work on the care economy, particularly related to the 5R Framework, is an asset, as is experience with the AU, UN system, or regional institutions.

Languages:
Fluency in English and French is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish, is desirable and would be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, with travel required to AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The deliverables include an inception report, a desktop analysis, a draft Common African Position, and a final consolidated research package. The payment schedule is divided into three phases based on the completion of deliverables: 30% for the inception report, 30% for the draft Common African Position, and 40% for the final research package. The role emphasizes the importance of integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, aligning with UN Women’s core values and competencies.