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. Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex emergencies, and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Afghan people are grappling with the impact of conflict, poverty, economic decline, and natural disasters. In this context, Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities and require urgent support as gender inequality is interwoven with conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. It is essential that Afghan women and girls can continue to shape the development of their country, and that their gains are protected. UN Women remains fully committed to supporting Afghan women and girls and to putting them at the center of the global response to the crisis in Afghanistan. UN Women has been in Afghanistan for two decades. UN Women’s programming approach is informed by analysis of the political, economic and humanitarian situation, risks to and capacities of partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls. UN Women Afghanistan currently has four key programme priorities: (1) Gender in Humanitarian Action, (2) Ending Violence Against Women, (3) Women’s Economic Empowerment, and (4) Women, Peace and Security. Under the Women, Peace and Security portfolio, UN Women focuses on supporting women-led/gender focused civil society organizations to promote social cohesion and produce research analysis and reports to build evidence and understanding around the gender equality dynamics in Afghanistan. Under the guidance of the Programme Manager-WPS, the consultant (Researcher) will provide strategic advice and technical expertise to shape research priorities and advance key knowledge products within the WPS portfolio. The consultant will also ensure the timely and high-quality delivery of research initiatives that inform policy and programming on women’s rights and gender equality in Afghanistan. The consultant is expected to collaborate closely with the WPS programme team as well as external partners such as technical consultants, other researchers, and service providers, as applicable.
Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Programme Manager – WPS, the consultant will contribute to three overarching tasks.
Task I: Produce high-quality thematic reports and reflection papers on key women’s rights issues
The consultant will lead the development of up to 10 thematic reports or reflection papers on critical women’s rights issues in Afghanistan, based on priorities identified by the Women, Peace and Security team. Tasks will include conducting literature reviews, analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data, identifying evidence gaps, and drafting written outputs tailored to various audiences. The consultant will also support validation processes, present findings to internal and external stakeholders, and collaborate with communications staff to finalize layout and formatting in accordance with UN Women standards.The consultant may also be requested to advise on the design and direction research initiatives related to WPS, gender equality, and women’s rights in Afghanistan. This includes identifying emerging themes, proposing relevant research angles, recommending methodologies, and reviewing existing data sources to guide future analysis.
Task II: Develop tailored dissemination strategies for thematic research outputs
The consultant will design and implement dissemination and risk management plans for a series of research reports, as requested by the WPS team. This will involve identifying key policy entry points, drafting engagement strategies, and tailoring messaging and materials for a range of stakeholders. The consultant will analyze context-specific risks related to the dissemination of sensitive findings and advise on mitigation strategies to ensure the safety and effectiveness of communication efforts. They will also contribute to the development of summaries, presentations, and other dissemination products in line with UN Women’s guidelines.
Task III: Strengthen ACO staff capacity in research, activity design, and report writing
The consultant will lead the design and delivery of targeted capacity-building activities to enhance ACO staff skills in research, activity design, and report writing. This includes conducting a needs assessment, developing a training concept note, facilitating up to five interactive sessions, and providing ongoing coaching. The consultant will also produce a resource pack for sustained learning and support staff in applying these skills to programmatic and reporting tasks.
Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work
Deliverables
DeliverableExpected completion time (due day)Design and write up to 10 research initiatives related to WPS and women’s rights/gender equality more broadly, including on emerging issues.
- Draft reports using data collected by UN Women (including by third parties) and/or by conducting qualitative data collection).
- Develop background briefs and/or short documents on key developments related to WPS, gender equality and women’s rights in Afghanistan, including recommendations for further research directions where required.
- Recommend appropriate research methodologies tailored to identified themes and contextual constraints.
- Review existing UN Women datasets to and advise on opportunities for further analysis and utilization.
- Formulate programme or project proposals that support the advancement of research on WPS and women’s rights/gender equality more broadly.
- Coordinate peer review of reports where required.
- Synthesize key findings into actionable and policy-relevant recommendations
31 December 2025
Payment will be based on time-estimates provided by the consultant for each respective assignment (note: UN Women will approve the number of days per agreed deliverable).
Preliminary timeline:
1 report by August 2025
1 report by September 2025
1 report by December 2025
Additional reports/thematic briefs may be requested in addition to the preliminary timeline.
The deliverable will amount to a maximum of 200 working days across the contract.
Develop and support the implementation of dissemination plans for up to 10 thematic research reports
- Draft key messages, talking points, presentations and executive summaries to support advocacy and public engagement efforts.
- Collaborate with graphic designers or communications staff to finalize report formatting and layout
- Develop presentation materials, including slide decks and key messaging based on the research findings
- Present findings to internal and external audiences, as directed by the WPS team
28 February 2026
Payment will be based on time-estimates provided by the consultant for each respective assignment (note: UN Women will approve the number of days per agreed deliverable).
The deliverable will amount to a maximum of 30 working days.
Organize a series of training sessions on research, design of activities/concept notes and report writing
- Conduct a needs assessment to identify gaps in research, activity design/planning and report writing among relevant ACO staff, including preferred learning methods.
- Develop a concept note outlining the structure, content and approach of the training activities.
- Facilitate up to five interactive training sessions including practical exercises aiming at enhancing staff confidence in research and writing skills. Provide feedback on practical exercises undertaken as part of the training exercises.
- Create a resource pack (e.g. writing guides, reference documents, research methodology guides) that staff can use beyond the training period.
31 March 2026
Payment will be based on time-estimates provided by the consultant for each respective assignment (note: UN Women will approve the number of days per agreed deliverable).
The deliverable will amount to a maximum of 30 working days.
Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel
This is a home-based consultancy, which may require international travel. Costs for any official travel undertaken under the assignment will be covered by UN Women, in line with the organization’s travel policies
IV. Required Qualifications
Education and certification:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women’s studies, international development, research, statistics or a related field is required
- 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 work experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of research and analysis projects is required;
- Technical experience in research/analysis in crises contexts related to gender equality and women’s rights is required;
- Experience using statistical software and qualitative analysis tools is required;
- Experience in designing and managing country-wide assessments and/or research initiatives related to WPS and/or gender equality in hostile contexts is required;
- Experience having conducted research on WPS, gender equality and women’s rights in Afghanistan is desirable;
- Experience coordinating inter-agency entities and/or donors on research and analysis products is desirable;
- Experience working in the UN System is desirable;
- Experience in leading/managing a team to undertake a research/analysis initiative is desirable
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English is required;
- Working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable;
- Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto is desirable.
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 visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:
Functional Competencies:
- Strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
- Strong knowledge of Results Based Management
- Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making
- Strong knowledge of WPS, particularly in the area of knowledge production and analysis
- Strong analytical skills
- Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising and develop strategies
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.