Consultant for Strategic Plan Development

Job Posting Organization:
The Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) is a multi-partner trust fund established to support women-led and women’s rights organizations that are actively engaged in building peace and providing humanitarian responses globally. Since its inception in 2016, WPHF has supported over 1516 civil society organizations across 46 countries or groups of countries. The fund is hosted by UN Women, which also provides the Secretariat for WPHF. The mission of WPHF is to mobilize and channel flexible funding and capacity support to women peacebuilders, humanitarians, and human rights defenders, addressing the unique needs of frontline women civil society leaders and amplifying their voices to reach marginalized communities. WPHF aims to break down silos between pressing peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, humanitarian, development, and human rights challenges, ensuring that the contributions of women are recognized and valued in these areas.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to enhance the existing WPHF Strategic Plan (2023-2025) by developing the next iteration, the 2026-2030 Strategic Note. This Strategic Note is expected to be clear, impactful, actionable, and forward-looking, including a results framework and key supporting documents. It will provide a roadmap for WPHF’s direction and growth, aligning with the final years of the Decade of Action for the 2030 Agenda. The consultant will engage in consultations with partners and stakeholders, incorporating lessons learned from previous strategic plans and evaluations, and ensuring alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the principle of leaving no one behind. The consultant will report to the Head of Secretariat and receive day-to-day guidance from the Deputy Head of Secretariat.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key deliverables: 1) Develop an Inception Report that outlines a detailed roadmap for the Strategic Plan development, including milestones, deliverables, and consultation phases, to be completed by the end of June 202

• 2) Facilitate stakeholder consultation sessions with diverse groups, including WPHF team members, Board members, National Steering Committees, donors, UN agencies, and civil society partners, to gather inclusive input for the Strategic Plan, expected to be completed by the end of July 202
• 3) Draft the Strategic Plan, which will include the theory of change, outputs, outcomes, results framework with indicators, targets, priorities, funding strategy, and risk management framework, ensuring alignment with global standards, to be completed by the first week of August 202
• 4) Finalize the Strategic Plan and accompanying slide deck, submitting the final version and required documentation by the end of August 2025.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, gender studies, public administration, international relations, law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law, public policy, or a related discipline. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates should have at least 7 years of experience in gender mainstreaming within development programs/projects at both national and international levels. Previous experience in developing Strategic Plans for UN institutions is required, along with a proven track record in Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action areas, particularly with women’s civil society and grassroots organizations.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as social sciences, gender studies, public administration, international relations, international law, or public policy. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by sufficient qualifying experience, demonstrating the candidate's capability to fulfill the role effectively.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in gender mainstreaming in development programs/projects at both national and international levels. Experience in developing Strategic Plans for UN institutions is essential, and familiarity with Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action areas, particularly in collaboration with women’s civil society and grassroots organizations, is preferred. Country and/or regional level experience is highly desirable, indicating a comprehensive understanding of the context in which WPHF operates.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of French or any other UN official language is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, with the possibility of travel to Geneva. The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and requires competencies in gender sensitivity, accountability, creative problem-solving, effective communication, inclusive collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and leadership. The consultant will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications and organizational needs.