Background

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It champions women and girls globally, aiding member states in setting international standards and partnering with governments and civil society to develop laws, policies, and programs to meet these standards.

Despite global progress in technology and innovation, women remain underrepresented in these sectors. In Kazakhstan, cultural, social, economic, and structural barriers significantly hinder the participation of women and girls in innovations and technologies. Understanding these barriers is crucial for developing effective strategies to promote gender equality and empower women in these key areas.

Women’s involvement in innovation and technology can significantly reduce the gender gap, improve access to education and healthcare, provide new economic opportunities, amplify women’s voices, and increase their participation in decision-making processes. Innovative solutions can create a future where Kazakhstani women and girls are empowered, united, and equipped to overcome existing barriers.

In this regard, UN Women, in collaboration with the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family-Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is implementing the grant “Assisting Kazakhstan in Implementing the Concept of Family and Gender Policy to Ensure Gender Equality and Empowerment of All Women and Girls in Kazakhstan and Overcome the Consequences of the COVID-19 Crisis. For 2022-2024”

UN Women plans to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the participation of women and girls in the innovation and technology sectors in Kazakhstan. The national expert will assess the current level of participation of women and girls in innovations and technologies compared to men, identify key differences in access to education, professional development, and career opportunities, and propose recommendations for improving institutional mechanisms supporting women. This study aims to involve a national expert with relevant knowledge and experience on the topic.

The consultant will be reporting to Project Manager/Programme Specialist, and will be supported by Project Expert, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the level of participation of women and girls in the innovation and technology sectors in Kazakhstan.

Primary goals:

• Identify and analyze main barriers preventing women and girls in Kazakhstan from entering and advancing in the innovation and technology sectors. This includes examining factors such as gender stereotypes, lack of access to quality STEM education, professional barriers, and other structural constraints.

• Assess the impact of cultural norms and social expectations on the participation of women and girls in these sectors, including educational and professional challenges they face and how these factors affect their career paths and professional growth.

• Study successful local and global initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality in technology and innovation. Identify best practices and strategies that can be adapted and implemented in Kazakhstan to increase the involvement of women and girls in these sectors.

• Develop data-driven recommendations for policies, programs, and initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of women and girls in the innovation and technology sectors in Kazakhstan. These recommendations will aim to create favorable conditions for their development and promotion, contributing to gender equality and the empowerment of women in these critical areas.

The results of this study will raise awareness among national partners, authorized state bodies, and the public about the barriers faced by women and girls in the innovation and technology sectors. Based on the collected data and analysis, strategies, programs, and initiatives can be developed to create favorable conditions for women and girls to contribute to innovations and technologies.

The national consultant will be responsible for:

1. Assessing the current level of participation of women and girls in innovations and technologies compared to men based on a comprehensive review of existing research, reports, and data. Analyze global, regional, and national trends and best practices.
2. Developing data collection tools and a questionnaire for conducting surveys and interviews in focus groups. Collect quantitative and qualitative data through surveys, interviews, and focus groups with key stakeholders, including students, professionals, educators, and policymakers.
3. Identifying key differences in access to education from early childhood and adolescence, professional development, and career growth opportunities in these sectors. Determine social, economic, and cultural factors hindering equal participation of girls and women in digitization and innovative industries.
4. Formulating data-driven recommendations for policies, programs, and projects to improve institutional support mechanisms for women, allocate resources to support women and girls in science and technology, and promote initiatives aimed at increasing the involvement and career growth of women and girls in these sectors.
5. Preparing a final report with analysis findings and recommendations. Present the findings to key national partners for further application in policy and program development in this area.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

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 Core Values and Competencies:

https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Change management
• Research

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

A minimum of a master’s degree or equivalent in information technology, STEM, social sciences, humanities, economics, human resource management, law, or related fields. A PhD in these areas will be an advantage.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in conducting social/gender research at the national level.
• Experience in STEM and innovations, especially with gender focus will be advantage.
• Experience working with UN agencies or other international organizations and government bodies (provide copies of supporting materials or links to websites with documents) is an asset.
• Excellent analytical skills with strong drive for results and capacity to work independently.

Languages:

• Excellent written and spoken Russian is mandatory.
• Excellent written and spoken Kazakh is preferred.
• Excellent written and spoken English is preferred.

How to apply:

• Personal CV or P11 (P11 can be downloaded from: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc )
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page)

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns, or other materials.

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.

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.)