1. Background/Context

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’s humanitarian portfolio operates across 40+ country offices responding to crises ranging from protracted conflicts to sudden-onset emergencies. Country offices require timely, gender-responsive analysis to inform programming, advocacy, and coordination but often lack dedicated capacity to conduct in-depth secondary data analysis from existing humanitarian assessments.

Multi-Sector Needs Assessments (MSNAs), Humanitarian Needs Overviews (HNOs), and sector-specific assessments contain substantial gender-disaggregated data that remain underutilized. Country offices need support to extract actionable insights from these datasets to strengthen Rapid Gender Analyses, situation reports, funding proposals, and strategic positioning within humanitarian coordination mechanisms.

This consultancy will provide on-demand, need based technical support to select country offices for secondary data planning, collection, processing and analysis, data visualization, and knowledge product development, enabling evidence-based programming and advocacy while building internal capacity for data utilization and communication.

Specific Objectives 

• Provide rapid, high-quality secondary data analysis to country offices.
• Generate gender-specific and intersectional insights from MSNAs, HNOs, and other humanitarian assessments.
• Transform complex data into compelling visual products for diverse audiences.
• Develop knowledge products that synthesize evidence and communicate key findings effectively.
• Support country offices in translating data findings into actionable recommendations humanitarian response, resource mobilization, and coordination processes.
• Strengthen the evidence base for UN Women’s humanitarian programming and coordination efforts.
• Build country office capacity in secondary data planning, collection, processing and analysis, as well as data visualization and responsible use of AI-enabled tools through practical guidance, training, and mentoring.
• Support timely information management inputs during sudden-onset emergencies and scale-ups.

2. SCOPE OF WORK

Core Responsibilities

Secondary Data Planning, Collection, Processing and Analysis Support (45%)

• Conduct rapid secondary data analysis from MSNAs, HNOs, HRPs, SitReps, and sector assessments upon country office request.
• Extract, synthesize, and interpret gender-disaggregated data across protection, livelihoods, WASH, health, shelter, and food security sectors, with attention to intersectional risks and vulnerabilities.
• Identify data gaps and recommend complementary primary data collection where needed.
• Translate inter-cluster and sectoral data into gender-actionable insights to inform response prioritization, programme design, donor engagement, and advocacy.
• Identify data gaps, limitations, and biases in available secondary data, and recommend complementary primary data collection or analytical approaches where needed.
• Leverage AI-assisted tools, where appropriate, to support review, extraction, and synthesis of humanitarian documents and datasets, with all outputs subject to human validation and quality assurance.
• Produce concise analytical, decision-oriented briefs tailored to specific country and regional office requirements (RGAs, donor reports, coordination inputs).

Data Visualization and Communication (20%)

• Design infographics, dashboards, and visual products that communicate gender data and analysis findings.
• Create visually compelling presentations and graphics for advocacy, coordination forums, and donor engagement.
• Develop interactive data visualizations where appropriate for web-based platforms.
• Ensure all visual products adhere to UN Women branding guidelines and accessibility standards.
• Tailor visualization approaches to different audiences (technical, policy, public facing).
• Design visual products that are usable by diverse audiences, including people with disabilities, ensuring clarity, simplicity, and avoidance of misleading or overly complex graphics.

Knowledge Product Development (20%)

• Produce data-driven briefs, fact sheets, and thematic reports synthesizing findings across multiple countries or crises.
• Develop visual case studies and evidence summaries for external communication.
• Create snapshot products (e.g., “gender data snapshots,” “crisis profiles”) for rapid dissemination.
• Support the design and layout of analytical products to enhance readability, usability, and policy relevance.

Technical Advisory Services (10%)

• Provide technical guidance to country offices on accessing humanitarian data platforms (HDX, REACH, ACAPS, UNHCR data portal).
• Advise on appropriate methodologies for secondary data analysis in humanitarian contexts.
• Support quality assurance of country office-led data analysis and visualizations to ensure methodological soundness, coherence, and alignment with global standards.
• Provide guidance on the responsible and ethical use of AI-enabled tools for secondary data analysis and visualization, including bias mitigation, transparency, data protection, and limitations of automated analysis.
• Develop standard operating procedures, templates, and minimum standards for secondary data requests, analysis, visualisation across countries.

