JOB DESCRIPTION

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.

The UN Women Liaison Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), based in Abu Dhabi, UAE aims to strengthen partnerships, mobilizes resources, and raises awareness to advance UN Women’s key priorities in the UAE and beyond. The UAE has demonstrated strong leadership in advancing gender equity and the Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda through its first National Action Plan (NAP) on UNSCR 1325 and the establishment of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women Peace and Security Training Programme and Centre of Excellence.

This work is guided by the Strategic Partnership Framework (SPF) signed between UN Women and the Government of the UAE, which outlines joint priorities, including advancing the WPS agenda at national, regional, and global levels.

In line with the UAE’s recent adoption of the SPF with UN Women, this consultancy aims to:

• Develop the second National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325.
• Integrate the WPS agenda into UAE’s foreign policy.
• Build the capacities of national and international stakeholders in the WPS domain.

The consultant will be reporting to the Programme Specialist, and will be supported by the Operation Associate, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues.

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work

1.Contribute to the Development of the Second National Action Plan (NAP) on UNSCR 1325

• Conduct an analysis of the first NAP, identifying lessons learned and areas for development.
• Collaborate with government entities and partners to outline key priorities for the second NAP.
• Coordinate the drafting process, ensuring alignment with national priorities and international standards.
• Develop a roadmap for the drafting process with clear timelines and deliverables.
• Organize consultations and workshops to gather input from diverse stakeholders, including government agencies and the private sector.
• Document inputs and synthesize them into actionable recommendations.
• Prepare a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) results-based framework for the NAP, aligning it with UAE’s foreign policy priorities and the Strategic Partnership Framework.
• Draft the implementation roadmap, including monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plans with clear indicators and targets.
• Present the draft NAP to the National Steering Committee for review and validation.
• Revise the draft based on feedback and submit the final version for approval.
• Lead the organization of a high-level launch event to introduce the NAP to national and international audiences.

2. Collaborate with the Foreign Policy Specialist to Integrate the WPS Agenda into UAE’s policies as needed by the government

• Work closely with the Foreign Policy Specialist to embed WPS principles into UAE’s diplomatic strategies, multilateral engagements, and international cooperation initiatives.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions with international WPS leaders to exchange best practices and foster innovative approaches.
• Promote UAE’s achievements and contributions to the WPS agenda at international forums, including the United Nations General Assembly and regional summits.
• Prepare and review policy briefs and analytical reports to support high-level decision-making.
• Design and deliver targeted training sessions for Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) officials and other key stakeholders on integrating WPS into foreign policy.
• Create a framework to track progress in integrating WPS within UAE’s foreign policy initiatives.
• Prepare analytical reports on the outcomes of gender-sensitive foreign policy engagements.

3. Build Capacities of National Partners on the WPS Agenda

• Develop and deliver tailored training programs for government officials and private sector stakeholders.
• Equip participants with tools and skills to integrate gender-sensitive practices into their work.

4. Facilitate Knowledge Exchange.

• Organize regional and international workshops to promote the exchange of best practices and lessons learned.
• Build partnerships to strengthen UAE’s role as a global advocate for WPS.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of capacity-building activities and recommend improvements.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy. As part of this assignment, there may be occasional travel to Abu Dhabi.

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:

• Expertise in Women Peace and Security, including NAP development.
• Proven ability to provide strategic advice on policy and program development.
• Experience in facilitating high-level consultative workshops.

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree in social sciences, international relations, gender studies, or related field is required. 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:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in Women Peace and Security (WPS) or related fields.
• Proven expertise in developing and implementing National Action Plans on UNSCR 1325.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building and training program design.
• Experience working with high-level government and international stakeholders.
• Proven experience in working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, including inter-agency or politically sensitive contexts.
• Experience in policy analysis, drafting, and developing results-based frameworks.
• Excellent analytical skills with strong drive for results and capacity to work independently.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of Arabic or any other UN official is an asset.

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.