International Consultant to develop the National Strategy for the Social and Economic Inclusion of Women and Girls with Disabilities in Sudan

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. Placing women's rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. UN Women Sudan implements its coordination, normative and operational mandate in close collaboration with the Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies; local Women-Led Organizations, the UN Country Team, development partners and other international actors to advance women’s rights and promote women’s empowerment and gender equality.  

Context 

In Sudan, women and girls with disabilities face multiple and intersecting inequalities. They are disproportionately excluded from education, livelihoods, healthcare, humanitarian response, and political participation. The conflict since April 2023 has further marginalized them, with displaced women with disabilities at heightened risk of GBV, loss of assistive devices, and limited access to services.

Sudan ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2009, yet translation of commitments into practical policy and programming remains limited. Institutional frameworks such as the National and State Councils on Persons with Disabilities lack resources and capacity. Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), particularly women-led ones, also face marginalization and underfunding.

This consultancy will support UN Women Sudan, the Ministry of Social Welfare, and the National Council on Persons with Disabilities to develop a National Strategy and Concept Note for the social and economic inclusion of women and girls with disabilities. The consultancy will also contribute to capacity strengthening of councils and OPDs, and outline quick-impact projects that demonstrate immediate, practical benefits for women with disabilities.

Objectives and Scope of Work:

The consultant will be responsible for designing a comprehensive package that advances the rights and resilience of women and girls with disabilities in Sudan.

Specific Objectives

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The consultant will:

Note: The actual implementation of the mapping and subsequent validation will be conducted by UN Women staff in port Sudan.

Expected deliverables and Duration:

The consultancy will be completed within 30–45 working days. Payment will be in line with UN Women rates and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

DeliverableResponsibilityNotes / Timing 1 Inception Report: including methodology, work plan, and stakeholder engagement approach Consultant Week 1 2 Mapping Tools & QUIPs Guidelines Package: submission of mapping tools and documentation for national/state councils, OPDs, and organizations supporting women with disabilities; tools and guidelines on Quick Impact Projects (QUIPs). Consultant Weeks 1–2 3 Preliminary National Strategy & Validation Presentation: draft preliminary report of the National Strategy and Concept Note, with a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the strategy for validation workshop with key stakeholders Consultant (draft & presentation), UN Women (validation facilitation) Weeks 3–4 4 Final Report: revised and consolidated National Strategy and Concept Note, incorporating comments and inputs from the validation workshop Consultant End of assignment

Competencies :

Core Values:

Core Competencies:

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

Minimum Requirements, Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in gender studies, economic; Development Studies Disability Studies, Social Sciences, Public policy, or related field.

Experience:

Language:

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.