International Consultant –Mainstreaming Gender and the inclusion of Youth and other Underrepresented Groups

Result of Service

The consultant will deliver the following outputs:

Deliverable 1 – Due by end of month 1 At least two inclusion assessments completed, including an analysis of gender, youth and/ or other underrepresented groups, with identified barriers, opportunities and recommendations. At least two technical guidance products (e.g. checklist, advisory note or toolkit) drafted, and technical inputs provided.

Deliverable 2 – Due by end of month 2 Gender- and inclusion-sensitive monitoring and evaluation tools strengthened through the development or revision of indicators, data collection templates and reporting formats for assigned programmes. Analysis of available programme data completed, with recommendations to improve the measurement and reporting of gender, youth and inclusion results.

Deliverable 3 – Due by end of month 3.

Gender and inclusion related content for at least two capacity-building or stakeholder engagement activities (training, webinar, workshop or consultation) designed and supported. This may include agendas, presentation materials, facilitation guides and post-event summary reports with agreed follow-up actions.

Practical guidance for integrating gender and inclusion into programme delivery finalized and shared with project teams. A comprehensive final consultancy report submitted, consolidating all technical documents, guidance materials, event outputs, M&E tools, analytical findings, lessons learned, and practical recommendations for strengthening gender equality and the inclusion of youth and other underrepresented groups across the supported ITC portfolio.

Work Location

home-based

Expected duration

3 months from ASAP

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization based in Geneva. ITC’s mission is to enable small business export success in developing and transition-economy countries, by providing, with partners, sustainable and inclusive development solutions to the private sector, trade support institutions (TSIs) and policymakers.

The International Trade Centre launched the SheTrades initiative to create an ecosystem of integrated solutions that empower women economically through greater integration in trade and investment. The Initiative ensures that the right capacities and conditions are present for women to trade and that an ecosystem of market partners and effective support organisations supports them. At the same time, SheTrades works to remove inequalities in the trade policy space that hinder women’s participation.

Mainstreaming gender and the inclusion of youth and other underrepresented goups is a core institutional commitment across ITC's work. In line with the ITC Strategic Plan 2026–2030 and the UN System-Wide Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (UN-SWAP) 3.0, ITC integrates gender equality and inclusion principles across its programme design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. In this regard, ITC is seeking an international consultant to provide technical expertise to ensure gender equality and the inclusion of youth and other underrepresented groups is fully integrated across different project portfolios.

The objective of this consultancy is to strengthen the integration of gender equality and the inclusion of youth and other underrepresented groups across ITC project portfolio by providing technical expertise in three areas: development of mainstreaming technical documents, organisation and facilitation of events and capacity-building sessions; and strengthening of monitoring, evaluation, and reporting frameworks.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Officer, DSIT/WYVC, the responsibilities of the consultant consist of the following:

1. Technical Documentation and Gender Mainstreaming Support

• Conduct analyses of gender, youth and other underrepresented groups across assigned programmes and projects to identify gaps, opportunities, and entry points for mainstreaming gender and the inclusion of youth and other underrepresented groups in programme design, delivery, and partnerships.
• Develop, draft, and finalise technical mainstreaming guidance documents, including frameworks, toolkits, checklists, and advisory notes tailored to specific programme contexts and partner needs.
• Review and provide technical inputs to project documents, concept notes, partnership frameworks, strategic plans to ensure inclusion and gender equality considerations are embedded from the outset.
• Develop guidance and practical tools for ITC and implementing partners on integrating gender and the inclusion of youth and other underrepresented groups into training design and delivery, outreach and communications, and access to finance activities.
• Provide technical advice on aligning programme activities with relevant institutional frameworks, including ITC's gender mainstreaming toolkit.
• Prepare background papers, analytical notes, and briefings on trends in gender mainstreaming and the inclusion of youth and other underrepresented groups, good practices, and emerging issues relevant to the portfolio. 2. Event Organisation and Capacity Building
• Support the planning, coordination, and logistical preparation of events, including training workshops, webinars, reflection sessions, peer-learning exchanges, and stakeholder consultations to mainstream gender and the inclusion of youth and other underrepresented groups.
• Design and develop training agendas, presentation materials, facilitation guides, and case studies for gender mainstreaming and youth inclusion capacity-building sessions, drawing on established good practices and institutional guidance.
• Facilitate training sessions and workshops for ITC staff, implementing partners, and other stakeholders on approaches, tools, and frameworks for gender mainstreaming and the inclusion of youth and other underrepresented groups.
• Coordinate the preparation and dissemination of communications materials, invitations, and registration processes for gender and youth-related events.
• Compile and disseminate session summaries, key discussion points, and agreed action points following events and workshops. 3. Monitoring and Evaluation
• Support the development and strengthening of gender-sensitive and inclusive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks, including the definition of indicators, data collection tools, and reporting templates that are disaggregated by age, sex, etc.
• Review existing programme M&E systems and propose practical improvements to enhance the capture, analysis, and reporting of gender, youth and other inclusion-related results and outcomes.
• Contribute to the preparation of progress reports, results summaries, and impact stories that document gender and inclusion outcomes across the portfolio, in line with donor and institutional reporting requirements.
• Analyse programme data to identify trends, challenges, and lessons learned on mainstreaming gender and the inclusion of youth and other underrepresented groups, and translate findings into actionable recommendations for programme teams.
• Support the integration of data disaggregated by gender, youth and other inclusion markers into institutional knowledge products and public communications, ensuring results are visible and evidence-based.
• Assist in the preparation of final reports, including consolidating findings, lessons learned, and recommendations for future mainstreaming efforts across the portfolio. Copyright clause: The consultant has to ensure to have obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform their services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in gender studies, development studies, social sciences, international relations, public policy, economics, business, trade or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with at least five years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in gender mainstreaming, inclusion of youth and other underrepresented groups or a related area in an international development context is required.
• Demonstrated experience working on business/ private sector development/ trade and women’s economic empowerment and youth inclusion
• Experience designing and facilitating trainings, workshops, or capacity-building sessions
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation. Skills:
• Strong analytical, research, and writing skills; ability to translate complex gender and inclusion concepts into clear, practical guidance for diverse audiences.
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills; ability to engage and build consensus among multi-stakeholder groups.
• Strong organisational skills; ability to manage multiple tasks and deliverables simultaneously with minimal supervision, attention to details.
• Collaborative working style; ability to work effectively across teams and institutional boundaries.
• High level of cultural sensitivity and experience working in multicultural environments.

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. • Working knowledge of French is a strong asset, given the geographic scope of the portfolio.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.