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.
UN Womenโs Country Office, based in New Delhi, India, works to accelerate the advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of women through the strengthening of strategic partnerships, technical and policy advisory services and advocacy with governmental, inter-governmental and civil society partners.ย In addition, UN Women CO is also leading and coordinating the UN systemโs work on gender equality, including through ensuring accountability for results.
Numerous challenges have impeded the growth of women's entrepreneurship in India, perpetuating their economic marginalization for decades. Traditional mindsets, gender biases, limited economic opportunities, and a lack of capital and resources have all contributed to their struggles. Despite these obstacles, there is an increasingly acknowledged importance in promoting women as entrepreneurs, recognizing their potential to significantly contribute to empowerment and well-being.ย
Handicrafts have traditionally offered an alternative source of employment in rural India, alongside agriculture, particularly for women. Among these crafts, textiles and hand-block printing have stood out as enduring traditions, with roots dating back to the 12th century. The intricate process of block printing involves transferring designs from handcrafted wooden blocks onto fabric, each piece carrying a unique story and cultural heritage.ย
Various regions across India have developed their distinctive styles within hand block printing, reflecting their rich cultural diversity. For instance, Rajasthan is renowned for its vibrant Dabu, Sanganeri, and Bagru prints, featuring an array of floral, geometric, and animal motifs. Gujarat boasts intricate Ajrakh prints in indigo blue, red, black, and white, while Madhya Pradesh showcases the intricate Bagh prints inspired by nature and local folk art. Uttar Pradesh is celebrated for its stylized Pilakuan and Farukhabad prints, while Andhra Pradesh's Kalamkari art unfolds stories of epic tales like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
UN Womenย initiated a project, Women Artisans of Change (WeACe) to empower women artisans engaged in block printing by fostering collaboration with design students, enhancing traditional practices, and providing market access. The project will collaborate with design schools to train students in eco-friendly block printing techniques. These students will then mentor women artisans, imparting skills in sustainable production methods, new designs, and entrepreneurial development. Introduce eco-friendly techniques of block printing that require less water and utilize natural organic dyes and sustainable fabrics. Promote environmentally responsible textile production to reduce ecological impact and ensure socially responsible manufacturing. Showcase products developed through the project at a fashion show organized at the UN House or in partnership with existing fashion weeks. Leverage UN Women's networks to attract buyers from the EU and other countries, facilitating export linkages for women artisans. Partner with platforms like Amazon and the Government's ONDC to market and sell products, expanding market reach beyond traditional avenues. Collaborate with government agencies such as the Ministry of Export and Import, Ministry of Textiles, and Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises to provide access to existing government schemes and financial capital. Facilitate continued livelihood support and market opportunities for women artisans through strategic partnerships.ย
The purpose of this consultancy is to support the activities of WeACe project. Under the direct supervision of the Programme Analyst (WEE) the consultant will support UN Women in developing a train the trainers manual for women artisans and deliver the content to master trainers in the craft clusters. S/he will also develop advocacy/strategy documents on the status of women artisans in the crafts sector and also undertake the groundwork for an advocacy seminar on the status of women in the craft sector.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Develop a Train the Trainers manual relevant for the craft sector.ย Deliver training of trainer sessions for women artisans clusters/SHGs.ย Develop advocacy materials for the status of women artisans.Expected Deliverables:
Train the Trainers Manual for women artisans developed and field tested โ June 2025 โ (20% Payment) Seven Train the Trainer sessions conducted with a batch of 30 women artisans each on pre-approved dates โ December 2025 (10% Payment per workshop)Training schedule:
June: Training workshop at the Indian institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT), Jodhpur July: Training workshop at the Indian institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT), Guwahati July: Training workshop at the Indian institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT), Varanasi August: Training workshop at the Indian institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT), Bargarh September: Training workshop at the Indian institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT), Kannur October: Training workshop at the Indian institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT), Salem November: Training workshop at the Indian institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT), FuliaWorkshop report at the end of each workshop and one consolidated project end report
Advocacy material developed on status of women artisans: - November 2025 โ (10% Payment) One factsheet on the status of women artisan and allied workers in the textile sector One flyer on the project WeACe One process document and Power-point presentation on the training material and workshop model Audio-video footage from the workshops for social media dissemination Social media messaging to raise awareness of women artisans and their challenges 7 testimonial and photo stories from the fieldCompetencies :
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:
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude. Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills. Focuses on impact and result for the partners and responds positively to feedback.Education:
Experience:
At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in working in the textile/artisans sector and mainstreaming; gender equality and womenโs empowerment concepts and approaches in crafts development projects; Significant expertise in developing training manuals and conducting training workshops in the textile sector; Experience of working with the government and Industry in the crafts sector; Good communication skills and the ability to explain technical terms in a non-technical language; Experience of working in the similar assignments is preferable; Experience of working with UN agencies, international organization is a pre-requisite.Language Requirements:
Strong written skills in English and good command over Hindi.Interested applicants should apply to this announcement through UN Women jobs site:ย
Careers at UN Women | UN Women โ Headquarters
UN Women will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.
Evaluation and Selection Criteria:
Criteria for shortlisting of CVs will be based on the following assessment:
Required Degree and Qualification (5 points). Minimum Experience relevant to the assignment (10 points). Working knowledge and experience of working with National/State Government (5 points).The evaluation process for selection of the candidate will be based on the following assessment:
Interview Writing SamplesPlease Note:
For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy. Consultants are required to submitย doctor's certificate to stateย fitness to work and travel for this assignment. Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process. The consultant is expected to use their own computer equipment. The office will not provide any computer equipment for this assignment. Travel and DSA will be booked and settled as per SSA norms directly by UN Women on submission of F-10 form with original ticket stubs, vouchers, etc. as per actuals.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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