Result of Service
The consultancy will be focused on delivering the following tasks: 1. Review and development of the gender action plan: 1.1. Prepare a detailed work plan and timetable of the assignment; 1.2. Review and strengthen the draft gender analysis, showing how gender intersects with planned measures at the upstream- and midstream of the plastics life cycle; highlighting key risks and opportunities; and minimum requirements for all project countries. 1.3. Carry out needs assessments and consultations with national projects on gender mainstreaming and just transition. This will provide a clear image of the national context in each country, including a review of the 15 national gender action plans, to identify existing gaps and areas where support is needed. 1.4. Review and finalize the gender and just transition action plan (GAP). Using the findings from the needs assessment, update the gender action plan to respond to national priorities and support gender mainstreaming across the national and global projects. 2. Targeted technical assistance to national teams 2.1. Develop clear guidance, tools, templates, and checklists to support gender-responsive project implementation. This includes light-touch guidance for gender mainstreaming in the upstream and midstream plastics areas, templates (and ToRs) for engaging national gender consultants, gender-responsive stakeholder engagement notes, simple monitoring tools, and country-specific briefs outlining priority gender considerations. Bilateral consultations will be held with national teams to validate 2.2. Targeted technical reviews of national project outputs. Upon request, the consultant will review national materials, check the quality and consistency of national gender action plans, and offer feedback on specific implementation activities. The consultant will ensure virtual office hours are available for quick guidance. 2.3. Review project indicators in support of gender mainstreaming. The consultant will, in support of the Plastic Reboot common indicator guidance, review the draft indicators ensuring they are gender sensitive following best practices. 3. Capacity strengthening 3.1. Deliver virtual workshops on gender mainstreaming for national projects. The consultant will prepare basic training materials and run two rounds of virtual workshops, accommodating different time zones. The first round will introduce the gender analysis, to build a shared starting point. The second round will focus on gender mainstreaming in policy and design for circular plastics. 3.2. Establish a network of gender focal points across national projects. Alongside the virtual workshops, the consultant will set up a community of practice of gender focal points nominated by national teams. Regular virtual check-ins will be convened to support peer learning and exchange. 3.3. Carry out an end-of-year review and prepare roadmaps. The consultant will produce a consolidated overview of gender integration across the integrated programme. The review will complement a set of short, implementable gender roadmaps for each national project – to be developed in consultation with the national gender focal points. The global picture and roadmaps will be consolidated into a handover package along with supporting materials developed under components 1 and 2. 4. Communications 4.1. Review and contribute to knowledge products and communications materials to ensure gender responsiveness. The consultant is expected to actively participate in Plastic Reboot seminars to provide a gender perspective to the discussions, as well as provide technical review of knowledge products and communication materials developed under the integrated programme.
Expected duration
10 months
Duties and Responsibilities
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Industry and Economy Division works with international governments and non-governmental organizations, national and local governments, business and industry to develop and implement policies, strategies, and practices that are cleaner and safer, incorporate environmental costs, use natural resources efficiently, reduce pollution and risks for humans and the environment, and enable the implementation of conventions and international agreements. The UNEP Plastics Initiative is UNEP's programme to activate and scale up global, regional, and national actions to tackle plastic pollution. The Initiative consolidates all UNEP's plastic-related projects, activities, actions, and results into a unified programme that leads and implements a system-wide transformation towards a safe circular economy of plastics. Through collaboration with diverse stakeholders, ongoing projects, and a multifaceted approach, the Initiative seeks to accelerate market transformation towards a circular economy of plastics. Plastic Reboot is the GEF-8 Integrated Programme on Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution, jointly led by UNEP and WWF-US. Bringing together 15 national projects and a global platform, the Programme advances upstream and midstream solutions across the plastics value chain, from enabling policy shifts to driving business model innovation. It aims to help countries transition towards a circular economy. To support the Global Project’s implementation, UNEP is recruiting a Gender and Just Transition Consultant. The role will lead the update of the Programme’s gender action plan. - Ensure gender-responsiveness in project knowledge and communication products – Ensure gender coordination and strengthen capacity of the 15 IP country project gender focal points.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced level degree (MA./MSc. or PhD) in gender studies, social studies, political or philosophy studies, environment, international relations or closely related area is required. Minimum 5 years of working experience on gender mainstreaming or social inclusion in the context of environmental sustainability, chemicals, or circular economy is required. Experience supporting gender action plans (GAPs), gender strategies, or gender-responsive policy or investments is required. Experience contributing to knowledge products, tools, guidance notes, or communication materials on gender mainstreaming is required. Experience coordinating or supporting gender focal point networks, communities of practice, or multi-country/thematic working groups is desirable. Prior work on GEF-funded projects and UN system with government stakeholders is desirable.
Languages
Fluency in English (oral and written). Fluency in French, Spanish and/or Arabic is desirable.
Additional Information
Not available.
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.
