National Consultant on Gender and Inclusive Energy Poverty Policy, NOC, 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.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, UN Women is implementing activities under the UN Women–UNDP UN-to-UN Agreement "Understanding the Challenges and Current State of Energy Poverty", under Pillar 1 – Decarbonization and Climate Resilience of the Green Transition Portfolio, funded by the Government of Sweden. The intervention contributes to a just and inclusive green transition by strengthening the evidence base on gender-responsive approaches to energy poverty, enhancing women's capacities for climate resilience and green transition, and promoting women's meaningful participation in local energy and climate planning processes.

To achieve these objectives, UN Women is implementing three mutually reinforcing activities:

• Activity 1: Conduct gender-responsive energy poverty assessment; 
• Activity 2.: Deliver gender-responsive training for women on climate resilience, green job skills, environmental awareness related to sustainable practices and community health; 
• Activity 3.: Facilitate women's engagement in municipal energy/climate planning.

These activities are designed as an integrated intervention, with evidence and stakeholder inputs generated under Activity 1 informing the design and implementation of Activities 2. and 3. The specific scope, sequencing and implementation arrangements for the activities supported under this consultancy are described in the Description of Responsibilities / Scope of Work below.

To support the implementation of Activities, UN Women will engage an interdisciplinary team of three national consultants with complementary expertise in gender equality,  vulnerability, and social inclusion in energy poverty policy, gender-responsive green skills and capacity development, and gender-responsive municipal energy and climate planning. While each consultant will assume lead responsibility for a specific technical area, all three consultants are expected to work collaboratively throughout the assignment to ensure coherence across activities and contribute to integrated technical outputs, under the overall UN Women leadership and coordination.

The National Consultant on Gender and Inclusive Energy Poverty Policy will serve as the technical lead for the policy and stakeholder engagement dimensions of the assignment. The consultant will lead the technical preparation and facilitation of the Gender and Energy Poverty Dialogues, prepare and moderate the panel discussion during the national policy dialogue organized as part of SDG Week 2026, and ensure that available data, evidence and findings, as made available by UN Women, together with inputs generated through stakeholder engagement, inform Activities 2. and 3. The consultant will also contribute technical expertise on gender equality, vulnerability and social inclusion to the design, preparation and delivery of capacity development and municipal engagement activities under Activities 2 and 3, as well as to subsequent learning and adaptation, working closely with the other two national consultants to ensure consistency and complementarity across the assignment.

The consultant will report to the UN Women Programme Analyst – Gender-Responsive Climate Action, under the overall supervision of the Programme Management Specialist, who will provide direct technical supervision, coordinate the consultant's work with the other national consultants and relevant UN Women and UNDP personnel, and review and approve deliverables. Programme Assistant will serve as the focal point for contractual and payment-related matters.

Description of Responsibilities / Scope of Work

The overall objective of this consultancy is to provide technical leadership on gender equality, vulnerability and social inclusion in energy poverty policy; lead the technical preparation, delivery and documentation of the three Gender and Energy Poverty Dialogues; contribute to the national policy dialogue during SDG Week 2026; and provide substantive technical input to the design, preparation, delivery, learning and adaptation of capacity development and municipal engagement activities under Activities 2 and 3.

In carrying out these responsibilities, the consultant will draw on available data, evidence and findings, as made available by UN Women, as well as inputs generated through stakeholder engagement, and work collaboratively with the other two national consultants within their respective areas of expertise.

Component 1: Technical Leadership for Stakeholder Engagement and Policy Dialogue

The consultant will provide technical leadership for three in-person Gender and Energy Poverty Dialogues planned for 28–30 September 2026, to be held in Zenica, Mrkonjić Grad, and Brčko, for approximately 30 participants per dialogue. Participants will include representatives of relevant government institutions and local authorities, civil society organizations, academia, social service providers, organizations representing vulnerable and marginalized groups, development partners, and women and men with lived experience of energy poverty.

The dialogues will provide a platform for discussing available and emerging evidence on energy poverty alongside gender and stakeholder perspectives and lived experiences, and for considering their implications for relevant policy and institutional frameworks in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Discussions will address, as relevant, gender aspects in energy and climate policy, social protection, just transition, local energy and climate planning, and relevant strategies and legislation, and will generate stakeholder inputs and recommendations to inform subsequent activities under the Green Transition Portfolio.

The consultant will:

• Lead, in coordination with the other national consultants, the development of the technical concept, discussion framework and supporting materials for the dialogues; 
• Facilitate and moderate the dialogues; 
• Guide discussion of the implications of evidence and stakeholder perspectives for relevant policy and planning frameworks; and 
• Prepare, with inputs from the other national consultants, a Dialogue Summary Report synthesizing key stakeholder inputs, findings and recommendations relevant to Activities 2. and 3.

