National Consultant - National Assessment on the Status of Gender Mainstreaming

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an entity of the United Nations established in July 2010, with a mission to advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women globally. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact in gender equality initiatives. UN Women builds on the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender issues. The organization operates in numerous countries, working closely with governments and civil society to promote gender-responsive policies and programs. UN Women is committed to eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving 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 emphasizes the importance of gender mainstreaming in all aspects of development planning and implementation, ensuring that the different needs and priorities of women and men are considered in policy-making and program execution.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant will play a crucial role in assessing the status of gender mainstreaming in major national programs and mega projects in Ethiopia. This position requires a comprehensive understanding of gender issues and the ability to evaluate how gender perspectives are integrated into various stages of project cycles, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The consultant will work closely with UN Women, UNFPA, and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs to identify key national programs and projects for assessment. The consultant's work will involve generating evidence-based findings and actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening gender equality and women's empowerment objectives within large-scale national initiatives. The assessment will focus on identifying gaps in gender analysis, stakeholder engagement, and the application of gender-responsive budgeting, ultimately contributing to the development of tools and frameworks that enhance gender mainstreaming in Ethiopia's national development agenda.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Preparing an inception report that outlines the methodology, work plan, stakeholder engagement strategy, and assessment framework.
• Conducting a comprehensive desk review of relevant policies, programs, project documents, budgets, and evaluations.
• Mapping and selecting major national programs and mega projects for assessment in collaboration with UN Women, UNFPA, and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs.
• Developing data collection tools and frameworks for gender mainstreaming assessment.
• Engaging regional data collectors and overseeing key informant interviews with government institutions, program management teams, development partners, and civil society organizations.
• Conducting group discussions and consultations as necessary.
• Assessing gender mainstreaming across various dimensions, including planning, implementation, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and accountability.
• Developing a gender mainstreaming rating framework for assessed programs and projects.
• Identifying best practices, challenges, and institutional capacity gaps. 1
• Developing recommendations and a Gender Mainstreaming Minimum Standards Framework. 1
• Presenting findings to stakeholders and facilitating validation processes. 1
• Finalizing and submitting the assessment report and accompanying products.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Development Studies, Public Policy, Economics, Social Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. The position requires at least 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives, with demonstrated experience in conducting assessments, evaluations, policy reviews, or research studies. Proven expertise in gender mainstreaming and gender-responsive planning and budgeting is essential, along with experience working with government institutions and development partners. Familiarity with large-scale development programs, public investment programs, infrastructure projects, or national development initiatives is also required. Proficiency in using computers and office software packages, as well as qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, is necessary. Previous experience with UN agencies will be considered an advantage.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in relevant fields such as Gender Studies, Development Studies, Public Policy, Economics, Social Sciences, or Monitoring and Evaluation. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by additional qualifying experience, demonstrating the candidate's capability to fulfill the role effectively.

Experience:
The consultant is expected to have a minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives. This includes experience in conducting assessments, evaluations, policy reviews, or research studies, as well as proven expertise in gender mainstreaming and gender-responsive planning and budgeting. Experience working with government institutions and development partners is crucial, along with a background in assessing large-scale development programs and public investment initiatives.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Amharic is required for this position. Knowledge of any other UN official language is considered an asset, enhancing the consultant's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and contribute to the organization's objectives.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is office-based and may involve official travel as necessary. The position is expected to deliver a comprehensive assessment report on the status of gender mainstreaming in major national programs and mega projects, along with actionable recommendations and a Gender Mainstreaming Minimum Standards Framework. The consultant will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures, including a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations. The consultancy will follow a structured payment schedule based on the completion of deliverables, with specific due dates outlined for each phase of the assessment process.