UN Women Seeks International Consultant: Institutional Mapping for Transforming Care Systems in ECOWAS
UN Women is recruiting an International Consultant to lead an institutional mapping exercise that will strengthen the integration of care economy priorities within ECOWAS regional policy frameworks.
This full-time, home-based consultancy spans 40 working days and runs from 5 January to 27 April 2026.
Job Identification: 30339
Posting Date: 25 November 2025
Application Deadline: 10 December 2025 (06:59 AM)
Contract Type: Consultancy
Location: Home based, with travel to Abuja (Nigeria) and Dakar (Senegal)
Thematic Area: Economic Empowerment
Background: Transforming Care Systems in West Africa
UN Women supports Member States in achieving gender equality by strengthening norms, policies, and institutions. Within West and Central Africa, a major focus is the recognition, reduction, and redistribution of unpaid care work, an area directly linked to women’s economic empowerment.
In the ECOWAS region, women perform three to five times more unpaid care work than men, limiting their ability to engage in paid employment. This imbalance contributes to high female unemployment and significant GDP losses estimated at 6–10% annually.
Recent evidence underscores that transforming care systems presents a triple economic opportunity for ECOWAS:
- Creation of decent jobs, especially for women
- Increased economic growth and fiscal revenues
- Reduced gender inequalities
Building on a regional high-level dialogue held in Dakar in April 2025, UN Women and the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) aim to establish a framework that positions care economy priorities at the centre of regional policymaking. The upcoming CSW72 in 2028 will focus on care systems, making this consultancy both timely and strategic.
Scope of Work
The consultant will work under the supervision of the UN Women Regional Advisor on Women’s Economic Empowerment and in collaboration with the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre.
Activity 1: Institutional Mapping
- Map ECOWAS Commission directorates, departments, agencies, and affiliated bodies relevant to care systems
- Identify existing policies or initiatives related to unpaid and paid care work
- Highlight institutional gaps and opportunities for integrating care economy priorities
Activity 2: Entry Point Identification
- Analyse ECOWAS policy cycles and planning processes
- Identify short-, medium-, and long-term opportunities for mainstreaming care
- Develop an actionable plan for integrating care within ECOWAS frameworks
Activity 3: ECOWAS Care Institutional Case
- Develop a high-level institutional case and advocacy narrative positioning care as a strategic priority
- Produce recommendations for UN Women and EGDC to strengthen engagement with ECOWAS leadership
Methodology Overview
1. Data Collection
- Desk review of ECOWAS documents, regional policies, and care economy research
- Online interviews with EGDC and other relevant ECOWAS institutions
- Two in-person missions:
- ECOWAS Commission Headquarters (Abuja)
- ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (Dakar)
- Interviews with additional organisations working on care systems
2. Data Analysis & Reporting
- Drafting of analysis and reports with support from UN Women’s regional technical experts
3. Validation & Restitution
- Final virtual workshop to present findings
- Integration of feedback into the final consolidated report
Deliverables and Timeline (40 Days)
- Deliverable 1: Inception Report – Due 9 January 2026
- Deliverable 2: Care Institutional Mapping Report (Draft & Final) – Due 27 February 2026
- Deliverable 4: ECOWAS Care Institutional Case (Draft & Final) – Due 20 March 2026
- Deliverable 5: Restitution Workshop PPT & Presentation – Due 10 April 2026
- Deliverable 6: Final Consolidated Report – Due 27 April 2026
Required Competencies
Core Values
- Integrity
- Professionalism
- Respect for Diversity
Core Competencies
- Gender sensitivity
- Accountability
- Creative problem-solving
- Effective communication
- Inclusive collaboration
- Stakeholder engagement
- Leading by example
Functional Competencies
- Expertise in gender-responsive economic policy
- Strong research and knowledge generation skills
- Strategic thinking and negotiation
- Ability to design collective intelligence processes
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in economics, gender studies, political science, social sciences, or related fields
- PhD is an asset
- Minimum 7 years of experience in gender-responsive public policy, care economy, and women’s economic empowerment
- Experience working with ECOWAS or similar regional institutions
- Proven experience conducting assignments in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Strong analytical skills and ability to work independently
- Fluency in English and French is required
Diversity, Inclusion, and Ethics
UN Women fosters a diverse, inclusive workplace and does not discriminate based on gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, or any other protected status. All employment decisions are based on merit, integrity, and organisational need. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous background checks.
Travel and Work Arrangement
This consultancy is home-based, with required travel to Abuja and Dakar for interviews, consultations, and data collection.
Application Notes
Applicants must complete all sections of the application form, including education and employment history. Incomplete applications may be disqualified.
This consultancy represents a high-impact opportunity to influence regional policy, strengthen gender equality mechanisms, and lay the groundwork for transformative care systems across ECOWAS.
