Job description

The Position:

National Expert for Mainstreaming Gender Considerations into DEI's Strategic Planning in the Context of European Union Pre-Accession Assistance Programming Training Syllabus

 

You will report to WPS Project Manager


How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.



 

Purpose of consultancy:

Within the framework of the Gender Equality Accelerator, a collaborative inter-agency initiative involving UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP, and UNFPA, Bosnia and Herzegovina is pursuing a comprehensive agenda to advance gender equality across three strategic pillars: gender-based violence (Pillar I), economic empowerment (Pillar II), and gender-responsive governance and leadership (Pillar III). Pillar III focuses on the systematic enhancement of public institutional capacities and decision-making processes. Pursuant to Output 3.2.1, the Joint Programme is dedicated to ensuring that policymakers and decision-makers possess the necessary technical proficiency and practical instruments to

formulate, execute, and monitor gender-responsive policies and sustainable planning, strictly aligned with European Union standards and foundational values. 

This consultancy supports the CPD’s focus on strengthening institutional capacity for evidence-based and gender-responsive policymaking and planning. As Bosnia and Herzegovina intensifies its trajectory toward European Union accession, the Directorate for European Integration (DEI) occupies a pivotal role in coordinating the integration process and cultivating civil service competencies through its institutionalized training programmes. The systematic integration of gender equality and non-discrimination, fundamental tenets of the European Union, within these instructional frameworks is imperative for the effective and inclusive implementation of the EU acquis.

Currently, gender perspectives are inconsistently represented within specific segments of the DEI training syllabus, particularly where such considerations are intrinsically linked to EU legislation, strategic planning, policy frameworks, and institutional methodologies. This results in gender-blind large capacity programmes for civil servants and missed opportunity to provide them with adequate knowledge on gender equality and tackling harmful gender-norms and stereotypes.To address this challenge, and in accordance with the agreement between UNFPA and DEI, UNFPA will conduct a pilot phase for the gender mainstreaming of two modules out of larger package of DEI’s training programme. This consultancy will focus on gender-mainstreaming the module on the Strategic Planning in the Context of European Union Pre-Accession Assistance Programming training syllabus. 

In this regard, UNFPA seeks to engage a National Consultant possessing technical proficiency in the EU acquis, gender mainstreaming, European integration processes, and public administration. The Consultant will be responsible for the production of actionable recommendations designed to facilitate the gender mainstreaming of the Strategic Planning in the Context of European Union Pre-Accession Assistance Programming training syllabus.

Scope of work:
(Description of services, activities, or outputs):

The national consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

Task 1: Desk Review of Strategic Planning in the Context of European Union

Pre-Accession Assistance Programming Syllabus

  • Conduct a desk review of the Strategic Planning in the Context of European Union Pre-Accession Assistance Programming training syllabus and associated pedagogical resources provided by DEI. The desk research should identify systemic gaps and strategic entry points for gender mainstreaming, ensuring full alignment with European Union legislation and directives.
  • The desk research should map applicable EU standards and practices in capacity building programmes for civil servants in the EU for possible integration of best practices into the aforementioned training syllabus. 

Task 2: Gender-Responsive Curriculum Revision and Validation

  • Based on the desk research, develop a revised preliminary draft of the training syllabus. The revised draft syllabus shall incorporate practical revisions across key components, including learning objectives, anticipated outcomes, core thematic areas, case studies, practical examples, and proposed pedagogical methodologies, ensuring the meaningful integration of gender perspectives.
  • Ensure that the structure, language, template, terminology, and overall format of the revised draft syllabus are fully aligned with the existing DEI syllabus framework and institutional standards. All proposed revisions and recommendations must be clear, actionable, and easily understandable for trainers and civil servants, and consistent with the EU acquis, the mandate of the Directorate for European Integration (DEI), and established principles of adult learning.
  • The consultant will submit the preliminary draft of the gender-mainstreamed training syllabus to UNFPA and DEI for technical review and validation. In parallel, the consultant will facilitate a consultative process with DEI to verify the procedural feasibility of the revisions, ensuring their realistic implementation by DEI trainers.
  • Finalize the final training syllabus for submission and institutionalization within DEI, following the successful conclusion of the consultative process and technical validation of all revisions by UNFPA and DEI.

