Re-advertisement – UN Women: National expert in gender equality and climate change, Tirane Albania, Individual Consultancy

Candidates who applied the first time do not need to reapply

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.

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.

UN Women actively addresses the inequalities related to climate change in alignment with its Strategic Plan (SP 2022-2025)[1]. The SP prioritizes women’s leadership, resilience, and participation in climate action by advocating for gender-responsive policies, strengthening women’s access to climate finance, and promoting their role in disaster risk reduction. Through this approach, UN Women supports the implementation of key global commitments, including CEDAW General Recommendation No. 37[2], which underscores the need for gender-sensitive disaster risk reduction strategies, the Beijing+30 Review, which will assess progress on gender equality in climate governance, and the Enhanced Gender Action Plan under the Paris Agreement, which calls for integrating gender considerations across all climate policies and actions. By embedding gender equality in climate responses, UN Women ensures that climate actions and policies are inclusive, effective, and transformative at all levels.

The intersection of gender equality and climate change presents significant challenges to livelihoods, health, safety, and security, particularly for women and girls. Recent studies have highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and girls in Albania, particularly in rural areas. As primary caregivers and agricultural workers, women face increased workloads during extreme weather events. The climate crisis further exacerbates existing gender disparities, including unequal access to resources and energy, widening the pay gap, increasing poverty rates, and limiting women’s ownership of assets. These structural inequalities constrain their ability to recover from climate shocks, making them more vulnerable to the long-term economic and social consequences of environmental change. In addition, as Albanian women predominantly engage in informal or unpaid agricultural work, it is challenging for them to cope with climate change effects. Agriculture accounts for 18% of GDP and employs 40% of the workforce in the country. Women’s vulnerability in this area is exacerbated by limited access to resources and financial services, hindering their ability to adapt to environmental changes. Consequently, climate-induced disruptions in agriculture can lead to reduced income and employment prospects for women, perpetuating economic disparities and limiting their participation in sustainable livelihoods[3].

Although existing reports underline the broader gendered impacts of climate change in Albania, there is limited research and data available on this issue and there is a need for more targeted studies to better understand and address the complex intersection of climate change, gender roles in the Albanian context. In addition, Albania’s policy frameworks have yet to fully integrate a gender-responsive approach. While these frameworks acknowledge the broader impacts of climate change and disaster risks, they lack specific provisions addressing the unique vulnerabilities faced by women and girls. The NECP, which outlines Albania’s energy transition and climate objectives up to 2030, remains largely gender-neutral, failing to recognize the differentiated impacts of energy policies on women and their role in sustainable energy solutions. Similarly, while the NDRRS (2023–2030) aligns with international commitments such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, its gender components require further strengthening to ensure that disaster preparedness and response strategies adequately account for women’s needs and leadership.

Recognizing the gender dimensions of climate change is essential to address vulnerabilities requires availability of sex-disaggregated data and solid evidence to be used in relevant policies and plans, aiming to promote resilience, and leverage gender equality as a driver of climate adaptation.

In Albania, the UN Women Country Office is committed to increasing the availability of evidence and knowledge on the impact of climate change on women and girls and ensuring that national climate policies and programs reflect the needs, vulnerabilities, and contributions of women. With support from the Embassy of Sweden, UN Women has received funding to implement is Strategic Note (SN 2022-2026) including SN outcome 2 “By 2026, all persons benefit from, and contribute to, innovative and integrated policy solutions that accelerate sustainable, productive and inclusive development, enhanced climate change adaptation and mitigation and transition to a green and blue economy”. As part of this work, UN Women Albania is seeking to recruit a national expert to conduct a data collection and assessment initiative on gender equality and climate change in Albania. These efforts will also support the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Outcome 2 , and the implementation of several SDGs such as SDG 5 Gender Equality, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 1 No poverty, SDG 10, Reduced Inequality.

