UN Women - National Consultant, on Women’s Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Assessment and Private Sector Skills Needs Mapping under the Women’s Economic Empowerment Project, Home-based, Home based, Remote

## UN Women - National Consultant, on Women’s Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Assessment and Private Sector Skills Needs Mapping under the Women’s Economic Empowerment Project, Home-based, Home based, Remote - Organization:UN Women - United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women - Office:UN Women in Home-based UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. In Uzbekistan, in line with its global Strategic Plan 2026-2029, UN Women works towards the overarching goal that “women and girls, including those at greatest risk of being left behind, fully exercise their human rights, enjoy a life free from violence and discrimination, and lead, influence, and benefit from sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development towards the advancement of gender equality in Uzbekistan.” UN Women operates in four thematic areas: (i) governance and participation in public life; (ii) women's economic empowerment; (iii) ending violence against women and girls; and (iv) women, peace and security, humanitarian action, and disaster risk reduction. In line with its coordination mandate, UN Women promotes coherence and coordination across the UN system to enhance accountability and results for gender equality and women's empowerment, including through joint programming and advocacy, as well as standardized tools, guidance, and services to strengthen the capacities of the UN system. Within the framework of the “Women's Economic Empowerment in Uzbekistan” project, the intervention will contribute to the achievement of the goals set out in the New Uzbekistan Development Strategy 2022-2026, the “Uzbekistan-2030” Strategy, and the Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality in Uzbekistan 2020-2030, developed in alignment with the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men” (LRU No. 562). The proposed Action contributes to several strategic objectives, including: (i) ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men in employment, the creation of decent jobs, the development of women's entrepreneurship, and expanded access of women to credit from commercial banks; (ii) promoting improved health literacy in family planning and strengthened reproductive health, as well as healthy lifestyles; and (iii) strengthening families and shared responsibility among family members. The overall objective (impact) of the Project is to create an inclusive economic environment in which women can participate equally in the economy and labour force of Uzbekistan, free from the constraints of gender stereotypes and harmful social norms. This entails addressing deep-rooted gender biases that limit women's opportunities and potential. By promoting gender equality in the workplace, enhancing access to education and vocational training, supporting women's entrepreneurship, and strengthening family planning and care-related services, the Project aims to enable women to secure decent work and grow their businesses, thereby increasing their economic independence and contributing to the country's economic growth and social development. Implemented jointly with UNFPA and UNICEF, the Project comprises of the following 2 Outcomes/Special Objectives related to UN Women and 5 Outputs under Objective 1, and 2 Outputs jointly with UNFPA under Objective 2: - Outcome/ Specific Objective 1: Women in the target regions, including women with disabilities, have improved access to enabling services, resources, and opportunities for decent work, entrepreneurship, and economic participation.Output 1.1. Stakeholders have access to evidence-based knowledge on the entrepreneurship ecosystem, labor market needs, and family-friendly policies to inform gender-responsive planning and service provision.Output 1.2. Women and girls in the target regions gain market-relevant hard and soft skills through vocational, digital, and life skills training to enhance their employability and economic participation.Output 1.3. Women in the target regions have improved access to business development, self-employment, and decent work opportunities through tailored financial services, skills matching, and entrepreneurship supportOutput 1.4. Public and private sector partners have strengthened capacity to integrate gender equality into business practices, investment decisions, and procurement processesOutput 1.5. Institutional capacity is strengthened to generate, analyse, and use gender data and evidence to inform policies and investments on women's economic empowerment and the care economy. - Output 1.1. Stakeholders have access to evidence-based knowledge on the entrepreneurship ecosystem, labor market needs, and family-friendly policies to inform gender-responsive planning and service provision. - Output 1.2. Women and girls in the target regions gain market-relevant hard and soft skills through vocational, digital, and life skills training to enhance their employability and economic participation. - Output 1.3. Women in the target regions have improved access to business development, self-employment, and decent work opportunities through tailored financial services, skills matching, and entrepreneurship support - Output 1.4. Public and private sector partners have strengthened capacity to integrate gender equality into business practices, investment decisions, and procurement processes - Output 1.5. Institutional capacity is strengthened to generate, analyse, and use gender data and evidence to inform policies and investments on women's economic empowerment and the care economy. - Outcome/Specific Objective 2: Positive shifts in societal perceptions of gender stereotypes and harmful social norms contribute to the realization of women's rights and increased participation of women in the workforce.Output 2.1. The evidence base on societal perceptions, gender stereotypes, and harmful social norms is strengthened to inform targeted gender-transformative interventions.Output 2.3. Public awareness and understanding of harmful gender norms and stereotypes are strengthened to foster positive shifts in attitudes toward gender equality, equitable gender roles, and reproductive rights. - Output 2.1. The evidence base on societal perceptions, gender stereotypes, and harmful social norms is strengthened to inform targeted gender-transformative interventions. - Output 2.3. Public awareness and understanding of harmful gender norms and stereotypes are strengthened to foster positive shifts in attitudes toward gender equality, equitable gender roles, and reproductive rights. Under the supervision of the UN Women Programme Analyst and in close cooperation with the International Consultant, the National Consultant will provide technical expertise, coordination, and quality assurance support for the implementation of Activities 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 of the Project. Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work The purpose of the consultancy is to provide national technical expertise for the assessment of the women's entrepreneurship ecosystem and the mapping of private-sector HR and skills needs, generating evidence and practical recommendations to inform gender-responsive programming, skills development and private-sector engagement under the Women's Economic Empowerment Project. Under the supervision of the UN Women Programme Analyst and in close cooperation with the International Consultant, the National Consultant will serve as the national technical expert and support the implementation of Activities 1.1.1 - Assessment of women's entrepreneurship ecosystem, including legal review, and 1.1.2 - Mapping of human resources and skills needs of the private sector. The National Consultant wil