Family Law and Legal Reform Expert, National Consultant,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, one of the initiatives contributing to these goals is the Gender Equality Accelerator Joint Programme, implemented jointly by UN Women, UNICEF, UNDP, and UNFPA, in partnership with the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Gender Center of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Center for Equality among Women and Men of Republika Srpska, and with support from the Governments of Sweden and Denmark and the Delegation of the European Union. The programme focuses on three strategic areas: eliminating violence against women and girls, empowering women economically, and advancing women’s leadership and participation in governance. This integrated, cross-sectoral approach aims to support more effective, inclusive, and sustainable gender equality outcomes. Within the Women’s Economic Empowerment Pillar, the BiH Gender Equality Accelerator aims to economically empower women by transforming the care economy, labour market, and entrepreneurial ecosystem to be more gender-responsive. It focuses on strengthening policy frameworks, reducing barriers to women’s workforce participation and entrepreneurship, and enhancing access to finance, tailored business support, and digital skills. By building the capacities of institutions, CSOs, and the private sector, the initiative supports inclusive policies, promotes gender-responsive workplaces, and empowers women and girls to thrive in the digital age - aligning with SDGs 1, 5, 8, and 10, and strategic priorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  

 UN Women Bosnia and Herzegovina is implementing activities aimed at strengthening the legal and policy framework for gender equality and improving the protection of women in vulnerable situations through gender-responsive legislative reforms. 

As part of these efforts, UN Women will support the review of existing family law frameworks to strengthen the legal recognition and protection of single mothers. The assignment contributes to improving the alignment of family legislation with international human rights and gender equality standards, including the principles of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), while promoting stronger linkages between family legislation, social protection systems and the care economy. 

 The assignment will focus on conducting a gender-responsive legal review of applicable family laws, identifying legal and policy gaps affecting single mothers, and supporting the preparation of recommendations for legislative amendments. The Consultant will also facilitate consultations with relevant institutions, civil society organisations, women's rights organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that proposed legal reforms are evidence-based, inclusive and responsive to the needs of women. 

 In recognition of the fact that the rights and socio-economic position of single mothers are shaped by a broader set of interconnected legal and institutional frameworks, the assignment will also consider relevant labour, social protection, anti-discrimination and care-related legislation and policies. This broader perspective will support the identification of gaps between legal entitlements and their practical implementation and inform more comprehensive and actionable reform recommendations. 

The consultant will report to the WEE Programme Coordination Specialist, under the overall oversight of the Programme Management Specialist, and will be supported by the WEE Programme Associate and WEE Programme Assistant, who will serve as points of contact for contractual and administrative matters. 

Description of Responsibilities/Scope of Work 

OVERALL OBJECTIVE 

The overall objective of this assignment is to strengthen the legal recognition and protection of single mothers in Bosnia and Herzegovina through gender-responsive legal analysis, evidence-based policy recommendations and technical support for the development and consultation of proposed amendments to applicable family laws. 

Specifically, the Consultant will: 

• conduct a gender-responsive review of applicable family legislation and other relevant legal and policy frameworks affecting single mothers;  
• identify legal, policy and implementation gaps related to the recognition, protection and socio-economic position of single mothers;  
• assess relevant linkages between family law, labour rights, social protection, anti-discrimination frameworks and care policies;  
• prepare recommendations for legislative and policy amendments aligned with international human rights and gender equality standards;  
• undertake comparative legal and policy analysis to identify relevant international, in particular EU, and regional good practices and assess their potential applicability in Bosnia and Herzegovina;  
• assess selected aspects of practical implementation of relevant legal rights and protections, including through institutional procedures and employer-level policies and practices;  
• integrate social protection and care economy considerations into proposed legal and policy reforms;  
• facilitate consultations with institutions, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders;  
• support the finalisation and presentation of draft legislative amendments; and  
• provide targeted legal and policy advisory support related to the subject matter of the assignment throughout its implementation. 

IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE 

The immediate objective is to produce a comprehensive legal review and a technically sound package of legislative recommendations and draft amendments; validate the proposed reforms through inclusive stakeholder consultation; and provide targeted technical support for institutional consideration and further legislative processes. 

Based on the above-described objectives and under the supervision of the WEE Programme Coordination Specialist, the Consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks and responsibilities: 

Result Area 1: Gender-responsive Legal Review and Policy Analysis 

• conduct a comprehensive gender-responsive review of applicable family legislation and relevant labour, social protection, anti-discrimination and care-related legal and policy frameworks affecting the legal status, rights, protection and socio-economic position of single mothers; 
• analyse relevant legal provisions, definitions, rights, obligations, procedures and implementation arrangements, and identify gaps or inconsistencies affecting women’s access to rights, social protection and services; 
• assess alignment with relevant international human rights and gender equality standards, including CEDAW and the Istanbul Convention and EU legal provisions for single mother; 
• assess linkages and policy coherence between family legislation, social protection systems and care policies; 
• identify priority areas for legal and policy reform based on the findings of the review; and 
• prepare recommendations for strengthening implementation, institutional coordination and policy coherence. 

