National Consultant for Women’s Economic Empowerment

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It operates globally, merging resources and mandates from four distinct parts of the UN system to enhance impact. UN Women focuses on eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between genders in various sectors, including development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. In Georgia, UN Women collaborates with state and non-state partners to promote substantive gender equality, working on policies, legislation, and grassroots initiatives to achieve transformative results for women and girls.

Job Overview:
The position of National Consultant for Women’s Economic Empowerment involves exploring and adapting innovative approaches to care service delivery in Georgia. The consultant will focus on models such as Care Blocks and the Octopus Model, which aim to create integrated, community-based care systems. The role is crucial for addressing the disproportionate share of unpaid care work that women shoulder, which is a significant barrier to their economic empowerment. The consultant will conduct a desk review, engage in key informant interviews, analyze Georgia’s care ecosystem, and develop a strategic paper with actionable recommendations to strengthen care infrastructure and promote women’s economic empowerment. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aims to create decent jobs while reducing unpaid care work.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive desk review of international care models, specifically the Octopus Model and Care Blocks, to understand their foundations and outcomes. They will conduct structured interviews with UN Women and key stakeholders to gather insights and lessons learned. The consultant will analyze Georgia’s current care infrastructure, identifying gaps and areas for investment. They will adapt the care models to the Georgian context, proposing a feasible implementation roadmap and engaging stakeholders for validation. The final deliverables include a strategic paper with policy recommendations and a presentation summarizing the findings and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Gender/Women’s studies, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with seven years of relevant experience may be accepted. A minimum of five years of professional experience in policy analysis or advisory work related to social protection, care economy, or gender equality is required. Candidates should have a sound understanding of care systems and gender-responsive public services, along with proven analytical writing skills. Familiarity with Georgia’s social policy landscape and prior experience with UN/EU agencies in Georgia will be advantageous.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Gender/Women’s studies, or a related field is required for this position. In lieu of an advanced degree, a first-level university degree combined with seven years of qualifying experience may be accepted. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively analyze and develop care service delivery models.

Experience:
The position requires at least five years of professional experience for candidates with a Master’s degree, or seven years for those with a Bachelor’s degree. This experience should be in policy analysis or advisory roles focusing on social protection, care economy, or gender equality. Candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of care systems and gender-responsive public services, as well as a proven track record in analytical writing, including strategic papers or policy recommendations.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Georgian is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication with stakeholders and for conducting interviews and analyses relevant to the role.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, but travel outside Tbilisi may be required. The consultant will report to the WEESC Programme Analyst and will be supported by the WEESC Project Assistant for contractual and payment matters. The consultancy is part of a broader initiative co-funded by UN Women’s global TransformCare initiative and the Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus Project, which is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Austrian Development Agency. The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and requires competencies in gender sensitivity, accountability, and effective communication.