International Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance gender equality and women's empowerment globally. The organization merges the resources and mandates of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, focusing on eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving gender equality. UN Women operates in multiple countries, including Uzbekistan, where it aligns its efforts with the global Strategic Plan 2026–202

• The organization emphasizes the importance of women's rights and aims to ensure that women and girls fully exercise their human rights and lead sustainable socioeconomic development. UN Women works across four thematic areas: governance and participation in public life, women's economic empowerment, ending violence against women and girls, and women, peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. In Uzbekistan, UN Women is actively involved in projects that promote gender equality and women's empowerment, particularly in the context of the New Uzbekistan Development Strategy 2022–2026 and the Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality in Uzbekistan 2020–2030.

Job Overview:
The International Consultant will provide technical expertise for assessing the women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and mapping private-sector HR and skills needs in Uzbekistan. This role involves generating evidence and practical recommendations to inform gender-responsive programming and private-sector engagement under the Women’s Economic Empowerment Project. The consultant will work closely with the UN Women Programme Analyst and the National Consultant to ensure the successful implementation of project activities. Key responsibilities include leading a desk review of existing research and policies, providing methodological guidance for data collection, conducting interviews and focus groups, and ensuring that assessment instruments are adapted to the local context. The consultant will also analyze evidence from various sources, write a comprehensive report, and present findings to stakeholders. The overall goal is to create an inclusive economic environment for women in Uzbekistan, addressing gender biases and promoting women's participation in the economy.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the desk review of relevant research, policies, and strategies related to women’s entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan.
• Provide methodological guidance for primary data collection, including identifying key informants and conducting interviews and focus groups.
• Ensure assessment instruments are adapted to the Uzbek context and oversee data collection processes.
• Analyze evidence from the desk review, interviews, and surveys to assess the ILO WED framework conditions.
• Write a comprehensive assessment report, incorporating findings and recommendations.
• Prepare and present a PowerPoint presentation summarizing key findings for stakeholder validation.
• Collaborate with the National Consultant to ensure effective stakeholder engagement and data collection.
• Regularly report progress and challenges to the UN Women Programme Analyst.
• Ensure all outputs meet high-quality analytical standards and are gender-responsive. 1
• Support the finalization of deliverables based on stakeholder feedback.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in social sciences, entrepreneurial studies, or a related field with a specialization in gender.
• At least 10 years of demonstrated experience in socio-economic studies focused on women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.
• Proven experience in conducting legal reviews, skills-needs assessments, and labour market mapping.
• Experience working with public institutions, private sector, and civil society organizations on women’s economic empowerment.
• Familiarity with gender-responsive and human rights-based approaches in economic empowerment interventions.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; knowledge of Russian is an asset.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in social sciences, entrepreneurial studies, or an equivalent field is required, with a specialization in gender being highly desirable. This educational background is essential to understand the complexities of women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.

Experience:
The position requires at least 10 years of relevant experience in socio-economic studies, particularly focusing on women's economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, and labour market analysis. Candidates should have a proven track record in conducting assessments and working with various stakeholders, including public institutions and civil society organizations.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as the consultant will be required to write reports and communicate effectively with stakeholders. Knowledge of Russian is considered an asset, which may facilitate better engagement with local partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based, with a maximum of 40 working days to be completed by 30 October 202

• Payments will be made upon satisfactory completion of deliverables, and the consultant is expected to participate in mandatory UN training courses. The role involves regular communication with the UN Women Programme Analyst and the National Consultant to ensure alignment with project goals and timelines. The consultant will also be responsible for ensuring that all outputs are of high quality and meet the standards set by UN Women.