UN Women Liberia Call for Expression of Interest (EOI): Members for the Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG) on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women

UN Women, guided by the vision of equality in the UN Charter, is dedicated to eliminating violence and discrimination against women and girls, promoting gender equality, and empowering women globally. In Liberia, UN Women collaborates with civil society organizations (CSOs) and the Government of Liberia to advance gender equality and sustainable development. With its triple mandate—normative, coordination, and operational—UN Women supports global standards, fosters partnerships, and implements programs to empower women.

During the 2020-2025 strategic period, UN Women Liberia focuses on: Governance and Women’s Political Participation and Leadership; Women in Peace, Security, and Humanitarian Actions; Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and Women's Economic Empowerment. The UN Women Strategic Plan (2022-2025) mandates collaboration with civil society as key partners in driving systemic change for gender equality and women’s empowerment. The plan emphasizes creating an enabling environment for women’s organizations to influence policy, decision-making, and advocacy. Civil society plays a crucial role in providing innovative ideas, advocacy, and grassroots mobilization to support UN Women’s mission in Liberia. This reactivation of the CSAG aims to foster meaningful consultations and collaboration with CSOs to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Background on the Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG)

The CSAG is an advisory platform established at global, regional, and national levels to facilitate structured consultations between civil society and UN Women. It serves as a dynamic resource for strategic advice, advocacy, and advancing the gender equality agenda. UN Women Liberia’s first CSAG, active from 2016 to 2019, contributed significantly to advancing women’s rights and gender equality. The reactivation aligns with the momentum of the Beijing+30 review, emphasizing progress since the 1995 Beijing Declaration. This CSAG will provide advisory services on global and regional frameworks and their implications to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Liberia, support UN Women coordination function across Civil Society Organizations, and provide civil society perspectives in in UN Women programming,  and monitoring,  integrating civil society voices into intergovernmental processes, including CEDAW and CSW.

Objectives of the CSAG

The CSAG will serve as a strategic platform for dialogue between civil society and UN Women. Its objectives include:

1. Fostering dialogue on gender equality, women’s rights, and national development.
2. Informing UN Women programs and priorities with civil society’s expertise and insights.
3. Serving as an interface between UN Women and stakeholders in civil society and communities amplifying diverse voices, especially marginalized groups.
4. Advocating for women’s empowerment and advancing the global and national development agenda.

Role and Responsibilities of CSAG Members

Advisory Role:

1. Provide strategic advice on UN Women’s thematic and political priorities, including strategic planning.
2. Offer analysis of socio-economic and political trends impacting gender equality and women's human rights in Liberia.
3. Contribute to UN Women’s programs and policies with insights on emerging issues and lessons learned.
4. Provide strategic advice to UN Women, individually or collectively, - and other instances when appropriate - in their thematic and political priorities, including the strategic planning process. 
5. Provide contributions to the programs and policies of UN Women. 

Advocacy Role:

1. Strengthen UN Women’s engagement with civil society for enhanced partnerships and dialogue.
2. Advocate for women’s rights and gender equality at national and local levels.
3. Share information from CSAG meetings with broader civil society and ensure grassroots concerns are reflected.
4. Contribute to the effective implementation and monitoring of the 2030 Development Agenda.

Composition and Membership

The CSAG will consist of 10-12 members, including representatives from grassroots organizations, women’s movements, and marginalized communities. The composition ensures inclusivity, with at least 33% youth representation. Members will be selected based on their expertise in thematic areas such as Women’s Political Participation, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Ending Violence Against Women, and Women in Peace and Security Processes.

Duration of the Mandate

Members will serve for two years, with staggered renewals to ensure continuity. Selected members may extend their service for up to three years to share best practices and strengthen the group’s effectiveness.

Meetings and Secretariat Support

It is envisaged that at least two meetings (virtual/online or face to face as necessary), will be convened by the UN Women Liberia Country Office on a bi-annual basis and more frequently when deemed necessary. UN Women may also request for ad hoc meeting/s, if necessary, to discuss on specific issues. The UN Women Country Office in Liberia will host the CSAG Secretariat and facilitate the administration and organization of the formal meetings while the CSAG members would play a key role in setting the agenda, recording the discussions and follow-up actions. 

Minutes of all meetings will be recorded in English, shared with all members, and made public through various communication means. UN Women, as the secretariat for the CSAG, will provide space and logistics for the formal CSAG meetings. The CSAG members are the primary owners of this forum and occasionally may wish to engage and meet on their own. Members will have continuous access to UN Women, particularly senior management, to engage on any emerging issues that should, in their view, be addressed. Observers can be invited to meetings on an ad hoc basis (according to needs). 

The UN Women Country Representative and Deputy Country Representative will have observer status on the CSAG.

Application and Selection Process

The selection process includes publishing an Expression of Interest in media and disseminating it to stakeholders. This will be followed by setting up a Selection Committee to review applications and finalizing nominations through consensus.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants should apply within the deadline of the advertisement:

1. Complete an online application form.
2. A short professional profile outlining expertise and experience in the women’s movement.
3. A letter of interest explaining the applicant’s suitability and potential contributions.
4. A letter of availability from their organization, if applicable.

For more information, please contact UN Women Liberia Country Office.