Consultancy to Develop the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women Strategic Plan (2026-2030)

Background

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) 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.

Established by in 1996, the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) is the first and remains the only global UN funding mechanism dedicated exclusively to providing direct grants to civil society organizations working to prevent and end all forms of violence against women and girls (EVAW/G). Since 2010, UN Women has administered the UN Trust Fund on behalf of the UN system, providing a strong institutional foundation and field support through a global infrastructure of country and regional offices.

With nearly three decades of experience, the UN Trust Fund has become a key global mechanism for funding initiatives that aim to eliminate violence against women and girls. It plays a critical role in fostering collaboration across governments, UN agencies, and civil society to address the root causes and consequences of violence, aligning its work with broader international policies and frameworks. The UN Trust Fund focuses on providing long-term grants to organizations that work in diverse contexts, particularly those representing marginalized groups, such as indigenous women, women living with disabilities, and women from rural or conflict-affected areas. Its investments are survivor-centered and aim to have sustainable, long-term impacts. To date, the UN Trust Fund has funded over 700 initiatives in over 140 countries and territories, significantly contributing to global efforts to end violence against women and girls.

The objective of this consultancy is to build upon the existing UN Trust Fund Strategic Plan (2021-2025) to strengthen the next iteration, the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. This plan should be   clear, impactful, actionable, forward looking and include a results framework with key supporting documents. tThe 2026-2030Strategic Plan will provide the UN Trust Fund, as well as its partners and relevant stakeholders with a clear vision and roadmap for the UN Trust Fund direction and growth, aligning with the final years of the Decade of Action for the 2030 agenda It will draw from extensive consultations with grantees and partners over the recent years. Additionally, it will incorporate the achievements and lessons learned from the 2021-2025 UN Trust Fund Strategic Plan, the Mid-Term Review of the SP, UN Trust Fund Annual Reports and Technical Annex, UN Trust Fund Annual Reports to the Commission on the Status of Women and Human Rights Council, the UN Women Strategic Plan and MTR, Beijing +30 all within the broader context of advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

Detailed Deliverables and Timeline:

Under direct guidance of the Chief of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and coordinated by the M&E and KM Manager, the selected candidate will:

Complete an inception report: Q4 2024

• Develop an Inception Report: Create a detailed roadmap for the Strategic Plan development, including milestones, deliverables, and consultation and review phases.
• Agree on key touchpoints with advisory group (core group versus thematic), noting that the development, coordination and management of the advisory group sits with the UN Trust Fund

Complete the desk review, EVAW/G state of the field and outline SP: Q1 2025:

• Desk Review and Analysis: Conduct a comprehensive review of key internal and external documents (previous strategic plans, mid-term review, Chief’s strategic inputs, relevant UN and global frameworks, strategic plans and gender strategies of other feminist funders) to inform the development of the new Strategic Plan.
• Outline Strategic Plan: Facilitate initial discussions with managers and team members to co-create the framework and core pillars of the new Strategic Plan.
• Complete EVAW/G state of the field: as part of the desk review also review the EVAW/G state of the field, current context and trends, and relevant data projecting forward to 2030

Draft, Dialogue and Co-Creation Phase: Q2 2025:

• Stakeholder Validation Sessions:  Facilitate a series of in-depth interviews and small group discussions with diverse stakeholders, including UN Trust Fund team, GPAC, donors and funders, UN Women and other UN agencies, civil society, grantees, private sector partners and survivors / programme partners to ensure broad and inclusive input in validating key components of the Trust Fund Strategic Plan
• Draft comprehensive Strategic Plan Versions: Deliver two iterative versions of the Strategic Plan, incorporating feedback from Trust Fund Secretariat staff, and key stakeholders, ensuring alignment with global standards and best practices. First draft to be reviewed internally, second draft to be reviewed externally and then final version to be submitted in Q3.
• Prepare slide deck to present the draft SP for validation processes to internal and external audiences.
• Draft results framework without indicators and risks management framework for internal and external consultations.

Finalize Strategic Plan and Results Framework: Q3-Q4 2025

• Final validation meeting with external stakeholders, including Strategic Plan advisory group: support the UN Trust Fund to present the SP for a validation meeting and incorporate final feedback.
• Finalize Strategic Plan and slide deck: submit a final version of the SP to the UN Trust Fund along with the final slide deck by UNGA 2025
• Deliver Final Results Framework: Deliver a detailed results framework with measurable indicators.

Ethical Considerations

The consultants will ensure the SP follows a transparent and participatory process, while promoting non-discrimination and the meaningful participation of all stakeholder groups relevant to the UN Trust Fund. Moreover, the SP drafting process will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the ‘Do No Harm’ principle to ensure it does not cause any negative unintended consequences for the beneficiaries of the UN Trust Fund or any other stakeholders. In addition, the consultant commits to act with cultural sensitivity and pay particular attention to relevant protocols, codes and recommendations. To ensure transparency, any conflict of interest must be declared as part of the application and proposal.

Financial Proposal

Interested candidates are requested to submit a financial proposal along with their application. For consultations, the UN Trust Fund will provide simultaneous interpretation. Furthermore, the consultant will work closely with the UN Trust Fund designated copyeditor towards the end of the SP delivery. This collaboration aims to ensure clarity, coherence, and alignment with the UN Trust Fund’s organizational language and voice in all written materials, including drafts and final submissions.

Competencies

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s Values and ethical standards;
• Plans, prioritizes, and delivers quality products per schedule;
• Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborates and

• cooperates with others;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

• Focuses on impact and results and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors, at the senior levels;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines;
• Proven track record in undertaking complex and comprehensive assessments
• Proven ability to coordination with a team of international organizations and senior national
•  
• High level of communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills and working

effectively within a multi-cultural environment;

• Excellent report writing skills.
• Ample knowledge and use of computer office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word etc.)
• Excellent English writing and communication and analytical skills are required

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Political or Social Science, Economics, International Development

Studies, Gender/Women’s Studies is required.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in developing and writing strong impact and growth-oriented strategies to prevent and end violence against women and girls at the international level;

• Experience in applying grant giving as a programing modality;
• Experience and background in human rights based and gender responsive approaches to programming, specifically on issues related to ending violence against women and girls;
• Proven experience in high level research, data collection, analysis and communications;
• Proven experience in writing for an international audience and producing clearly written and well-articulated strategies and reports;
• Experience in working with local, national and international NGOs, and multilateral/bilateral institutions and donor entities;
• Experience in evaluation and/or programmatic and operational performance assessments of development programmes is an asset;
• Experience in the United Nations systems in an asset;
• Field experience is highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required;