Two (2) National Consultants To Map Private Sector To Identify Potential Avenues For Collaboration And Support For Women's Empowerment Initiatives

Consultancy To Conduct A Comprehensive Mapping Of The Private Sector In Georgia

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. UN Women in Georgia supports state and non-state partners towards the achievement of substantive gender equality in Georgia. In line with national and international commitments, UN Women works on the levels of policy and legislation, institutions and grassroots, in order to achieve transformative results for increased gender equality and greater protection of the rights of women and girls. UN Women puts special emphasis on the work towards gender mainstreaming in good governance reforms and enhancing women's political participation, ending violence against women, promoting and supporting women's economic empowerment, and Women, Peace and Security agenda. Along with these key priority areas that constitute UN Women's mandate, UN Women interventions in Georgia are anchored in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the years 2026-2030 with the government of Georgia.

Within the framework of its Women's Leadership and Participation portfolio, UN Women is actively implementing the Joint Programme "Civic Engagement for Local Development" and the "Women's Increased Leadership for Democracy in Georgia" (WILD) project. The former is funded by the Government of the United Kingdom through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the UN Georgia Thematic Pooled Fund - Civic Space, while the latter receives support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Both initiatives share one of the objectives of enhancing the capabilities of women and their organizations by expanding civic space, strengthening democratic dialogue, and promoting inclusive decision-making.

To ensure sustainability of civil society, it is strategic to diversify funding sources for civil society actors, including Women's Rights Groups. In this regard, it is essential to harness the potential of the private sector, which is often characterized by innovation. Engaging the private sector through core business practices presents an opportunity to address the funding gap that many civil society organizations face. While these entities may not always function as primary funding partners, substantial opportunities for mobilizing resources from private sources exist for initiatives that align with their strategic interests and operational frameworks. Furthermore, the contributions of the private sector extend beyond financial support. Philanthropy is emerging as a critical bridge between the private sector and civil society, particularly in impact investing and social enterprise, thereby facilitating collaborative efforts to promote gender equality.

To advance this agenda, the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), developed by UN Women in collaboration with the UN Global Compact, offer a foundational framework for engaging the business community in this vital endeavor. Rooted in international labor and human rights standards, the WEPs assert that businesses have both a vested interest and a responsibility to advance gender equality and women's empowerment. They serve as a crucial mechanism for corporate engagement with the gender equality dimensions of the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Recognizing these interconnected opportunities, UN Women is poised to engage two national consultants to conduct a comprehensive mapping of the private sector. This initiative aims to identify potential avenues for collaboration and support for women's empowerment initiatives, thereby fostering a supportive environment for the advancement of gender equality and enhancing the participation of women in decision-making processes.

UN Women seeks to engage two national consultants to undertake a comprehensive mapping of the private sector in Georgia, with a specific focus on the following tasks:

1. Identification of WEPs Signatories:
   • Conduct a detailed analysis of the over 300 companies in Georgia that are signatories of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs).
   • Narrow down the sample from the signatories based on their willingness to engage in the study, to further assess partnership opportunities between these selected WEPs companies and women's rights CSOs.
   • Identify key priority target groups for companies' corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, including women with disabilities, women entrepreneurs, women in rural areas, survivors of gender-based violence, and other relevant segments.
2. Regional Business Mapping:
   • Investigate businesses operating across different regions of Georgia, with a primary focus on Imereti, Racha, Kvemo Kartli, and Shida Kartli.
   • Map out the sectors and industries represented in these regions, noting any existing initiatives related to gender equality and women's empowerment.
3. Stakeholder Engagement:
   • Engage with representatives from identified companies to understand their perspectives on gender equality and women's empowerment in the workplace.
   • Facilitate discussions to determine the resources and support they are willing to commit to women's empowerment initiatives.
   • Conduct interviews with representatives from business associations to assess the private sector's readiness to support women's empowerment initiatives.
4. Resource Mobilization Opportunities:
   • Identify potential avenues for resource mobilization, including financial contributions, in-kind support, and partnerships for women's empowerment initiatives.
   • Identify companies with dedicated CSR departments to pinpoint those actively engaged in funding and potential fundraising opportunities.
   • Research and present examples of successful resource mobilization strategies from similar contexts or regions to inspire local businesses.
   • Conduct interviews and desk research with the UN Women Private Sector Partnerships (PSP) Section under the Strategic Partnerships Division to gather insights on international best practices for collaboration models involving CSOs, private sector partners, and UN Women for joint initiatives.
   • Develop a strategy that outlines how businesses can align their CSR efforts with women's empowerment goals.
5. Analysis of Barriers and Opportunities:
   • Analyze the barriers to engagement faced by both businesses and civil society organizations in promoting gender equality in the selected regions.
   • Identify opportunities for collaboration and partnership that may arise from these challenges.
6. Reporting and Recommendations:
   • Compile a comprehensive report detailing findings from the mapping exercise, including an overview of WEPs signatories, regional business dynamics, engagement insights, resource mobilization potential, and identified barriers.
   • Provide actionable recommendations for UN Women and stakeholders on how to strengthen partnerships with the private sector and enhance women's leadership and participation in decision-making processes.

This is a home-based consultancy. As part of this assignment, consultants might have to travel outside of Tbilisi.

Core Values: Integrity; Professionalism; Respect for Diversity.

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

Functional Competencies: Excellent analytical and research skills. Strong understanding of and commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment. Excellent writing skills. Excellent organizational skills. Strong Partnership Building Skills.

Required Qualifications: Education and Certification: Master's degree or equivalent in gender studies, social sciences, international development, business administration, or a related field. A first-level university degree, in combination with four additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: At least two years with a master's (four years with a bachelor's degree) of professional experience in research, consultancy, or project management focused on gender equality, women's empowerment, or civil society engagement. At least two years with a master's (four years with a bachelor's degree) of experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative research, including the ability to design and implement surveys, interviews, and focus groups. In-depth understanding of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and their application in business practices. an asset. Experience working with UN agencies and/or international organizations is an asset.

Languages: Fluency in Georgian and English is required.