National Consultant - Costing Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the United Nations reform agenda, with the mission to promote gender equality and empower women globally. It combines the resources and mandates of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women operates in multiple countries, including Armenia, where it collaborates with national partners to strengthen legal, policy, and institutional frameworks for advancing gender equality and preventing violence against women and girls. The organization is committed to ensuring that countries are equipped to design, implement, and monitor inclusive strategies that uphold women's rights at every level of governance.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant - Costing Specialist will play a crucial role in providing specialized technical support for the costing and financial planning of the draft National Action Plan aimed at implementing the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence. This position requires the consultant to develop a comprehensive budget and resource-mobilization framework that aligns with national budgetary processes. The consultant will conduct a thorough financial assessment of planned interventions, establish clear cost metrics for line ministries, and ensure viable, long-term funding for survivor protection and prevention strategies. The consultant will work closely with UN Women and relevant national counterparts to ensure that the costing framework is practical, transparent, and adapted to the Armenian context.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including conducting a desk review and analysis of the draft Action Plan and relevant national strategies, developing a costing methodology, identifying cost components, collecting data through consultations with government institutions and stakeholders, and developing detailed cost estimates for the Action Plan. The consultant will also assess existing resources and financing gaps, integrate costing into the Action Plan, validate costing with UN Women and stakeholders, and finalize the costing framework based on feedback received. Key deliverables include an inception report, costing methodology, data collection template, draft costing of the Action Plan, presentation and validation of the draft costing, and the final costing framework.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, public finance, finance, public administration, public policy, development studies, statistics, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with 7 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. The position requires at least 5 years of relevant professional experience in public finance, programme costing, budgeting, financial analysis, or related areas, with demonstrated experience in costing national strategies and policies, preferably in the social sector or gender equality. Strong knowledge of Armenia’s national budgeting and public finance context is essential, along with experience in developing costing methodologies and financial models.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a relevant field such as economics, public finance, or public policy is required. A first-level university degree may be accepted in combination with extensive relevant experience. Candidates should have a solid educational foundation that supports their ability to analyze financial data and develop effective costing frameworks.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience with a Master’s degree, or at least 7 years with a Bachelor’s degree. Candidates should have experience in public finance, programme costing, budgeting, and financial analysis, with a strong emphasis on costing national strategies and policies. Experience working with government institutions and consulting stakeholders on budgeting and financial planning is also necessary. Familiarity with gender-responsive budgeting and previous work with UN agencies or international organizations would be advantageous.

Languages:
Fluency in Armenian and English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but the primary requirement is strong communication skills in both Armenian and English to effectively engage with stakeholders and present findings.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based in Yerevan, Armenia, and will take place from 20 September to 30 October 202

• The consultant is expected to adhere to UN Women’s values and competencies, including integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity. The position is part-time and may involve flexible working hours to accommodate consultations and data collection. Candidates should be prepared for rigorous reference and background checks as part of the selection process.