Regional Consultant on Gender-Responsive Budgeting, Dnipro, Ukraine, SSA

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 Ukraine, UN Women supports national and sub-national authorities and civil society in advancing commitments under CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Action, the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and EU accession obligations. UN Women’s work also contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.  

In the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion, UN Women’s programming addresses the gendered impacts of the war while strengthening institutions to deliver inclusive recovery and reconstruction. This work aligns with the UN Women Strategic Note for Ukraine and contributes to the UN Women Strategic Plan 2026–2029, particularly in the areas of gender-responsive governance and financing for gender equality. In Ukraine, UN Women implements programmes focused on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) including humanitarian demining, women’s economic empowerment and resilience, gender-responsive governance and public finance including gender-responsive budgeting (GRB), prevention of and response to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and gender-responsive humanitarian action and recovery planning. Through these programme areas, UN Women provides technical assistance, capacity development, policy advice, and partnership support to national and sub-national authorities, civil society organizations, and local communities.

Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) is a key mechanism to ensure that public resources are allocated and spent in a way that addresses the specific needs and priorities of women and men, girls and boys. While Ukraine has made progress in institutionalizing GRB at the national level, implementation at regional and local levels remains inconsistent. Regional administrations and local governments face capacity gaps in applying gender analysis to budget programmes, using sex-age-disability disaggregated data, linking expenditures to measurable gender equality outcomes, and integrating gender considerations into recovery and development planning.

The UN Women Dnipro Sub-Office, established in 2023, strengthens UN Women’s operational presence in eastern Ukraine and supports programmatic implementation across Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Donetsk, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. The Sub-Office works closely with regional and local authorities, women’s rights organizations, and civil society networks to advance gender equality priorities at the sub-national level, particularly in conflict-affected and recovery contexts.

As significant public and donor resources continue to be directed toward recovery, social protection, infrastructure rehabilitation, and support to internally displaced persons, it is essential to ensure that regional and local budgeting processes integrate gender perspectives and promote accountability for gender equality results. Strengthening practical implementation of GRB at the sub-national level will contribute to more transparent, inclusive, and effective use of public funds in frontline and recovery-affected regions.

To support these efforts, UN Women seeks to engage a Regional Consultant on Gender-Responsive Budgeting to provide technical expertise and capacity development support to regional and local stakeholders. The consultant will contribute to strengthening institutional capacities, supporting application of GRB tools, and facilitating the integration of gender equality considerations into regional planning, budgeting, and recovery processes.

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of and report to the Head of the UN Women Dnipro Sub-Office, while receiving technical guidance and day-to-day coordination support from the UN Women Dnipro Sub-Office’s Programme Analyst/Coordination, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues. 

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

The assignment will include, but not be limited to, the following responsibilities:

1. Participatory Needs Assessment

• In coordination with UN Women, facilitate dialogue meetings with selected regional and local authorities (Regional Military Administrations and/or City Councils) in six oblasts of eastern Ukraine to identify institutional needs related to the integration of gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) into target budget programmes;
• Based on the outcomes of the consultations:
  a) map and analyze the local public financial management (PFM) cycle, including the budget calendar and key stages of budget preparation, approval, execution, and reporting processes at regional and local levels;
  b) identify key institutional actors and decision-making processes involved in local budgeting, including the roles of Regional Military Administrations, City Councils, finance and sectoral departments, and oversight bodies;
  c) map the legal and regulatory frameworks enabling citizen participation in local budget processes and decision-making, including public consultations and participatory mechanisms, where applicable;
• Provide expert recommendations to the UN Women Dnipro Sub-Office on priority documents and budget programmes to be reviewed, in consultation with relevant regional and local authorities.

2. Gender Analysis and Technical Support

• Building on the results of the needs assessment: 

  a) review and analyze selected budget programmes using GRB methodology and prepare regional GRB analysis reports with practical recommendations for local authorities;
  b) as part of the analysis, assess entry points for integrating gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) across the budget cycle, ensuring alignment with existing planning, budgeting, and reporting processes;
  c) assess the availability, quality, and use of sex-age-disability disaggregated data and statistics at regional and local levels to inform budget planning, implementation, and monitoring.

