Gender Expert – Pharmaceutical Value Chain

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Organizational Context

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty and hunger reduction, inclusive and fair globalization and environmental sustainability. UNIDO's mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

The Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of MSMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein.

Project Context

Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme — ECOWAS Component

The EU-funded ATCMA Programme, a pan-African initiative, aims at sustainably increasing intra-African and EU-Africa trade. The programme is implemented jointly by UNIDO and the International Trade Centre (ITC) and comprises five regional components in the ECOWAS, COMESA, SADC, ECCAS and EAC regions.

The programme addresses market access challenges through two pillars:

• Supporting countries to conform with standards and technical regulations, requiring quality infrastructure and conformity assessment services, and streamlining regulatory and procedural frameworks at the regional and national levels.
• Maximizing MSME export potential and access to new markets by enhancing value addition, export capacities, marketing, labelling, branding strategies, technology transfer, and business promotion through market linkages.

Within ATCMA-ECOWAS, pharmaceutical components have been identified as a strategic value chain for regional industrial upgrading, quality compliance, SME competitiveness and intra-African trade integration. Special attention will be given to enhancing the participation and empowerment of women and youth-owned/-led businesses, aligned with the AfCFTA Women and Youth Protocol.

Functional Responsibilities

The expert will conduct a gender-responsive and gender-transformative analysis of selected pharmaceutical value chains at continental and regional levels, identifying structural, regulatory, skills-related, financial and market barriers and opportunities affecting women's participation, leadership and benefit in pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality infrastructure, regulatory systems, enterprise upgrading and market access.

The methodology shall include analysis of:

• Gendered participation across pharmaceutical value-chain segments (inputs, formulation, quality control, regulatory compliance, distribution).
• Access to industrial skills, GMP-related training, laboratory certification and regulatory competencies.
• Barriers faced by women-owned and women-led pharmaceutical SMEs in achieving compliance, upgrading production, and accessing finance.
• Gender representation and participation in regulatory authorities, quality infrastructure institutions, clusters and value-chain revision mechanisms.
• Gender-differentiated impacts of non-tariff measures (NTMs), registration procedures, and cross-border trade requirements affecting pharmaceutical enterprises.

Main Duties and Deliverables

• Familiarization with ATCMA-ECOWAS programme documents and participation in inception call with UNIDO. (4 days, home-based)
• Prepare Inception Note: methodology, work plan, and list of stakeholders. (5 days, home-based)
• Conduct desk review of gender equality strategies, industrial, pharmaceutical, MSME, quality infrastructure and trade policies relevant to pharmaceutical manufacturing. (7 days, home-based)
• Carry out consultations (virtual and/or in-person) with key stakeholders including pharmaceutical manufacturers' associations, regulatory authorities, quality infrastructure institutions, and women-owned or women-led pharmaceutical enterprises. (7 days, home-based)
• Draft Gender Analysis Report (max. 20 pages, excluding annexes). (8 days, home-based)
• Prepare an Annex of Proposed Gender Indicators including sex- and age-disaggregated baselines, targets, and data sources. (7 days, home-based)
• Present preliminary findings through at least one validation workshop and submit a workshop summary. (6 days, home-based)
• Prepare Final Gender Analysis Report incorporating stakeholder feedback. (6 days, home-based)

Minimum Organizational Requirements

Education: Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in gender analysis and women's economic empowerment, preferably in trade, value chain, or industrial development contexts.
• Demonstrated experience working on gender issues in regulated manufacturing sectors is a strong asset.
• Familiarity with pharmaceutical manufacturing, GMP, quality infrastructure or regulatory systems is an asset.
• Experience in the African region or similar socio-economic contexts is an asset.
• Familiarity with AfCFTA frameworks and/or regional trade agreements is an asset.
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills in English required; working knowledge of French is desirable.
• Experience with EU-funded programmes is desirable.

Required Competencies

Core values: Integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity. Core competencies: Results-orientation and accountability, planning and organizing, team orientation.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System.

UNIDO does not charge any fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. For questions, contact: recruitment@unido.org

Female candidates are encouraged to apply. Visit www.unido.org for more details.

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