Background:
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.
In a frame of implementation of its regional Strategic Note (SN) for 2022-2025, UN Women Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) intends to deepen sub-regional approaches through the development and implementation of tailored sub-regional strategies/roadmaps. In 2022 UN Women developed a sub-regional Roadmap for the Western Balkan sub-region, covering Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo1, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. It was developed through analyses related to progress and perspectives for gender equality and womenโs empowerment (GEWE) and other related issues in the Western Balkans and the broader region, including national strategies and actions plans, strategic documents of UN Women and UN system as well as other regional partners. It was also built on the results of extensive multi-stakeholder consultation including with UN Women staff, other UN agencies, both in-country as well as on regional level, and all key partners and collaborators of UN Women in the Western Balkans.ย ย
EU accession and the Berlin Process provide an important opportunity for increased sub-regional engagement, creating opportunities for regional collaboration and addressing shared challenges on GEWE in the sub-region, including the persistent gender pushback. UN Women supports EU accession processes through the Gender Equality Facility (GEF) methodology, supporting governments to align with and integrate the EU Gender Equality Acquis on gender equality and womenโs empowerment into planning and programming, and into the financing of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). UN Womenโs sub-regional approach in the Western Balkans should address continued support to EU accession while also leveraging opportunities to increase the gender equality impact of reform agenda implementationโensuring that structural changes benefit women and girls and advance inclusive governance.
UN Women is present in the Western Balkans through two full-fledged Country Offices in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, whereas in Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro it operates as Non-Resident Agency (NRA), formerly known as the Project Presence. Reviewing how UN Womenโs presence and business model in the sub-region can be strengthened to be better positioned to deliver results is part of this consultancy.ย
UN Women intends to revisit new developments in the subregion and links with its new corporate policies, including the upcoming climate and environment strategy, the humanitarian strategy, DRR, TransformCare, etc. as well Humanitarian-Peace-Development nexusโ approach and considering the UN Women Coordination Strategy.ย ย
UN Women ECARO intends to update the Western Balkan sub-regional roadmap, considering the changing context, current regional needs, priorities, and emerging opportunities for regional collaboration. With the development of a new Strategic Note by ECARO, serving as its four-year programmatic framework to support the GEWE agenda in Europe and Central Asia within a broader context, the updated sub-regional roadmap will be aligned with UN Womenโs overall vision and sub-regional strategic framework. It will also build on achievements and lessons learned from the previous programmatic cycle. The sub-regional roadmap is expected as a flexible strategic framework to be adapted to new priorities and opportunities for GEWE transformativeย
work. This should result in an action plan to implement roadmap and the concept notes for the thematic subregional GEWE accelerators with a clear partnership and knowledge management strategies.ย
For this purpose, UN Women ECARO intends to hire an international consultant who will work under the overall supervision of the UN Women ECA Deputy Regional Director and with be engaged with UN Women ECA Regional Director for a strategic guidance and regular updates. He/she will be engaged with ECARO policy/programme colleagues and colleagues in Western Balkan offices and interact with partners in respective countries.ย ย
Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Workย
GEWE Landscape Analysis for Western Balkans in link with the current geopolitical and development context at the sub-regional and country levels, including:ย
To undertake a substantial analysis of the current political, economic, and social dynamics in the Western Balkans, with a focus on gender equality and womenโs empowerment (GEWE) and alignment with the SDGs and perspectives of regional collaboration, identifying gaps, challenges, and emerging opportunities in the GEWE landscape, particularly those that can be addressed at the sub-regional level.ย To assess the current and planned strategic priorities and recent contributions to Gender Equality and Womenโs Empowerment (GEWE) by relevant UN Country Teams, and UN Women country offices, including GEWE-targeted and mainstreamed programs, as well as UNSDCFs, and to advise on UN Womenโs potential role, including the need for technical expertise and coordination in alignment with global gender equality frameworks.ย ย ย To elaborate recommendations for policy engagement, UN coordination and operational work, including short- and long-term actions addressing UN Women triple mandate and considering context-tailored knowledge management and Gender Equality accelerator approaches to deliver on GEWE in the Western Balkans. Analyze existing mechanisms for sharing knowledge among stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and regional organizations, and suggest how to improve the efficiency of GEWE knowledge management to support evidence-based decision-making.ยProvide advisory support to design a strategic vision for UN Womenโs sub-regional operation, aligned with UN Womenโs Strategic Note for 2026-2029. More specifically:ย
