Women’s Economic Development Planning Expert

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Position Title: Women’s Economic Development Planning Expert
Location: Freetown
Country: Sierra Leone
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is the United Nations global champion of gender equality and women's empowerment. Established to uphold standards for gender equality, UN Women works to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls. The organization links global, national, and local actors to create an enabling environment for women, collaborating with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programs, and services that benefit women and girls worldwide. UN Women operates in multiple countries and has a significant presence in Sierra Leone, where it has been active since 2011, building on the work of UNIFEM, which opened its office in 200

• The agency focuses on dismantling structural barriers to gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE) and works with various stakeholders to promote gender mainstreaming and implement women's and girls' human rights standards.

Job Overview:
The Women’s Economic Development Planning Expert will play a crucial role in advancing women's economic empowerment in Sierra Leone. This position requires a comprehensive understanding of climate resilience, economic development systems, and access to markets, particularly for women and youth. The expert will report to the Head of Office and work under the guidance of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Lead. The primary objectives include developing a human rights-based, gender-responsive approach to economic empowerment, scaling up UN Women’s leadership in women’s economic empowerment, and addressing pressing challenges such as systemic economic inequality and climate change. The expert will be responsible for creating a detailed inception report, conducting an analytical situational report, and developing a strategy for women’s climate-smart economic growth, all aimed at improving women's livelihoods and resilience in Sierra Leone.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key deliverables, including:

• Developing a comprehensive inception report that outlines methodology, guidelines, and an action plan.
• Conducting an analytical situational report that assesses UN Women’s impact on women’s economic resilience and empowerment, providing actionable recommendations.
• Documenting the current situation, potentials, and visions for women’s economic resilience, focusing on systemic analysis of economic inequality and climate change.
• Creating a strategy for Women’s Climate Smart Economic Growth based on previous situational analyses.
• Performing additional duties as necessary to achieve the consultancy objectives. The consultant will also engage with various stakeholders, including government ministries, local councils, and implementing partners, to support women farmer groups and cooperatives nationwide.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a post-graduate degree (Doctorate or Master's) in economics, agronomy, socio-economy, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with four additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. The position requires at least 15 years of experience in development research, planning, and programming focused on women, economic development, and gender issues. Candidates should have a deep understanding of economic development, green and blue economies, and gender-based barriers in low-income West-African countries. Experience in designing gender-responsive national economic development programs and a proven track record in analyzing gender dynamics and economic empowerment challenges are essential.

Educational Background:
A post-graduate degree (Doctorate or Master's or equivalent) in economics, agronomy, socio-economy, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with four additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 15 years of experience in development research, planning, and programming, particularly focusing on the intersection of women, economic development, and gender issues. Experience in designing gender-responsive national economic development programs and a strong understanding of the economic situation of women in low-income West-African countries are crucial.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is likely to be full-time and may involve working with various stakeholders, including government agencies and local communities. The consultant will be expected to engage in a collaborative approach to achieve the objectives set for this consultancy. Compensation and benefits details are not specified in the job description.