UN Women - International Consultant – Mapping Official Government Mechanisms for Civil Society Participation in the EU Accession Process, Home-based

About the role

Under the overall supervision of the UN Women ECARO Gender and Good Governance Specialist and in close coordination with participating UN Women Country Offices, the consultant will conduct a regional mapping and assessment of national consultation, coordination and monitoring mechanisms related to EU accession, with a focus on the integration of gender equality and women’s participation.

Responsibilities

• Develop the methodology and data collection template for mapping official government mechanisms for civil society participation in the EU accession process across the participating countries and territories; agree the methodology and template with UN Women prior to commencing the assignment.
• Conduct a mapping of official government mechanisms for civil society engagement in the EU accession process across Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* and Georgia, including:
  • official government mechanisms for civil society participation in the EU accession process;
  • sectoral and negotiation working groups;
  • public participation mechanisms related to EU accession reforms;
  • monitoring mechanisms established under the Reform and Growth Facility, including monitoring committees or equivalent structures;
  • other official mechanisms supporting civil society participation in EU accession-related policy development, implementation and monitoring.
• Collect information through desk review and consultations with relevant ministries, government institutions responsible for EU integration and other competent public authorities, in close cooperation with UN Women Country Offices.
• Prepare a regional mapping report containing factual findings for each participating country and territory, including for each identified mechanism:
  • legal or institutional basis;
  • responsible institution(s);
  • mandate and purpose;
  • organisational structure;
  • composition and membership;
  • participation of civil society organisations;
  • participation of women’s rights organisations and women-led organisations, including organisations representing young women, women peacebuilders and women experiencing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, where information is available;
  • frequency of meetings and working modalities.
• Organise and facilitate an online validation meeting with representatives of participating UN Women Country Offices to present draft findings and verify the accuracy and completeness of the information collected.
• Revise the report based on comments received during the validation process and submit the final mapping report to UN Women ECARO.

Deliverables

• Methodology and mapping template – Methodology, workplan and standardized data collection template for mapping official government mechanisms for civil society participation in the EU accession process across the participating countries and territories.

  Due: 15 September 2026

• Draft mapping report – Draft regional mapping report covering the 10 participating countries and territories, presenting factual information on official government mechanisms for civil society participation in the EU accession process, including Reform and Growth Facility monitoring mechanisms (or equivalent mechanisms), where applicable. The report should describe the legal or institutional basis, responsible institutions, mandate, organisational structure, composition, participation of civil society organisations, participation of women’s rights organisations (where applicable), and working modalities of each identified mechanism.

  Due: 15 October 2026

• Online validation meeting – Organisation and facilitation of one online validation meeting with representatives of UN Women ECARO and participating Country Offices to present the draft findings and validate the information collected.

  Due: 20 October 2026

• Final mapping report – Final regional mapping report incorporating comments received from UN Women following the validation meeting.

  Due: 25 October 2026

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy.

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

• Demonstrated knowledge of gender equality, women’s rights and gender mainstreaming, including experience integrating gender perspectives into public policy and governance processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the European Union enlargement process, including the accession framework, governance and institutional mechanisms, and civil society participation in EU integration processes.

Requirements

• Education and Certification: Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Law, Political Science, European Studies, Sociology, Public Administration, International Relations, Gender Studies, Social Sciences, or another relevant field. 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: At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in gender equality, women’s rights, governance, democratic development, EU integration, or related fields. Proven professional experience working in one or more countries of the Western Balkans, Türkiye and/or the Eastern Partnership region, with strong understanding of the regional political and institutional context. Demonstrated experience working with civil society organisations, including women’s rights organisations and women-led organisations. Experience conducting desk research, mapping exercises and preparing high-quality analytical or technical reports for international organisations, governments or development partners. Good understanding of participatory governance mechanisms and institutional arrangements for civil society engagement in public policymaking is an asset. Previous experience working with UN agencies, the European Union or other international organisations is an asset.