[Hiring] International Consultant to extend technical and advisory support for a comprehensive assessment of women's empowerment and inclusion in the agricultural sector @UN Women

Role Description

UN Women is seeking to hire an international consultant that will extend technical expertise and guidance to the organization/company responsible to conduct the assessment.

The consultant will be reporting to the Programme Coordination Analyst and will be supported by the Programme Associate, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues.

Responsibilities / Scope of Work

• Task 1: Provide Technical Oversight and Validation of the A-WEAI Methodology
  • Guide, review and validate the contractor’s proposed methodology, ensuring compliance with WEAI/A-WEAI and pro-WEAI international standards.
  • Support the contractor in devising a sampling strategy which will ensure socio-economic indicators and selection criteria for municipalities fully correspond to Moldova’s agricultural realities and gender disparities.
  • Verify the adequacy of both quantitative and qualitative instruments (survey tools, FGD guides, interview protocols) and ethical procedures.
  • Provide guidance to the contractor implementing the assessment to ensure methodological alignment with other national data frameworks.
• Task 2: Provide Quality Assurance During Data Collection and Analysis
  • Monitor data collection implementation: adherence to sampling strategy, accuracy of field protocols, enumerator training quality, and data integrity.
  • Conduct spot checks, troubleshooting sessions, and methodological adjustments if issues arise.
  • Oversee data cleaning, coding, processing, and quality checks of the entire dataset.
  • Guide through the analytical framework to ensure the Baseline Report captures empowerment, agency, gender parity, time use constraints, climate resilience practices, and structural barriers.
• Task 3: Ensure Analytical Rigor and Coherence of Policy Recommendations
  • Transform findings into clear structural and policy recommendations relevant to MAFI, UN Women, and the Canada-funded initiative.
  • Ensure the contractor identifies concrete gaps in agricultural policies, subsidy schemes, extension services, rural infrastructure, and women’s access to finance and technology.
  • Validate that recommendations are actionable, cost-conscious, gender responsive, and aligned with EU reforms.
  • Ensure the contractor integrates intersectional factors.
• Task 4: Provide Scientific Review of the Final Report and Support Communication of the Findings
  • Lead the scientific review of the final comprehensive study, ensuring methodological integrity, evidence-based conclusions, and accurate interpretation of WEAI dimensions.
  • Ensure the integration of qualitative materials in a methodologically consistent narrative.
  • Review visualizations, annexes, maps, and datasets for accuracy and usability.
  • Support UN Women and MAFI in preparing the presentation for the launch event.
  • Take part in launch, result presentations and other relevant public events/engagements.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy. No travel is required; however, in such a case, the consultant will be paid DSA as per rules and procedures of UN Women applicable to the country of travel.

Financial Arrangements

Full payment for the services performed by the Consultant under the conditions of the Contract, per day worked. UN Women shall pay the Consultant upon certification by UN Women that the services have been satisfactorily performed, and upon submission and approval of corresponding deliverables and timesheets.

Performance Evaluation

The consultant’s performance will be evaluated against performance criteria such as timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered, emphasizing the effective integration of gender considerations throughout the assignment.

Qualifications

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s level minimum) in one of the following or closely related fields: Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Rural Sociology, Public Policy, or Statistics / Applied Economics.
• At least one of the following:
  • Formal training or certification on: WEAI or A-WEAI methodology.
  • Documented experience applying: WEAI, A-WEAI, or pro-WEAI modules in previous studies.
  • Participation in: IFPRI / World Bank / FAO gender and agriculture measurement workshops.
• At least one recognized certification or long-term training course in:
  • Gender Analysis in Agriculture.
  • Gender-Responsive Research Design.
  • Gender-Transformative Approaches.
  • Intersectionality and social inclusion.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible work experience in designing and implementing assessments, survey design, and analysis.
• Prior experience in promoting women’s empowerment and/or women financial inclusion programs.
• Experience supporting vulnerable and/or underrepresented groups will be considered an advantage.
• Previous collaborations with international organizations, particularly UN agencies, would be an advantage.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of Romanian or Russian or any other UN official language is an asset.

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
• Functional Competencies:
  • Sound knowledge on working with groups vulnerable to discrimination.
  • Deep understanding of A-WEAI domains, indicators, and scoring logic.
  • Ability to adapt A-WEAI tools to local contexts without compromising comparability.
  • Strong command of quantitative and mixed-methods research designs.
  • Ability to guide and mentor a multidisciplinary research team.
  • Strong capacity to identify and mitigate measurement bias.
  • Experience leading peer review of survey instruments.
  • Advanced ability to integrate gender analysis across all stages of research.