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.

Women are often at the forefront of environmental justice movements because they are directly affected by climate change, especially in sectors like agriculture, water access, and resource management. Many EHRDs focus on advocating for equitable transitions, ensuring that women are not left behind as countries move toward green recovery. They advocate for policies that include skilling programs for women in the renewable energy sector and push for gender-responsive labor policies that address the wage disparities and limited access to social protections that women often face. Women EHRDs in many countries are advocating for better water management policies that prioritize the needs of women and marginalized groups, who bear the brunt of water scarcity and contamination. These advocates often work in conflict-affected areas, where damaged infrastructure and displacement exacerbate natural resources’ access issues. Women EHRDs play a key role in amplifying the voices of those directly impacted by water crises and pressuring governments and international bodies to uphold human rights and make investments in sustainable environmental solutions. Achieving a just, inclusive, and sustainable transition requires targeted investments and gender-responsive policies. This is where the work of women EHRDs becomes essential to shape the future of energy, land management and water systems and that the needs of the most vulnerable groups are addressed and environmental governance is inclusive, rights-based, and focused on human dignity and equity, especially in regions where resources are scarce, and infrastructure is fragile.

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.

In Europe and Central Asia (ECA), UN Women is strengthening its analytical and evidence-generation work to inform gender-responsive climate action, disaster risk reduction, and environmental governance. This includes contributing to the upcoming global Progress of the World’s Women (POWW) 2026: Gender Equality in the Age of Climate Crisis.

As part of this effort, UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) will develop a regional companion factsheet aligned with the global POWW report, with a dedicated focus on women environmental human rights defenders (WEHRDs). This is particularly timely in light of increasing constraints on civic space in the region, as well as recent global policy developments recognizing the role and protection needs of women environmental defenders. The analysis will also connect to relevant legal frameworks such as the Aarhus Convention, particularly in relation to access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters.

The consultancy will contribute to developing a concise, advocacy-oriented product that highlights emerging evidence, and supports UN Women’s engagement in global policy processes, including COP17 and COP31.

The consultant will report to the Regional Humanitarian/DRR/CCA Specialist, who will be the point of contact on the contract and deliverables.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for developing a regional POWW factsheet (approx. 10–15 pages) ensuring clarity, coherence, and strong policy relevance.

Specifically, the consultant will:

1. Produce a focused analysis on women environmental human rights defenders (WEHRDs)

•              Analyze the role and contributions of WEHRDs in ECA 

•              Identify key risks and challenges, including violence, harassment, and restrictions on civic space 

•              Examine barriers to participation and access to justice, including linkages to environmental governance frameworks 

•              Integrate a gender-responsive perspective, including links to gender-based violence and protection considerations 

2. Conduct light qualitative data collection

•              Undertake a limited number of key informant interviews with relevant stakeholders, including civil society representatives, experts, and/or defenders 

•              Capture illustrative experiences, challenges, and emerging good practices related to protection, participation, and access to justice 

3. Link with the intergovernmental/normative engagement:

• Identify and present successful examples of how the Aarhus Convention, UNFCCC, WPS and other normative frameworks have supported WEHRDs, particularly in terms of protection, and share these as best practices for policy advocacy and for upscaling. 
• Connect the broader Aarhus Convention-WPS agendas to COP17 and COP31, framing WEHRDs not only as defenders of the environment but also as peace and trust builders. This can include highlighting women’s leadership in promoting peace and security through sustainable environmental governance and advocating for stronger global commitments to protect WEHRDs within climate and peacebuilding agendas.

4. Develop policy messages and recommendations

•              Formulate clear, actionable recommendations for policymakers, UN agencies and partners 

•              Suggest a regional approach supporting WEHRDs in line with UN Women ECARO SN and in collaboration with other relevant partners working on this area, including programmatic work to support activities of WEHRDs

Deliverables

•              Inception note and annotated outline (including proposed structure and methodology) 

•              Draft regional POWW factsheet focused on WEHRDs (10–15 pages, including) 

•              Final factsheet, incorporating feedback and revisions 

•              Summary of key messages (1–2 pages) for advocacy use 

Consultant’s Workplace:

This is a home-based consultancy.

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 analytical and drafting skills, with the ability to produce concise, policy-oriented outputs 
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear and accessible messages 
• Knowledge of gender equality and climate/environment nexus 
• Understanding of human rights frameworks, including civic space and access to justice 
• Experience working with qualitative methods, including key informant interviews 

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Gender Studies, Environmental Studies, Human Rights, International Development, or related field 
• A first-level university degree combined with additional years of relevant experience may be accepted 

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in gender equality, climate change, environmental governance or human rights 
• Proven experience in developing analytical or policy-oriented reports or publications 
• Experience working on issues related to civic space, human rights defenders, or environmental justice is highly desirable 
• Experience in Europe and Central Asia is an asset 
• Demonstrated ability to deliver concise, high-quality written products under tight timelines 

Languages

Excellent command of English is required 

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.