Background:
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 all genders as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security. Placing womenโs rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates the efforts of the United Nations System to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of national priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with government, civil society, and other relevant actors. In Nepal, UN Women, with an overarching five-year Strategic Note (SN) 2023 โ 2027, aims to support the national stakeholders in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in line with internationally agreed normative standards that contribute to four outcome areas of the UNSDCF 2023 โ 2027.
Under the framework of the current UN Women Nepal Country Office (NCO) Strategic Note 2023-2027, UN Women in Nepal continues its work to strengthen womenโs leadership and participation in national and local level decision-making processes, empower women economically by supporting women, especially those from the most vulnerable and excluded groups, promote environmental sustainability, climate and disaster resilience, and transform gender discriminatory social norms and end harmful practices for inclusive and transformative human development.
Agriculture employs two-thirds of Nepalโs population and contributes 26% to GDP. Despite this, nearly 45 of 77 districts are food insufficient, and Madhesh Provinceโdespite being in the fertile Terai regionโfaces serious food and agricultural challenges. Issues such as inadequate irrigation, climate-induced disasters (notably floods and desertification), and depletion of water resources due to overexploitation of the Chure hills worsen the situation. A key challenge is the large-scale male youth out-migration, especially from Madhesh and Koshi Provinces. This has led to a \"feminization of agriculture,\" where womenโwho make up 80% of the agricultural workforceโbear the dual burden of farming and unpaid care work. However, only 19.7% of women legally own land, and many face restricted access to services, information, and technologies, particularly in Madhesh.
Climate change, including extreme weather events, and the COVID-19 pandemic have compounded these challenges. The pandemic disrupted input supplies, markets, labor, and food value chains, causing major losses in poultry, vegetables, milk, and fisheries, and disproportionately affecting womenโs employment and food security. Structural inequalitiesโsuch as discriminatory migration policies, gender norms, lack of access to resources, and inappropriate agricultural technologiesโcontinue to marginalize women farmers. Despite their central role in agriculture, their contributions are undervalued, and their specific needs remain largely unaddressed in policy and practice.
To address these interconnected challenges, UN Women, in partnership with WFP, FAO, and IFAD, is implementing the Joint Programme on โAccelerating Progress Towards Rural Womenโs Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE)โ, Phase II (2022โ2027), under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD). JP RWEE contributes to the Government of Nepalโs Agricultural Development Strategy (ADS) and aligns with the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Strategy developed with technical assistance from the first phase of JP RWEE. The JP RWEE adopts a holistic, multi-dimensional approach to rural womenโs empowerment through four interrelated outcomes:
Improved food security and nutrition for rural women and their households that contribute to equitable and sustainable food systems.ย Rural womenโs income, decent work, and economic autonomy increased to secure their livelihoods and build resilience.ย Rural womenโs voice and agency increased for full and equal participation and leadership in their households, communities, organizations, and governance systems.ย Gender-responsive legal frameworks, policies, and institutions strengthened to create an enabling environment for rural women to secure their livelihoods, rights, and resilience.ยIn this context, UN Women seeks to engage a team lead to conduct the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress Toward Rural Womenโs Economic Empowerment (JP RWEE) Phase II in Nepal. The consultant will provide technical expertise to assess the programmeโs performance in terms of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability, with a focus on gender-transformative outcomes and climate resilience. In close collaboration with Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs), government stakeholders at all three tiers, and local communities in Siraha and Saptari districts, the review will generate evidence-based findings to inform strategic decision-making, improve programme delivery, and enhance coordination. The MTR will play a critical role in ensuring the programme remains responsive to the needs of rural women, while contributing to policy reform, institutional learning, and long-term impact within Nepalโs agricultural and rural development sectors.
