Gender Mainstreaming Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as a response to the need for a dedicated entity to advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women within the United Nations system. The organization was created as part of the UN reform agenda, merging the efforts of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. 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. The organization has a presence in numerous countries, including Afghanistan, where it has been active for two decades, addressing the unique vulnerabilities faced by Afghan women and girls amidst ongoing humanitarian crises. UN Women is committed to supporting Afghan women and girls and ensuring their voices are central to the global response to the crisis in Afghanistan. The organization employs a diverse workforce and is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment that respects diversity and promotes mutual respect among its employees.

Job Overview:
The Gender Mainstreaming Consultant will play a crucial role in supporting the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and the Gender Theme Group (GTG) in Afghanistan by delivering gender mainstreaming training to UN personnel and their implementing partners. This position is vital in enhancing the capacity of stakeholders to integrate gender considerations into their planning, programming, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) processes. The consultant will utilize previously developed, tailor-made contextualized training materials to conduct in-person training sessions, which are designed to deepen participants' understanding of core gender concepts, policies, and frameworks relevant to Basic Human Needs (BHN) programming. The consultant will also provide expert guidance on gender mainstreaming efforts, ensuring that Afghan women and girls are at the center of humanitarian responses and development initiatives. The consultancy is expected to last for a maximum of 50 working days from August 2026 to July 2027, requiring the consultant to travel intermittently to Afghanistan for training sessions while also allowing for remote work.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a training workplan in consultation with the Integrated Office and UN Women colleagues, focusing on strengthening the Training of Trainers (ToT) capacities of UN personnel and implementing partners in mainstreaming gender in BHN programs.
• Create relevant training materials and evaluation tools for the ToT sessions, ensuring they are contextualized to the local environment.
• Lead the delivery of a series of two-day ToT training sessions in various locations across Afghanistan, adhering to deadlines set in consultation with the supervisor.
• Provide strategic advisory services to further contextualize capacity-building needs, identifying emerging considerations and local practices that can enhance gender mainstreaming efforts.
• Conduct evaluations of training sessions, analyze participant feedback, and develop comprehensive training reports that include participation data, evaluation results, and key insights.
• Facilitate real-time interaction and social learning during training sessions to maximize engagement and effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with safety protocols and measures recommended by the United Nations Department for Security Services during in-person training sessions.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced (Masters) degree in gender studies or social sciences is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• At least seven years of practical experience with gender mainstreaming in development or humanitarian programs/projects at national and international levels, particularly in Afghanistan or similar contexts.
• Experience in conducting gender evaluations, gender data collection, and analysis, including interviews, surveys, and focus groups is desirable.
• At least three years of experience in results-based management, review, and/or evaluation is desirable.
• Excellent analytical skills with a strong drive for results and the ability to work independently are desirable.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced (Masters) degree related to gender studies or social sciences. Alternatively, a first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant possesses the necessary theoretical knowledge and understanding of gender issues, policies, and frameworks relevant to the role.

Experience:
The consultant is expected to have at least seven years of practical experience in gender mainstreaming within development or humanitarian programs/projects at both national and international levels. This experience should ideally include work in Afghanistan or in a similar country context, demonstrating the ability to navigate complex environments and address the unique challenges faced by women and girls in such settings. Additionally, experience in conducting gender evaluations, data collection, and analysis, as well as familiarity with results-based management, is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as effective communication is critical for delivering training and engaging with diverse stakeholders. Knowledge of Dari or Pashto is considered desirable, as it would enhance the consultant's ability to connect with local participants and facilitate training sessions more effectively.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is structured to allow for a combination of remote work and intermittent travel to Afghanistan, with a maximum of five trips required for in-person capacity-building sessions. The working week in Afghanistan is Sunday to Thursday, and the consultancy is expected to adhere to safety protocols and measures recommended by the United Nations Department for Security Services. The position emphasizes the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive environment, and UN Women is committed to ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need.