I. 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 South Africa Country Office (hereafter referred to as the South Africa Office/CO) is responsible for advancing gender equality and women's empowerment in alignment with UN Womenโs mandate. The South Africa Office's mission is to ensure that all women and girls live safely and have equal access to opportunities, enabling them to reach their full potential. UN Women promotes gender equality and women's empowerment based on key international agreements, including, i) The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol โ Known as the \"Women's Bill of Rights,\" CEDAW underpins all UN programs for women, with over 185 countries as signatories, ii) The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) โ Outlines government commitments to advancing women's rights andย iii) United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace, and Security, which recognizes the gendered impacts of conflict and reaffirms women's essential role in conflict prevention and resolution.ย ย In alignment with South Africaโs national priorities, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), and UN Women's regional and global strategic plan and priorities, the South Africa Office is developing its Strategic Note (SN) for 2026โ2029. This document will serve as a roadmap, outlining key development results and management strategies for the specified period. It also aligns with the UN Women Africa Strategy and other pertinent regional and global normative frameworks.ย The SN will leverage the outcomes and lessons learnt of the review process with respect to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women.
The triple mandate of UN Women gives it a unique capacity to: (i) support the strengthening of international norms and standards; (ii) promote coordination, consistency and more effective gender parity across the UN system in support of commitments to gender equality and the empowerment of women; and (iii) support Member States, at their request, in translating international standards and rules into legislation, development policies and plans at regional, national and local levels, as part of its operational activities. It also allows the Entity to provide technical expertise in the development of international standards and rules with national experiences.
The development process of the Strategic Note involves extensive consultations with stakeholders, including government entities, civil society organizations, youth networks, youth led organizations, as well as other UN agencies. This collaborative approach is aimed at ensuring that the strategies and interventions are contextually relevant and effectively address the unique challenges faced by women and girls in South Africa. Rooted in UN Womenโs global Strategic Plan 2026โ2029, the SN outlines country-specific priorities while maintaining alignment with regional and international gender equality commitments. Recognizing the unique socio-economic and political contexts of each country, the Independent SN approach ensures tailored strategies that address national priorities, policy environments, and emerging gender equality challenges. To build an inclusive and participatory SN that responds to the national priorities, the following actions will be necessary:
In depth consultations and facilitated meetings with the team in the South Africa Country Office. Extensive national and sub-regional consultations with the aforementioned stakeholders working with UN Women in SA. Active participation of Country Office, to determine strategic priorities and programmatic areas of focus. Effective participation of United Nations agencies to ensure synergies between identified priorities, articulate shared results and identify practical and effective mechanisms to implement UN Womenโs coordination mandate - special attention will be needed for consultations with UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF, regarding the identification of recommendations and future-oriented priorities of the Common Chapter. Situation analysis inclusive of the countryโs Common Country Assessments, national gender related strategies and those focused on achieving the SDGs.ย Practical integration of the United Nations Reform process as it relates to UN Womenโs triple mandate and priorities across the region. Risk analysis and development of prevention, mitigation, and response strategies to be included in the SN.In addition to these consultations, the process of developing the SA SN includes:
Facilitating and developing a report on a strategic planning workshop for the UN Women team in the South Africa Office Disseminating the outcomes of the strategic planning workshop to the relevant partners included in the process to ensure feedback loop finalizing the strategic note with results framework, monitoring and evaluation framework, organizational chart and resource matrix.To ensure the process is effective, efficient, and consistent with the range of input obtained during working sessions, the South Africa Office seeks the services of an International Consultant. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Representative.
II. Objectives of the Assignment
Main objective:
The UN Women South Africa Office is embarking on the process of developing its Strategic Note (SN) for the period of 2026-2029 defining key development results and management/operational results for the next four years. The SN will be aligned with the UNSDCF SA (dates) as well as the global UN Women Strategic Plan (2026-2029), the East and Southern Africa (ESA) region SN (2026-2029) and aligned to the UN Women Africa Strategy as well as to key development frameworks of the ESA region as well as global normative frameworks.