The consultant will be working closely with the international expert, reporting to relevant project managers in the UN Women Albania Country Office and to the Head of Programme, will be responsible for the following:

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

• In cooperation with the international consultant, propose a joint methodology for the data collection initiative, which should follow a mixed method approach combining qualitative and quantitative research. These could include surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and a desk research on policy gap analysis to evaluate the extent to which climate change policies integrate a gender perspective. The methodology should include intersectional considerations, including youth, disabilities, rural/urban divides etc.
• Develop a review of the existing literature, guidelines and best practices from EU Member States and Western Balkan countries related to gender and climate change.
• Develop a contextual analysis and stakeholder engagement plan, including government institutions, civil society organizations, academia, amongst others.
• Support the development of a comprehensive outline and content of the structure of the assessment.
• Support the development of data collection plan and methodology, tools and sampling approach to be used, including considerations for data privacy.
• Implement the data collection initiative jointly with the international consultant.
• Include case studies, examples and practical tools to promote gender mainstreaming in climate change
• Support the international consultant to propose recommendations to promote evidence-based gender equality consideration in climate change policies
• Prepare visual material with the findings of the assessment

The assessment should include the following:

• A multi-sectoral analysis of gender equality and climate change in Albania, including existing policy and legal frameworks, representation of women in leadership and decision-making around climate change and relevant governing bodies, access to information and knowledge about climate change, level of availability of dedicated programmes aiming at integrating gender equality in climate change interventions
• An evidence-based assessment on the extent to which women and girls are affected by climate change in Albania, including rural areas.
• A set of recommendations and steps to create inclusive climate change policies, including guidance to policy makers, women CSOs, private sector, UN Agencies, donors and others

Deliverables

• All deliverables need to be consulted with and approved by UN Women
• Proposed methodology of the consultancy with a detailed work plan that includes timeline and a proposed outline
• A comprehensive review of existing literature, guidelines, and best practices related to gender equality and climate change, in Albania and in the region
• List/mapping of key stakeholders/interviewees/people of influence and interest in Albania on to GEWE and climate change
• Questionaries/surveys/data collection tools tailored to the target audiences and interviewees (decision-making representatives, stakeholders, women living in rural areas and/or engaged in agriculture)
• Survey results and interviews with identified stakeholders
• Draft report with analyses of interview findings, desk review etc. and to be shared for feedback with UN Women Albania
• A final assessment which would include a country analyses and concrete recommendations.
• Power point Presentation of main analyses finding and recommendations

Deliverables

Expected completion time (due day)

Inputs into a proposed methodology for the data collection and assessment initiative

By mid June 2025

Inputs into a comprehensive review of existing literature, guidelines, and best practices related to gender equality and climate change, in Albania and in the region

By mid June 2025

Inputs into a list/mapping of key stakeholders/interviewees/people of influence and interest in Albania on to GEWE and climate change

Inputs to questionaries/surveys/data collection tools tailored to the target audiences and interviewees

Survey results and interviews with identified stakeholders

By end of August 2025

Draft report with analyses of interview findings, desk review etc. and to be shared for feedback, prepared in collaboration with the International Consultant

A final assessment which would include a country analyses and concrete recommendations prepared in collaboration with the International Consultant

By end of November 2025

Inputs into Power point Presentation of main analyses finding and recommendations

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy with in-country travel as needed.

[1] UN Women Strategic Plan 2022-2025: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/Library/Publications/2021/UN-Women-Strategic-Plan-2022-2025-brochure-en.pdf

[2] Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) – CEDAW/C/GC/37 – General recommendation No. 37 (2018) on the gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction in the context of climate change

https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CEDAW%2FC%2FGC%2F37&Lang=en

[3] Addressing the greatest development challenge of our time https://albania.un.org/en/174078-addressing-greatest-development-challenge-our-time

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:

• Proficient knowledge of gender equality and climate change issues
• Proficiency in report writing demonstrated
• Sound knowledge of data collection and analysis tools and feminist research methods
• Interview skills and ability to summarize research findings and recommendations
• Knowledge of national and international frameworks on climate change and gender equality
• Familiarity with results-based management and human rights-based programming is an asset

Education and Certification:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environment or climate change related studies. international development, human rights, gender/women’s studies, economics, green economy or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of prior experience in data collection initiatives, including developing and implementing data collection tools, in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment, including in the field of climate change.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in the area of gender equality and climate change adaptation, mitigation or other issues related to the green economy, DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) or similar
• Proven experience in researching/writing about climate change and its consequences, ideally in Albania

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Albanian 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.

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