UN Women - Young Women and Girls Engagement Consultant (Home-based, 9 months contract)

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.

In this role as the global voice and advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women, UN Women must deliver to an ambitious agenda as a centre of excellence on knowledge, partnerships, advocacy and social mobilization, as well as a convener, thought leader and champion of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

2025 marked the 30th anniversary of the Fourth UN World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), the international blueprint for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

In view of the crucial contribution of civil society organizations in the advancement of gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s rights, the role of young people especially adolescent girls is fundamental in the full realization of the Beijing+30 Action Agenda. UN Women’s unique and critical role in engaging civil society and partnership building with women’s organizations including youth and girl led organizations as stakeholders to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment will be key drivers in helping UN Women achieve its strategic goals and fulfil its organizational mandate.

Under the general guidance and direction of the Deputy of the Civil Society Division, the Young Women and Girls Engagement Consultant will be responsible for providing strategic guidance and advice on outreach to adolescents’ constituencies, ensuring meaningful engagement of young women and girls in intergovernmental processes.

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work

Provide substantive and strategic support to ensure young people’s engagement and leadership is mainstreamed in CSDs workplans:

1. Provide strategic guidance and advice on outreach to adolescents’ constituencies
2. Support the technical implementation of young people’s programmes; provide technical advice; ensure synergies with other teams, develop knowledge products.
3. Contribute to strategies and support the integrated participation of young people in multistakeholder processes as well as intergovernmental processes.
4. Facilitate and support preparatory brainstorming and outreach meetings and activities with girl led groups and constituencies.
5. Provide inputs into the implementation of the Civil Society Division Strategic Notes, UN Women Strategic Plan, resource mobilization proposals to ensure adolescents agendas are reflected.
6. Support the strengthening of networks and knowledge sharing among young people to facilitate and increase communication between the constituencies.
7. Support and contribute to the development of briefing and background notes across the Civil Society Division.
8. Support and contribute to the development of the youth and adolescent safeguarding policy.

Knowledge management

1. Supporting the development of the knowledge product on findings and lessons learned, success stories and best practices, strategies and approaches of adolescent girl in intergovernmental processes.
2. Work closely with the Youth Engagement Coordinator in monitoring youth planned activities in order to identify best practices as well as constraints/implementation bottlenecks and to take necessary actions to overcome the constraints.
3. Support quarterly reports and donor reports, focusing on results, output and outcomes in relation to adolescent engagement.

Partnership and Resource Mobilization

1. Support the advocacy and resource mobilization for youth and adolescent work by compiling and synthesizing relevant background material.
2. Analyze and maintain information/ databases on potential and actual donors, specifically those active in supporting youth and adolescents.
3. Provide data and information needed for preparation of project documents.
4. Support the writing of proposals for the Civil Society Division

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:

• Strong knowledge of gender equality and women's rights issues.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with partners, especially women’s right organisations, girl and youth organizations
• Proven networking skills and ability to mobilize support on behalf of UN Women.
• Excellent IT skills, including databases, extranet and office software packages.
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills.

Education and Certification:

• A master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, international relations, communications, women's studies, or a 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:

• At least two years of research and civil society engagement with a particular focus on young people.
• Understanding of gender equality and women's empowerment.
• Understanding child protection issues and the Convention on the Rights of Child an asset
• Familiarity with youth and girl-led organizations and international institutions.
• Experience working/interning in the UN system is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of French or Spanish 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.