Component 2: Technical Leadership for the National Policy Dialogue during SDG Week 2026

The consultant will provide technical leadership for the national policy dialogue “From Evidence to Action: Building Inclusive Energy Poverty Policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” planned for 21 October 2026 at the UN House in Sarajevo, for 60–80 participants. The event will bring together representatives of government institutions and local authorities, academia, civil society organizations, international organizations, and development partners. The programme will also feature contributions from up to two international experts from European Union Member States, sharing European perspectives and good practices on addressing energy poverty and integrating gender into evidence generation and policymaking.

The event will provide a platform for presenting and discussing available and emerging evidence on energy poverty generated under Pillar 1, including available preliminary findings from the Gender-Responsive Energy Poverty Assessment, alongside relevant national and European perspectives and approaches. It will facilitate discussion on the implications of this evidence for inclusive, gender-responsive  and evidence-based energy, climate and social policies and future action.

The consultant will:

• Prepare the concept and moderator's guide for the panel discussion, including proposed themes, discussion questions and profiles of panelists; 
• Prepare technical background materials and presentations, as required; 
• Moderate the panel discussion and facilitate exchange among national stakeholders and international experts; and 
• Prepare a Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations following the event.

Component 3: Technical Input to Gender-Responsive Capacity Development

The consultant will contribute technical expertise on gender equality, energy poverty, vulnerability and social inclusion to the design and delivery of the gender-responsive capacity development programme under Activity 2. The programme will comprise three two-day capacity development workshops for approximately 50 women from selected municipalities, to be delivered in three locations across Bosnia and Herzegovina – one in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one in Republika Srpska and one in Brčko District – with the specific locations determined based on the participating municipalities. The workshops are indicatively planned for March–April 2027 and will strengthen women's knowledge, skills and confidence to participate in and benefit from the green transition. The programme will address climate resilience, energy poverty, sustainable practices, environmental awareness and community health, green economy and green job opportunities, and women's participation in local climate and energy governance, and will include participant assessment and a competency-based certification approach.

The programme will be informed by available evidence generated under Activity 1 and relevant stakeholder inputs and will serve as a preparatory step for women's subsequent participation in municipal energy and climate planning under Activity 3. Where feasible, each capacity development workshop will be followed by the corresponding municipal engagement session under Activity 3, allowing participants to apply the knowledge and priorities developed through the capacity development process in structured engagement with relevant municipal stakeholders.

Working in collaboration with the consultant responsible for capacity development, the consultant will provide substantive content within the consultant's area of expertise, while the capacity development consultant will lead the overall curriculum, learning methodology, programme design, delivery and reporting.

The consultant will:

1. Contribute gender equality, vulnerability and social inclusion perspectives to the overall design and preparation of the capacity development programme; 
2. Develop and deliver technical content and materials on gender equality and the green transition, gender-responsive approaches to energy poverty, vulnerability and social inclusion, and women's participation in climate and energy-related decision-making; 
3. Co-facilitate the capacity development workshops; and 
4. Contribute substantive inputs within the consultant's area of expertise to the Capacity Development Summary Report prepared by the capacity development consultant, including key issues, participant perspectives and relevant inputs for subsequent municipal engagement under Activity 3.

Component 4: Technical Input to Municipal Energy and Climate Planning

The consultant will contribute technical expertise on gender equality, vulnerability and social inclusion to the design and delivery of municipal engagement activities under Activity 3. The activities will comprise three municipal engagement sessions in selected municipalities, indicatively planned for April–May 2027, designed to support women’s meaningful participation in municipal energy and climate planning and decision-making processes. The sessions will provide structured opportunities for participating women to engage with relevant municipal stakeholders, bring forward their priorities, perspectives and recommendations, and contribute to discussions on local energy and climate priorities and planning processes.

The municipal engagement sessions will build on the corresponding capacity development workshops under Activity 2. Where feasible, each municipal engagement session will follow the corresponding two-day capacity development workshop, enabling participating women to apply the knowledge and priorities developed through the capacity development process in structured engagement with relevant municipal stakeholders. The sessions will also draw on relevant evidence and stakeholder inputs generated under Activity 1.

The municipal engagement activities will, where feasible, be linked to existing or planned municipal energy and climate planning processes, rather than creating parallel consultation mechanisms. The engagement approach will promote inclusive participation and take account of barriers that may limit the participation of women and underrepresented groups.

Working in collaboration with the consultant responsible for municipal energy and climate planning, the consultant will provide substantive content within the consultant's area of expertise, while the municipal energy and climate planning consultant will lead the overall methodology, preparation, delivery and reporting of the municipal engagement process.

