International Consultant on Gender-Responsive Public Procurement

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. It merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system focused on gender issues. UN Women 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. In Moldova, UN Women aligns its efforts with national priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, focusing on promoting gender equality as a key component of socio-economic development.

Job Overview:
The position of International Consultant on Gender-Responsive Public Procurement is aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Ministry of Finance and other relevant public entities in Moldova to integrate gender considerations into their procurement regulations and practices. The consultant will work closely with UN Women and national experts to operationalize gender-responsive procurement (GRP) principles, which are essential for promoting women's economic empowerment and ensuring fair opportunities in public procurement processes. The consultant will be responsible for reviewing existing public procurement legislation, developing practical implementation tools, facilitating stakeholder consultations, and strengthening institutional capacities for gender-responsive procurement. This role is crucial in advancing gender equality and implementing women's empowerment principles in Moldova's public procurement landscape.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support in reviewing public procurement legislation to integrate gender equality inclusion criteria by providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Finance, analyzing existing policies, and developing proposals for gender-responsive procurement categories.
• Develop practical implementation tools for contracting authorities, including guides covering the full procurement cycle, model technical specifications, and standard clauses for procurement documentation.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations to validate proposed methodologies and tools, incorporating feedback from various stakeholders.
• Strengthen institutional capacities by developing training programs, materials, and conducting workshops for contracting authorities.
• Develop monitoring and implementation support tools, including gender-responsive monitoring indicators and reporting templates.
• Promote awareness and market readiness among economic operators to encourage participation of women-owned businesses in public procurement.

Required Qualifications:
The consultant must possess a Master's degree in public administration, social studies, finance, gender studies, or a related field. A first-level university degree (bachelor's) combined with four additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. The consultant should have a minimum of 5 years of work experience in public procurement systems, with expertise in gender-responsive procurement. Previous experience working with public authorities to enhance their capacities and improve processes is essential, along with experience in women's empowerment and gender equality projects being advantageous.

Educational Background:
Candidates are required to have a Master's degree in relevant fields such as public administration, social studies, finance, or gender studies. Alternatively, a bachelor's degree with significant additional experience may be considered. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of public procurement and gender issues.

Experience:
A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in public procurement systems is required, with a focus on gender-responsive procurement. Candidates should have a proven track record of working with public authorities to enhance their capacities and improve procurement processes. Experience in projects related to women's empowerment and gender equality will be considered an advantage, particularly if it involves gender-responsive procurement initiatives.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as all deliverables must be provided in English. Knowledge of Romanian is considered an asset, as it may facilitate communication with local stakeholders and enhance the consultant's effectiveness in the role.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, with no travel anticipated as part of the assignment. However, if unforeseen travel is required, costs will be covered separately by UN Women Moldova. Payments will be made upon certification by UN Women that deliverables have been satisfactorily completed. The consultant's performance will be evaluated based on criteria such as timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of deliverables. UN Women emphasizes a commitment to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that recruitment and employment practices are free from discrimination.