International Consultant – Regional Systems Lab (RSL) Development under the Gender Action Lab (GAL)

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an organization established to advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women globally. It operates under the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, focusing on eliminating discrimination against women and girls. UN Women leads and coordinates efforts within the United Nations system to ensure that commitments on gender equality translate into action worldwide. The organization emphasizes building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors to support Member States' priorities. UN Women has a significant focus on Women’s Economic Empowerment, which is a key area in its Strategic Plan aimed at achieving the 2030 Agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, which targets gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization operates in multiple countries and has a diverse workforce dedicated to promoting women's rights and gender equality.

Job Overview:
The International Consultant for the Regional Systems Lab (RSL) Development under the Gender Action Lab (GAL) will play a crucial role in supporting UN Women’s initiatives aimed at advancing gender equality and women's economic empowerment through innovative approaches in capital markets. The consultant will be responsible for conducting preparatory research to establish the RSL, which will focus on sustainable financing in capital markets for gender equality. This role involves engaging with stakeholders, conducting interviews, and identifying best practices among capital market regulators. The consultant will also develop an Action Framework to guide actions and track progress in promoting gender equality within the financial sector. The position requires a deep understanding of the intersection between gender issues and economic policies, as well as the ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be tasked with several key responsibilities, including:

• Conducting secondary research to identify best practices of capital market regulators globally towards promoting gender equality, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Engaging with representatives of market capital regulators to understand their needs and challenges, and to verify data for a heat map that illustrates current actions in gender equality within capital markets.
• Developing a draft Action Framework that outlines specific actions, topics of engagement, outputs, milestones, and success metrics for capital market regulators.
• Creating a heat map to provide a clear indication of the status of capital markets in the region regarding gender equality initiatives.
• Designing a 12-month work plan for the RSL, including operational structure and envisioned results.
• Organizing webinars and consultations for capacity building among capital market regulators.
• Managing logistics and execution support for the launch event of the RSL alongside the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Forum.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of the care economy and a deep understanding of women’s economic empowerment, particularly in relation to UN Women’s approach. They should have experience in writing analytical papers and reports, demonstrating their ability to communicate complex ideas effectively. The consultant must also have a proven track record in multi-stakeholder engagement and facilitation of consultations, along with established networks with sector experts. Familiarity with the UN system is considered an asset, as is experience in publishing or co-authoring knowledge products through mixed-methods research.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in economics, business administration, public policy, corporate finance, sustainable finance, impact investing, or related fields is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. This educational background is essential to ensure the consultant has the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively contribute to the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of experience in research and analytical assessments with a gender lens, particularly relevant to capital market regulations, public finance, sustainable finance, and ESG frameworks. Candidates should have strong expertise in Asian capital markets, including an understanding of financial regulatory environments and economic dynamics. Demonstrated experience in engaging with multiple stakeholders and facilitating dialogues is crucial, as is a proven ability to publish or co-author analytical reports and policy briefs in English.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as the consultant will be required to communicate effectively with stakeholders and produce written reports. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not specified as mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based, with the possibility of travel to Southeast Asia for consultations, workshops, or meetings. The contract duration is from 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025, and the consultant will work closely with the UN Women Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok. UN Women will cover travel costs in accordance with its travel policies. The position is categorized as an Individual Contract and is open to external applicants.