Background:
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 Malawi Country Office (CO), works with partners, including the Malawi Government, civil society organisations, the private sector, influencers, media, and other UN agencies in promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls in Malawi. Guided by the Strategic Note 2024–2028, which serves as the underlying strategic plan for achieving its operational and programmatic results, UN Women Malawi is dedicated to advancing Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE) through various initiatives. Key areas of focus include the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls (EVAW), encompassing actions within the normative framework ensuring national and local governing institutions have increased capacities to implement policies and strategies on ending violence against women and girls and harmful traditional practices.
Malawi continues to face deeply entrenched gender inequalities, widespread gender-based violence (GBV), unequal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and gendered disparities in HIV outcomes. These challenges are underpinned by patriarchal structures, rigid gender norms, and harmful expressions of masculinity that perpetuate male dominance and restrict the rights and opportunities of women and girls. Despite national efforts, male involvement in addressing these issues has remained limited and fragmented.
To respond to this gap, the Government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare—and with support from the United Nations led by UN Women, UNFPA, and UNAIDS under the Spotlight Initiative, developed the first National Male Engagement Strategy (2023–2030). This strategy provides a transformative, multi-sectoral framework for engaging men and boys as partners, allies, and change agents in the promotion of gender equality, prevention of GBV, advancement of SRHR, and reduction of HIV-related stigma and infections. It also reflects Malawi’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 3 (Health), 5 (Gender Equality), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and aligns with the long-term vision of Malawi 2063.
The National Male Engagement Strategy has six strategic objectives, as follows:
To facilitate deconstruction of harmful social norms and practices. To promote transformative masculinities and femininities To improve access and utilization of GE, GBV, HIV and SRHR services for all men and boys. To increase male involvement in the reinforcement of legal frameworks around GE, GBV, HIV and SRHR To enhance linkage and coordination of Male Engagement on GE, GBV, SRHR and HIV interventions at National, District and Community levels. To encourage research, learning and data management on male engagement.Rationale
While the National Male Engagement Strategy lays a strong strategic foundation, its successful implementation requires clear, consistent, and actionable guidance. Currently, there is a lack of standardized procedures to ensure effective, coordinated, and measurable interventions at both national and community levels.
The development of Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) is therefore critical. SoPs will serve as a practical framework for stakeholders, government ministries, civil society organizations, health workers, educators, traditional leaders, and male champions to implement the strategy consistently across different contexts. They will define operational roles, standardize intervention approaches, and enhance coordination, accountability, and scalability of male engagement efforts. Ultimately, the SoPs will help institutionalize gender-transformative programming, ensure sustainability, and bridge the gap between policy and practice in Malawi’s journey toward gender equality and improved health outcomes.
Objectives
The overall objective is to develop a comprehensive and context-specific set of Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) to operationalize the National Male Engagement Strategy that compliments and accelerates the achievement of key national strategies on gender equality, GBV, HIV and SRHR.
Specific Objectives:
Review the National Male Engagement Strategy and relevant policy frameworks. Define operational structures, roles, and responsibilities at various levels (national, district, community). Develop thematic SoPs for sectors including health, education, justice, and community engagement. Ensure alignment with existing protocols on gender equality, HIV, GBV, and SRHR. Facilitate stakeholder validation and capacity building for adoption and rollout.Scope of Work
The consultant will be engaged to develop Standard Operating Procedures to support the operationalization of the National Male Engagement Strategy for a period of 40days.
The selected consultant is expected to undertake the following key tasks: # Key Activities # of Days 1 Inception report: Understanding of ToRs, methodology, and work plan 3 2 Review of Male Engagement Strategy, national policies, and related documents 5 3 Stakeholder consultations and mapping of implementing structures 7 4 Draft SoPs covering: planning, implementation, monitoring, coordination, reporting, referral 12 5 Thematic SoPs for key sectors 5 6 Stakeholder validation workshop and integration of feedback 3 7 Finalization of SoPs and preparation of rollout and dissemination plan 3 8 Development of a brief orientation guide/manual and PowerPoint presentation 2 40 Days
Deliverables
Inception Report with methodology, tools, and timeline. Draft SoPs aligned with the National Male Engagement Strategy. Thematic SoPs tailored to specific sectors and interventions. Stakeholder Validation Report capturing key inputs and recommendations. Final SoPs Document with standardized templates and guidelines. Orientation Guide/Manual for implementers including a translated version in the main local languages. PowerPoint Presentation for dissemination and advocacy purposesCompetencies :
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:
Functional Competencies:
Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to implementation of projects, managing data, and reporting; Knowledge of data collection and reporting Ability to establish contact with UN agencies and other international partners; Knowledge of gender and women’s empowerment.Required Qualifications
Education and Certification
Master's degree in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, International Relations, Development Studies or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;Experience
At least 7 years’ relevant professional experience working on GEWE issues, preferably within the UN system; Familiarity with human rights concepts and approaches and GEWE normative frameworks; Experience in implementing male engagement programmes in the field of SRHR, HIV, GBV or gender is an added advantage; Excellent analytical, research, writing and communication skills; Good organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to details. Full computer literacyLanguages:
Fluency in English is requiredStatements :
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.
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