The consultant will:

1. Contribute gender equality, vulnerability and social inclusion perspectives to the overall design and preparation of the municipal engagement activities; 
2. Develop and deliver technical content and materials on gender-responsive participation, vulnerability and social inclusion in municipal energy and climate planning; 
3. Co-facilitate the municipal engagement sessions; and 
4. Contribute substantive inputs within the consultant's area of expertise to the Municipal Engagement Summary Report prepared by the municipal energy and climate planning consultant, including women's priorities and recommendations and their implications for inclusive municipal energy and climate planning.

Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following outputs in accordance with the indicative timeframe:

Reporting Requirements

All narrative reports, technical documents and other knowledge products shall be submitted in English, unless otherwise agreed with UN Women. Training and facilitation materials intended for participants will be prepared in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian.

UN Women Support

To facilitate delivery of the above outputs, UN Women will provide the consultant with:

• Relevant project documentation and background materials related to the Green Transition Portfolio, including methodology, data and findings from the Energy Poverty Assessment, as available; 
• Technical guidance and feedback on deliverables; 
• Coordination with relevant project partners, national counterparts and other stakeholders, as required; 
• Logistical and administrative support for meetings, dialogues, workshops and other project activities; and 
• Relevant data, reports and other materials developed under the project, as available. 

Consultant's Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy requiring travel within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The consultant is expected to travel to and participate in:

• the three Gender and Energy Poverty Dialogues which will be held in Zenica, Mrkonjić Grad, and Brčko; 
• the national policy dialogue organized as part of SDG Week 2026 in Sarajevo; 
• three capacity development workshops under Activity 2, to be delivered in three locations across Bosnia and Herzegovina – one in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one in Republika Srpska and one in Brčko District – with the specific locations determined based on the participating municipalities; and 
• three municipal engagement sessions under Activity 3, to be delivered in three locations across Bosnia and Herzegovina – one in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one in Republika Srpska and one in Brčko District – with the specific locations determined based on the participating municipalities. 

Any travel to field locations will be pre-arranged and approved in consultation with the supervisor, with all 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
•    Demonstrates sound technical understanding of gender equality, gender responsive approaches to energy poverty, vulnerability, social inclusion and their application within climate action and the green transition.
•    Demonstrates sound analytical and policy analysis skills and the ability to translate evidence and stakeholder inputs into practical recommendations. 
•    Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to interdisciplinary learning and collaboration. 
•    Seeks and applies relevant national and international good practices related to gender equality, responses to energy poverty, vulnerability, social inclusion, climate action and inclusive green transition policies. 
•    Demonstrates commitment to continuous learning and professional development. 
 

Development and Operational Effectiveness
•    Demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality analytical and policy-oriented reports, technical materials, training content and guidance documents. 
•    Demonstrates the ability to develop technical learning and facilitation materials related to gender equality, vulnerability and social inclusion for diverse stakeholder groups.
•    Demonstrates strong facilitation and moderation skills for stakeholder consultations, workshops and policy dialogues. 
•    Ability to synthesize complex technical information and communicate it effectively to diverse audiences. 
•    Ability to coordinate multiple technical workstreams, manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines. 
•    Uses information technology effectively as a tool for research, collaboration and knowledge management. 
 

Leadership and Self-Management
•    Focuses on achieving high-quality results and responds positively to feedback. 
•    Demonstrates initiative, sound judgement and a proactive, solution-oriented approach to problem solving. 
•    Remains calm, organized and effective when working under pressure and managing multiple assignments. 
•    Builds and maintains effective working relationships with government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations and other stakeholders. 
•    Demonstrates professionalism, integrity and commitment to UN Women's mandate and values.
 

Education and Certification

• Master’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Social Policy, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development, Economics, Law, Energy Policy or another discipline relevant to the requirements of this ToR; or a first-level university degree in a relevant field in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. PASS/FAIL 

Experience

• Minimum five (5) years of demonstrated experience in gender equality, vulnerability and/or social inclusion, including policy analysis and the development of policy or programme recommendations. (40 pts)
• Minimum three (3) years of demonstrated experience in energy poverty, energy and climate policy, climate action, just transition, green transition, environmental sustainability or related areas. (30 pts)
• Minimum five (5) years of demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating stakeholder consultations, policy dialogues, workshops or other multi-stakeholder engagement processes, including engagement with government institutions, local authorities, civil society, international organizations and/or development partners. (30 pts)

Language

• Fluency in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian is required. PASS/FAIL

• Fluency in English is required. PASS/FAIL

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.