Fundraising and Donor Engagement Expert, National Consultant, Sarajevo, BiH

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.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) reflects global patterns of gender-based violence and inequality. The first nationally representative prevalence survey on violence against women, conducted in 2013, found that nearly half of adult women had experienced some form of violence, while 6 percent had survived sexual violence before the age of 15. More recent findings from the 2019 OSCE-led survey show that 4 percent of women reported experiencing sexual violence by a current or former partner since the age of 15, and 0.4 percent by a non-partner. The survey also highlighted the high prevalence of sexual harassment, with 28 percent of women reporting such experiences since the age of 15 and 10 percent within the 12 months preceding the survey. Bosnia and Herzegovina has ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), committing to comprehensive measures in prevention, protection, prosecution, and coordinated policy-making. However, challenges persist in consistent implementation, harmonization across entities and cantons, sustainable financing of services, and effective multisectoral coordination. 

Civil society organizations (CSOs) – particularly those working on ending violence against women (EVAW), women’s rights, inclusion of Roma women, women with disabilities, and women human rights defenders – form an indispensable part of the response infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite their critical role, many CSOs, especially smaller and community-based organizations operating outside major urban centres, face persistent challenges in accessing sustainable and flexible funding. Limited capacity in proposal writing, donor engagement, and strategic communication constrains their ability to compete for grants, attract new partners, and sustain their operations over time. In response to these interconnected challenges, UN Women – together with UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF – implements the Gender Equality Accelerator (GEA) Joint Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina, funded by the Embassy of Denmark, with co-funding from the European Union under the IPA III Gender and Social Assistance Programme (2025–2029). Guided by the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle, the Programme adopts a comprehensive, integrated and human rights-based approach aimed at strengthening institutional mechanisms, enhancing service delivery systems, promoting economic empowerment, and advancing prevention efforts addressing gender-based violence. 

UN Women Country Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina seeks to engage a National Consultant for Fundraising and Donor Engagement to jointly work with a Capacity-Building Expert in the design and implementation of a structured capacity-building and fundraising support programme for 10 civil society organizations (CSOs) selected through a transparent, criteria-based public call conducted by UN Women. The 10 participating CSOs will include organizations from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (5), Republika Srpska (4) and Brčko District (1), working in the areas of ending violence against women (EVAW), women's rights, inclusion of Roma women, women with disabilities, and women human rights defenders. UN Women will conduct the public call for applications and lead the full selection process. The Consultant will work alongside and in close coordination with UN Women to design and deliver all programme content and activities.

The assignment directly contributes to Outcome 1.4 (Expert CSO service-providers receive more sustainable and flexible financing, as well as support for related advocacy to counter the anti-gender backlash) and Output 1.4.1 (Expert CSO service-providers deliver more comprehensive and sustainable services and advocacy for women and girls, resulting from enhanced access to flexible and sustainable funding). It further complements the EU/IPA III Gender and Social Assistance Programme (Output 2.1 – Established systems of social service delivery, institutional and non-institutional, for support of vulnerable groups strengthened; Sub-activity 2.1.6.3: Specialized training and support for CSO staff).

The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UN Women EVAW Programme Coordination Specialist and the overall supervision of the UN Women Programme Management Specialist.

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work

The Consultant is expected to function as an integrated programme team together with Capacity -Building Expert under UN Women supervision. Each Consultant has a primary area of expertise and leads specific tasks, while collaborating closely on joint deliverables. The Networking Event under scope of this work that aims to connect CSOs with potential donors and partners will be organized separately by a service provider contracted by UN Women through an RFQ process.

The concurrently engaged National Consultant – Capacity-Building Expert will assume the role of Deliverable Lead for all joint deliverables, responsible for coordinating and consolidating inputs from the Consultant and ensuring that joint deliverables are reviewed, quality-assured and ready for submission to UN Women. The Consultant remains fully responsible for their own contributions to the joint deliverables.

In addition, to ensure close coordination and alignment throughout implementation, UN Women will hold bi-weekly coordination meetings with both Consultants.

The Consultant will work in close coordination with the concurrently engaged National Consultant – Capacity-Building Expert. The two Consultants will jointly develop and are both responsible for the following deliverables: Programme Design and Workplan, Needs Assessment Questionnaire, Needs Assessment Summary Report, Preparation Workshop Materials and Individual Coaching Documentation (Task 3), and the Final Report. All other deliverables are led independently by each Consultant within their respective area of expertise.