Result Area 2: Comparative Legal and Policy Analysis 

• undertake a targeted comparative review of legal and policy approaches in selected European and other relevant jurisdictions concerning the protection and socio-economic position of single mothers and single-parent households;  
• identify relevant legislative, institutional and policy solutions related to family law, social protection, employment, care services and other areas identified as priorities through the legal review;  
• analyse selected good practices with regard to their legal basis, implementation arrangements and institutional responsibilities; and  
• assess the relevance, feasibility and potential adaptability of selected approaches to the constitutional, legal and institutional context of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Result Area 3: Legal and Institutional Implementation 

• assess selected aspects of the practical implementation of legal rights and protections relevant to single mothers and women with care responsibilities; 
• examine, on a targeted basis, relevant institutional procedures, administrative practices and implementation arrangements in priority areas identified through the legal review; 
• assess, where relevant, a limited sample of internal policies and regulations of selected public and private employers to examine how applicable legal rights and protections are reflected at the workplace level; 
• consider, as relevant, provisions and practices concerning maternity and parental protection, return-to-work arrangements, flexible working arrangements, non-discrimination, reconciliation of work and care responsibilities and other family-friendly workplace measures; 
• identify gaps between legal entitlements and their practical implementation, as well as relevant institutional and employer-level good practices; and 
• develop practical implementation-focused recommendations and, where appropriate, model provisions or guidance that may support stronger institutional and employer-level implementation of relevant rights and protections. 

Result Area 4: Legislative and Policy Recommendations 

• translate the findings of the legal, comparative and implementation assessments into prioritised legislative and policy recommendations; 
• develop and draft proposed amendments to applicable family laws and, where relevant and supported by the findings, formulate recommendations concerning related legal and policy frameworks, accompanied by a clear legal rationale and evidence base; 
• assess the consistency of proposed reforms with relevant domestic legal frameworks and international standards; 
• identify responsible institutions and other relevant actors for implementation of proposed recommendations; 
• formulate practical implementation steps, sequencing and follow-up actions for priority recommendations; and 
• identify foreseeable legal, institutional and implementation risks and propose appropriate mitigation measures. 

Result Area 5: Stakeholder Consultation and Consensus Building 

• develop a stakeholder mapping and consultation methodology covering relevant public institutions, women’s rights organisations, civil society organisations, academia and other stakeholders; 
• prepare technical materials and facilitate consultations to validate findings and proposed legislative reforms; 
• document stakeholder feedback, areas of agreement, outstanding issues and recommendations for incorporation into the draft amendments; 
• prepare a concise policy brief and presentation materials explaining the purpose, evidence base and expected implications of the proposed reforms; and 
• support policy briefings and information sessions aimed at strengthening stakeholder understanding and institutional ownership. 

Result Area 6: Finalisation of Proposed Reforms and Institutional Support 

• revise and finalise the proposed legislative amendments based on consultation findings and institutional feedback; 
• ensure legal consistency, gender responsiveness and coherence with relevant family law, social protection and care-related frameworks; 
• prepare an explanatory memorandum and a matrix showing how stakeholder comments were considered and incorporated; 
• provide technical support during institutional review processes and assist with presentations to relevant institutions and parliamentary bodies, as required;  
• provide technical advice on possible further steps in relevant legislative and policy processes; and 
• document institutional engagement, key issues raised, recommendations, and proposed next steps for the legislative process. 

Result Area 7: Legal and Policy Advisory Support 

Throughout the duration of the assignment and upon request by UN Women, the Consultant will provide targeted legal and policy advisory support on matters directly related to the objectives and substantive scope of the assignment. 

Such support may include: 

• review of relevant draft laws, regulations, policies, strategies, institutional documents and proposed reform measures; 
• preparation of short legal analyses, technical comments and recommendations; 
• targeted comparative legal research on specific issues emerging during implementation; 
• advice concerning the interpretation, coherence or implementation of relevant family, labour, social protection, anti-discrimination and care-related legal frameworks; 
• participation in technical meetings, consultations and discussions with relevant stakeholders, as requested by UN Women; and 
• other targeted legal and policy inputs required to support the implementation and follow-up of the assignment. 

Each task will be implemented through a combination of legal research, gender-responsive analysis, stakeholder engagement and expert consultation, ensuring that the products are practical, legally coherent and aligned with applicable international standards. 

Deliverables

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy. Depending on the consultant’s place of residence and the requirements of the assignment, travel to Sarajevo and/or other locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina may be required. Any travel required for the performance of the assignment will be arranged and covered by UN Women in accordance with applicable UN Women rules and procedures.

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
•    Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
•    Proven networking skills and ability to generate interest in UN Women’s mandate
•    Identifies opportunities and builds strong partnerships with clients and partners
 

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.