Supporting Gender Specialist

UNESCO is seeking Supporting Gender Specialists in Dar es Salaam to provide field-based technical support for the gender component of the UNESCO–Beijing Normal University (BNU) Project, “Closing the Digital Divide: Ensuring Gender-Transformative Digital Skills Education for Women and Girls.” The consultants will work under the technical guidance and supervision of the Lead Gender Expert.

The role focuses on ensuring that ICT Clubs, mentorship programmes, Innovation Bootcamps and other project activities create meaningful opportunities for girls to participate, develop leadership skills, build confidence and engage in ICT and STEM. Each Supporting Gender Specialist will be responsible for five assigned schools and will contribute to monitoring, documentation, reporting and continuous improvement of the project.

About UNESCO

UNESCO is an international organization working to advance education, science, culture, communication and information. In this project, UNESCO is working with Beijing Normal University and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to address barriers affecting women’s and girls’ participation in digital education and technology-related opportunities.

The Supporting Gender Specialist will therefore work directly with schools, teachers, mentors, adolescents and other stakeholders to ensure that gender-responsive and gender-transformative approaches are effectively applied at school level.

Responsibilities

The Supporting Gender Specialist will:

• Provide field-based technical support for integrating gender-responsive and gender-transformative approaches into ICT Clubs and extracurricular activities across five assigned schools.

• Provide technical guidance to teachers, mentors, school focal persons and the technical implementing partner.

• Promote girls’ meaningful participation, leadership, confidence, safety, inclusion and empowerment.

• Contribute to the design of gender-transformative approaches and content for ICT Clubs, mentorship activities, Innovation Bootcamps and other project activities.

• Help address gender norms and stereotypes that may limit girls’ participation in ICT and STEM.

• Contribute to identifying suitable female ICT and STEM role models and mentors.

• Support the design and delivery of mentorship and career-exposure activities.

• Support the integration of gender-transformative approaches into project methodologies, facilitation processes, implementation tools and school-level activities.

• Support ICT Clubs, mentorship engagements, Innovation Bootcamps and related activities.

• Ensure girls have opportunities to take technical and leadership roles, participate in collaborative learning and innovation, and develop and present digital projects.

• Monitor implementation of the gender component within assigned schools.

• Identify emerging gender-related barriers, challenges and opportunities.

• Provide practical recommendations and follow-up support to improve implementation.

• Document achievements, lessons learned, good practices, challenges and recommendations.

• Provide timely technical inputs to the Lead Gender Expert.

• Prepare school-level monitoring reports.

• Prepare a consolidated report covering the five assigned schools in accordance with agreed reporting requirements and timelines.

Qualification Requirements

Applicants should have:

• A university degree in Gender Studies, Education, Social Sciences, Development Studies or a related field.

• At least five years of professional experience in gender equality, girls’ empowerment and gender-transformative programming.

• Demonstrated experience integrating gender into education, ICT, STEM, youth or community development programmes.

• Experience working with schools, adolescents, teachers and community stakeholders.

• Strong facilitation skills.

• Strong mentoring skills.

• Strong communication skills.

• Strong analytical skills.

• Strong report-writing skills.

• Excellent written and spoken English proficiency.

• Excellent written and spoken Kiswahili proficiency.

Who Can Apply

This consultancy is suitable for experienced gender, education, development or social-sector professionals who have at least five years of relevant experience. Candidates should ideally have practical experience working directly with schools, teachers, adolescents and communities.

Experience connecting gender equality with ICT, STEM, digital skills, youth development or education programmes will be particularly relevant. The role requires strong fieldwork, facilitation, mentoring, monitoring and reporting abilities.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply online through the UNESCO Careers website.

After submitting the online application, applicants should also:

• Prepare an updated CV highlighting relevant experience in accordance with the Terms of Reference.

• Prepare assignment-related costs showing professional fees and travel costs.

• Send the updated CV and budget by email to [email protected].

• Use the email subject: APPLICATION FOR A SUPPORTING GENDER EXPERT.

• Submit the application before 22 August 2026.

Application link: UNESCO Careers – Supporting Gender Specialist

The Supporting Gender Specialist consultancy is a strong opportunity for professionals with practical gender-programming experience who want to contribute to improving girls’ participation in ICT, STEM and digital innovation. Because each specialist will directly support five schools, the role combines field implementation, stakeholder engagement, mentoring, monitoring and technical reporting.