UN Women: International Consultant, Home-based, Analysis and Documentation of Lessons Learned and Good Practices for GEWE integration in ECA Region UNSDCFs

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.

Twelve UN Country Teams (UNCTs) across the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region are finalizing new-generation UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs) in 2025. The UNSDCF is the foundational and most important instrument for planning and implementation of UN Development activities at country level, translating the vision of Member States into UN actions and impacts on the ground. Embodying a spirit of true partnership, the UNSDSF maps the UN development system’s collective response to the 2030 Agenda and national development priorities, in agreement with each host government. All UNSDCFs are required to adhere to the system wide standards in integration of the guiding principles, including gender equality and women’s empowerment, leave no one behind and human rights-based approach (GEWE, LNOB and HRBA).  Given its mandate within the UN development system to lead, coordinate, and promote accountability for gender equality and the empowerment of women (GEWE), UN Women supports system-wide efforts to mainstream GEWE in UN programming, including through the design and implementation of UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs).  

 All UNCTs have worked to reflect GEWE in their frameworks in line with UN system standards.  However, the contexts, approaches and visibility of gender integration vary across UNCTs. To strengthen institutional learning and contribute to improved practice, UN Women will support the development of a regional knowledge product documenting experiences, lessons learned, and good practices related to GEWE integration in the design of these new frameworks. The aim is to generate practical insights and strategic recommendations that can be used across the region—and globally—by regional offices, UNCTs, Gender Theme Groups (GTGs), Resident Coordinator Offices (RCOs), and partners involved in the preparation of future UNSDCFs. The product will be integrated into the ECA Regional Peer Support Group lessons learned on the development of new UNSDCFs.   

This review will analyze available Common Country Analyses (CCAs) and Cooperation Frameworks (CFs), triangulate findings with data from UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard reports (2023–2024) and other relevant surveys and draw on perspectives from key UN stakeholders in selected countries. The process will also generate internal feedback on how ECARO has supported UNCTs to date, helping to refine and strengthen future technical assistance to other UNCTs in the region preparing new UNSDCFs. The final knowledge product will follow the UN Women Knowledge Product Cycle which includes drafting, peer-review, fact-checking and editing phases. The final product will include an overview of regional trends, case studies from 4–5 UNCTs, and actionable lessons and recommendations for future UNSDCF design processes.  

The consultant will be reporting to the Regional Coordination Specialist in UN Women ECARO. The consultant will be home-based and will deliver the assignment over a period of 20 working days between September and November 2025.  

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work 

1. Develop an inception report outlining the approach, methodology, timeline, and proposed structure of the knowledge product, including a plan for engagement with selected UNCTs and identification of key informants for interviews.  
2. Conduct a desk review of available UNSDCF Roadmaps, Common Country Analyses (CCAs) and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks for all 12 UNCTs in the ECA region. Where UNSDCFs are not finalized, the most recent draft versions will be used, with appropriate caveats regarding status.  
3. Analyze GEWE integration in CCAs and UNSDCFs using UNSDG guidance and UNCT-SWAP standards (Indicators 1.1, 1.2, 1.3), and present synthesis of strengths and any gaps or weaknesses, including in relation to gender integration in the six  transitions.  
4. Undertake a comparative analysis of GEWE integration in UNSDCFs with leadership, capacity building and coordination mechanisms at country level, drawing from UNCT-SWAP reporting for 2023–2024, with a focus on indicators related to UNSDCF monitoring (2.3), leadership and organizational culture (4.1, 4.2), and gender architecture and capacities (5.1, 5.2) and other data as relevant.  
5. Conduct key informant interviews (virtually) with ECARO, UN Women Heads of Office, RCO representatives, and Gender Theme Groups (GTGs) in selected countries to gather qualitative insights into internal and external coordination for GEWE integration, use of CGEPs and other guidance materials, engagement with women’s CSOs, GEWE-related capacity building efforts not reflected in SWAP reports and context-specific barriers and enabling factors. 
6. Support process for solicitation of inputs from relevant Resident Coordinators, in collaboration with DCO Regional Office 
7. Identify and develop 4–5 brief case studies showcasing enabling practices, innovative approaches, or context-specific challenges and solutions related to GEWE integration in CF design. 
8. Facilitate validation discussions (e.g. through a virtual meeting or written consultation) with relevant UN stakeholders (e.g. UN Women, RCOs, GTGs) to test and refine preliminary findings, lessons learned, and draft recommendations. 
9. Draft and finalize the knowledge product (approximately 15 pages plus annexes), ensuring the content, style and structure are fully developed. The document will undergo peer-review, fact-checking and editing. The final product will be structured as follows:  

Introduction

A) Purpose and Methodology 

B) Overview of GEWE Integration in new generation CFs in ECA 

C) Case Studies

• D) Key Findings: Good Practices and Lessons Learned 
• E) Recommendations for the UN system at country and regional levels 
• F) Annexes: tools, templates, selected excerpts, etc. 

G) Submit a short consultant report (2–3 pages) summarizing activities undertaken, challenges encountered, and suggestions for follow-up or replication of the review methodology.  

Deliverables

Deliverable Expected completion time (due day)  Payment Schedule (optional) Inception report: Detailed methodology, proposed structure of the knowledge product, draft list of countries for case studies, interview list, and timeline for delivery.   -

Desk Review and Analytical Notes: Summary analysis of GEWE integration in the 12 draft/final CCAs and CFs, based on UNSDG guidance and UNCT-SWAP indicators (1.1–1.3), with comparative insights linked to SWAP data from 2023–2024. 

  - Stakeholder Interviews Completed and Case Study Inputs Collected: Interview notes and summaries from consultations with selected RCOs, UN Women Heads of Office, and GTGs in 4–5 countries; preliminary identification of lessons learned and good practices.     Draft Knowledge Product: First full draft (approx. 15 pages + annexes), structured according to the agreed outline: overview of findings, case studies, good practices, and recommendations. The draft will include the finalized content style and structure, and should be peer-reviewed, fact-checked and validated across UN Women’s teams in ECA.      Final Knowledge Product: Final version incorporating feedback from UN Women ECARO and other stakeholders, including annexes.    -     -      

Consultant’S Workplace

This is a home-based consultancy.  No travel is required.  

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: 

Required Qualifications

Education And Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, Development, Public Administration, Gender is required.
• BA degree with additional 2 years of experience can be accepted in lieu of MA degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in gender mainstreaming in development programmes/projects at national or international levels.
• Experience working on UNSDCF development is an asset.
• Experience in assessing impact of policies, strategies and UN capacity building measures from a gender perspective.
• Previous experience with the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecards, narrative reporting and development of Action Plans an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality analytical reports drawing on data from a range of sources. 
• Experience working with UN country teams on gender equality programs or coordination is required.
• Experience working in Europe and Central Asia is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluent in written and spoken English is required.

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.