International Consultant on gender-responsive sustainable finance to develop knowledge products and a diagnostic of WEPs signatories in the financial sector

Əsas vəzifələr In close consultation with UN Women, prepare an inception report setting out the work to be carried out, including a detailed workplan, timeline, methodology, consultation plan and draft diagnostic tool. Conduct an initial desk review of the policy, regulatory, market and data landscape on women’s access to finance and sustainable finance in Azerbaijan, including the Financial Sector Development Strategy 2024–2026, the State Program on Expanding Financial Inclusion 2027–2030, the National Action Plan on Gender Equality 2026–2028, CBAR statistics and existing studies, to avoid duplication. Submit the inception report to UN Women for review and approval. Review international (including IWA 34:2021) and national approaches to defining “woman entrepreneur”, women-owned and women-led businesses, and propose a working definition and criteria, together with recommendations on how financial institutions and CBAR can identify and report on women-owned and women-led MSMEs through sex-disaggregated data. Design and implement the diagnostic jointly with selected WEPs signatories in the financial sector in Azerbaijan, in coordination with UN Women. Build on the WEPs Gender Gap Analysis Tool and cover governance and leadership, workplace policies, gender-responsive products and services, access to credit and alternatives to collateral, sex-disaggregated data and reporting, investment and sustainable finance practices, and community engagement. Support signatories to complete the self-assessment questionnaire, conduct interviews with them and jointly review and validate findings to identify priority gaps and tailored follow-up actions. Draft and submit the diagnostic report presenting the findings, good practices and gaps among WEPs signatories in the financial sector, and recommendations for tailored technical support, including further capacity development needs. Develop an evidence-based policy brief on gender-responsive sustainable finance and women’s access to finance in Azerbaijan, supported by a structured review of existing national and international publications, studies and available data. Map what is already known, assess the relevance and limitations of existing evidence, and identify missing evidence, sex-disaggregated data gaps and gaps in policy and financial products and services, with particular attention to rural women and women-led MSMEs. Include an evidence-review and gap-analysis annex identifying the sources reviewed, remaining knowledge gaps and priorities for further research and action, avoiding duplication of existing work. Cover sustainable finance modalities (gender bonds, gender conditionalities in thematic bonds, gender-responsive credit mechanisms, alternatives to collateral and guarantee schemes), the Azerbaijani landscape and key trends, and provide stakeholder-specific recommendations for CBAR, the Ministry of Economy, commercial banks and other financial institutions, IFIs and business associations. Submit the draft brief and annex to UN Women for review and feedback before finalisation, and incorporate UN Women’s comments and relevant feedback from the validation and policy dialogue session into the final versions for UN Women’s approval. Develop a good practice brief (maximum 5 pages) showcasing best practices and lessons learnt from WEPs companies in the financial sector in Azerbaijan and from international experience on gender-responsive sustainable finance, with illustrative cases of how financial institutions are integrating gender considerations into financial products, investment decisions and sustainability frameworks. Submit the draft to UN Women for review and feedback before finalisation, and incorporate UN Women’s comments and relevant feedback from the validation and policy dialogue session into the final version for UN Women’s approval. In coordination and organized by UN Women, consult with CBAR, the Ministry of Economy and other relevant stakeholders during the assignment to ensure that the diagnostic, the definition proposal and the knowledge products are aligned with national financial inclusion priorities and respond to institutional needs. Prepare and facilitate a validation and policy dialogue session with CBAR, WEPs signatories from the financial sector, IFIs and other stakeholders to present and discuss the findings and recommendations, and to promote peer learning on gender-responsive sustainable finance. Tələblər Advanced University degree (at least Masters) in Economics, Finance, Sociology, Law, Gender, Human Rights, Labor relations, or similar fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree. At least 7 years with Master’s degree or minimum 9 years with Bachelor’s degree of relevant professional experience in the field of gender-smart and sustainable finance, gender-lens investing, financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment. At least 7 years with Master’s degree or minimum 9 years with Bachelor’s degree of working experience in conducting assessments or diagnostics of financial institutions (such as gender gap analyses, gender-responsive product reviews or sustainable finance assessments) and in producing research, policy briefs or other knowledge products on women’s access to finance is required. Previous experience in working with UN agencies, international financial institutions and other international organizations would be a strong asset. Demonstrated experience working with central banks, financial regulators or ministries on financial inclusion, sex-disaggregated data, definitions of women’s entrepreneurship or sustainable finance policy would be a strong asset. Demonstrated experience serving as a resource person, expert speaker or technical advisor on sustainable finance, gender-smart finance, gender bonds, gender lens investing, women’s access to finance or related topics would be a strong asset. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Azerbaijani or Russian would be an asset.