UN Women: Consultant (s) Country Gender Equality Profile (Retainer)-Home-based-International Consultant

14 August 2025-13 August 2028 (Maximum 200 working days of the duration of the contract period)

*UN Women does not warrant that the maximum of 200 days. The service will be purchased during the term of the Consultancy Contract.

Background/Context

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) is the United Nations (UN) entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women1. Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Per its triple mandate, it aims: (i) To support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms; (ii) To help Member States implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil society, and (iii) To lead and coordinate the UN system’s work on gender equality, as well as promote accountability, including through regular monitoring of system-wide progress. 

The UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) addresses gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, including deeply embedded discriminatory social norms and practices that perpetuate inequalities based on gender and other intersectional identities (e.g. ethnicity, class, region, age, disability, migratory status, and sexual orientation and gender identity, among others).  In line with its triple mandate, the ROAP collaborates and supports UN Country Teams across 24 countries and our UN Women offices and presences located in  16 of these countries, in the following areas: Normative support, Women’s leadership and political participation, Gender-responsive Governance; Gender Statistics; Women’s Economic Empowerment (including Migration, Ending Violence Against Women; Women, Peace and Security; Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Humanitarian Action. Additionally, ROAP promotes and facilitates effective UN joint action at the regional and national levels to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, including through capacity building support and increased access to information and data on existing disparities and their drivers, and approaches to addressing the same. The ROAP also supports UNCTs in operationalizing UN-system initiatives and accountability frameworks to in these regards.

Objectives

The UN Gender Equality Acceleration Plan (GEAP) was launched by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres on March 8, 2024, to serve as a UN system -wide call to action and to accelerate an internal transformation in the UN that when fully implemented will enable all UN entities (at global, regional and country levels) to effectively support UN Member States and other stakeholders to deliver on the rights of women and girls. It is premised on the recognition that gender equality is at the very heart of the three pillars of the United Nations: human rights, development, and peace and security and the fact that equality and non-discrimination are fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, as well as the Universal Declaration for Human Rights. The GEAP also recognizes that addressing the rights of women and girls is imperative to any and all efforts towards achieving sustainable development gains, and to the capacities of governments, communities and individuals, to effectively navigate different kinds of crises. 

The GEAP is built around 5 Accelerators[1]: (i) A Clarion Call, (ii) Gender-responsive leadership, (iii) Accountability for results, (iv) Resources and (v) Action for gender equality everywhere. At the country level, to inform efforts under the GEAP, UN Country Teams (UNCTs) will develop Country Gender Equality Profiles (CGEPs) to guide their efforts across all Accelerators. The focus will be on learning from and addressing the lived experiences of women and girls in all their diversity, including better understanding drivers of systemic injustice, violence, and harmful norms and stereotypes. 

The CGEPs will be developed in line with the GEAP guidance and based on this, they will be guided by UN norms and standards including the UN Charter. The Universal Declaration for Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security (as is applicable), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and. The CGEPs will therefore leverage the outcomes of reporting and review processes, including the CEDAW Recommendations and Concluding Observations and Agreed Conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), to inform an analysis of the policy, legislative and institutional framework – and the areas of progress and/or challenges and barriers to the realization of gender equality. 

The CGEPs will inform the UN Analytical function, including the UN Country Analysis (UN CAs) (and its updates, as needed). It will also be an operational document and be used to inform the strategic planning process and priorities, theory of change and results in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs), and Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs). In line with this, the CGEP will be a standardized joint knowledge product for UN Country Teams (UNCTs), developed collaboratively with the support of UN inter-agency mechanisms such as the Program Management Team, Results Groups and gender coordination mechanisms (e.g. Gender Theme Groups (GTGs) (or their equivalents), and Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) groups. To support this process, efforts will be made to validate the analyses through engagement with consultations with key stakeholders, including government, women's rights organizations and other civil society, regional intergovernmental bodies, and academia.

