UN Women: Senior National Consultant on Gender‑Responsive Local Governance Support, Tirane Albania, Consultant Contract (Retainer)

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; empowerment of women; and achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women's rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts 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 Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women Albania is currently implementing its Strategic Note (SN) 2022-2026 which aims to ensure that “All Women and girls enjoy and exercise their human rights in a gender equal society and meaningfully contribute to Albania’s sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development and EU integration”. To achieve such result, UN Women will focus on three outcomes, which mirror verbatim the areas of focus of the United Nations Albania^[1]:

1. Increased and more equitable investment in people to remove barriers and create opportunities for those at risk of exclusion.
2. Innovative and integrated policy solutions that accelerate sustainable, productive and inclusive development.
3. Gender-responsive governance that strengthens equality and non-discrimination.

Across its interventions, UN Women Albania will address key thematic areas of focus in line with the UN Women Strategic Plan 2026–2029^[2], including ending violence against women and girls; women’s economic empowerment; women’s leadership and decision-making; and women, peace and security and humanitarian action. In addition, UN Women Albania will continue to advance gender-responsive governance and gender-responsive budgeting as key programmatic approaches to support the effective implementation of gender equality commitments at national and local levels, while promoting cross-cutting principles such as Leaving No One Behind and engagement with new and emerging partners, including the private sector. This approach aims to support the Government of Albania to implement its commitments on human rights and gender equality, in line with its National Strategy on gender Equality (NSGE) 2021-2030, and the EU Acquis Communautaire. All interventions undertaken by the Country Office aim to address structural causes of gender inequality, addressing discriminatory practices and reach women and girls who are at greatest risk of being left behind. 

The Government of Albania has made national and international commitments to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in many different socio-economic aspects. Several international conventions and platforms, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Beijing Platform for Action, demonstrate Albania’s commitment to the realization of women’s rights and the achievement of gender equality. In addition, the newly adopted Law No. 64/2025 “On Gender Equality” in Albania sets clear and binding commitments for advancing gender equality at all levels, including requirements related to gender-responsive budgeting, gender impact assessment, and strengthened accountability mechanisms. The law explicitly requires public institutions, including local government units, to integrate gender equality into planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation processes, as well as to apply gender-responsive budgeting, collect sex-disaggregated data, and develop and implement local gender action plans. The effective implementation of these obligations at municipal level requires strengthened technical capacities to conduct gender analysis, apply gender-responsive budgeting tools, cost gender-responsive measures, and monitor results. 

In the context of Albania’s EU integration process, there is an increasing need to strengthen the alignment of governance systems with EU standards, particularly in areas such as public finance management, social protection, fundamental rights, and service delivery. At local level, this requires enhanced institutional and technical capacities to operationalize gender-responsive policies, ensure compliance with the EU acquis, and translate national reforms into concrete, inclusive results for women and men.

Over the past years, UN Women has provided support to national and local stakeholders in strengthening democratic governance and advancing women’s rights through initiatives aimed at mainstreaming gender in policy planning and budgeting. Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting (GRB) has been identified as important tool for advancing gender equality in key national documents as in accordance with existing Albanian national policy documents on social inclusion and gender equality. In this framework, Albania has made important steps towards the institutionalization of gender responsive budgeting at central and local level.

At local level, UN Women Albania has supported municipalities to strengthen gender-responsive governance, including planning, budgeting, service delivery, and implementation of local governance processes, across key sectors such as social protection, ending violence against women and girls (EVAW), and women’s economic empowerment (WEE), including the coordination of EVAW response mechanisms and the promotion of women’s economic empowerment through local development approaches. Through its portfolio, the Country Office has supported the development and implementation of Local Gender Action Plans (LGAPs), participatory budgeting processes, and the piloting and costing of gender-responsive and inclusive service models, including strengthened referral mechanisms for survivors of violence and local economic empowerment initiatives. These interventions have enabled municipalities to better identify and respond to the needs of women in vulnerable situations, including rural women, women with disabilities, Roma and Egyptian women, and survivors of violence. They have also contributed to strengthening municipal governance systems for coordinated and accountable service delivery, including the integration of EVAW responses within local governance frameworks and the promotion of women’s economic empowerment through localized economic development approaches, including support to rural women and value chain participation. Concrete results include strengthened municipal capacities to design, cost, and implement gender-responsive interventions, increased participation of women in local decision-making processes, and improved access to integrated social services and socio-economic reintegration support.

In addition, as part of the implementation of its Strategic Note, UN Women will continue to support the Government of Albania to align its national legal and policy framework with international human rights standards on gender equality, as well as facilitating networking and exchanges of good practices and advocate for women’s rights in all areas of life. Several ongoing initiatives support strengthening national policies and legislation, improving institutional capacities to implement international commitments, and promoting the production of knowledge and information on the status of gender equality in the country.

