Responsibilities: 

UN Women WCA Regional Office (RO) recruits a consultant to deliver the following outputs:

Develop internal knowledge on private sector and high impact / innovative financing models for GEWE in WCA UN Women countries:

• Map relevant actors, networks and inspiring initiatives and replicable partnerships models with the private and finance sectors that are currently being piloted/ experimented by other development actors.
• Provide strategic analysis of this landscape, including the identification of opportunities (advocacy and financing for GEWE) for UN Women with these sectors: engagement opportunities, challenges and needed internal capacity strengthening to harness these opportunities.
• Ensure the dissemination of such knowledge among teams, including through knowledge products and training

Supporting the articulation of a meaningful engagement strategies for UN Women RO and country offices (COs) with these new markets towards the achievement of GEWE, including partnership, advocacy and financing for GEWE:

• Identifying partnership opportunities for UN Women with the relevant non-traditional stakeholders, to advocate for and finance GEWE in the middle-income countries of UN Women WCA region

• Support RO and COs in articulating private sector and high-impact financing engagement strategies and action plans, in line with UN Women’s strategic priorities and mandate.
• Support RO and COs in identifying and designing possible pilot innovative collaborations with the private sector and high-impact financing institutions, with a clear plan to ensure the pilots’ implementation, evaluation and capitalization and road map for a future scale-up.

Providing ongoing support to target countries in mainstreaming engagements with the private sector and high-impact financing institutions across different programmatic areas and in harnessing concrete partnerships opportunities to support GEWE financing.

• Provide technical support to COs to ensure the growth and continuous mobilization of a WEPS signatories’ community within the West and Central Africa targeted countries.
• Building on UN Women existing frameworks (including the WEPS and the work of UN Women’s Sustainable finance network), develop guidance and tools to support COs in outreach and engagement. This will be done in close coordination with in-country teams to ensure they respond to concrete programmatic needs and challenges observed in engaging private sector.
• Provide continuous technical assistance to country teams in the concrete engagement of different private sector actors, including with related networks specialized in Corporate Social Responsibility
• Provide support and advice in planning, implementation and reporting on such engagement.

Reporting line

The consultant will be reporting to UN Women West and Central Africa Regional Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Specialist, who will ensure the monitoring of the consultant’s progresses. Given the dynamic nature of the partnership opportunities under this donor segment, the consultant is expected to provide regular weekly reports.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy.

As part of this assignment, at least 50% of time travelling outside of the duty station to UN Women West and Central Office countries of interest.

Requirements:

Education and Certification:

• Advanced university degree in the social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science and economics), public policy or international development. A specialization in gender is a strong asset.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Five (5) years of progressively responsible relevant work experience/ demonstrated track record that combines intellectual, strategic and managerial leadership in private sector engagement, innovating financing, impact investing for development or humanitarian action.
• Experience in working with the private sector / innovative funding mechanisms in Africa is required
• Experience in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment desired
• Experience in developing resource mobilization strategies, and in leading donor engagement is required;
• Experience in building and maintaining effective relationships with private sector and finance institutions required

Languages:

• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Knowledge of any other UN official is an asset