International Consultant, Gender and Private Sector Engagement Expert in Crisis and Recovery Settings (Retainer)

The consultant will provide strategic and technical expertise to strengthen gender-sensitive private sector engagement across the programme and ensure that women's economic empowerment objectives are systematically integrated into enterprise recovery interventions, workplace practices, and business development support. This is a home-based consultancy focused on supporting enterprise recovery and women's economic empowerment in crisis and recovery settings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct gender-responsive assessments of target enterprises and economic sectors.
• Identify barriers and opportunities affecting women's access to employment, entrepreneurship, leadership, and decent work.
• Analyze enterprise practices from a gender equality and inclusion perspective.
• Develop recommendations to strengthen gender-responsive private sector engagement throughout project implementation.
• Prepare a practical gender-sensitive private sector engagement framework.
• Provide technical guidance on integrating gender considerations into enterprise recovery and workforce development interventions.
• Advise on strategies to increase women's participation in employment opportunities created under the programme including in light industries.
• Ensure inclusion of women-led enterprises, cooperatives, and home-based producers.
• Develop recommendations to improve retention and advancement of women workers.
• Support participating enterprises in adopting gender-responsive workplace policies and procedures.
• Develop guidance on gender-responsive recruitment, retention, promotion, and leadership pathways.
• Strengthen enterprise capacities on prevention of workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse ensuring safe and protective workplaces for women workers.
• Advise on grievance, referral, and accountability mechanisms.
• Support implementation of workplace inclusion and safety standards.
• Design and facilitate training sessions for enterprises, business associations, and project partners.
• Deliver coaching and technical advisory support to participating businesses.
• Build awareness of the business case for gender equality and women's economic empowerment.
• Support companies in developing practical workplace improvement plans.
• Advise on collecting and analysing data on women’s employment in the private sector.
• Develop practical guidance materials, tools, SOPs, and checklists related to gender-sensitive private sector engagement.
• Produce case studies highlighting successful practices and lessons learned.
• Document innovative approaches to women's economic participation and enterprise recovery.
• Contribute recommendations for future economic recovery and private sector programming.

Requirements

• Master's degree or equivalent in Gender Studies, Economics, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Development, Human Rights, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in women's economic empowerment, private sector engagement, inclusive economic development, or related fields is required.
• At least 2 years of those must be experience working in Crisis and Recovery settings.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing gender-responsive employment, entrepreneurship, and private sector programmes is desirable.
• Proven experience engaging with private sector actors and promoting inclusive workplace practices including familiarity with the Women’s Empowerment Principles is required.
• Experience conducting gender analyses and developing gender mainstreaming frameworks is desirable.
• Experience delivering training, coaching, and technical advisory services is desirable.
• Experience in humanitarian, recovery, or fragile contexts is highly desirable.
• Previous experience in Palestine or the Middle East is highly desirable.
• Experience working with UN agencies and international organizations is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Skills

• Women's Economic Empowerment
• Private Sector Engagement
• Inclusive Development
• Gender-Sensitive Programme Design
• Employment Programme Implementation
• Entrepreneurship Programme Implementation
• Gender Analysis
• Gender Mainstreaming Frameworks
• Training Delivery
• Technical Advisory
• Crisis and Recovery Settings Experience
• Humanitarian Experience
• Enterprise Recovery Support
• Workplace Inclusive Practices
• Women Empowerment Principles
• Engagement with Private Sector Actors
• Experience with UN Agencies
• Experience in Middle East Context
• English Fluency

Languages

English, Arabic