National Consultant for Conducting Research on Women’s Participation in Decision-Making Levels in Kazakhstan

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.

Sustainable development is impossible without gender equality. Increasing women’s participation in decision-making processes contributes to a more equitable distribution of power and resources, which impacts social development and reduces inequality. In this regard, gender equality remains a crucial priority of state policy for building a just society and promoting development. This is confirmed by Kazakhstan’s commitment to enshrining the principles of gender equality in legislation and adopting major international agreements aimed at eliminating gender discrimination (CEDAW, Beijing Declaration, etc.). According to the Global Gender Gap Index for 2023, Kazakhstan ranks 62nd. In the sub-index “Women in Ministerial Positions (%)”, Kazakhstan ranks 120th.

UN Women, in collaboration with the National Commission on Women and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter referred to as the National Commission) and the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry), is implementing a related grant “Supporting Kazakhstan in Implementing the Family and Gender Policy Concept in terms of ensuring gender equality and empowering all women and girls in Kazakhstan and overcoming the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis.”

As part of the related grant, UN Women plans to conduct research on women’s participation in decision-making levels in Kazakhstan. In this regard, a national expert with relevant knowledge and experience on the stated topic will be engaged to conduct this research.

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of this assignment is to analyze women’s participation in decision-making processes at various management levels, identify trends and barriers, and develop recommendations for improving the status of women in government and quasi-government structures.

The research aims at a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the share of women in leadership positions in various sectors – from government bodies to private companies and non-profit organizations. The primary focus will be on analyzing trends in this share over the past decade, which will help identify both progress and potential stagnation in promoting women to leadership positions.

Furthermore, the project includes studying the degree of women’s participation in key decision-making bodies such as committees and boards of directors. It will assess which strategic decisions are made with women’s involvement and identify sectors and organizations with the highest and lowest levels of gender diversity in the decision-making process. Additionally, the project will examine the impact of women’s participation on the effectiveness and outcomes of decisions made and study the perception of their leadership qualities among colleagues at various levels.

A key aspect of the project is identifying existing barriers that prevent women from advancing to decision-making levels. This includes conducting in-depth interviews and surveys among women holding both leadership and non-leadership positions to determine both internal and external obstacles affecting their career growth.

Based on the analysis of corporate policies and practices, a set of measures will be developed to eliminate these barriers and create conditions for a more equitable and inclusive work environment. These measures include proposals for changing corporate standards, culture, and practices, as well as developing educational and training programs for managers at all levels.

The results will help raise awareness among national partners and the public about the status of women at the decision-making level. Additionally, leadership development programs for gender equality in corporate culture may be developed based on the research, including model provisions for implementing flexible working hours, remote work opportunities, and improved conditions for maternity and paternity, which can help reduce one of the key barriers to women’s career growth.

The tasks of the national consultant will include:

1. Preparing and presenting a project work plan;
2. Reviewing and analyzing literature on previously conducted research on women’s decision-making issues;
3. Developing a methodology (defining data collection methods, planning data collection logistics, etc.);
4. Collecting data using the chosen method (survey, qualitative interviews, case studies) while maintaining confidentiality and ethical norms and rules when working with participants’ data. The survey population should consist of women and girls employed in the public (elective and executive positions), quasi-governmental sector, and corporate sector.
5. Analyzing data using statistical methods for quantitative analysis and/or thematic analysis of qualitative data. Preparing an interim report with data visualization.
6. Developing conclusions and recommendations for promoting women to decision-making levels. Recommendations should be made in an arbitrary format and in the form of a comparative table with normative legal acts.
7. Developing a final research report and presenting it to national partners.

The national consultant is expected to work remotely. The national consultant will also hold necessary consultations and discussions with national partners (civil society organizations, government, non-governmental, and non-profit organizations). All results must be presented and approved by the UN Women structure.

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:  

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: 

Very strong qualitative and analytical skills; attention to detail and accuracy in data will be an advantage (provide a copy of supporting documents, such as previous electronic copies of conducted research, surveys, etc.).

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• A master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, humanities/economics, human resources management, law or related fields.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in conducting social/gender research or human resources management research at the national level.
• Experience working with UN agencies or other international organizations, as well as with government agencies (provide a copy of supporting materials or a link to a website where the document can be viewed).

Languages:

• Excellent written and oral Russian language skills are mandatory.
• Excellent written and oral Kazakh language skills will be an advantage;
• Excellent written and oral English language skills will be an advantage.

• Personal CV or P11 (P11 can be downloaded from: )
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page)
• Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns, or other materials.

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.)