• Support the integration of gender equality principles and GRB recommendations into regional budget planning and programming processes.

3. Capacity Development and Advisory Support

• Provide mentoring, on-demand advisory support to regional and local authorities, as well as technical support to capacity development trainings delivered by UN Women to regional and local authorities — particularly financial, economic, and social protection departments such as Gender-Responsive Reconstruction, Planning, and Budgeting of Regions and Communities and Gender-Responsive Budgeting: From Analysis to Implementation, as well as other training topics based on the identified needs.
• Deliver tailored technical assistance to selected pilot institutions to demonstrate practical application of GRB tools and approaches, including analysis of the composition and structure of local budgets (such as own-source revenues, local taxes and fees, conditional and unconditional intergovernmental transfers, and other funding sources) to inform gender-responsive planning and decision-making.
• Provide practical, context-specific recommendations through advisory support to strengthen the integration of GRB within local PFM systems, including potential improvements to budget guidelines, timelines, and coordination mechanisms.

4. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnerships

• In coordination with UN Women, facilitate and strengthen cooperation between UN Women’s Responsible Parties, regional and local authorities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to advance coherent and sustainable implementation of GRB initiatives in the selected oblasts.
• Document good practices, challenges, and lessons learned to inform policy dialogue and future programming.

5. Knowledge and Analytical Contributions

Contribute analytical inputs, briefing materials, and programme documentation, as required.

Deliverables

Total: up to 127 working days

Reporting Schedule

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Head of the UN Women Dnipro Sub-Office and in close coordination with the Programme Analyst/Coordination and relevant programme and operations staff.

The Consultant will submit, at minimum, the following reports:

1. Inception Report (Deliverable 1)

Brief inception report, including:

• Refined methodology
• Proposed workplan
• List of documents to be reviewed
• Stakeholder engagement plan

• Proposed analytical approach to PFM systems, gender data assessment, and GRB integration across the budget cycle. 

  To be submitted by 10 June 2026.

2.  Progress Report (Deliverable 2)

Progress report on the needs assessment findings, prepared in consultation with local authorities, including the following:

• Mapping and analysis of the local PFM cycle and budget calendar, including key stages of budget preparation, approval, execution, monitoring and reporting.
• Identification of key institutional actors involved in local budgeting, including their roles, responsibilities and decision-making authority.
• Analysis of local budget decision-making processes, including coordination mechanisms and key entry points for GRB.
• Mapping of relevant legal and regulatory frameworks for citizen participation, public consultations, transparency and accountability in budget processes.

To be submitted by 15 July 2026.

3. Gender Responsive Budgeting Analysis Reports (Deliverable 3 and 4)

The consultant shall submit six comprehensive regional GRB analysis reports, one report per selected oblast, covering one selected regional/local targeted budget programme per oblast.

Each regional GRB analysis report should include:

• Executive summary, methodology, list of institutions/stakeholders consulted, description of the selected budget programme, and detailed GRB analysis findings.
• Assessment of entry points for integrating GRB across the full budget cycle, including planning, approval, execution, monitoring and reporting.
• Assessment of the availability, quality and use of sex-age-disability disaggregated data at regional/local levels, including key data gaps.
• Analysis of the composition and structure of local budgets, including own-source revenues, intergovernmental transfers and other relevant funding sources.
• Practical, region-specific recommendations to strengthen GRB integration within local PFM systems, including budget processes, data use, institutional coordination and follow-up actions.

The six regional GRB analysis reports shall be developed progressively and submitted in line with the agreed deliverables schedule. 

4. Progress Reports (Deliverable 5 and 6) 

The consultant should submit progress updates on mentoring and advisory support provided to regional and local authorities, including the following:

• Submission of brief advisory support notes documenting mentoring and technical support provided, including date, oblast/institution supported, type of support delivered, GRB tools applied, issues discussed, recommendations provided, and agreed follow-up actions. A consolidated advisory support summary should be included in the final report.
• Submission of brief coordination meeting notes documenting stakeholder coordination meetings and follow-up consultations, including date, participants/institutions represented, key issues discussed, decisions made, inputs received, and agreed follow-up actions. A consolidated coordination summary should be included in the final report.