Consult with key stakeholders to elaborate on GEWE strategic vision for UN Women operations, linking them to ongoing country-specific initiatives and emerging sub-regional priorities. Focus on innovative, high-impact interventions and scalable models for advancing GEWE in the Western Balkans.ย Analyse the current presence modality and business model for UN Women in the sub-region and advise how the UN Women presence approach could be strengthened to deliver on the strategic vision and results at the country and sub-regional levels.ย Assess UN Womenโs comparative advantages and value added in the Western Balkans, ensuring alignment with regional needs and global mandates as well as the applicable UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks. Suggest scenarios for UN Women strategic interventions at the sub-regional and country levels in line with necessary resources and capacities to implement the suggested scenarios.ย Develop a forward-looking strategic document outlining UN Womenโs vision, priorities, and value-added for sub-regional operations in the Western Balkans. Prepare an implementation framework, outlining key steps, priority actions, timelines, and responsible actors in line with UN Womenโs strategic priorities.ย Align the document with UN Womenโs global mandates and regional needs, focusing on advancing gender equality and womenโs empowerment (GEWE) in the sub-region.ย Include clear objectives, expected outcomes, and innovative approaches to address emerging challenges and opportunities in the Western Balkans.ย Ensure the document serves as a foundational input for UN Womenโs Strategic Note for 2026-2029, guiding programmatic and partnership strategies.ยElaborate detailed partnership strategy for UN Women in the Western Balkans, including:ย
Elaborate and present a clear vision for the partnership focused on expected results, level and modality of engagement, priorities for long-term financial and technical support for GEWE initiatives.ย Enhance collaboration with governments, civil society, and regional bodies to ensure coherent and integrated efforts in advancing GEWE, taking into account UN Womenโs role in the respective UN Country Teams and expanded coordination platforms.ย ย Develop a resource mobilization strategy aligned with the identified programmatic priorities and emerging opportunities.ย To suggest partner-specific advocacy packages, including tailored proposals and pitches, emphasizing the impact of their support on GEWE initiatives in the Western Balkans, toolkits to effectively advocate for GEWE, etc.ย ย ย ย ย ยDeliverableย ย ย ย
Expected completion time (due day)ย ย ย ย ย
Payment Schedule (optional)ย ย ย ย
Detailed analysis of GEWE Landscape for the Western Balkans and a vision for UN Women subregional programmatic workโs priorities and its operational presence - final version after addressing comments for the initial draftย ย
By 1 Julyย
Upon certification of the quality deliveryย ย ย ย ย
Strategic Visionary Document for UN Womenโs Sub-Regional Operations in the Western Balkans (2026-2029), including modality of implementation, partnership, knowledge management, etc.ย
By 1 Augustย
Upon certification of the quality deliveryย
Consultantโs Workplace and Official Travelย
This is a home-based consultancy with a one travel to the subregion.ย
Competencies :
Core Values:
Integrity; Professionalism; Respect for Diversity.Core Competencies:
Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues; Accountability; Creative Problem Solving; Effective Communication; Inclusive Collaboration; Stakeholder Engagement; Leading by Example.Please visitย this linkย for more information on UN Womenโs Values and Competencies Framework:ย
Functional Competencies:
Strong knowledge of gender equality and womenโs empowerment; ย Strong political experience preferably in the Europe and Central Asia region;ย Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience; ย Excellent negotiation, advocacy and interpersonal skills; ย Proven expertise in writing cogent and convincing documents; ย Strong communications and public speaking skills; ย Proven analytical and problem solving skills; ย Ability to lead a team and manage performance; ย Ability to interact with high-level decision-makers and good understanding of intergovernmental processes; ย Effectiveness in establishing and fostering good relations with government counterparts, UN agencies, donors, and NGO partners.ยย
Education and Certification:ย
Masterโs degree or equivalent in International Relations, Gender Studies or related field is required.ย A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.ยExperience:ย
At least 10 years of active participation in or leadership of gender-related development programmes is required.ย ย Significant experience working in an international or multinational setting is required.ย ย Prior experience in the region is required.ย Experience with UN Women is an asset.ยLanguages:ย
Fluency in English is required.ย ย Knowledge of Albanian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Macedonian is an asset.ยย
Statements :
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.
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,ย and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age,ย ability, national origin,ย 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 toย UN Womenโsย policiesย and proceduresย andย theย standardsย of conduct expected of UN Women personnelย 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.)
Note: 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 from the recruitment and selection process.
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