Through the CGEPs, the UNCTs will:

• Have a shared analysis and understanding of power dynamics, structures and mechanisms that prevent or support women’s and girls’ equal and effective participation in all spheres of life- using an intersectional lens.
• Have a shared analysis and understanding of gender-specific drivers of conflict and/or instability, and key actors and institutions. 
• Have a mapping of progress on the advancement of key UN norms and standards, including regional and national frameworks towards gender equality and the empowerment women and girls in all their diversity
• Have an in-depth, national-level intersectional analysis of the status of women and men, boys and girls, based on available, up to date national and sub-national quantitative and qualitative statistics[2]. 
• Have a shared baseline to inform the UN’s analytical function and UN CA, which can provide a clear focus for delivering measurable results for women and girls in all their diversity
• Be able to plan, operationalize and finance their UNSDCFs and HRPs, to drive gender-transformative results which tackle systemic barriers to gender equality and the empowerment of diverse women and girls.
• Will have identified opportunities for building strategic partnerships with women’s rights organizations, private sector and philanthropy in support of the UN’s efforts
• Be better informed on the challenges facing women’s rights organizations, and how to support their engagement and support of national development priorities and accountabilities.

The Consultant will be contracted on a retainer basis to enable UN Women’s offices and presences to be able to directly engage relevant high-quality technical expertise for the development of the CGEPs. This retainer contract will enable the retention of the services of the Consultant as needed, based on their availability (and in line with UN Women’s Consultant Contract Policy). The contract duration will be from 14 August 2025 to 13 August 2028 for up to a total of 200 working days for the contract period. 

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

Within the assignment, the Consultant will be responsible for the following activities: 

1. Deliverable 1: Undertake a review of key resources (analytical reports, research, reviews, evaluations, and available statistical data sources) and prepare an Inception Report and an annotated outline, with the proposed methodology, and mapping of key stakeholders and institutions proposed for engagement (collaboration and/or consultation) in the development of the CGEP. Based on the CGEP guidance, the methodology would clarify:

• How the CGEP guidance principles i.e. international norms and standards; advancement of national ownership and capacities; enhanced UN coherence, Human Rights-based and Intersectional approaches to the process, analysis and recommendations. 
• To include a proposed framework for conducting a Gender-Power analysis.

The Inception report will also include a proposed roadmap for the process- with timelines. 

This will be review and feedback provided by the UN, before the finalization of the same to facilitate the Consultant’s next steps. 

2. Deliverables 2: Based on the approved Inception report and approved annotated outline, to: 

• Analysis:
  • Country Context: Conduct an in-depth analysis of the socio-economic, political (including electoral systems), governance, financial, environmental and humanitarian context, using a gender lens, to identify opportunities, challenges and systemic barriers to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of diverse women and girls. This analysis will be informed by available, up to date national and sub-national quantitative and qualitative statistics sourced from official statistical databases, administrative data, and data from household and specialized surveys and the most recent Census gender disaggregated statistical data. Data will also be drawn from relevant UN Women global resources containing country statistics, e.g. the Women Count Data Hub. Gaps in gender data as related to the tracking of progress on the SDGs will also be highlighted. 
  • Normative, policy, legal and institutional framework: Conduct an analysis of the alignment between the government’s normative commitments, and the national policy, legal and institutional frameworks, taking into account the outcomes of Human Rights Treaty Body reporting and other processes including special procedures. Additionally, reference will be made to monitoring and review processes including the outcomes of the annual sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Key institutions that will be analyzed include: (i) the national machinery in charge of gender equality i.e. their mandate, functions, level of authority, structure, capacities, resourcing, influencing capacity and extent of coordination with key actors/institutions within and outside the government; (ii) policy, legislative and institutional frameworks to support gender-responsive budgeting, in line with SDG 5.c.1;  and (iii) the national statistical infrastructure as relates gender statistics, and capacities for the production, analysis and use for gender statistics, disaggregated by age, disability, race and ethnicity etc. (where available).
  • An analysis of gender-power dynamics, and related structures and mechanisms that either support or prevent women’s and girls’ full and equal participation in all spheres of life. Analysis of gender-specific drivers of conflict and/or instability, key actors and factors contributing to inequalities and conflict, or opportunities for advancing peace, shall also be undertaken.
  • Partnerships for gender equality: Conduct a mapping of key stakeholders by their focus and roles in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity, and their strategies, taking into relevant traditional as well as non-traditional partners.
  • Civil society engagement: An analysis of the environment on which Women’s Rights Organizations and other civil society working on gender equality, a mapping of organizations by their areas of expertise and efforts- and funding opportunities.
• Key findings: Develop draft key findings from the above analyses, highlighting interlinkages and/or synergies between key findings of each component of analysis; identified drivers of gender inequalities (by area), and key priorities. Opportunities for addressing the same will also be highlighted and potential synergies and opportunities for innovation and collaboration with both traditional and non-traditional partners.
• Recommendations - Develop draft recommendations for consideration:
  • Targeting national or other relevant policy, legislative, and institutional[1] reforms required, targeting social norms change and implementation challenges to address identified key gender equality priorities. 
  • Targeting risks, if gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment issues are not adequately addressed – to inform the UN CA Multi-dimensional Risk Analysis.
  • Reflecting strategies for strengthening Women’s Rights Organizations and other civil society organizations and supporting the full and meaningful engagement and participation of civil society in national development efforts, including through better resourcing (financial and technical). The recommendations will also address approaches to strengthening UN -civil society coordination.

