UN WOMEN : International Consultant on Assessment of women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, including legal review under Women’s Economic Empowerment Project, Home-based

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 Uzbekistan, in line with its global Strategic Plan 2026–2029, UN Women works towards the overarching goal that “women and girls, including those at greatest risk of being left behind, fully exercise their human rights, enjoy a life free from violence and discrimination, and lead, influence, and benefit from sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development towards the advancement of gender equality in Uzbekistan.” UN Women operates in four thematic areas: (i) governance and participation in public life; (ii) women’s economic empowerment; (iii) ending violence against women and girls; and (iv) women, peace and security, humanitarian action, and disaster risk reduction. In line with its coordination mandate, UN Women promotes coherence and coordination across the UN system to enhance accountability and results for gender equality and women’s empowerment, including through joint programming and advocacy, as well as standardized tools, guidance, and services to strengthen the capacities of the UN system.

Within the framework of the “Women’s Economic Empowerment in Uzbekistan” project, the intervention will contribute to the achievement of the goals set out in the New Uzbekistan Development Strategy 2022–2026, the “Uzbekistan–2030” Strategy, and the Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality in Uzbekistan 2020–2030, developed in alignment with the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men” (LRU No. 562). The proposed Action contributes to several strategic objectives, including: (i) ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men in employment, the creation of decent jobs, the development of women’s entrepreneurship, and expanded access of women to credit from commercial banks; (ii) promoting improved health literacy in family planning and strengthened reproductive health, as well as healthy lifestyles; and (iii) strengthening families and shared responsibility among family members.

The overall objective (impact) of the Project is to create an inclusive economic environment in which women can participate equally in the economy and labour force of Uzbekistan, free from the constraints of gender stereotypes and harmful social norms. This entails addressing deep-rooted gender biases that limit women’s opportunities and potential. By promoting gender equality in the workplace, enhancing access to education and vocational training, supporting women’s entrepreneurship, and strengthening family planning and care-related services, the Project aims to enable women to secure decent work and grow their businesses, thereby increasing their economic independence and contributing to the country’s economic growth and social development.

Implemented jointly with UNFPA and UNICEF, the Project comprises of the following 2 Outcomes/Special Objectives related to UN Women and 5 Outputs under Objective 1, and 2 Outputs jointly with UNFPA under Objective 2:

Outcome/ Specific Objective 1: Women in the target regions, including women with disabilities, have improved access to enabling services, resources, and opportunities for decent work, entrepreneurship, and economic participation. 

• Output 1.1. Stakeholders have access to evidence-based knowledge on the entrepreneurship ecosystem, labor market needs, and family-friendly policies to inform gender-responsive planning and service provision. 
  • Output 1.2. Women and girls in the target regions gain market-relevant hard and soft skills through vocational, digital, and life skills training to enhance their employability and economic participation. 
  • Output 1.3. Women in the target regions have improved access to business development, self-employment, and decent work opportunities through tailored financial services, skills matching, and entrepreneurship support 
  • Output 1.4. Public and private sector partners have strengthened capacity to integrate gender equality into business practices, investment decisions, and procurement processes 
  • Output 1.5. Institutional capacity is strengthened to generate, analyse, and use gender data and evidence to inform policies and investments on women’s economic empowerment and the care economy. 
  • Output 2.1. The evidence base on societal perceptions, gender stereotypes, and harmful social norms is strengthened to inform targeted gender-transformative interventions.
  • Output 2.3. Public awareness and understanding of harmful gender norms and stereotypes are strengthened to foster positive shifts in attitudes toward gender equality, equitable gender roles, and reproductive rights.

Outcome/Specific Objective 2: Positive shifts in societal perceptions of gender stereotypes and harmful social norms contribute to the realization of women’s rights and increased participation of women in the workforce.

Under Specific Objective 1, UN Women leads efforts to improve women’s access to enabling services, resources, and opportunities for decent work, entrepreneurship, and economic participation. Two foundational knowledge-generation activities underpin the entire economic empowerment component:

• Activity 1.1.1 calls for a comprehensive assessment of the women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem in Uzbekistan, employing the ILO Women’s Entrepreneurship Development (WED) Assessment methodology. The assessment will profile current women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses, analyse business environment constraints, and identify prominent sectors for women-led enterprises.
• Activity 1.1.2 calls for a mapping exercise of HR needs and skill gaps within the private sector to design targeted training packages for women seeking employment, piloted initially with approximately 15 companies selected in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and WEPs signatories.

The findings of both activities will directly inform the design and targeting of subsequent capacity-building, entrepreneurship support, and job-matching activities (Activities 1.2 through 1.4), as well as policy advocacy efforts under the programme. The International Consultant will work in close coordination with national consultants, private sector partners, government counterparts, and the UN Women project team.

2. Scope of Work

The International Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks, organized across four thematic components:

Component A: Inception and Methodology Design

1. Inception Report — Prepare a detailed inception report covering: a finalized analytical framework and research questions; the proposed mixed-methods research design (desk review + primary data collection); sampling strategy; data collection tools (interview guides, survey instruments, FGD protocols); a detailed work plan with milestones; and an ethical data collection protocol. The inception report must be approved by UN Women before field work commences.

2. Stakeholder Mapping — Identify and map key partners across government, private sector, financial institutions, business associations, CSOs, and women entrepreneur networks to be engaged during primary data collection.