2. Objectives
The Mid-Term Review (MTR) is an internal process designed to assess the implementation progress and performance of JP RWEE in Nepal. It aims to document key results, best practices and lessons learned to promote reflection and learning, identify challenges for corrective action through programmatic and operational adjustments while looking at the strategic/long-term vision to inform sustainability of the approach, and inform key decision-making processes such as the upcoming Annual Work Plan, the Country Exit Strategy, and the potential design of a Phase III. The MTR will cover the period from the programme's inception from May 2022 to June 2025, providing a comprehensive assessment of progress midway through the implementation cycle. As part of the MTR, a desk review will synthesize existing evidence and secondary data relevant to the programmeโs performance. This includes outcome, output, and process data reported in corporate systems such as the JP RWEE Programme Management Toolkit (PMT), Annual Reports, Quarterly Activity Reports, the Beneficiary Roster, the Annual Monitoring Exercise, and all annual workplans, financial reports. This evidence base will inform the reviewโs findings and recommendations.ย The objective is to provide an independent, external perspective on programme progress, achievements, and implementation arrangements, to inform mid-course adjustments and guide future programming strategy and focus.ย ย
Specifically, the review focuses on:ย
Relevance and Coherence: The extent to which synergy and collaboration among the Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs) in Nepal align with the overall programmeโs objectives and contribute to tangible and positive changes in gender transformative change and climate change and resilience. It also examines the extent to which the programme demonstrates internal coherence among its components and actors, and external coherence, particularly how the initiative complements other ongoing efforts and policies related to climate resilience and gender equality in Nepal.ย Effectiveness: Evidence of progress and systemic, gender-transformative change achieved within the Nepal context, and demonstrating the programmeโs effectiveness in driving meaningful change.ย Efficiency: The degree to which resources and partnerships have been strategically leveraged across the programmeโs four outcome areas to achieve results in a timely and cost-effective manner andย Sustainability: The extent to which the programme has catalysed systemic and sustainable gender-transformative change that is likely to be maintained in the long term within the country context.ยThe main outputs are a concise analytical report with clear, actionable recommendations and an accompanying action plan. These outputs will be endorsed and implemented by the JP RWEE Programme Management Unit (PMU) and the PUNOs and will inform the JP RWEE Annual Work Plan (2026).
3. Geographical Scope:ย
ย The review covers two districts: Siraha and Saptari, focusing on five municipalities: Laxmipur Patari RM, Sakhuwanankarkatti RM, Karjanha M, Chinnamasta RM, and Tilathi Koiladi RM. It includes 13 wards in total: Karjanha M (Ward 5); Laxmipur Patari RM (Wards 1, 2, 4, 5); Sakhuwanankarkatti RM (Wards 2, 3, 4); Chinnamasta RM (Wards 3, 5); and Tilathi Koiladi RM (Wards 3, 4, 5)ย
4. DATA AVAILABILITYย
The main sources of information expected to be available include both quantitative and qualitative data collected throughout the programme implementation period. These are anticipated to comprise process monitoring data and reports submitted by Implementing Partners, accessible through a central repository.ย
While the available data is expected to support strong analysis, the consultant will assess data quality and completeness during the inception phase. Potential limitations may include gaps in baseline data, inconsistencies in data reporting, limited process monitoring data across the PUNO, availability of information in local languages only, or challenges linked to institutional memory due to staff turnover. Where necessary, the team lead will propose appropriate mitigation measures, such as triangulation through qualitative methods or supplementary data collection.ย
5.ย METHODOLOGY:ย
To address the review questions and assess the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the JP RWEE in Nepal, the consultant will employ a mixed-methods approach. This will include a combination of desk review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and field visits to selected implementation sites. These methods will be used to collect both primary and secondary data.ย
The team will apply qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques to assess programme performance against intended outcomes, with a focus on triangulating evidence across multiple data sources. Particular attention will be given to integrating age, gender, and diversity. Considerations throughout the review process, ensuring that the voices and experiences of women, men, girls, and boys, in all their diversity, are meaningfully captured and reflected in the analysis.ย
The detailed methodology, including sampling strategies, data collection tools, and analytical frameworks, will be further elaborated in the inception report, following consultations with key stakeholders.ย
6. Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work
Under the supervision of the Monitoring and Reporting Analyst and in close coordination with the National Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator and PUNOs, the team lead will undertake the assignment as outlined in the detailed scope of work and responsibilities below:
Strategic Leadership & Direction: Provide overall leadership and direction for the Mid-Term Review (MTR), ensuring methodological rigor, strategic relevance, and alignment with the programmeโs objectives and UN standards. Lead the development and application of the evaluation/review framework and tools, ensuring robust, context-appropriate, and gender-responsive evidence collection. Gender and Programme Analysis: Conduct in-depth analysis on shifts in gender norms, womenโs economic empowerment, institutional capacity building, womenโs leadership, and policy integration. Analyse causal linkages across the four outcome areas, focusing on their collective contribution to gender transformation, climate change resilience, and rural development. Ensure that gender equality, intersectionality, and inclusion of marginalized groups (including women with disabilities) are systematically integrated across all aspects of the review. Team and Stakeholder Coordination: Collaborate with the MEAL Expert Consultant, JP RWEE Programme Management