3. Deliverable 3: Develop a presentation of the draft analysis, its key findings and the recommendations from the same, for the UNCT to review, discuss and provide feedback. The Consultant will also present proposals for visualizations for discussion and agreement by the UNCT. Further to incorporating the feedback from the UNCT, the Consultant will present the same with external stakeholders for review and validation. The Consultant will address all comments received through the review and validation meeting and incorporate the same in the next iteration of the CGEP. 

 4. Deliverable 4: The Consultant will prepare: a draft of the statistical annex, draft visualizations, and a draft presentation on the CGEP, and present the same for review by the UNCT and inputs, to inform their finalization. 

 5. Deliverable 5: The Consultant will finalize the CGEP and the presentation (based on the provided outline).

The Consultant shall be guided by the UN Editorial Guidelines: http://www.dgacm.org/editorialmanual/ in developing the CGEP. Additionally, per the contract with the Consultant the title rights copyrights and all other rights of whatsoever nature in any material produced under the provisions of this contract shall be vested exclusively in UN Women. Please also see this link on guidance on gender inclusive language: UNITED NATIONS Gender-inclusive language.

IV. Competencies 

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Functional Competencies

• Good familiarity of the UN Development System 
• Strong planning, goal setting and prioritization skills 
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills
• Ability to work well with diverse actors/individuals
• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use computers, including advanced Excel skills and/or knowledge of related analytical software (SPSS, Stata etc.) and standard applications for concise communication and development of complex written documentation. 

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies:  

https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values

V. Requirements and Selection procedure

Education and Certification:

1. Master’s degree in Human Rights Law, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, International Development, Data/Statistics and/or other relevant fields, is required. 
2. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;

Experience and skills:

1. At least 7 years of demonstrable experience in undertaking qualitative and quantitative research analyses and/or drafting synthesis reports using a gender lens, to inform gender-responsive policies and Laws, and gender-responsive plans, programs and budgeting is key. 
2. Demonstrable experience in leveraging key global normative frameworks on gender equality and women’s empowerment to inform their analytical and research work.
3. Specific experience in gender statistical analysis would be advantageous.
4. Demonstrable experience in drafting country-level reports for the United Nations and/or other similar international organizations, targeting governments, civil society and UN action would be required.
5. Experience in the Asia and the Pacific region is an asset. 

Languages:

1. Language proficiency in English is required. 

Evaluation

Applications will be evaluated based on the technical qualifications including submitted writing samples which will be requested from shortlisted applicants (100 points).

Application Evaluation criteria 

* Assessment of submitted Writing samples. 

Only the candidates who have attained a minimum of 70 % out of the total 100 (points) will be considered as technically qualified, and may be contacted for an interview.

VI. How to Apply 

• Application letter explaining your interest in the consultancy and why you are a suitable candidate for the consultancy position. 
• Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified and not considered for further assessment. 

*Applicants who have been shortlisted will be asked for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, 2-3 relevant writing samples. These samples must have been authored by the applicant. Alternatively, the applicant should be able to show that they led in the drafting of the same, copy of biodata page of national passport and copy of the highest education certificate.

VII. Diversity and Inclusion

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.  

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.  

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.  All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)