National Consultant to Support Evidence Generation and Capacity Building on Women’s Economic Empowerment in Georgia

Background/Context

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, 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. UN Women in Georgia supports state and non-state partners towards the achievement of substantive gender equality in Georgia. In line with national and international commitments, UN Women works on the levels of policies and legislation, institutions and grassroots, in order to achieve transformative results for increased gender equality and greater protection of the rights of women and girls.

UN Women Country Office in Georgia with the generous support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is implementing the third phase of the “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus” (WEESC) project. The project’s overarching goal is to ensure that women, particularly the poor and socially excluded, in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are economically empowered and participate in relevant decision-making. The WEESC project applies a holistic approach to reach this goal, enabling linked interventions at three levels: grassroots, policies and legislation, and institutions. The chosen approach and the implementation of the WEE agenda in the South Caucasus during Phase I (2018-2021) and Phase II (2021-2024) of the WEESC project served as a catalyst for action at all levels and supported the state and non-state partners towards the achievement of substantive gender equality in all three countries (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan).

Women in Georgia face significant barriers that impede their full economic participation. Specifically, they encounter challenges related to labor force participation, unpaid care work, equal pay, managerial representation, entrepreneurship, and access to various assets and finance. These persistent gaps are deeply rooted in entrenched gender norms and social structures, such as the unequal distribution of care responsibilities and insufficient social protection and childcare services, which further hinder women’s economic empowerment. Women in Georgia dedicate five times more hours to unpaid domestic and caregiving tasks than men, significantly impacting their ability to participate fully in the labor market. Many women struggle to balance their professional and family responsibilities due to limited support systems, including a lack of childcare services, flexible work arrangements, and family-friendly workplace policies. Furthermore, inadequate maternity leave policies and insufficient job security during pregnancy contribute to challenges in women’s economic stability and overall well-being. The gender pay gap remains a significant challenge for women in Georgia. Even with equal educational achievements and professional backgrounds, women earn less than men. (https://georgia.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/cgep_eng_web_1.pdf)

Currently in Georgia has yet to ratify key International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, including the Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156), and the Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183). Ratifying these ILO conventions is crucial for advancing gender equality and protecting workers' rights. Convention No. 156 supports workers with family responsibilities by ensuring they can balance their work and family life without facing discrimination, which is essential for fostering an inclusive labor market. Convention No. 183 establishes minimum standards for maternity protection, including provisions for maternity leave, job security, and healthcare, thereby safeguarding the health and rights of mothers and their children while promoting maternal well-being and child development. During the first and second phases of the WEESC, UN Women developed Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) reports on ILO Conventions Nos. 156 and 183 (https://georgia.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2023/01/regulatory-impact-assessment-of-ilo-c156-workers-with-family-responsibilities-convention); (https://georgia.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2021/05/regulatory-impact-assessment-of-ilo-c183maternity-protection-convention). These reports identified key gaps in national legislation and provided recommendations for amendments to the relevant laws and possible scenarios to accelerate the ratification process.

Georgia has ratified the ILO Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), which mandates equal pay for work of equal value. However, challenges in legislative alignment remain. In September 2020, the Parliament adopted significant amendments to the Labour Code, including Article 4, which states that “Employers shall ensure equal remuneration of female and male employees for equal work performed,” and recognizes unequal pay as a form of discrimination. Additionally, the new Law on the Labour Inspection Office requires monitoring of labor rights, including the enforcement of equal pay. Despite these advancements, Georgia’s legislation does not fully comply with ILO Convention No. 100, particularly regarding the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. To support gender equality in the workplace, a methodological document on the principle of equal pay in labor relations—the Equal Pay Review and Reporting (EPRR) Methodology—has been developed by ISET with guidance from UN Women. Moreover, UN Women, together with the Progressive Forum, has developed instructions for the Labour Inspection Office to identify and respond to unequal pay in the workplace. Discussions regarding its institutionalization are ongoing in Georgia.

By ratifying and aligning with ILO Conventions No. 100, No. 156, and No. 183, a country demonstrates its commitment to international labor standards, establishes a strong legal framework for gender equality, and enhances its global credibility, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and fair society. Furthermore, ratifying and aligning with these ILO Conventions would be an important step for Georgia on its path toward European Union (EU) approximation as spelled out in Georgia’s Association Agreement (2014) and EU’s communication to Georgia as part of the country’s EU candidacy application. The EU emphasizes adherence to international labor standards, which are vital for the integration process.

To support this effort, UN Women Country Office (CO) Georgia seeks to hire a local consultant to generate data and evidence and support awareness raising on the ratification and alignment process of ILO Conventions Nos. 100, 156, and 183, as well as aligning Georgia’s labor legislation with the requirements of its EU approximation process.

The consultant will be reporting to WEESC Programme Analyst and WEESC Project Analyst and will be supported by WEESC Project Assistant, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

The national consultant will be responsible to: 

Deliverables: 

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a Tbilisi-based consultancy.

Competencies:

Core Values: 

Core Competencies: 

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

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: 

Required Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

Experience:

Languages:

Fluency in English and Georgian is required.

How to Apply:

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