National Consultant on Developing the Legal and Methodological Framework

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 advocates for women's rights and gender equality at a global level, assisting UN Member States in setting international norms and standards. The organization collaborates with governments and civil society to develop laws, policies, programs, and services necessary for implementing these standards. UN Women operates in multiple countries, focusing on five priority areas: strengthening women's leadership, 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 in national development planning and budgeting processes. In Kazakhstan, UN Women has launched a project for 2025-2027 aimed at promoting legal protection for women and enhancing their participation in socio-political life, building on previous achievements and aiming for long-term change in women's empowerment.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant will play a crucial role in supporting the adaptation and operationalization of technical recommendations developed by an International Consultant within Kazakhstan's legal, institutional, and public financial management framework. This position involves translating proposed Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) reforms into draft legal, regulatory, and methodological documents, facilitating consultations with national stakeholders, and supporting legislative and institutional processes necessary for implementing GRB in Kazakhstan. The consultant will work closely with UN Women’s Programme Specialist and Project Manager, ensuring that the recommendations align with national legislation and international best practices. The consultant will also be responsible for conducting gender analyses, preparing legal amendments, and facilitating national consultations to promote GRB reforms.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Consultant will be responsible for several key deliverables, including: conducting a gender analysis of the indicator systems of development plans for three Ministries and preparing recommendations for integrating gender-responsive indicators into the state planning and budgeting framework; drafting legal and regulatory amendments based on the recommendations from the International Consultant; preparing a complete legislative package for submission to the Kurultay and relevant state authorities; facilitating national consultations and legislative review processes; preparing legal, regulatory, and administrative documentation for establishing a specialized GRB advisory mechanism; and supporting the organization of a round table with newly elected Kurultay members on GRB, including preparing presentations and background materials. The consultant will also be expected to produce a final synthesis report summarizing activities and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong technical knowledge of gender equality and gender-responsive budgeting, excellent analytical skills in budget planning systems, and experience in preparing amendments to national legislation. They should have stakeholder engagement skills, particularly with government bodies, media outlets, and civil society. The consultant should demonstrate integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, as well as the ability to engage effectively with various stakeholders.

Educational Background:
A university degree in economics, finance, public finance management, social policy, gender studies, or public administration is required for this position. This educational background will provide the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of gender-responsive budgeting and public finance management.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of experience in Gender Responsive Budgeting, with proven experience in reviewing and drafting legislation related to GRB and gender equality. Extensive experience in public finance management, strategic planning, and gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE) mainstreaming is essential. Experience working with UN agencies and government authorities, as well as conducting training sessions on GRB for government agencies, is also required.

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 stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The National Consultant is expected to work remotely but will need to travel to Astana for training sessions and meetings with relevant partners. All travel expenses will be included in the contract sum. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of UN Women Kazakhstan's Programme Specialist and Project Manager. The contract will include a payment schedule based on the completion of specific deliverables, with 30% of the contract sum due upon completion of certain milestones and 40% upon submission of the final report.