Unit (PMU), PUNO focal points, National Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator, and other partners to ensure data accuracy and consistency. Maintain regular communication with the Reference Group (composed of representatives from the four Participating UN Organizations), providing technical feedback and ensuring strategic oversight. Serve as the primary liaison with the Management Committee, ensuring effective day-to-day coordination, timely updates, and resolution of emerging issues. Field Visits and Data Collection: Lead field visits to five selected municipalities, engaging with programme beneficiaries, implementing partners, and key stakeholders from provincial, federal, and local governments. Design and use appropriate primary data collection tools (e.g., Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions), and identify information gaps to be addressed through supplementary data collection. Participatory Consultations: Facilitate inclusive restitution workshops with key stakeholders using participatory techniques to gather feedback, validate findings, and ensure community voices especially those of marginalized groups are reflected. Reporting and Dissemination: Draft, synthesize, and finalize a high-quality, gender-responsive, evidence-based MTR report with strategic insights and actionable recommendations. Present key findings in stakeholder validation sessions and a formal debriefing with programme management. Develop a clear Action Plan with defined responsibilities, timelines, and measurable outcomes to guide programmatic improvements. Ethics and Quality Assurance: Uphold ethical standards throughout all phases of the review process, including informed consent, confidentiality, and do-no-harm principles. Ensure quality, coherence, and alignment with UN expectations in all deliverables.7. Deliverables
The key outputs of the consultant are expected to be:ย
Inception Report: A comprehensive document outlining the data needs, proposed methodology, data collection roadmap, tools (e.g., FGD and KII guides), and implementation timeline. This report will be developed in alignment with the Mid-Term Review (MTR) Terms of Reference provided by the Country Team (CT).ย [15 days] Mid-Term Review (MTR) Report: A detailed review report presenting key findings, analysis, and evidence-based conclusions and recommendations, based on qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.ย [30 days] Analytical Summary Report: A concise, action-oriented summary tailored for strategic decision-makers, synthesizing the key findings, recommendations, and responsibility mapping from the MTR report.ย [5 days] Management Response and Action Plan: A structured plan developed in response to the MTR findings, outlining prioritized actions, timelines, and designated responsibilities for implementation.ย [5 days] Synthesis Report: A reflective summary capturing overarching insights, lessons learned, and strategic recommendations to inform future programming and decision-making.ย [5 days]8. Payment schedule ย
Payments will be made in three instalments, based on the satisfactory delivery and approval of key deliverables as outlined below:ย
30% of the consultancy fee will be paid upon signing of the contract and finalization of the inception report.ย 40% will be paid upon submission and acceptance of the draft report and preliminary findings.ย 30% will be paid upon submission and approval of the final report, action plan, and presentation.ยย All deliverables are expected to be of high quality, responsive to stakeholder input, and submitted promptly. The final payment is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of all deliverables and presentation of findings at the validation meeting.ย
SNย ย Task ย Duration ย 1ย Preliminary preparation, including development of data collection and analysis plan (i.e., inception report).ย 2 Weeksย 2ย Conduct a programme desk review and stakeholdersโ consultation ย 2 Weeksย 3ย Field visits/ KII/FGDsย 2 Weeksย 4ย MTR Workshop with stakeholders, including the PUNO and other stakeholdersย ย 1 Dayย 5ย Analyse data from secondary desk review and primary data collection, and draft initial MRT reportย ย 2 Weeksย 6ย Circulate the initial MTR report with Reference Group for review and feedbackย ย 2 Weeksย 7ย Revise and finalize the report ย 3 Daysย 8ย Submit the final report ย 1 Dayย 9ย Develop an Action Plan outlining responsibilities, timelines, and outcomesย 3 DaysยConsultantโs Workplace and Official Travel
This is a home-based consultancy. As part of this assignment, there will be 10 days of field travel to Madhesh Province and other relevant locations as required.
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
Required Qualifications:
Education and Certification:
Masterโs degree in Sociology, Social Development, Development Economics or Performance Management or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training/courses. ยExperience:ย
Minimum 10 yearsโ experience in development field with a focus on women economic empowerment climate -smart agriculture sector, social protection, employment creation. ย Previous experience leading, reviews, evaluations or monitoring exercises. Extensive experience in leading evaluations, midterm reviews, and assessments of development programmes centered on gender equality, womenโs empowerment, and transformative gender approaches.ย Comprehensive knowledge of Nepalโs national gender policies and institutional landscapeย ย Strong skills in leadership, facilitation, and high-quality analytical report writing.ย ย Proven experience working in joint programmes or inter-agency collaboration settings. Experience with such initiatives under United Nations agencies is considered an added advantage.ย ยLanguages:
Fluency in written and spoken English and Nepali is required. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Madhesh Province is an asset.Evaluation Criteria:
Academic qualification (10) 10+ years in gender equality, womenโs economic empowerment, or related sectors with leadership in programme evaluations/reviews/assessments. (30) Experience leading UN or multi-stakeholder mid-term reviews with gender focus. (10) Experience in working with government institutions at federal, provincial, and/or local levels in Nepal, including marginalized groups (5) Strong analytical and report writing skills. (25)ย Interview with the recommended candidates (20)The maximum score that the candidate can achieve for this consultancy is 100. Out of 80, candidates who receive a score higher than 65 will be selected for interview. Hence out of 100, candidates should score more than 60 to qualified for this position. ย
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.