WPS Research Specialist - UN Women (Home-Based)

Job Overview

Are you an experienced professional passionate about gender equality and peacebuilding? UN Women seeks a WPS Research Specialist. This home-based international consultancy offers an exceptional opportunity. You will provide strategic advice and technical expertise, directly shaping research priorities within the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) portfolio. Indeed, this role specifically targets Afghanistan, one of the world’s most complex humanitarian and gender crises.

UN Women works to eliminate discrimination against women and girls. Moreover, we strive for women’s empowerment and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security. In Afghanistan, additionally, women and girls face unique vulnerabilities amidst conflict, poverty, economic decline, and natural disasters. Protecting their gains and ensuring their continued role in national development remains essential. Consequently, UN Women remains fully committed to supporting Afghan women and girls, placing them at the crisis response’s center. Notably, our organization has operated in Afghanistan for two decades; its programming is directly informed by deep analysis of the political, economic, and humanitarian landscape, a crucial aspect for this research specialist role.

Under the Programme Manager-WPS’s guidance, this consultant will ensure timely, high-quality research initiatives. Furthermore, these initiatives will directly inform policy and programming on women’s rights and gender equality in Afghanistan. Additionally, the WPS Research Specialist will collaborate closely with the WPS programme team and external partners like technical consultants, other researchers, and service providers, as applicable.

Responsibilities for the WPS Research Specialist

As a WPS Research Specialist, you’ll undertake three overarching tasks within this critical research position:

Task I: Producing High-Quality Thematic Reports for WPS

You will lead developing up to 10 thematic reports or reflection papers on critical women’s rights issues in Afghanistan, based on WPS team priorities. Your tasks include:

Conducting Research & Analysis: Perform comprehensive literature reviews and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data. Subsequently, identify evidence gaps crucial for effective WPS research.
Drafting & Tailoring Outputs: Draft written outputs tailored to various audiences.
Facilitating Validation & Presentation: Support validation processes. Furthermore, present findings to internal and external stakeholders, providing key WPS insights.
Ensuring Quality & Format: Collaboration with communications staff will finalize layout and formatting, strictly following UN Women standards for all research outputs.
Advising on Research Direction: Moreover, advise on the design and direction of research initiatives related to WPS, gender equality, and women’s rights in Afghanistan.

WPS Research Specialist: Women, Peace, and Security – UN Women, Remote USA International Consultant

Task II: Developing Tailored Dissemination Strategies for WPS Research

You will design and implement dissemination and risk management plans for a series of research reports generated by this WPS role. This involves:

Identifying Policy Entry Points: Identify key policy entry points. Likewise, draft engagement strategies and tailor messaging and materials for various stakeholders.
Analyzing & Mitigating Risks: Analyze context-specific risks related to disseminating sensitive research findings. Consequently, advise on mitigation strategies to ensure communication efforts are both safe and effective.
Developing Dissemination Products: Furthermore, contribute to developing summaries, presentations, and other dissemination products per UN Women guidelines, amplifying the reach of WPS research.

Task III: Strengthening ACO Staff Capacity in Research

You will lead the design and delivery of targeted capacity-building activities. These efforts aim to enhance ACO staff skills in research, activity design, and report writing, supporting broader WPS objectives. This includes:

Conducting Needs Assessment: Conduct a needs assessment to identify gaps in research, activity design/planning, and report writing skills among relevant ACO staff, including preferred learning methods.
Developing Training: Next, develop a concept note outlining the training structure, content, and approach for research skill enhancement.
Facilitating Training Sessions: You’ll then facilitate up to five interactive training sessions, providing feedback on practical exercises aimed at boosting research and writing capabilities.
Creating Resource Pack: You’ll also create a resource pack (e.g., writing guides, methodology guides) for sustained learning, benefiting all staff involved in WPS-related reporting.
Providing Ongoing Support: Finally, support staff in applying these skills to programmatic and reporting tasks, ensuring sustained learning and application in the context of WPS initiatives.