Capacity Building (5%)

• Design and deliver remote training/webinars on secondary data analysis, visualization techniques, and ethical data use in humanitarian settings.
• Support country offices in building practical AI literacy for humanitarian data analysis and visualization, including simple use cases, risks, and good practices aligned. with UN values.
• Create user-friendly guidance materials and tools to strengthen country office information management and analytical capacity.
• Provide mentoring support to country office information management focal points.
• Document lessons learned and best practices in secondary data utilization and communication to inform institutional learning and improvement.

3. DELIVERABLES

Monthly:

• Completion of 4-6 ad hoc secondary data analysis requests from country offices (scope depending on complexity).
• Production of 4-6 infographics, dashboards, or visual products supporting country office or HQ needs.
• Brief monthly report summarizing requests received, analyses completed, and emerging trends.

Quarterly:

• Compilation of key gender-related findings from MSNAs and HNOs across regions with accompanying visualizations.
• One knowledge product (thematic brief, factsheet series, visual report, or interactive dashboard).
• One capacity-building product (webinar, guidance note, template, or tool), which may include practical guidance on secondary data analysis, inclusive visualization, or responsible use of AI-enabled tools.

End of Contract:

• Comprehensive repository of secondary data analysis outputs and visual products organized by country/crisis type.
• Visual brand and accessibility toolkit for humanitarian gender data products (templates, style guide, icon library).
• Lessons learned report on country office data needs and utilization patterns.
• Recommendations for institutionalizing gender-responsive, inclusive, and ethical secondary data analysis and visualization support at HQ, regional, and country levels.

4. REPORTING AND WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

The consultant will report to the Humanitarian Research and Knowledge Management Specialist in the Humanitarian Section at UN Women headquarters in Geneva. Day-to-day coordination will involve regular communication with country office humanitarian focal points and regional humanitarian advisors.

The consultant will participate in weekly check-ins with the Humanitarian Section and monthly coordination meetings with regional advisors to prioritize requests and share findings.

Travel may be required (up to 2-3 missions per year) to provide in-person support to country offices or participate in inter-agency data initiatives.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy, travel may be required (2-3 missions per year), depending on country office need.

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:

IV. Required Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in statistics, data science, data visualization, development studies, humanitarian studies, or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in humanitarian information management or data analysis.
• Demonstrated expertise in secondary data analysis methodologies and statistical software (SPSS, Stata, R, or equivalent).
• Proven experience analyzing MSNA datasets and humanitarian needs assessments.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating data visualization and infographic design skills, including examples of accessible or inclusive design where possible.
• Experience producing knowledge products for diverse audiences (technical, policy, public).
• Experience working with gender-disaggregated data and intersectional analysis frameworks.
• Experience using AI-assisted tools for document review, synthesis, or analysis is an asset, with clear understanding of human validation and ethical limitations.

Functional Competencies:

• Advanced proficiency in quantitative data analysis and visualization.
• Expertise in data visualization software and tools (Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent).
• Proficiency in graphic design software (Adobe Illustrator, Canva, InDesign, or equivalent).
• Experience with interactive visualization platforms (R Shiny, Flourish, DataWrapper, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with humanitarian data platforms (HDX, REACH Resource Centre, UNHCR Microdata Library, ACAPS).
• Strong data management and quality assurance skills.
• Ability to translate complex datasets into clear, accessible, and ethically sound visual products.
• Understanding of accessibility standards and inclusive design principles.
• Strong understanding of humanitarian programme cycle and coordination architecture and humanitarian data ecosystems.
• Excellent written communication skills with ability to produce clear, concise analytical products.
• Strong visual communication skills and design sensibility.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple simultaneous requests.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Commitment to gender equality and women’s rights, and humanitarian principles.

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely delivery of high-quality substantive inputs to the activities and production of the deliverables listed above, as well as to any additional activities or deliverables arising from required adjustments.
• Effective collaboration with UN Women staff and key stakeholders.
• Adherence to UN Women standards, policies, and procedures.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required, knowledge of the other UN official working language fluency, especially French, Spanish or Arabic is an asset.

 

Application Process

• Interested candidates should submit:
• Cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining relevant experience.
• Current CV including contact details for three professional references.
• Portfolio showcasing:
  • Sample analytical product demonstrating secondary data analysis (preferably from humanitarian context).
  • 3-5 examples of infographics, dashboards, or data visualizations produced.
  • One knowledge product (brief, factsheet, or report) demonstrating ability to synthesize complex information.

    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.