To be submitted by the end of each month in which mentoring, advisory support, coordination meetings or follow-up consultations are conducted.

5. Final Report

The consultant shall submit a final analytical report consolidating the overall findings, lessons learned and recommendations from the assignment. The report should include:

• Synthesis of key findings from the needs assessment, PFM cycle analysis, legal/regulatory mapping and GRB analysis of selected regional/local budget programmes.
• Consolidated overview of the six regional GRB analysis reports, including common trends, region-specific findings and differences across oblasts.
• Assessment of the extent to which GRB recommendations were reflected in planning and budgeting processes, including any evidence of uptake in selected budget programmes.
• Summary of mentoring and advisory support provided to regional/local authorities, including key issues addressed, recurring capacity gaps and follow-up needs.
• Summary of stakeholder coordination meetings and consultations with Responsible Parties and partners, including key inputs received and coordination lessons learned.
• Analysis of systemic gaps and opportunities for strengthening GRB integration at sub-national level, including PFM processes, sex-age-disability disaggregated data use, institutional coordination and citizen participation.
• Practical recommendations for further institutionalization of GRB at regional and local levels, including proposed next steps for UN Women, regional/local authorities and partners.

To be submitted by 15 March 2027. 

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

The assignment will be implemented under a hybrid working modality, combining online and in-person engagement.

Physical travel to selected oblasts may be required, subject to UN Women security procedures, UNDSS clearance and operational feasibility.

• Dnipropetrovska oblast, Dnipro city
•  Donetska oblast (Donetsk oblast consultations to be conducted in Dnipro city or online, subject to security and access considerations)
•  Poltavska oblast, Poltava city
•  Zaporizka oblast, Zaporizhzhia city
•  Kharkivska oblast, Kharkiv city
•  Sumska oblast, Sumy city

Travel costs will be covered by the UN Women office.

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

• 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: 

• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze complex data and policy documents to identify gender disparities and recommend GRB interventions.
•  Policy and Budget Integration: Ability to integrate gender equality considerations into regional budget programmes, sectoral planning documents, and action plans.
• Capacity Building: Experience in designing and delivering training programmes to enhance stakeholders' understanding of GRB principles and implementation in pilot institutions.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Skill in fostering collaboration and partnerships with regional/local authorities, civil society organizations, and relevant stakeholders in the selected oblasts in eastern Ukraine to promote GRB initiatives.
• Results-Based Planning and Accountability: Ability to link budget allocations to measurable gender equality results and assess incorporation of GRB recommendations in adopted programme
•  Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively communicate GRB approach and recommendations to diverse audiences.
•  Public Financial Management (PFM) Knowledge: Sound understanding of programme-based budgeting, sub-national public finance processes, and costing methodologies applicable to regional and local authorities.

•  Field Engagement and Mobility: Demonstrated ability and willingness to undertake regular field missions to conflict-affected and recovery regions in eastern Ukraine, engage effectively with regional and local stakeholders in in-person settings, and operate in compliance with UN security requirements.

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.

Required Qualifications:

Qualifications Education:

Advanced (Masters) degree in Public Policy and Administration, Public Finance, Economics, Social Sciences or related field.

Experience:

Minimum 2 years of progressively responsible experience in gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE), gender-responsive budgeting (GRB), public finance, or related fields;

Proven experience in conducting gender analysis of normative and policy documents, sectoral budget programmes, and sex-age-disability disaggregated data, and in developing gender-responsive policy and budget recommendations;

Proven experience in providing training to government officials will be considered an asset;

Proven experience in providing technical advisory support on GRB to government institutions at national and/or sub-national level; experience working with regional or local authorities in eastern Ukraine will be considered an asset;

Demonstrated experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder processes and liaising with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, including development partners and civil society organizations; experience with UN Women or other UN agencies will be considered an asset;

Demonstrated knowledge of public financial management systems and programme-based budgeting processes.

Languages and other skills: 

Fluency in English and in Ukrainian is required. 

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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.