Deliverable 1: Research Initiatives and Reports for WPS (Up to 10)

Output: You will design and write up to 10 research initiatives related to WPS and broader women’s rights/gender equality, including emerging issues. Reports will be drafted using data collected by UN Women (including by third parties) and/or from conducting qualitative data collection. Furthermore, you will develop background briefs and/or short documents on key developments, providing recommendations for further research. Appropriate research methodologies will also be recommended, tailored to identified themes and contextual constraints. Moreover, existing UN Women datasets will be reviewed, and advice provided on opportunities for further analysis and utilization. Finally, you will formulate programme or project proposals that support advancing research on WPS and women’s rights. Coordination of peer review for reports will occur when required, and key findings will then be synthesized into actionable, policy-relevant recommendations for the WPS portfolio.
Expected Completion: December 31, 2025.
Preliminary Timeline: Expect 1 report by August 2025, 1 by September 2025, and 1 by December 2025. Please note that additional reports/thematic briefs may be requested by the WPS Research Specialist.
Maximum Working Days: Up to 200 working days across the contract for this deliverable.

Deliverable 2: Dissemination Plans and Materials for WPS Reports

Output: You will develop and support implementing dissemination plans for up to 10 thematic research reports. You will draft key messages, talking points, presentations, and executive summaries to support advocacy and public engagement efforts. Additionally, you will collaborate with graphic designers or communications staff to finalize report formatting and layout. Likewise, you will develop presentation materials, including slide decks and key messaging based on the research findings. Ultimately, you will present findings to internal and external audiences, as directed by the WPS team.
Expected Completion: February 28, 2026.
Maximum Working Days: Up to 30 working days for this deliverable.

Deliverable 3: Research and Writing Training Sessions

Output: You will organize a series of training sessions on research, activity design/concept notes, and report writing. You will conduct a needs assessment to identify skill gaps among relevant ACO staff. Following this, you will develop a concept note outlining the training structure, content, and approach. You will then facilitate up to five interactive training sessions, complete with practical exercises and feedback. Finally, you will create a resource pack (e.g., writing guides, reference documents, research methodology guides) for sustained learning for future research and reporting tasks.
Expected Completion: March 31, 2026.
Maximum Working Days: Up to 30 working days for this deliverable.

Payment bases itself on time-estimates for each assignment, approved by UN Women.

Workplace and Travel for the WPS Research Specialist

This is a home-based consultancy; however, it may require international travel. Please note that UN Women will cover costs for any official travel undertaken under the assignment, in line with the organization’s travel policies. This applies to the successful WPS Research Specialist.

Required Qualifications for this WPS Research Specialist Role

Education and Certification for a Research Specialist:

A Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women’s studies, international development, research, statistics, or a related field is required.
Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree for this research position.

Experience for the WPS Research Role:

You must possess at least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level. This must specifically include the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of research and analysis projects.
Technical experience in research/analysis in crises contexts related to gender equality and women’s rights is required for this WPS Research Specialist role.
You must have experience using statistical software and qualitative analysis tools.
Furthermore, experience designing and managing country-wide assessments and/or research initiatives related to WPS and/or gender equality in hostile contexts is required.
Experience having conducted research on WPS, gender equality, and women’s rights in Afghanistan is desirable.
Experience coordinating inter-agency entities and/or donors on research and analysis products is desirable.
Working in the UN System is also a desirable experience for a WPS Research Specialist.
Leading or managing a team to undertake a research/analysis initiative is desirable.

Language Requirements for this Research Position:

Fluency in English is required.
Working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.
Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto is desirable for the research specialist in this region.

Competencies for a WPS Research Specialist

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

For more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework, please visit this link. This framework guides every WPS Research Specialist.

Functional Competencies for a Research Specialist:

You must demonstrate strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills.
Strong knowledge of Results Based Management is essential.
You must possess the ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making in a WPS context.
Strong knowledge of WPS, particularly in the area of knowledge production and analysis, is crucial.
You need strong analytical skills to excel as a WPS Research Specialist.
Finally, you should have the ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities, and threats to fundraising, and develop strategies accordingly.

Diversity and Inclusion at UN Women for Research Roles

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, relevant for any WPS Research Specialist.

At UN Women, we commit to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment decisions base themselves on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need, including for this WPS Research Specialist role.

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 upholds a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women. This includes sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. All selected candidates will adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel. Therefore, they will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure they complete all sections of the application form, including education and employment history. Incomplete applications may result in disqualification from the recruitment and selection process for the WPS Research Specialist position.

How to Apply for the WPS Research Specialist Role

To apply for this WPS Research Specialist position, first create an Indeed account if you don’t already have one. Then, proceed to the company website to submit your application.

Apply here: https://www.indeed.com/q-ngo-l-remote-jobs.html?vjk=17e88e47aa87c8fa