International Consultant (Lead Expert): Gender, Economy, and Value Chain Analysis, P4 level

Project Title: Women Architects of Recovery: Sudan Women's Economic Potential and Investment Opportunity Assessment.

 Partnership/Framework Joint initiative under the Advisory Office for Women and Children and UNFPA Sudan Country Office, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) unit.

The consultant will work under the supervision and guidance of the UNFPA GBV Team Lead in Sudan. An Advisory Board may be created.

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Sudan is entering a critical recovery and reconstruction phase that will rely heavily on evidence and data to inform rights-based policies. Traditionally, assessments focusing on women in conflict-affected settings concentrate on humanitarian vulnerabilities and protection risks. While vital, this overlooks women’s active contributions to local economies, agricultural production, and informal entrepreneurship; and how strategic investments can accelerate recovery, resilience and peace. This joint assessment introduces a paradigm shift by analyzing women as proactive economic actors, producers, and entrepreneurs—positioning them as "Architects of Recovery". The assessment will combine economic analysis, market mapping, value chain assessments, enterprise surveys, and community perspectives to identify investment-ready opportunities for women-led economic recovery across target states. Findings will provide evidence-based portfolios to guide government policies, development finance institutions, and private sector investments. The international Lead Consultant will work in team with the National Consultant and in close cooperation with the Advisory Office for Women and Children in Sudan, and be responsible for: 1. Quantifying women’s contribution to local and national economies in target states. 2. Leading market mapping and gender-responsive value chain analyses for high-potential sectors. 3. Formulating evidence-based recovery financing recommendations and developing a pipeline of investment-ready opportunities. 4. Designing and overseeing the implementation of the assessment’s overall methodology. 5. Evaluating the role of young women and youth-led enterprises in the economy, and identifying opportunities to harness the demographic dividend. 6. Estimate the economic returns of investing in women-led production, including its potential contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The International Consultant (further: the Consultant) will work as a Team lead under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Sudan GBV Unit Team Lead and the designated Focal Point from the Advisory Office for Women and Children. The consultant will execute the following key duties: 

• Technical Leadership & Methodology Design: Refine the assessment methodology combining quantitative economic analysis, qualitative community insights, and market mapping. Lead and coordinate with the national consultant development of tools and the data collection to ensure alignment with analytical frameworks. 
• Value Chain & Market Analysis: Map women-led productive sectors and prioritize high-potential value chains (such as Agriculture, Livestock, Food Processing, Manufacturing, Creative Industries, and the Care/Green Economy). Analyze barriers limiting women's economic expansion and estimate potential economic returns on targeted investments. 
• Stakeholder Coordination: Collaborate with the IOM/DTM unit, MHRSW institutional staff, and UN experts (including Population and Data, M&E experts, and market specialists) to ensure cross-functional input. Regular coordination of the activities under the project with the Head of the Advisory Office for Women and Children, ensuring their alignment with the project’s objectives. 
• Report Production & Deliverables: Synthesize data and draft the main narrative of the assessment. Formulate the Women's Economic Recovery Index (WERI) framework.

Duration: 120 days over a period of approximately 12 months.
Deliverable 1 (Month 2): Comprehensive Inception Report, including refined methodology, geographic targets, and data collection frameworks (developed in tandem with the UNFPA M&E and Population unit, and the IOM DTM); as well as a desk-review of all relevant secondary literature. 

Deliverable 2 (Month 6): Mid-term Progress Report containing preliminary value chain maps and draft indicators for measuring women’s contribution to local and national economies; barriers limiting women’s economic expansion; economic returns of investing in women-led production.

Deliverable 3 (Month 9): Draft Assessment Report and draft Policy Framework recommendations. Stakeholder validation workshop (line ministries, private sector, community representatives, UN agencies and INGOs, civil society) to present the draft and jointly design the way forward / action plan. 

Deliverable 4 (Month 12): Finalized Sudan Women’s Economic Potential Assessment report, Women's Recovery Investment Atlas(geographic mapping of productive sectors, value chains, and investment opportunities),and Women Architects of Recovery Investment Portfolio pipeline. Presentation to the stakeholders and the media

Advanced university degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Development Economics, Gender Studies, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, or a closely related social science field.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Development Economics, Agricultural Economics, Gender and Development, Business Administration, Public Policy, International Development, or another closely related field. A PhD in a relevant field will be considered an advantage.

Professional Experience: Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in economic research, market systems development, value chain analysis, private-sector development, women’s economic empowerment, or recovery and development planning in Sudan or similar contexts.

Proven expertise in conducting gender-responsive market and value chain analyses, including identifying barriers, growth opportunities, and investment potential for women-led enterprises. 

Proven track record in lead reporting, research design, and collaborative work with UN institutions, government ministries, and national stakeholders. 

Strong understanding of post-conflict recovery dynamics and women’s economic empowerment frameworks. Strong understanding of ethics of data collection and working with vulnerable groups.

 Knowledge of Sudan’s economic context, including informal economies, agriculture, livestock, food processing, manufacturing, care work, green economy, renewable energy, digital economy, circular economy, and women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises, is considered a highly desirable asset.

 Excellent analytical, drafting, facilitation and communication skills. 

Demonstrated knowledge of international gender equality and human rights standards

• Written and verbal communication skills in both Arabic and English, both at professional level.

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines.

   Inclusive Collaboration; 

  Stakeholder Engagement; 

  Commitment to gender equality, inclusion, confidentiality, ethical research, and conflict-sensitive approaches.

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.