Specific objectives:
Under the supervision of the Representative, the consultant will be responsible for:
Conducting a desktop review of key documents including the Africa Strategy review, the Common Country Assessment and development framework, as well as any gender-related strategies that feed into the Theory of change (ToC), working in close collaboration with the SN and M&E teams. Facilitating initial consultations with select UN Women CO personnel to provide the key foundation elements and initial framework.ย Conducting 3 sets of consultations with relevant (1) civil society partners (including partners, members of youth, marginalized and other identified group leaders), (2) (inter) government/Member State representatives and (3) relevant sub-regional UN agency partners for initial inputs into strategy content and direction from their respective perspectives.ย Drafting consolidated outcome report from all relevant consultations. ย Planning and facilitating the working session/retreat of the UN Women CO team for the development of the Strategy Note taking into account the recommendations from the consultation workshop. Drafting the first version of the CO's SN with content support/inputs from relevant CO personnel including coordination, operations, programmes, partnerships, etc. Editing and revising the final version of the 2026-2029 SN and all of the appendices (including results framework, M&E framework, organizational chart, resource matrix and other details in UN Women Guidance Note on SN development).III. Expected resultsย
The expected result at the end of the consultation is the 2026-2029 SN for the UN Women SA, which is aligned with the UN Women Global Strategic Plan (2026-2029). The SN will be grounded in a participatory process that is inclusive not only of UN Women and partner voices but also ensuring the engagement of key stakeholders in the region including youth, members of marginalized and conflict-affected groups, and other priority groups. The SN will give due consideration to SDGs and development issues, humanitarian and peace and security as applicable reflecting the context of SADC.ย The contextual analysis and root drivers of the content will be based on evidence from Country Portfolio Assessment (CPE), the Africa Strategy review, (in the absence of a medium-term review) and in conjunction with the end term evaluation of the Strategic Note 2017-2022. Finally, the SN will be developed in a manner that it is informed by a review of existing and required human resources, ensuring that sufficient capacities are available to implement the SA program with full consideration to potential obstacles, challenges and risks.ย
IV. Methodology
Desk review of relevant documentsย Participatory consultation with stakeholder groups - plan for inclusion of women, people and groups who are vulnerable and / or discriminated against will be maintained in the consultation process. Adopting a gender-sensitive approach based on the Gender Equality Marker / โUN-SWAP 2.0โ1ย is mandatory. It will also be important to specify the ethical guarantees that will be used. The results of the analysis, data collection and information must be approved during workshops or debriefings involving various key players and integrated into the situation analysis of the Strategic Note. The construction of the theory of change will be done through a participatory process and advisory during the start-up phase. This process will be guided by a gender analysis and human rights (HRBA) and results-based management (RBM) and shared in the strategic planning workshop.V. Deliverables Key activities: Deliverable: Estimated time:
a. Consultative process to develop inception notes with details of assignment and agreed outline for SN narrative and required attachments/appendix.
b. Desk review of relevant documents.
c. Organize consultation with key personnel of the CO including management, planning, M&E and programming to review and solicit inputs on current context, ToC, programming direction, and guidance for SN development.ย Inception note inclusive of (1) a workplan and roadmap for the review of the Strategic Note (2) a clear methodology for data collection and (3) different interview guides and review questions.ย
7 days
d. Organize consultations: 1. CSO partners and relevant key stakeholders; 2. (inter) governmental and Member State representatives; and 3. Relevant UN agencies to solicit respective relevant content inputs for SN planning. Outcome report presenting findings as related to SN outline and content requirements. 7 days e. Organize and facilitate a one-day working session with Programme Managers in the South Africa Office( SN โretreatโ) and collate & finalize draft text to populate required SN content in each of the 10 sections detailing what is known and what is TBD. ย3days
VI. Payment
The payment of fees will be made in two installments:
40% upon submission and clearance of the inception and stakeholdersโ consultations reports (2 reports) 60% upon final submission and clearance of the Strategic Note narrativeVII. 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 visitย this linkย for more information on UN Womenโs Values and Competencies Framework:ย
Functional Competencies:
Have a good knowledge of the norms and standards of evaluations of the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG); Good command of data collection and analysis techniques quantitative and qualitative; Have excellent analytical, writing and synthesis skills; Demonstrate responsiveness, objectivity, organization and have a good methodology in carrying out the work; Demonstrate an ability to produce quality results on time and work under pressureVIII. Required qualifications
Education
Master's degree in international relations, gender, sociology, demography, economics, law or other disciplines related.
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 and skillsThe consultant should also have the following:
At least 7 years of planning, programming, reviews and/or evaluation experience, seven years of which in strategy planning/reviews in development programs related to human rights, gender, and results-based management. Experience in designing and conducting inclusive strategic planning workshops including facilitating theory of change. Knowledge and experience with the national development, policy, and legislative frameworks. Extensive experience with UN programming, especially the UNSDCF and delivering as one. Experience working on womenโs human rights and gender equality; familiarity with the relevant context in East and Southern Africa Demonstrated experience collaborating with institutions, partners in development and civil society organizations in the region in especially those focused on promotion of gender equality and womenโs empowerment activities. Experience with the United Nations system, good knowledge of the UN Women mandate and its programmatic frameworks and rules and United Nations procedures would be an asset. Experience of conducting foresight analysis and exercises considered an asset.Language requirement
Fluency in English is requiredStatements :
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,ย and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age,ย ability, national origin,ย 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 toย UN Womenโsย policiesย and proceduresย andย theย standardsย of conduct expected of UN Women personnelย 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.
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