International Consultant for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE)

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, focusing exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women is present in various regions, including Europe and Central Asia, where it aims to implement tailored strategies to address gender equality issues.

Job Overview:
The position of International Consultant for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE) involves working under the supervision of the UN Women ECA Deputy Regional Director and engaging with the UN Women ECA Regional Director for strategic guidance. The consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive analysis of the GEWE landscape in the Western Balkans, assessing current political, economic, and social dynamics, and identifying gaps and opportunities for regional collaboration. The consultant will also provide advisory support to design a strategic vision for UN Women’s sub-regional operations, aligning with the organization's Strategic Note for 2026-202

• This role requires collaboration with key stakeholders to develop innovative interventions and scalable models for advancing GEWE in the region, ensuring that the strategic vision is effectively communicated and implemented.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a thorough analysis of the current GEWE landscape in the Western Balkans, focusing on political, economic, and social dynamics.
• Assess strategic priorities and contributions to GEWE by UN Country Teams and UN Women country offices.
• Provide recommendations for policy engagement and operational work, including short- and long-term actions.
• Analyze existing knowledge-sharing mechanisms among stakeholders and suggest improvements.
• Consult with stakeholders to develop a strategic vision for UN Women’s operations in the region.
• Evaluate UN Women’s presence modality and business model, advising on enhancements for effective delivery.
• Develop a strategic document outlining UN Women’s vision and priorities for sub-regional operations.
• Create a partnership strategy focused on expected results and resource mobilization for GEWE initiatives.
• Prepare advocacy packages for partners to emphasize the impact of their support on GEWE initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong knowledge of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Significant political experience, preferably in the Europe and Central Asia region.
• Proven ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision based on development experience.
• Excellent negotiation, advocacy, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven expertise in writing clear and convincing documents.
• Strong communication and public speaking skills.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to lead a team and manage performance effectively.
• Experience in interacting with high-level decision-makers and understanding intergovernmental processes. 1
• Effectiveness in establishing relationships with government counterparts, UN agencies, donors, and NGOs.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or equivalent in International Relations, Gender Studies, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
At least 10 years of active participation in or leadership of gender-related development programs is required. Significant experience working in an international or multinational setting is essential, along with prior experience in the region. Experience with UN Women is considered an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Albanian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, and Macedonian is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based with one required travel to the subregion. The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and core competencies including awareness of gender issues, accountability, and effective communication. UN Women is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives.