Gender Expert - Pharmaceutical Value Chain

Organizational Context

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization, and environmental sustainability. UNIDO's mission, aligned with the Lima, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh Declarations, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Member States. This aligns with SDG-9 and the broader 2030 Agenda. UNIDO's Medium-Term Programme Framework (MTPF) 2026-2029 focuses on fair supply chains, innovation, clean energy, and cross-cutting priorities like gender equality and digitalization. UNIDO operates through technical cooperation, research, normative functions, and partnerships, with its Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) overseeing strategies for sustainable industrial development. The Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) specifically works to enhance the competitiveness of industries, particularly MSMEs, through technology transfer, product innovation, quality improvement, and access to finance and markets.

Job Purpose

The Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme, jointly implemented by UNIDO and ITC, aims to increase intra-African and EU-Africa trade by addressing market access challenges and enhancing the competitiveness of selected value chains. The programme has two pillars: supporting countries to conform with standards and technical regulations, and maximizing MSME export potential through value addition and market access. Within the ECOWAS component, pharmaceutical value chains are a strategic focus for industrial upgrading, quality compliance, SME competitiveness, and trade integration. This role specifically addresses gender equality and women's economic empowerment within the pharmaceutical sector, focusing on participation in manufacturing, access to skills, enterprise upgrading, and regulatory engagement, in line with the AfCFTA Women and Youth Protocol.

Responsibilities

Conduct a gender-responsive and gender-transformative analysis of selected pharmaceutical value chains at continental and regional levels. Identify structural, regulatory, skills-related, financial, and market barriers and opportunities affecting women's participation, leadership, and benefits in pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality infrastructure, regulatory systems, enterprise upgrading, and market access. The analysis must align with ATCMA activities (Outputs 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2) and focus on industrial aspects, excluding clinical trials or health service delivery. Develop actionable recommendations for integrating gender into ATCMA interventions. Key duties include familiarization with programme documents, preparing an inception note, conducting desk reviews and stakeholder consultations, drafting a Gender Analysis Report with proposed gender indicators and baselines, presenting findings, and preparing a final report.

Work 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 in gender issues within regulated manufacturing sectors (e.g., pharmaceuticals) is a strong asset. Familiarity with pharmaceutical manufacturing, GMP, quality infrastructure, or regulatory systems is an asset. Experience in the African region or similar contexts is desirable. Familiarity with AfCFTA frameworks or regional trade agreements is an asset. Demonstrated experience in developing gender-responsive indicators and conducting stakeholder consultations is required. Experience with EU-funded programmes is desirable. Ability to work in a multicultural environment is desirable.

Skills

Core values: Integrity, professionalism, respect for diversity. Core competencies: Results-orientation, accountability, planning, organizing, team orientation. Key competencies: Cooperation, emotional intelligence, effective communication, trust-building, innovation, continuous improvement, knowledge sharing.

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