3.  ILO WED Framework Application — Develop the analytical grid applying the six ILO Women’s Entrepreneurship Development (WED) framework conditions to the Uzbekistan context:       (1) Gender-sensitive legal and regulatory system      (2) Effective policy leadership and coordination      (3) Access to gender-sensitive financial services     (4) Access to gender-sensitive business development support services      (5) Access to markets and technology      (6) Representation and participation in dialogue.

Component B: Desk Review and Legal Assessment

4. Legal and Regulatory Review — Analyse the legal and regulatory framework governing women’s economic participation and entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan, covering:       •  Constitutional and legislative provisions on gender equality and non-discrimination     •  Labour Code provisions relevant to women (maternity/paternity leave, flexible work, equal pay)      • Business registration, licensing, and property rights      • Access to credit and financial services for women      • Family-friendly workplace policies and their legal basis      • Gaps between formal legal provisions and practical implementation

5. Baseline Data Compilation — Compile available baseline data on the profile of women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses in Uzbekistan by sector, size, geography, and formality status.

Component C: Primary Data Collection and Analysis

6.  Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) — Conduct structured and semi-structured interviews with at least 30 key informants, including: senior government officials (Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Chamber of Commerce); representatives of financial institutions and fintech companies; women entrepreneurs across sectors and regions; business development service providers; WEPs signatories and private sector HR managers; relevant CSO and women’s organization representatives.

7. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) — Facilitate at least 4 focus group discussions with women entrepreneurs and women employed in the private sector in Tashkent and at least one target region (Surkhandarya or Fergana), to capture qualitative insights on barriers, enablers, and support needs.

8. Private Sector HR Needs Mapping (Activity 1.1.2) — In close coordination with the the Commissioner’s Office for Protection of Rights and Legitimate Interests of Entrepreneurs, Chamber of Commerce, WEPs pool, and HR partners, conduct structured interviews and/or online surveys with approximately 15 pilot companies to:       •  Identify current and projected HR skills gaps relevant to women’s employment     •  Document existing hiring and retention practices for women      •  Assess openness to and readiness for gender-responsive recruitment and workplace policies      • Identify training modalities and content most valued by employers

9.  Data Analysis — Apply gender-disaggregated quantitative and qualitative analysis; triangulate findings across data sources; develop typologies of women entrepreneurs and barriers to private sector employment.

Component D: Report Writing and Dissemination

10. Draft Assessment Report (Output 1.1.1) — Produce a comprehensive draft assessment report of no less than 50 pages (excluding annexes) covering:       • Executive Summary (maximum 5 pages)     •  Methodology and limitations      •  Legal and regulatory environment analysis      •  Analysis of the six WED framework conditions in the Uzbekistan context      •  Profile of women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses      •  Key barriers and enabling factors by level •  Promising sectors for women-led enterprise development      •  Conclusions and actionable recommendations for policy makers, programme implementers, private sector, and women’s organizations

12. Draft HR and Skills Mapping Report (Output 1.1.2) — Produce a mapping report of no less than 25 pages (excluding annexes) covering:       • Executive Summary      •  Overview of pilot companies surveyed      • Current HR skills gaps relevant to women’s employment      • Priority skills areas and recommended training content      •  Proposed training package framework for the programme’s capacity-building activities      •  Recommendations for private sector engagement and expansion to additional sectors

13. Stakeholder Review and Finalization — Incorporate written feedback from UN Women, key government counterparts, and programme partners within agreed timelines; finalize both reports to publication standard.

14. Dissemination Workshop — Prepare and present key findings at a stakeholder validation and dissemination workshop (maximum half-day) organized by UN Women in Tashkent; prepare presentation materials (PowerPoint and/or visual summary).

15. Policy Brief — Prepare one (1) concise policy brief (4–6 pages) synthesizing the most critical findings and top-priority recommendations for national policy makers.

Deliverables, Timeline, and Working Days: All deliverables must be submitted in English. The assessment reports must also include an Executive Summary in Russian. The consultant is expected to complete all work within the indicative timeline below.

Cross-Cutting Responsibilities (Both Activities)

The International Consultant will:

• Ensure gender-responsive and evidence-based analysis throughout both assignments;  
• Apply internationally recognized methodologies (including ILO WED framework); 
• Coordinate continuously with UN Women and the National Consultant for technical validation; 
• Participate in at least one validation workshop per activity (if required); 
• Incorporate feedback from UN Women into final deliverables.

• Masters’s degree in labor market studies, Economics, International Development studies, Gender/Women's Studies, or an area relevant to the TOR is required.

Experience:

• Minimum 8 years of experience in Labor market analysis / workforce development, Gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, Private sector engagement 
• Proven experience with international organizations (preferably UN system or IFIs) 
• Strong analytical, stakeholder engagement, and report-writing skills 
• Experience in Central Asia or similar contexts is an asset
• Strong regional knowledge and professional experience in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region
• Computer literacy (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point).

Languages:

Proficient in written and spoken English, Russian is an asset 

• Strong interpersonal, teamwork and communication skills;
• Ability to work independently and proactively solve problem;
• Capacity to plan, priorities and deliver tasks on times;
• Capacity to engage with national and international staffs, to provide clear feedback and maintain effective rapport with different kinds of people;
• Actively works towards continuing learning and share with other to support local capacity development;
• Have technical knowledge on digitalization of the GRB interventions.
• Ability to research, analyze and present complex information.

• 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: 

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.

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