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.
The UN Women Pacific Multi-Country Office is based in Suva, Fiji and works alongside over 20 other UN agencies in the region and in 14 countries across the Pacific: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Under its Strategic Note (SN) 2023 - 2027, UN Women Fiji MCO focuses on delivering on four interlinked programme areas underpinned by support for intergovernmental and normative processes:
In 2022, over 300 million people needed humanitarian assistance and protection in places struck by conflict, climate change, disasters. For women and girls, crisis and related displacements result in loss of property, assets and livelihoods, reduction in access to health care, education, and other services. At the same time, it raises the risks of violence, abuse, and exploitation. Yet, gender responsive humanitarian action remains affected by limited coordination, understanding of risks and funding at the country and regional level. However, the critical importance of building resilience and safeguarding the long-term prospects of crisis affected women and girls are emphasized by development actors requiring a collective and coordinated approach. Through its IASC membership and ongoing programmes in humanitarian crisis, UN Women takes an approach to tackle the root causes of inequality while pushing for changes in the global humanitarian system.
The Pacific is considered one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world and faces unique challenges. It is highly exposed to hydro-meteorological hazards as well as geophysical and human-made hazards. The small size, remoteness, socio-economic status, and fragile biodiversity of the Pacific Islands make them extremely vulnerable to these hazards. As a result, Pacific Island States, including Vanuatu, Fiji, and Kiribati – the WRD programme countries, occupy the top categories in the 2019 World Risk Index.
A principal regional constraint to gender-responsive humanitarian preparedness, response and disaster risk reduction remains the capacity to plan and implement gender-inclusive strategies, and to deliver pre-and post-disaster services to those hit hardest by emergencies. All steps to reduce gender inequalities across the region are likely also to reduce gender disparities in the impact of disaster. The UN Women MCO covers 14 of the PICTs in the region. Widespread discriminatory attitudes towards women and girls in all their diversity create deep-rooted obstacles to sustainable development in the Pacific.[1] Some Pacific societies are matrilineal, with women in some cases holding positions of authority within the family/community. However, this does not usually translate into equal socio-economic indicators, with the exception of secondary school enrolment, where girls typically outstrip boys, with an average net enrolment ratio of 69.7 percent for girls and 62.3 percent for boys.[2] The majority of societies are deeply patriarchal, with entrenched norms that lead to gender inequality in almost all spheres. Women and girls of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics, women, and girls with disabilities and in rural/maritime areas experience intersectional discrimination.
Through the recent Humanitarian Strategy (2022-2025) of UN Women, the Agency focuses on:
The UN Women MCO is in an advantageous position in the region with regard to its coordination role as lead of the Pacific Humanitarian and Protection Cluster (PHPC) which provides ample opportunity for consolidating its envisaged role of triple mandate (normative, operation and coordination) as per the Strategic Note (2023-2027).
Reporting to the Deputy Representative, the Humanitarian Specialist will manage the development of Humanitarian programmes, provide capacity building to Country Offices (CO) and Multi Country Offices (MCO), establish, and strengthen partnerships, and develop relevant knowledge products on gender, protection, and humanitarian response.
Under the direct supervision of the UN Women Deputy Representative, the National Consultant will be performing the following work responsibilities:
Provide capacity building support to the Country Office Programme Presence teams and partners:
Strengthen strategic partnerships with stakeholders, regional/ international actors and development partners:
Contribute to the resource mobilization strategy for humanitarian action in the region:
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Reporting to the Deputy Representative, the National Consultant - Humanitarian Specialist will manage the development of Huminitarian Programmmes, provide capacity building to Country Offices (CO), and Multi Country Office (MCO), establish and strengthen partnerships and develop relevant knowledge products on gender, protection and humanitarian.
All the documents and materials utilized need to be returned to UN Women in electronic format. Any printed materials are utilized to be referenced and returned.
The duration of the assignment will be up to 60 working days over 3 month’s work assignment with an anticipated start date from the 25th September 2026 (or as soon as possible).
The position is Suva-based with possible travel to countries under the MCO portfolio as required.
In the case of unforeseeable travel, all travel must be agreed upon between UN Women and the Consultant prior to travel, with approved travel costs including tickets, daily subsistence allowance and terminal expenses paid by UN Women.
The Consultant’s performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.
Payments will be disbursed to the Consultant on a monthly basis, after receipt and approval of deliverables, monthly timesheets, and corresponding invoice and certification by the UN Women Deputy Representative that that the services have been satisfactorily performed.
[1] United Nations. (2021). Pacific Common Multi-Country Assessment.
[2] UN Women. (2021). Gender Equality Brief for 14 Pacific Countries and Territories and UNICEF (2017) Situation Analysis of Children in the Pacific Island Countries
Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:
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.
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UN Women is the United Nations agency for women's rights, gender equality and women's empowerment. A global champion ForAllWomenAndGirls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.
UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to implement these standards. It stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on five priority areas: increasing women’s leadership and participation; ending violence against women; engaging women in all aspects of peace and security processes; enhancing women’s economic empowerment; and making gender equality central to national development planning and budgeting. UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality.
