International Consultant to conduct review of the UN Somalia Gender Strategy (2021 – 2025) and develop a new strategy 2026-2030

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.

Gender equality is a core UN commitment, emphasized in the Secretary-General’s reform agenda (1997) and reaffirmed in global frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG 5), the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. In Somalia, the UN Country Team (UNCT) established the Gender Theme Group (GTG) to coordinate efforts to address structural gender inequalities that continue to limit development, peace, and recovery.

To strengthen these efforts, the UNCT endorsed the Somalia UN Gender Equality Strategy (2021–2025). The Strategy provides a framework to mainstream gender across UN programmes, enhance accountability for gender results, and build stronger partnerships with government, civil society, and development partners. It responds to Somalia’s current context, including women’s underrepresentation in decision-making, limited access to services and economic opportunities, and the gendered impacts of conflict and climate change.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work:

• Develop a report outlining the approach and methodology for evaluating the UN Somalia Gender Equality Strategy;
• Conduct mapping of UN system strategic priorities, programmes, and interventions on gender equality in Somalia;
• Develop initial report summarizing preliminary findings from consultations and documentation review.
• Develop a comprehensive final assessment report of the current strategy, including lessons learned and recommendations;
• Develop UN Somalia Gender Strategy (2026–2030) and accompanying time-bound Action Plan, with defined responsibilities and timelines;
• Develop a theory of Change, Monitoring Frameworks, and Indicators for the next-generation strategy;
• Undertake a validation session with the GTG, senior management, programme and M&E teams, and partner agencies;
• Develop a final UN Somalia Gender Strategy and Action Plan, incorporating inputs and edits from consultations and validation processes;
•  Develop presentation materials summarizing findings, key features of the new strategy, and the draft Action Plan for internal stakeholders.

The consultant will be reporting to Un Women Country Programme Manager and will be supported by the planning and coordination analyst, and the Gender theme groups, the point of contact on the contract and payment issues will be country Programme manager

Deliverables

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy. With field visit. 

As part of this assignment, there will be a maximum of one trip to Mogadishu.

Compitencies 

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

Functional Competencies:

• Analytical and research skills
• Ability to promote, monitor and evaluate inclusion of gender-specific results, indicators, targets and activities in various planning frameworks 
• Excellent Strategic planning and reporting
• Excellent Partnership coordination skills
• Excellent Communication and presentation skills 
• Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision 

Required Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Advanced University Degree (minimum master’s degree in gender studies, development studies, political science or other related fields);
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Seven years of experience in Programme management of gender equality, gender mainstreaming or women empowerment policies/projects/programmes; knowledge of gender equality at the institutional level;
• At least five years of experience in planning, design, preparation, and delivery of gender equality strategies, preferably for UN Women/UN Agencies;
• Experience in providing guidance and technical support for development of Theory of Change, results frameworks, logical frameworks and indicators for programmes/projects, particularly those related to gender equality and women’s empowerment, both in Programme and operations;
• Experience in inter-agency strategic planning at the country, regional or international level is required;
• Experience in conducting training, as a trainer, to personnel and/or external partners to support results-based planning, monitoring and reporting is desirable

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable 

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 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 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 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.