Building on these priorities and ongoing interventions, UN Women Albania provides integrated support to local governance systems by working closely with partner municipalities to support the implementation of policy frameworks and strengthen gender-responsive governance at local level through its programme portfolio, including but not limited to the following projects:

• UN Joint Programme “Ending Violence Against Women in Albania Phase II“, being implemented by UN Women, UNDP and UNFPA with support from Sida.
• UN Joint Programme “Leave No One Behind” phase III, supported by SDC and implemented by UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA.
• The project “Empower women for rural development in Northern Albania” funded by AICS Tirana.
• The project “EU for Gender Equality II – Gender Equality Facility in Albania” funded by the European Union.
• The project “Support to the Implementation of UN Women Strategic Note 2022-2026” supported by Sida.

To support programmatic implementation and provision of technical assistance on gender‑responsive local governance, including planning, budgeting, inclusive service delivery, and accountability mechanisms, across the office’s portfolio, and in line with the implementation of its Strategic Note, UN Women Albania seeks to recruit a Senior National Consultant. The Consultant will work independently and, where required, in close collaboration with other national and international consultants engaged by the office for relevant assignments, as well as with targeted local government units supported through the interventions.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

Under the overall supervision of the UN Women Albania Head of Programme, and in close coordination with the relevant UN Women Project Managers, the Senior National Consultant is expected to undertake assignments, upon request by UN Women, including but not limited to the following (some assignments may require working in a team with other consultants):

• Prepare and/or adapt training materials and facilitate trainings on gender‑responsive planning and budgeting at the local level for municipal staff and councilors, including contributions to sessions on gender analysis, gender mainstreaming, local governance roles and competencies, and gender‑responsive service delivery.
• Support the costing of gender responsive services, action plans, and other relevant measures, and provide technical assistance to institutions, including municipalities, to integrate these costs into local budgets, including in the context of developing or implementing Local Gender Action Plans.
• Provide mentoring and coaching to municipal staff, particularly budget users, social protection and social inclusion staff, gender equality employees, and local coordinators against gender‑based violence, to support the sustainable application of gender‑responsive budgeting (GRB) within the Medium‑Term Budget Programme (MTBP).
• Provide technical assistance to municipal staff in implementing gender‑responsive social planning and budgeting practices, including their application across different social financing mechanisms.
• Support municipalities in identifying the needs of women in vulnerable situations and aligning these needs with innovative, gender‑responsive municipal services, including through pilot initiatives that may serve as good or best practices.
• Review relevant draft strategic, policy, planning, and budgeting documents from a gender perspective, and contribute to the preparation of analytical inputs, knowledge products, briefs, and information materials, as required.
• Contribute inputs to the preparation of concept notes, project proposals, and UN Women reports, as requested by UN Women.
• Participate in meetings, workshops, round tables, study visits, and other relevant events, where the consultant’s expertise is required, upon request by UN Women.
• Undertake missions to municipalities in Albania and, where relevant, outside Albania, upon request by UN Women, and prepare mission or event reports in English for each assignment.
• Ensure systematic recordkeeping and documentation of all work conducted and results achieved under this consultancy.
• Submit periodic reports and timesheets in English for assignments undertaken, implementation of activities, and any additional reporting requirements, as requested by UN Women.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy. As part of this assignment, missions to various municipalities may be required based on programme needs. Travel expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with UN Women’s travel policy.

Duration and remuneration:

The duration of the contract will be for up to 120 working days within the contract period. 
 

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

Functional Competencies:

• Thorough knowledge of gender responsive planning and budgeting processes.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with various public and non-public stakeholders with focus on municipalities and public administration, including in the areas of gender equality, social inclusion and gender responsive budgeting.
• Proven research, analytical and drafting skills,
• Proven ability to work within limited time constraints in the preparation of high-quality documents.
• Possesses the ability to work independently.
• Excellent writing skills in English and Albanian.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong initiative-taking.

Education and Certification:

• Advanced university degree (master’s level or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Human Rights, Public Policy, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Economics, or other closely related fields.
• A first‑level university degree in Human Rights, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Economics or related fields, in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• At least 13 years of relevant professional experience in the areas of gender equality, human rights, good governance, or public finances.
• Demonstrated experience working with Local Government Units with focus on social services/social protection policy planning and local budgeting processes, including development of gender equality policy documents.
• Experience in providing technical assistance, capacity building, training, mentoring, or advisory support to institutions and stakeholders on gender mainstreaming and/or GRB-related processes. 
• Experience in supporting development, costing, implementation, monitoring, or review of gender-responsive policies, programmes, action plans, or budgeting frameworks.
• Experience in conducting policy analysis, assessments, reviews, or preparation of analytical and knowledge products related to gender equality, local governance, social inclusion, and/or public finance.
• Prior experience working with, or familiarity with the UN system or other international or development organizations will be considered an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English and Albanian is required.

Note: This is a retainer contract and therefore there is no guarantee by UN Women of minimum number of days the consultant will be engaged for. The contract will not exceed the total number of working days as stated above. If additional days are required from the consultant, this will be done through a separate contract extension to the parent contract.

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.