Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN), 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.

The UN Women MCO-Caribbean covers 22 countries and territories in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean. Strides towards gender equality in the countries covered by the MCO have resulted in gains for women and girls in the Caribbean, relating primarily to high education rates and increases in employment rates. However critical gaps and inequalities remain which are further exploited during hazards like COVID-19 and other environmental hazards.

Women’s entrepreneurism remains disproportionately low in the region with evidence suggesting only 8% (approximately 228,000 persons) of the total employed Caribbean population are self-employed women1. Women entrepreneurs are also disproportionately operating micro enterprises with no, or few, employees, in low growth sectors, utilising little technology and innovation.2 This a result of women’s limited access to capital, gender neutral lending practices and requirements, inadequate skill sets and the disproportionate unpaid care burden resting on women, which cumulatively can create obstacles and disincentives to entrepreneurism. As a result, Latin America and the Caribbean is the region with the second highest failure rate of women-led businesses3. The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns worsened this situation, disproportionately impacting women4, forcing many MSMEs into precarity and further limiting capital flows. Women have been disproportionately impacted.

Within this context, UN Women is working improve women’s economic empowerment by unlocking capital for public and private investment in gender equality, inclusive growth and resilience building through evidence-based and innovative strategies. The LAC region faces a US $93 billion total credit gap for women-led SMEs5. Gender Lens Investing, that is investing in women-owned businesses, businesses providing services or products that improve the lives of women, or businesses promoting gender equality within their company, provides an enormous opportunity to fill these gaps. As of 2018, there was $2.8 billion in private markets (venture capital/private equity funds) with gender-based strategies.

In order to improve women’s economic empowerment, through, inter alia, developing the most suitable financial solutions, UN Women is seeking to hire a consultant to conduct needs-assessments and sensitise key stakeholders using the Women’s Empowerment Principles, to strengthen women’s economic empowerment and build public and private investment in wider gender equality.

UN Women MCO- Caribbean laid a strong foundation with the private sector through the Win-Win programme in Jamaica, and will build on this foundation by providing services to the private sector using the Women’s Empowerment Principles to lobby for substantive policies and programmes that will create a more enabling environment for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Programming will also focus on supporting MSMEs’ capacity and competitiveness strengthening, and engaging government partners and civil society using the WEPs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) encompasses the establishment of high-level corporate leadership for gender equality, treating all women and men fairly at work in terms of respect and supporting human rights and nondiscrimination; ensures the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers; promotes education, training and professional development for women; implements enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women; promotes equality through community initiatives and advocacy; and measures and public reports on progress to achieve gender equality.

The consultancy will sensitise potential WEPs Signatories, and support new WEPs Signatories to conduct Gender Gap Analyses and to develop and implement Gender Action Plans. The consultant will also provide support to governments wishing to engage the private sector and other stakeholders using the WEPs framework.

Scope of Work and Deliverables

The consultant will be required to:

• Develop an Inception Report and Workplan outlining the approach and methodology.
• Develop strategies for the implementation of the WEPs in identified territories as required.
• Engage WEPs Signatories through a series of workshops to support the completion of the Gender Gap Analysis Tool (GGAT) as required.
• Support signatories to produce Gender Action Plans for implementation as required.
• Support signatories in the implementation of Gender Action Plans as required.
• Provide support to Government partners with private sector engagement and engagement of MSMEs, using the WEPs.
• Provide monthly report to UN Women on the progress made, identify challenges and request support as needed.
• Prepare Final Report.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity;
• Integrity;
• Professionalism.

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 Core Values and Competencies:

http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

Functional Competencies

• Strong problem-solving skills
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills
• Good planning, goal setting and prioritization
• Ability to multi-task and address competing priorities
• Ability to work with different actors, including through remote contact
• Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct
• Ability to work in a high-pressured environment and handle logistical details
• Strong sense of responsibility, confidentiality and accountability

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in human rights, gender, international development, or related field
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• 3- 5 years of experience in programmes related to gender equality and women’s empowerment is required.
• Substantial knowledge of violence against women and gender equality issues particularly around engagement of grassroots women organizations is required.
• Strong research and drafting skills is required.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills woule be an asset
• Previous experience with the UN, governmental agencies or other international organization is an asset
• Previous experience in developing countries in programme management is an asset

Languages:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

• The consultancy will be home-based. However, travel may be required.
• The consultant will be engaged for a maximum of 150 working days within the period, 1 May 2024 to 31 December 2025.

Remuneration

• The consultancy fee will be negotiated before contracting. Each payment will be based on a predefined and formal agreement between UN Women and the consultant and will be disbursed based on satisfactory completion of agreed deliverables.
• The remuneration for this contract type is an all-inclusive fee, the organization will not be liable for additional cost or benefits. Hence, it is the responsibility of the consultant to take out adequate medical insurance for the duration of the contract and it is recommendable that the policy includes coverage for COVID-19 related illness. The medical coverage should be international when the contract requires missions or international assignment.
• If selected for this consultancy, proof of medical coverage should be presented within the first two months of the contract.

Hardware, Software, And Communication

• The consultant must be equipped with a fully functional laptop, which must run at least Windows 7. The consultants must be reasonably accessible by email and telephone (preferably mobile). The use of reliable, internet-based (Skype or equivalent) is required.

Other:

Submissions to UNDP Jobs are limited to a maximum of 10 MB, virus-free or corrupted contents to avoid rejection, and no more than 1 email transmission. All applications must be submitted through UNDP jobs. Please do not send applications to UN Women staff as they will not be accepted.

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.)