Task 1: Programme Design and Needs Assessment 

Prior to the launch of training activities, the Consultant together with Capacity Building Expert s will jointly develop the programme structure and assess the capacity needs of the 10 selected CSOs: 

• Develop a joint Programme Design and Workplan, including session structure, learning objectives, training methodology and schedule for all modules – submitted to UN Women for review and approval. 
• Design and administer a standardized Needs Assessment Questionnaire to all 10 CSOs. 
• Produce a Needs Assessment Summary Report documenting key capacity gaps, organizational profiles and programme adaptation recommendations – submitted to UN Women for review and approval. 
• Adapt programme content based on needs assessment findings prior to the start of training delivery. 

 Task 2: Fundraising Strategy and Donor Engagement 

The Consultant will lead the design and delivery of structured training on fundraising strategy and donor engagement. UN Women will provide logistical support for all in-person sessions. 

• Design and develop comprehensive training content and materials covering: mapping and approaching potential donors (international development partners, private sector, diaspora, foundations); strategic communication of results and organizational added value to donors; diversifying income streams (grants, earned income, corporate social responsibility, crowdfunding and digital fundraising); relationship management with existing and prospective donors. 
• Facilitate a minimum of three (3) interactive group training sessions with all 10 CSOs (online and/or in-person). 
• Provide one (1) individual mentoring session per CSO (10 sessions total), focused on each organization’s specific fundraising context, existing donor relationships, and next steps in developing a tailored fundraising plan. 
• Develop and share practical tools, templates and a curated resource list of relevant funding opportunities applicable to the participating CSOs. 

 Task 3: Support to CSO Preparation for the Networking Event 

The Consultant together with Capacity Building Expert will jointly support the 10 participating CSOs in preparing for the Networking Event, a one-day event organized by UN Women staff, where CSOs will present their work to potential donors, private sector representatives and development partners. 

• Design and facilitate a preparation workshop for all 10 CSOs focused on presenting their work, results and project ideas effectively to an external audience. 
• Provide at least one (1) individual coaching session per CSO on presentation materials, pitch approach and key messages. 
• Develop a practical guide on effective CSO communication and storytelling for donor and partner engagement. 

Deliverables – Consultant 2: Fundraising and Donor Engagement Expert 

All deliverables shall be submitted in B/C/S. The collaborative activities to be undertaken with the Capacity Building Expert are reflected in the scope of work under the deliverables; however, the indicative number of working days represents only the effort required from the Consultant under this contract. 

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy. The assignment might require some presence at UN Women premises in

Sarajevo. Any travel will be pre-arranged and approved in consultation with the supervisor, with travel

expenses covered by UN Women.

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:

Knowledge Management and Learning
•    Shares knowledge and experience
•    Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside UN Women
•    Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas,
•    Acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
•    Development and Operational Effectiveness
•    Demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills. Communicates sensitively, effectively
•    and creatively across different constituencies
•    Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in communications and outreach/advocacy
•    Ability to perform a variety of standard specialized and non-specialized tasks and work processes that
•    are fully documented, researched, recorded and reported
•    Ability to review a variety of data, identify and adjust discrepancies, identify and resolve operational
•    problems 
•    Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource

Leadership and Self-Management
•    Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback
•    Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
•    Proven networking skills and ability to generate interest in UN Women’s mandate
•    Identifies opportunities and builds strong partnerships with clients and partners 

Required Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

Master's degree or equivalent in development studies, communications, social sciences, business, economics, or a related field is required; Pass/Fail

A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Pass/Fail

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in fundraising, donor relations, resource mobilization or strategic communications in the civil society, development or private sector (30 points)
• Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating training or advisory services for CSOs on fundraising strategy, donor engagement or diversification of income streams (minimum 2 projects) (25 points)
• Experience working with at least three (3) funding sources relevant to civil society in BiH: international development partners, private sector/CSR, diaspora networks, digital/crowdfunding is highly desired. (20 points)
• Experience working on gender equality, EVAW or inclusion of marginalized groups is highly desired (10 points)
• Experience working with a UN agency, international organization or bilateral donor in BiH or the Western Balkans is considered an asset (10 points)

Languages:

• Excellent written and spoken B/C/S is required. Pass/Fail
• Working knowledge of English is an asset (5 points).

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.