Task 3: Knowledge Transfer for DEI trainers

  • Contribute to the conceptualization and delivery of one practical awareness-raising session for DEI trainers in early September 2026, focusing on the application of recommendations and the horizontal integration of gender perspectives within the Strategic Planning in the Context of European Union Pre-Accession Assistance Programming syllabus and EU-related instructional content.
  • Finalize a Final Summary Report that encapsulates lessons learned from the awareness-raising sessions with DEI trainers and provides actionable recommendations to facilitate the scaling and institutionalization of gender mainstreaming across other Directorate training syllabi.


Duration and working
schedule:

  • Task 1: Desk Review of Strategic Planning in the Context of European Union Pre-Accession Assistance Programming Syllabus

    Duration: 3 working days, between 11th May and 25th May 2026.
  • Task 2: Gender-Responsive Curriculum Revision and Validation

    Duration: 9 working days, between 26th May and 15th June 2026.

  • Task 3 – Knowledge Transfer for DEI trainers 

    Duration: 4 working days, between 1st September and 15th October 2026.



    Total: 16 working days, from 11th May to 15th October 2026.

Place where services are
to be delivered:

Sarajevo

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

The consultant is expected to deliver the following deliverables during the Consultancy duration.

Deliverable Expected / Delivery Date

  1. Desk review / By 25th May 2026
  2. Finalize Gender-mainstreamed version of the Strategic Planning in the Context of European Union Pre-Accession Assistance Programming Training Syllabus / By 15th June 2026
  3. Final Summary Report on Knowledge Transfer and Institutionalization / By 15th October 2026

The payment will be divided in two (2) sub-deliverables:

● At completion of tasks 1 and 2 by 15th June, 2026.

● At completion of task 3 by 15th October, 2026

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

The monitoring will be conducted by UNFPA CO in Bosnia and Herzegovina with regular progress updates provided to WPS Project Manager.

Regular updates on document development will be ensured through direct exchanges between the lead trainer, co-trainers, UNFPA Gender expert and, WPS

Project Manager

Supervisory
arrangements:

WPS Project Manager

Expected travel:

N/A

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Academic Qualifications:

  • Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) or equivalent in Public Administration, European Integration, or Strategic Planning, with a specialized focus on European Union Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Programming, Human Rights, or Gender Studies.

Professional Experience (Minimum 7 Years):

  • Minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in EU integration processes, gender mainstreaming, and the design of gender-responsive documents within public administration or governmental frameworks.
  • Extensive experience in reviewing and revising legal documents to ensure the systematic integration of gender perspectives, particularly concerning the EU acquis. 
  • Proven track record in facilitating high-level workshops for civil servants and policy-makers using participatory methodologies. 

Technical and Functional Competencies:

  • In-depth technical knowledge of gender equality frameworks and their practical application within the context of EU legislation and directives.
  • Demonstrated ability to translate complex gender concepts into actionable instructional guidance tailored for public sector institutionalization. 
  • Proficiency in adult learning principles and the development of pedagogical tools such as case studies and gender-responsive assessment indicators.
  • Excellent analytical and communication skills, with the capacity to coordinate effectively with multi-stakeholder teams including UN agencies and government entities.

Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

UNFPA will provide logistics support for the planned September awareness raising session.

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

UNFPA reserves the right to offer to the selected candidate the rate in accordance with UNFPA consultant rates and UNFPA available budget. Payment for contractor will not exceed average UNFPA rates for national consultants. Where the contractor fails to deliver the required quality of products, the rate payable will be reduced. UNFPA reserves the right to assess the quality of products. The contractor has an obligation to finalise products/documents to the full UNFPA satisfaction.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.