Job Description

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. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality are translated into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts while building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

In China, UN Women China Office is committed to delivering on its Strategic Note (2026-2030), which outlines its obligations, commitments, and actions under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the People’s Republic of China (2026-2030). The office’s work contributes to UN Women’s Global Strategic Plan (2026-2029) and is closely aligned with national priorities of the People’s Republic of China and other international conventions and commitments including The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Through UN Women’s unique triple mandate, the UN Women China Country Office supports and carries out work on (i) women's economic empowerment (including gender and climate); (ii) high-quality social services and social protection (including ending violence against women); and (iii) global partnerships and sustainable financing for gender equality and women’s empowerment. The office’s work is further supported and catalysed through policy analysis, strategic partnerships – including with private sector partners, strategic communications, and operations.

To support the achievement of the Strategic Note and UNSDCF, the office will continue engaging private sector organizations – including international and domestic companies, business associations and networks, philanthropic organizations, family offices, and high-net worth individuals in China.

Aligned with UN Women’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy (2023-2025), the office has a history of partnering with private sector organizations on several fronts, including:

• UN Women global private sector flagship initiatives such as the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) – a set of principles and global platform established by UN women and UN Global Compact to offer guidance and resources to business on how to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community.
• Resource mobilization efforts.
• Strategic convenings, communications and advocacy.
• Policy / industry research and analysis support.
• Programme design and implementation – including in areas related to gender-responsive workplaces, sustainable finance for gender equality, and others.

Moreover, in 2026, UN Women Asia Pacific launched the Asia Pacific Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards to recognize exemplary efforts by businesses in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community, in alignment with the WEPs. With more than 2,000 applications submitted from over 1,000 companies across over 20 Asia-Pacific countries and regions since 2020, the Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards have become the leading regional platform to showcase and inspire private sector leadership and innovation to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. In support of the 2026 WEPs Asia Pacific Awards, UN Women China will support local engagement in China, including the awards process and a national awards ceremony with key partners in Q4 2026.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Partnerships, the Consultant is responsible for implementing the office’s private sector engagement strategy. This includes collaborating with programme teams and functional teams to advance private sector engagement and partnership building, as well as resource mobilization efforts. Importantly, the Consultant will play a key role in managing the national process and milestones for the 2026 Asia Pacific WEPs Awards.

of Responsibilities / Scope of Work

The Consultant will work under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Partners to implement the office’s private sector engagement strategy, aligned with UN Women China’s Strategic Note (2026-2030) and UN Women’s Global Private Sector Engagement Strategy. In addition to the specific deliverables, the Consultant may support on other tasks and activities that contribute to the achievement of these deliverables.

Deliverables

In particular, the consultant is expected to undertake the following functions and activities:

Deliverable Expected completion time (due day) Payment Schedule

National-level WEPs Awards process supported

• General FAQ support to companies applying from China provided in a timely manner
• At least 50 WEPs Awards applications from companies in China received and initial scoring for all applications completed
• Jury panel of external experts secured and onboarded
• Shortlisted companies selected and notified

Detailed workplan and supporting documents for 2026 China WEPs Awards Ceremony

• Detailed plan of key activities, key partners (e.g., government, media, etc.), tentative guest list, and timelines for delivering ceremony in Q4 2026
• Concept note, invitations, presentation materials, and other materials and documents required for the ceremony
• Event venue and logistics plan
• Draft marketing and communications content
• Other supporting documents as needed

5-10 targeted and high-quality outreach to high potential private sector organizations for strategic partnership and/or resource mobilization opportunities

New sponsors secured for 2026 China WEPs Awards Ceremony

By 30 Sep 2026
50%

National-level WEPs Awards process completed

• Scoring for shortlisted companies completed
• National WEPs Awards companies selected

2026 China WEPs Awards Ceremony held

• Post-event communications
• of lessons learned and further opportunities to engage WEPs Award winners

Targeted support for 2026 Asia Pacific WEPs Awards process and ceremony

5-10 targeted and high-quality outreach to high potential private sector organizations for strategic partnership and/or resource mobilization opportunities

By 31 December 2026
50%

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy, with possibility to present at the UN Women Office in China for meetings and consultations (schedule to be agreed later with supervisor). The Consultant is required to undertake regular update meetings with the Head of Partnerships. Broader meetings with the China Country Office programme team and other team members as well as other UN agencies will be required as well.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness 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:

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