Consultant to assess Somalia’s Gender Equality Policy and develop a National Strategy on Equality between Men and Women

Result of Service Expected deliverables are :

a) A desk review and evaluation of Somalia’s current gender equality policy; b) A database of the available policies, strategies, legislation (including customary law) and United Nations policies or frameworks, impacting the provision of gender quality and women empowerment in Somalia; c) An updated National Strategy on Equality between Men and Women in Somalia; and d) Facilitation of national consultations with relevant stakeholders to validate and finalize the Strategy.

Work Location Somalia

Expected duration Until 31 December

Duties and Responsibilities Somalia has endured several challenging decades in recent history, including a civil war, conflict with non-State actors, humanitarian crises, and massive displacement. In light of these challenges, since 2012, the Government of Somalia has worked to establish a stable, effective and democratic structure of government and has worked at the social, economic and political levels to address inequalities. This includes ensuring gender equality and women’s empowerment at the de jure and de facto levels.

Somalia’s Provisional Constitution of 2012 outlines the inclusion of women in government and national institutions as a founding principle. Furthermore, the Constitution elaborates on gender equality, the realization of social, economic and political rights, and confirms protection from gender-based violence. The Family Law of 1975 provides equal rights to women and men regarding marriage, divorce, and inheritance of property and restricted polygamy, while setting the age of marriage at 18 years; however, the law is rarely enforced. A Somalia Women’s Charter was drafted in 2019, calling for equality, equity and non-discrimination in the public and private spheres, including 50 per cent participation in all sectors of public life. Since 2016, 24 per cent of parliamentary seats have been held by women. Somalia has ratified a majority of the core United Nations human rights treaties but has yet to ratify CEDAW or draft a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

In light of these advances and challenges, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is supporting the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development in Somalia to take more concrete steps towards institutionalizing gender equality and women’s empowerment at the policy level. Thus, ESCWA is looking to recruit a Consultant to assess Somalia’s current gender equality policy and develop a National Strategy on Equality between Men and Women.

The primary objectives of the consultancy are to: 1) gather data to assess Somalia’s gender equality policy, including conducting a review of available policies, strategies, legislation (including customary law) and United Nations policies or frameworks, impacting the provision of gender quality and women empowerment, 2) conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders and 3) present the findings in a desk review and a formal evaluation of the initial gender equality policy.

Based on the desk review and evaluation, the Consultant will then work with ESCWA and the Task Force at the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development to develop a National Strategy on Equality between Men and Women in Somalia. The Consultant will then facilitate a national consultation with relevant stakeholders to validate the Strategy.

Qualifications/special skills A Bachelor's degree in the field of Development Studies, Human Rights, Political Science, Sociology, Social Work or Women’s/Gender Studies is required. A minimum of 5 years of experience working on human rights or gender equality and/or gender-based violence, preferably in Somalia, is required. The following skills are desirable:

1) Experience in conducting interviews and in performing qualitative analysis. 2) An ability to deliver quality products in a timely manner and an ability to meet deadlines. 3) Excellent drafting, reporting and presentation skills, as well as communication skills.

Languages Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in written and spoken English and Somali is required; working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.