Background:

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.

Economic empowerment is one of the priority areas of UN Women. UN Women works with governments and partners to promote women’s economic empowerment and increase their access to economic opportunities and outcomes, especially for those who are most excluded, including women migrant workers. In 2018, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was adopted by UN Member States. And as the blueprint for the governance and coordination of international migration, it is critical that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are central in its implementation. UN Women works to help ensure that migrant women’s human and labour rights are effectively promoted and protected at all stages of migration, and that the Global Compact for Migration is human rights-based and gender-responsive. Since 2019, UN Women has been implementing the Germany-funded Making Migration Safe for Women programme with the goal of ensuring that the development and implementation of national migration policies and laws in Ethiopia and South Africa are gender-responsive, and that international norms and standards for protecting and promoting migrant women’s rights are strengthened. The programme also aims to improve the use and collection of sex-disaggregated data and provide robust evidence and research on migrant women to inform policy making. In January 2026, UN Women expanded implementation of the Making Migration Safe for Women programme to Senegal.

Under the Making Migration Safe for Women programme, the Economic Empowerment section is seeking to hire an international consultant to support the development of a policy brief on migrant women and disability. The paper will examine both the positive and negative experiences of migration for women with disabilities. It will consider how migration can support agency, autonomy and empowerment by enabling access to healthcare, social protection and economic opportunities. It will also examine the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, violence and exclusion that migrant women with disabilities may face, including the experiences of women who acquire, or experience the exacerbation of, disabilities in the context of migration.

With a focus on mental health, psychosocial disabilities and physical disabilities arising from migration, the paper will explore the circumstances in which disabilities may arise or worsen. This includes determinants influencing migration among women with disabilities; exposure to risky or dangerous irregular migration routes; experiences of gender-based violence and limited access to essential services; barriers to decent work, social protection and safe labour conditions, including workplace injuries; the impact of detention on migrant women; and barriers to healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health services and mental health services.

To support the development of the policy brief, the consultant will also be responsible for the substantive preparation, organization, and documentation of a virtual consultation on the experiences of migrant women with disabilities, which will bring together diverse stakeholders, including civil society organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), women’s rights groups, migrant-led organizations, international organizations, academia, individual experts, and relevant UN human rights mechanisms. The virtual consultation will seek to capture lived experiences and perspectives of migrant women with disabilities, identify gaps in policy and practice, and explore more inclusive and gender-responsive approaches to migration governance. These findings along with key informant interviews (KIIs) will not only inform the development of the policy brief but also help ensure that its analysis and recommendations are grounded in the priorities and experiences of relevant stakeholders.

The consultant will report to the Global Coordinator, Making Migration Safe for Women.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

Deliverables

Conduct background research and develop an outline and timeline. Expected completion time (due day): 26 June 2026 Payment schedule: 18%
Organize and facilitate the virtual consultation on migrant women and disabilities, including preparation of the terms of reference, agenda, guiding questions, etc. Expected completion time (due day): 7 July 2026 Payment schedule: 11%
Prepare a summary note of the virtual consultation, including key issues and recommendations for the policy brief. Expected completion time (due day): 14 July 2026 Payment schedule: 3%
Identify key stakeholders and conduct interviews (5-8 interviews) Expected completion time (due day): 21 July 2026 Payment schedule: 14%
Prepare the first draft of the policy brief for review and feedback (two rounds of revision and revision should be anticipated) Expected completion time (due day): 7 August 2026 Payment schedule: 29%
Final draft of the paper. Expected completion time (due day): 28 August 2026 Payment schedule: 11%
Prepare key findings and messages based on the final policy paper to support the development of communications and advocacy materials by UN Women. Expected completion time (due day): 4 September Payment schedule: 3%
Prepare a plain language summary of the policy paper, including the key findings and recommendations in an accessible format for review and further design by UN Women. Expected completion time (due day): 11 September 2026 Payment schedule: 7.5%

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy.

Competencies :

Core Values:

Integrity;
Professionalism;
Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

Aware and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
Accountability;
Creative Problem Solving;
Effective Communication;
Inclusive Collaboration;
Stakeholder Engagement;
Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework.

Functional Competencies:

Technical experience in gender equality, women’s rights and international development.
Experience in undertaking research.
Excellent writing skills.
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.
Ability to work under pressure.
Knowledge of the UN system and its agencies.

Required Qualifications

Education and Certification:

Master’s degree in gender/women's studies, or development studies, social policy or human rights
A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
At least five years’ experience carrying out or supporting research on gender equality, women’s rights and migration, with demonstrated experience working on disability rights or disability inclusion.
Demonstrated experience producing policy-oriented research, briefs, papers or knowledge products.
Familiarity with international policy and normative frameworks related to gender equality, migration, disability rights and/or human rights.
Excellent writing skills.
Willingness to work as part of a team, meet tight deadlines and produce high quality work.

Experience:

At least five years’ experience carrying out or supporting research on gender equality, women’s rights and migration, with demonstrated experience working on disability rights or disability inclusion.
Demonstrated experience producing policy-oriented research, briefs, papers or knowledge products.
Familiarity with international policy and normative frameworks related to gender equality, migration, disability rights and/or human rights.
Excellent writing skills.
Willingness to work as part of a team, meet tight deadlines and produce high quality work.

Languages:

Fluency in English
Knowledge of any other UN official language is an asset.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.