Technical Consultant – Gender and HIV (UNAIDS-UBRAF) (Local Post for Indian Nationals and Applicants with a Valid Work Permit)

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 Women’s 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. In addition, UN Women CO is also leading and coordinating the UN system’s work on gender equality, including through ensuring accountability for results.

Aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and UN Women India Country Strategic Note 2023-27 Women’s Economic Empowerment Outcome 1, UN Women is currently supporting activities in India to address the factors that are propelling the HIV epidemic among women, such as gender equality, violence against women, denial of rights, and women’s limited participation in decision-making, and most importantly, lack of awareness around prevention, under the Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF).

It is estimated that around 2.4 million People are living with HIV in India, including 1 million Women living with HIV (WLHIV). WLHIVs constitute around 43.5% of total PLHIVs in the country. While overall HIV/AIDS has been declining in the country, significant variations remain at the state level.  There is a high HIV prevalence among women from key populations such as female sex workers and transgender women. Female partners of key populations and PLHIV are at high risk of infection but not adequately accessing HIV prevention services.

Unequal gender relations are key to understanding women’s vulnerability and inhibit women’s attempts at prevention and protection. The cultural and social implications of gendered relations of power have alarming implications for women’s ability to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), given that within the realm of intimate relationship, women have less power than men. In many cases the realities of women’s lives at the household and intimate relationships levels are the most oppressive: gender inequality and unequal power relations at these levels remain the most difficult to challenge. However, challenging power at the relationship and household levels is critical if women’s vulnerability to, and the impact of, HIV and AIDS are to be dealt with effectively.

In this context, the Technical Consultant – Gender and HIV will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Analyst and overall supervision of Country Programme Manager (WEE), to develop capacity building tools targeted to HIV affected, infected and vulnerable communities. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Consultations with community-based organizations, PLHIV Networks, CSOs working with WLHIV (particularly women-led and LGBTQIA organizations) on the capacity gaps and identify need for capacity building of CBOs on  intersectionality of HIV and gender.
• Review existing UN Women modules on HIV and Gender, and develop a training module and trainer handbook for building capacities of CBOs on gender equality in HIV related issues, incorporating gender-based violence prevention messaging, care work, economic opportunity and social protection.
• Field test the training modules and finalize the training modules.
• Conduct trainings of UN Women implementing partners on the deployment of the module created.
• Review the existing modules developed in the UN Joint Team on AIDS to include 360 degree approach on gender and prevention messaging, focusing on GBV and care and provide recommendations.
• Develop  briefs on women and HIV e.g. challenges faced and opportunities, in relation to UN Women’s thematic  work.
• Handholding support to the implementing partner for roll out of trainings.
• Any other work assigned by the supervisor in the thematic areas of HIV and Gender.

Deliverables:

• Need assessment report based on consultations prepared and submitted to UNW – June 2024
• Review of the existing training modules and identify the need of new training materials/ updation of existing modules – May 2024
• Comprehensive module and trainer handbook on HIV prevention messaging and intersections with gender – August 2024
• Trainings conducted with UN Women IPs- September  2024 to November 2024
• Recommendations on UN Joint Team on AIDS created modules from a gender lens – February 2025
• One brief on women and HIV – March 2025
• Time sheet and Monthly progress reports (monthly)
• Any other deliverables as will be assigned by supervisor (as required)

Competencies

Core Values

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving 
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Functional Competencies

• Ability to develop training modules and curriculum
• Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow;
• Good knowledge of technical area
• Ability to identify and analyze trends and opportunities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Minimum Masters degree in a relevant field such as International Development/ Social Sciences/Development Studies/Gender Studies or related discipline.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in designing modules and conducting training in the area of HIV/AIDS.
• Strong communication skills including spoken, written and visual communication skills.
• Knowledge of different training and capacity building methodologies along with knowledge of adult learning techniques.
• Prior experience of working with/ knowledge of challenges faced by female sex workers, WLHIVs will be an added advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Hindi is required;
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.

Interested applicants should apply to this announcement through UNDP jobs site: jobs.undp.org.

Application:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

• All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded .
• Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment, please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.
• Applications received after the close date will not be accepted.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.                                                        

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 Community/Programme Partner/ State Government (5 points).

The evaluation process for selection of the candidate will be based on the following assessment:

• Interview (70%)
• Writing Samples (30%)

Please Note:

• Consultants are required to submit doctor's certificate to state 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.
• This is a full-time assignment. The consultant is expected to disclose any outside activity and shall not be permitted to take up any outside work during this assignment.

Note:

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.