National Consultant to Provide Capacity Building on Negotiation Techniques

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender issues, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM. The organization 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. UN Women’s work in Moldova is guided by its Country Strategic Note for 2023-2027, which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Moldova and aims to contribute to the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The organization focuses on four main areas: Ending Violence against Women, Women’s Leadership and Governance, Women’s Economic Empowerment, and the Humanitarian and Peace development nexus, emphasizing the importance of gender equality in all aspects of life.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant position is aimed at providing capacity-building training on negotiation, mediation, and conflict management specifically tailored for women leaders, including women MPs, mayors, and those in senior and middle management roles. The consultant will develop and deliver training sessions that focus on enhancing the skills and confidence of women in leadership positions, enabling them to effectively participate in decision-making processes. The training will cover a range of topics, including principled and interest-based negotiation techniques, political and institutional negotiation, mediation techniques, conflict analysis, and consensus-building. The consultant is expected to create a methodology that is experiential in nature, utilizing simulations, role-plays, and case studies to facilitate learning. This role is crucial in addressing the gender disparities in leadership and decision-making in Moldova, as women are often underrepresented in these areas despite comprising a significant portion of the population. The consultant will work closely with the UN Women team and report to thematic pillar leads, ensuring that the training aligns with international standards and best practices in adult learning.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for developing learning modules and methodologies on negotiation techniques, mediation, and conflict management. This includes delivering at least six training sessions for groups of up to 20 participants each, conducting pre- and post-training assessments to evaluate participant knowledge, and preparing a comprehensive final report that summarizes lessons learned, challenges faced, and recommendations for future capacity-building initiatives. The consultant will also ensure that all training materials are approved by UN Women and that the sessions are conducted in accordance with the developed methodology. The role requires close collaboration with UN Women staff and may involve additional tasks as specified during the contract period. The consultant will also be responsible for coordinating logistics for the training sessions and ensuring that all deliverables are submitted in electronic format.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in fields such as International Relations, Law, Political Science, Conflict Resolution, Public Administration, or Psychology. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Certification in negotiation, mediation, or conflict resolution is required, as is a proven track record in designing and delivering experiential training programs for senior officials, parliamentarians, or executives. Candidates should demonstrate experience in using simulations and role-plays in training, as well as familiarity with political and institutional negotiation settings. Sensitivity to gender dimensions in negotiation and conflict, particularly regarding power dynamics, is also essential.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as International Relations, Law, Political Science, Conflict Resolution, Public Administration, or Psychology. Alternatively, a first-level university degree along with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted. Additionally, candidates must have certification in negotiation, mediation, or conflict resolution, which is crucial for the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of proven experience in designing and delivering experiential training programs focused on negotiation, mediation, and conflict management. Experience working with senior officials, parliamentarians, diplomats, or executives is essential. Familiarity with using simulations, role-plays, and case-based methodologies for executive-level audiences is required. Experience in political, institutional, or multilateral negotiation settings is advantageous, as is experience working with women leaders and understanding the gender dimensions of negotiation and conflict.

Languages:
Fluency in Romanian and English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of any other UN official language is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's profile for this consultancy role.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, but the consultant is expected to be present in Chisinau, Moldova, for the delivery of training sessions and related face-to-face activities. The contract duration is for 12 months, with the possibility of extension, and the consultant will be compensated on a per-day basis. Payment will be made upon certification by UN Women that services have been satisfactorily performed, and upon submission and approval of deliverables and timesheets. The consultant acknowledges that acceptance of the contract does not guarantee a minimum fee, and the number of days worked will be determined solely by UN Women. The role requires adherence to UN Women’s values and policies, including a commitment to diversity and inclusion.