What's Happening?
UN Women is seeking international consultants to support capacity building on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in the South Caucasus region. This initiative is part of UN Women's broader mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls,
empower women, and achieve gender equality. The consultants will provide technical and coordination support during the inception and early implementation phases of two projects focused on women for sustainable peace and WPS leadership and defense capacity. These projects, supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), aim to enhance women's meaningful participation and leadership in peacebuilding, dialogue, and recovery, while also strengthening institutional capacities to implement WPS commitments. The work will involve stakeholder capacity needs assessments, scoping consultations, and the design and delivery of pilot initiatives and capacity-building activities tailored to national priorities and institutional mandates. The consultants will also support regional learning events and technical exchanges, preparing materials and documenting feedback to inform project workplans.
Why It's Important?
This initiative is crucial for advancing gender equality and women's rights in the South Caucasus, a region that has experienced various conflicts and political sensitivities. By strengthening women's participation in peacebuilding and leadership roles, the projects aim to foster more inclusive and sustainable peace processes. Empowering women in these contexts can lead to more comprehensive and effective solutions to conflict resolution and post-conflict recovery. Furthermore, enhancing institutional capacities to implement WPS commitments signifies a commitment to integrating gender perspectives into security and defense sectors, which is vital for long-term stability and human rights protection. The focus on grassroots women's organizations and conflict-affected women ensures that the initiatives are locally relevant and address the specific needs of marginalized groups, contributing to broader societal resilience and development.
What's Next?
The selected international consultants will begin their assignments by providing technical and coordination support during the inception phase of the two projects. This will involve conducting stakeholder engagement, further scoping and mapping exercises, and preparing a detailed workplan by December 7, 2026. Subsequent steps include providing technical and coordination support to at least two learning events by February 26, 2027, and supporting implementing partners according to their agreements by March 12, 2027. The consultants will also be responsible for drafting an inception report and a final technical report with recommendations and a handover by March 30, 2027. These deliverables will inform the ongoing implementation of the projects, ensuring that capacity-building initiatives are refined and adapted based on initial findings and feedback. The projects are expected to continue strengthening women's leadership and participation in peace and security processes across the South Caucasus.
Beyond the Headlines
The UN Women initiative in the South Caucasus reflects a broader global recognition of the critical role women play in peace and security. Beyond the immediate project goals, this effort contributes to shifting traditional power dynamics within conflict-affected regions by actively promoting women's leadership in areas historically dominated by men. The emphasis on institutional reform and capacity building suggests a long-term vision for embedding gender equality principles within governmental and security structures, which can lead to more equitable governance and policy-making. This work also highlights the interconnectedness of peace, security, and development, demonstrating that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the full and equal participation of women. The project's focus on local women's organizations underscores the importance of grassroots movements in driving social change and ensuring that interventions are culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate.
