National Consultant to develop a Thematic Challenge Brief to advance gender-responsive business conduct in Malaysia (Malaysian National ONLY)Advertised on behalf ofLocation :Home-based with mission travel as required within Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
BackgroundBackground/Context
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's Economic Empowerment is one of the key strategic priorities stated in UN Women's Global Strategic Plan (2022 -2025) and UN Women's Strategic Note for Asia and the Pacific (2023 -2025). This work includes thematic areas, such as Transforming the Care Economy, Advancing Gender-Equality in the World of Work (inclusive of advancing gender-responsive business conduct, Entrepreneurship, Migration) and Climate Change.
About 96 per cent of all jobs in the Asia-Pacific are in the private sector. This represents a huge potential to implement transformative actions in the world of work and social responsibility in favour of women, benefiting the whole society. There is an increasing consciousness, interest and commitment of private and public sector companies on the value and benefits of gender equality and the economic empowerment of women and its role to achieve it.
In an effort to drive transformative change in the private sector, UN Women in partnership with the Government of Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is launching the new initiativeUN Women Gender Action Lab (GAL): Innovation and Impact for Gender Equality in Asia-Pacific, powered by the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs).
With an initial four-year commitment, both partners are laying the foundation to build a unique Gender Action Lab (GAL) for Asia and the Pacific aiming to foster private sector innovations and concrete actions that advance gender equality and women's empowerment and build more inclusive economies across the region.In collaboration with the private sector, the GAL will identify, pilot and scale up innovative multi-stakeholder partnership initiatives aligned with the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), such as thematic innovation labs, hackathons, incubators and accelerators, policy labs, applied research initiatives and other partnership support programs. Finally, the GAL will generate new data and evidence and provide technical assistance to advance policy, investment and ecosystem development for gender-transformative innovations.
The Gender Action Lab will build on UN Women's success in promoting commitment to and implementation of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a set of 7 principles that provide companies a roadmap to become more gender-responsive throughout their value chain.
The National Consultant will work under the supervision of theRegional Lead, WEE & Migration, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacificand in close collaboration with the UN Women ROAP program team. The consultant might also engage with UN Women's guidance with government officials, multi and bi-lateral donors, civil society and the private sector and programmatic partners.
Duties and ResponsibilitiesDuties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision and guidance of the Regional Lead, WEE & Migration, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the consultant will undertake the following tasks to develop a 5-10 page Challenge Brief as well as a one-page summary document:
In close consultation with UN Women Regional Office,identify one key thematic WEPs areawith strong entry points and potential partners for a GAL Innovation Lab.
Conduct a brief desk and literature reviewincluding:
Review of existence and implementation laws, policies, regulations, and existing good public practices aligned to the thematic area.
Review of research, reports and/or ongoing programming related to the thematic area.
Document ongoing best practices of corporates and other development initiatives.
Conduct rapid mapping of stakeholdersin the country relevant to the thematic area in the realm relevant to gender-responsive business conduct aligned to the WEPs.
Conduct minimum 1 stakeholder consultation and min 5 KIIs with key stakeholdersidentified as key potential partners for the Lab.
Assessment of key challenge/barriers and key opportunities/entry points for action aligned to thematic area.
Develop Challenge Statement:Consolidate insights into a 'How Might We' or 'How To' challenge statement.
Consultant's Workplace and Official Travel
The consultancy is expected to be started on 12 August 2024 and continue until 15 October 2024. Work will be conducted remotely with the exception of in-person interviews and a group consultation. Travel within Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is required. The cost of organizing the consultation will be borne by UN Women.
Minimum Requirements:
Master's degree or equivalent in gender/women's studies, international development, 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;
At least 5 years of experience in Malaysia, specifically in private sector engagement, research, gender equality, or women's economic empowerment.
Experience in the private sector related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), sustainability, or gender equality is a must.
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