National Gender Expert

​Requisition ID: 8285
Grade: ISA-NOC
Country: Palestine, State of
Duty Station: OCT - Other cities
Category: National Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Application deadline: 11-Nov-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.

UNIDO is fully committed to achieving and maintaining workforce gender parity and to fostering an open, accessible, inclusive and respectful workplace that values diversity, equal opportunity and a healthy work-life balance. UNIDO, therefore, welcomes and encourages applications from qualified candidates of underrepresented genders, candidates from less-represented regions or nationalities, and candidates with disabilities, for whom reasonable accommodation will be provided in accordance with applicable policies.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.

The position is located under the Sustainable and Just Energy Transitions Unit (TCS/ECA/JET) focuses on promoting energy for development and leveraging technology innovation and social inclusion to lead a just energy transition. It promotes the modernization of energy infrastructure to drive decoupling growth from emissions and deploys de-risking approaches to channel public and private investments to accelerate energy access and industrial development. It supports Members States in building and diversifying renewable energy supply chains and fostering manufacturing capabilities to achieve a just energy 47 transition for all. The unit also supports the integration of energy system design into the wider development objectives and helps countries navigate the trade-offs for energy development while ensure compliance with social and environmental norms. Finally, the Unit coordinates the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres and related partnerships and uses regional policies and approaches to achieve economies of scale.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The Ministry of Industry of the State of Palestine, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and the technical support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is leading the project titled “Developing an energy-sustainable shoe village in Hebron for the decarbonization and sustainable development of the footwear value chain in the State of Palestine” (ID220173).

The project aims to restore the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of the Palestinian leather and footwear sector, which is predominantly concentrated in Hebron and has historically represented one of the country's most important manufacturing sectors and sources of employment. Through the establishment of a Sustainable Shoe Village (SSV), the initiative seeks to create an integrated industrial ecosystem that supports enterprise development, innovation, productivity enhancement, skills upgrading, technology adoption, and sustainable industrial practices, while facilitating the sector's transition towards a low-carbon and resource-efficient future. The Sustainable Shoe Village is conceived as a comprehensive industrial development platform combining physical infrastructure, shared services, business development support, innovation, and sustainability. At the center of this vision is the establishment of a Common Facility Centre (CFC), which will provide a range of technical, technological, and business support services to enterprises operating within the footwear value chain. Planned services include product development, design support, quality assurance and testing, research and development, training, investment and promotion services, and support for market expansion. Through these interventions, the project seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of firms, facilitate value chain integration, and create improved linkages between producers and markets. The project follows a phased implementation approach. During the current inception and planning phase, significant efforts have focused on establishing the technical, institutional, and regulatory foundations required for the development of the Sustainable Shoe Village, including the preparation of a comprehensive feasibility study, master plan for the village, and institutional arrangements for the future management and operation of the Village.

Recognizing that inclusive industrial development requires equitable participation and access to opportunities, the project incorporates gender equality and women's empowerment as cross-cutting priorities throughout its implementation. The project document acknowledges that the Palestinian leather and footwear sector remains largely male-dominated, with women primarily concentrated in administrative functions, sewing and stitching activities, and a limited number of self-employed design and sales roles. Participation of women within technical, managerial, entrepreneurial, and decision-making functions across the value chain remains relatively limited due to a combination of social, cultural, economic, and institutional barriers. The project further recognizes that several factors continue to constrain women's participation in the sector, including prevailing social norms regarding gender roles, limited access to technical and vocational opportunities, insufficient representation in decision-making structures, and barriers affecting women's access to economic opportunities and entrepreneurship. At the same time, increasing women's participation in the leather and footwear value chain presents significant opportunities to expand the sector's labor force, strengthen enterprise competitiveness, support income generation, and contribute to broader social and economic development objectives.

In line with UNIDO's commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment, the project document foresees the development of an evidence-based and practical Gender Mainstreaming Strategy, and Action Plan during the inception phase of the project. These instruments are expected to assess the specific gender dimensions affecting the leather and footwear value chain, identify key barriers and opportunities, validate and strengthen gender-related project interventions, and provide a structured framework to ensure that project activities, services, governance arrangements, and expected results contribute to more inclusive and equitable development outcomes. The project also requires the integration of gender-responsive approaches into project implementation, beneficiary targeting, capacity development activities, monitoring systems, stakeholder engagement mechanisms, and decision-making processes.

Within this context, UNIDO seeks to engage a National Gender Expert to undertake a gender analysis of the Sustainable Shoe Village intervention and develop a Gender Mainstreaming Strategy and Action Plan. The assignment will contribute to ensuring that the project promotes equitable access to opportunities, strengthens women's participation and representation across project interventions, supports women's economic empowerment within the leather and footwear value chain, and integrates gender considerations into project implementation, monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and institutional development processes in line with UNIDO standards and international good practices.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (i.e., a UNIDO staff member responsible for the overall implementation of the project) and in close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, the National Gender Expert will be responsible for the following main duties:

MAIN DUTIES

Concrete/measurable

Outputs to be achieved

Expected duration

Location

Review Project Documentation and Develop Assignment Methodology, including:

1. Hold a kick-off meeting with the Project Manager and relevant project team members to clarify the objectives, scope, methodology, deliverables, and implementation arrangements of the assignment.
2. Review relevant documentation related to the Sustainable Shoe Village project
3. Review UNIDO policies, strategies, and guidance related to gender equality, women's empowerment, and inclusive industrial development.
4. Develop the analytical framework, methodology, consultation approach, and workplan for undertaking the gender analysis and developing the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy and Action Plan.