WFC Local Policies & CSO Engagement Consultant

Background:

UNFPA Turkiye Country Office is implementing its 7th Country Programme (2021-2025) in Turkiye, which contributes to the transformative results of the UNFPA global strategic plan and aligns with the outcomes of the UN Cooperation Framework. The programme aims to improve access to high-quality basic services and opportunities, enhance women’s and girls’ access to resources and realization of their rights, and support the establishment of inclusive and rights-based governance systems. In line with these objectives, UNFPA works to strengthen the capacities of vulnerable groups and institutions to increase access to high-quality, inclusive, and rights-based protection and social cohesion services, including in humanitarian contexts.

In conflict-affected settings, disrupted social structures often heighten individual vulnerabilities to gender-based violence (GBV), exacerbating risks linked to displacement and resulting in disproportionate impacts. GBV remains a persistent threat to forcibly displaced and local women and girls, as well as men, boys, and individuals with diverse sexual orientation and gender identities across Turkiye.

Operating within a large and complex Country Office (CO) environment, the Individual Consultant (IC) will contribute to the effective implementation of Phase III of the Women Friendly Cities (WFC) Programme, which focuses on advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment, participatory local governance, and strengthening municipal and CSO capacities to deliver gender-responsive policies and services. Through substantive analysis and assessment of political, social, and economic trends, the IC will be responsible for managing the designated components of the WFC Programme and ensuring the timely and high-quality delivery of outputs in line with approved Work Plans and UNFPA programme procedures.

Job Purpose:

Specifically, the purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical leadership in strengthening local governance structures, enhancing participatory policy-making, and empowering civil society engagement within the WFC Programme Phase 3. The consultant will focus on improving local policy frameworks, facilitating structured participation of CSOs in municipal decision-making, and advancing inclusive governance mechanisms. Key responsibilities include the development of policy tools, participatory methodologies, and CSO capacity frameworks, ensuring municipalities and CSOs are equipped to collaborate effectively, promote social cohesion, and deliver gender-responsive local services.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

The Position:

The consultant is expected to work for 11 months  from 15 September 2025 to 14 August 2026 and the consultancy will be full time home-based. The consultant is eligible to take fixed (not floating) United Nations official holidays.

In the scope of this consultancy, Individual Consultant (IC) may travel to 25 different cities in Türkiye in  order to conduct and facilitate meetings, trainings and any other duties relating to the WFC Programme. The travel expense of the consultant will be covered  by the UNFPA in accordance with UNFPA Travel Policy.

The consultant will provide monthly activity reports (electronic) and the acceptance of services at the end of each completed month will be certified through a Certification of Payment to be countersigned by both parties (IC and UNFPA) and a monthly activity report to be submitted by the consultant including the details of completed tasks and progress.

Under the overall guidance of UNFPA Gender Programme Specialist, the consultant will work under the direct supervision of UNFPA Programme Analyst, WFC.

You would be responsible for:

Strengthening Local Capacity on Gender Equality

• Providing technical leadership for the WFC Training Package, by developing and enhancing training modules, slides, other materials on gender sensitive urban policy integration, LEAP budgeting strategies, and participatory governance approaches
• Building skills of municipal staff, UMT and CSOs to apply gender-responsive approaches in local planning.

Building an Expert Trainer and Mentorship Network

• Advising on the design and mobilization of a qualified expert pool, ensuring a well-defined roster of trainers and technical specialists is in place
• Ensuring effective delivery of the WFC Training Package across the municipalities and CSOs.
• Provide mentorship for the implementing partners including municipalities, CSOs, as well as the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT). 

Launching and Facilitating Municipal & CSO Trainings

• Leading the initial municipal training on reinforcing local governance, civil society engagement, participation and LEAP implementation. 
• Supporting municipalities and CSOs in setting LEAP priorities. 

Developing and Monitoring Tools for Implementation

• Leading implementation & Monitoring LEM Manuals, 
• Ensuring LM Tools are aligned with the policy requirements and promoted CSO participation

Establishing Mentorship and Supervision Systems

• Overseeing CSO capacity assessment to identify gaps and guide support. 

Enhancing and Assessing CSO Capacity 

• Overseeing the completion and deployment of CSO Capacity Assessments 
• Identifying institutional strengths and gaps, and directing targeted support to facilitate active CSO involvement in WFC activities.

Leading WFC CSO Groups and LEAP Engagement Process

• Spearheading the creation and implementation of the CSO proposal and selection process, 
• Developing transparent criteria, assessment tools, and operational procedures that uphold the participatory and rights-based principles of the WFC Programme.
• The establishment and running of WFC CSO Groups.
• Engagement of CSOs into LEAP activities.

Showcasing Progress at the Advocacy and Other Events

• Developing content for the WFC Launch Event presentation with a focus on local policy and CSO engagement, highlighting achievements in participatory governance and setting the groundwork for collaborative programme delivery.
• Preparing specialized technical materials and methodologies for the first regional experience sharing conference, and other relevant meetings and/or events, consolidating lessons learned from local policy integration and CSO practices to facilitate peer learning and inform future programme scaling.

Contributing to Monitoring and Evaluation

• Working closely with the M&E associate to refine indicators and develop robust monitoring instruments that capture progress in local governance, CSO engagement, and the gender-responsiveness of implemented policies.

Providing Ongoing Technical Support

• Delivering continuous mentoring, coaching, and technical support to municipalities throughout the drafting, revision, and budgeting of LEAPs, ensuring that gender equality and participatory approaches are systematically integrated at every stage.

Ensuring Regular Progress Tracking

• Producing clear monthly technical briefs, summarizing progress, key insights, and planned next steps, while actively engaging in regular coordination and planning meetings with the broader WFC team to ensure cohesive programme implementation. 

Submitting Executive Summary Reports in English

• Ensure the timely submission of executive summary reports in English, clearly outlining the progress of assigned tasks, key insights, and upcoming actions, in alignment with the WFC Programme’s reporting standards.

Performing Other Duties

• Undertaking any additional responsibilities as required under the WFC Programme, related to project activities or deliverables listed in the ToR, to ensure the timely achievement of objectives in alignment with approved Work Plans and UNFPA’s programme standards
   

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Master’s degree in sociology, urban planning, local development, public administration, social work, gender studies, social sciences or other relevant fields.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum 2 years of professional experience in gender equality and gender-based violence, local governance and policymaking, civil society engagement, and capacity development, including strategic and municipal-level planning, gender mainstreaming, community participation, quantitative research, training programme design and delivery (including ToTs), and the development of reports, guidelines, and policy documents.
• Knowledge on Microsoft Office, Windows-based applications, spreadsheets and databases.
• Experience in working in organizations on mitigating and responding to GBV is an asset.
• Experience in working with international organizations is an asset.
• Experience in working with national and local authorities and NGOs is an asset.

Languages: 

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Turkish.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving Results 
• Being Accountable 
• Developing & Applying Professional Expertise 
• Thinking Analytically & Strategically 
• Working in Teams/Managing our-selves and relationships 
• Communicating for Impact 

Functional Competencies:

• Delivering result-based programs 
• Providing conceptual innovation to enhance/strengthen programme effectiveness
• Generating, managing and promoting the use of knowledge and information

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.