UN Women - International Consultant, Consultancy on operationalizing the UN Women Social Norms Framework in Europe and Central Asia

About the Role

UN Women seeks an international individual consultant to map existing social norms programming in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region and develop a concise operational plan for applying the UN Women Social Norms Framework in regional and country programming. The consultant will ensure alignment with the Regional Strategic Note 2026-2029, translating the corporate framework into practical, regionally contextualized actions that support programme design, implementation, monitoring, and learning across thematic portfolios.

Responsibilities

• Map UN Women's existing social norms programming across Europe and Central Asia, conducting a desk review of regional and country office programmes dedicated to or including components on addressing discriminatory social norms.
• Analyze regional programming through the lens of the UN Women Social Norms Framework, identifying good practices, gaps, and opportunities for integrating the framework across regional priorities and thematic portfolios.
• Develop an operational plan for applying the UN Women Social Norms Framework in the ECA region, suggesting practical actions, tools, and approaches for consistent application across thematic portfolios.
• Identify priority entry points for regional action on discriminatory social norms, ensuring the plan accounts for intersecting inequalities and complements other regional strategies.
• Present findings and facilitate discussions with ECARO colleagues, incorporating feedback into the final operational plan.

Deliverables

• Mapping and analytical review of social norms programming in Europe and Central Asia (10 working days) – by 10 October 2026.
• Draft operational plan for applying the UN Women Social Norms Framework in Europe and Central Asia (10 working days) – by 10 November 2026.
• Final operational plan and presentation of findings (5 working days) – by 15 December 2026.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in gender studies, sociology, social or political sciences, or a relevant field.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in gender equality and women's empowerment programming, policy development, and addressing discriminatory social norms.
• Demonstrated experience in applying social norms theories and approaches to programme design, implementation, monitoring, and learning.
• Experience developing strategic or operational plans, tools, or methodologies for programme implementation.
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into concise recommendations.
• Experience working on gender equality issues in Europe and Central Asia is an asset.
• Experience with UN Women or other UN agencies/international organizations is preferred.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines.

Competencies

• Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity.
• Core Competencies: Awareness of Gender Issues, Accountability, Creative Problem Solving, Effective Communication, Inclusive Collaboration, Stakeholder Engagement, Leading by Example.
• Functional Competencies: Critical understanding of social norms theories, experience translating frameworks into practical programming guidance, and strong regional context knowledge.

This is a home-based consultancy.