Report Writer Consultant

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, peace, and security.

In efforts to advance peace, stability, and inclusive development in Africa, UN Women, and the African Union Commission, through the office of the AU (African Union) Special Envoy on Women, Peace, and Security, and with the support of the Federal Republic of Germany, have been implementing a project on women’s leadership initiative for stability in Africa. Under this project, the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) was launched in June 2017 in New York.

The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) is a movement of women that seeks to enhance the leadership role of African women in the transformation of the continent, in line with the Africa Agenda 2063 and the Global Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. AWLN serves as a continental platform to galvanize women’s leadership towards lasting peace and sustainable development, the promotion of gender equality, and women’s empowerment in all sectors and at all levels, building on, and working with, existing women's networks.

To date, the African Women Leaders Network continues to grow through the national chapters at the country level, which contribute to expanding and operationalizing the Network. AWLN activities and advocacy are based on the Network’s six pillars: peace and security, political participation and governance, financial inclusion, agriculture, social mobilization, and youth and emerging leaders, which are advanced through the Network’s National Chapters (now at 39).

Since its establishment, AWLN has generated a wealth of experiences, data, and stories through its chapters, youth caucus, and thematic initiatives. To consolidate this body of work, AWLN has been strengthening its knowledge management functions, including systematizing reports and evaluations, documenting success stories, and capturing lessons learned from members and partners. To this end, UN Women is looking for a senior consultant to lead the development of a comprehensive report on AWLN’s growth, activities, and successes since its inception, covering the years 2017 – 2025. 

Reporting to the Policy Specialist and working closely with the AWLN Secretariat, the consultant will be working closely with the AWLN Secretariat in leading the development of a comprehensive AWLN Report covering the years 2017-2025.  The consultant will review documentation, conduct key informant interviews, and conduct analysis to present an overview of AWLN’s creation, growth, and impact since its inception, while also highlighting human stories, partnerships, and the Network’s vision for the future.

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work

The consultant will provide a high-quality report for internal learning, external visibility, and strategic advocacy

• Develop an inception report outlining the approach, methodology, timeline, and proposed structure of the report, including a plan for engagement with selected National Chapters/Partners/AWLN Members and identification of key informants for interviews.  
• Conduct a desk review of relevant AWLN documents, reports, and background materials from 2017-2025
• Map key AWLN initiatives, programs, and the six pillars of work (peace and security, social mobilization, governance and political participation, economic development and financial inclusion, agriculture, land and blue economy, youth and emerging leaders). 
• Liaise with AWLN Secretariat colleagues, National Chapters, and partners to collect and consolidate information and data on AWLN’s work and growth.
• Draft the report, showcasing strategic partnerships with the UN, African Union, Member States, private sector, and other women’s networks. 
• Identify and develop 8–10 human-stories/impact stories showcasing success stories, enabling practices, innovative approaches, or the impact of AWLN. 
• Deliver a draft report and facilitate validation discussions (e.g., through a virtual meeting or written consultation) with relevant stakeholders to review and refine the report. 
• Integrate inputs and feedback from UN Women and AWLN Secretariat colleagues into the draft versions.
• Ensure the final report adheres to AWLN’s branding, tone, and communication guidelines.
• Edit, refine, and proofread all sections of the report to ensure clarity, consistency, and accessibility to a broad audience. 
• Deliver a final high-quality report ready for publication and dissemination across AWLN platforms and advocacy channels.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a part-time home-based consultancy. As part of this assignment, the consultant may travel within the scope of work of the consultancy. 

Deliverables

• Inception Report 
• Annotated Report Outline - Agreed structure and plan for the AWLN Report
• Desk Review Summary
   Short note (3-5 pages) summarizing key findings from AWLN reports and materials (2017–2025).
• First Draft of the AWLN Report
  Full draft report covering AWLN’s creation, growth, membership, six pillars, impact stories, partnerships, and future vision
• Revised Draft of the Report
   Updated and finalized draft, including the executive summary addressing feedback received from UN Women and AWLN.
• Final AWLN Report
   Ready for proofreading and formatting

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 
• Strong sense of responsibility, confidentiality, and accountability

IV. Key Performance Indicators

●     Quality and timeliness of the AWLN Report and related drafts delivered according to the agreed schedule

●     Report reflects AWLN’s six pillars, impact, partnerships, and future vision in a clear and accessible format

●     Effective integration of feedback from the Secretariat and partners.

●     Strong interpersonal skills, communicate effectively with staff at all levels of the organization

●            Demonstrate sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy, comfortable with handling external relationships at all levels

V. Required Qualifications

Education:

• A master's degree in international development, Women and Gender Studies, international relations, public policy, or a relevant field is required 
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree.

Experience: 

• 7 years of professional work experience at the national or international level in international relations, women and gender studies, or related areas;
• Experience working in Africa is desirable. 
• Previous experience with drafting high-quality analytical reports, drawing on data from a range of sources. 

Language Requirements:   

●           Fluency in English and French is required

●            Fluency in an additional language, Arabic/Portuguese, is desirable

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

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, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on 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 to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credentials (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.