Senior Gender Expert - Capacity-building & Local Governance (Service provider)

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Based in Brussels and active in over a dozen countries, the European Institute of Peace (www.eip.org) is an independent organisation working collaboratively with the parties to the conflict, those who represent people suffering from insecurity or at risk of violence, as well as European decision-makers and the conflict prevention, resolution and mediation community.

We provide practical experience, technical expertise, and policy advice on conflict resolution. We use a variety of tools to help us do this, including analysis, mapping and design of peace processes and agreements, facilitating policy discussions, and proposing practical engagement, for example through inclusive dialogue and mediation support. 

Are you captivated by our innovative approach to peace, and do you want to contribute to the mission of our institute? Do you share our vision for a world where people live in safety and peace because conflicts and grievances are resolved through inclusive dialogue and lasting political agreements?

We are seeking  a Senior Gender Expert (Capacity-building & Local Governance)  to provide strategic and technical expertise to the  Institute’s Gender and Peacemaking Programme.

You will

• Provide senior technical input to the design and implementation of activities related to capacity- building, governance support and strategic communications, ensuring alignment with international gender equality and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) frameworks and global good practices
  
• Develop and/or guide the development of tailored training materials and practical tools on gender-responsive governance, adapted to the Syrian context
• Provide strategic and technical advice to local governance actors and partners on the design and implementation of gender-responsive policies and processes, including support to the (re-)establishment and strengthening of Women’s Affairs Councils (WACs) where feasible
• Advise on the design of inclusive dialogue and consultation mechanisms between women in governance, civil society, and communities
• Contribute to the design and development of a gender-sensitive strategic communications campaign, including active input into messaging and content creation, ensuring inclusive, context-appropriate outputs developed in collaboration with media partners and civil society actors
• Ensure a coherent strategic approach (“red thread”) across all activities by translating international frameworks and comparative experience into practical, context-adapted solutions, applying a pragmatic lens to ensure feasibility, donor alignment, and tangible impact
• Work in close collaboration with local partners and local/regional gender advisors, ensuring ongoing coordination and technical guidance, including targeted training-of-trainers support to enable effective implementation of capacity-building workshops, while local partners lead on contextual adaptation, language, and in-country delivery
• Work in close collaboration with relevant EIP teams and provide cross-cutting gender input and quality assurance across all project components upon request

Your skills and experience

• Minimum 12 years of experience in gender equality, women’s participation, and/or governance, including work on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, with proven experience providing senior-level technical advice on gender-responsive governance, policy development, and institutional strengthening
• Demonstrated experience in designing and supporting capacity-building initiatives, including development of training materials and/or Training-of-Trainers approaches, as well as contributing to strategic communications and social norms change initiatives related to gender equality
• Strong track record of working in fragile and conflict-affected contexts; experience in Syria or the Middle East region is highly desirable
• Experience working with local governance actors, civil society, and multi-stakeholder processes, including advising on mechanisms for women’s participation (e.g. councils, platforms, or similar structures)
• Strong knowledge of international gender equality frameworks, including WPS, with the ability to translate these into practical, context-specific approaches and provide strategic, results-oriented guidance
• Demonstrated ability to combine high-level strategic thinking with hands-on content development (e.g. training tools, communication messaging), and to deliver clear, actionable recommendations
• Proven ability to work effectively with local partners and multidisciplinary teams, providing technical guidance and capacity support, while ensuring coherence across multiple workstreams
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders, including governance actors, civil society, and media partners
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required  
• Knowledge of Arabic is an asset   
  

What we are offering

Consultancy contract from May 2026 until December 2026.

Start date: 1st of May 2026.

Recruitment process

Closing date: 15/04/2026, midnight (CET).

Please submit in English the following documents using the webform below:

• CV
• Methodology and budget (submit as one PDF in the field motivation letter), which should include:
• • Motivation letter
    
  • Example of English language report authored by applicant (those submitted without an example will be disregarded)
  • At least one (1) professional reference or certificate documenting a successfully completed capacity-building workshop or process. This reference must specifically focus on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) or gender-responsive policy development
  • Financial proposal specifying expected daily rate

Our hiring team will review all applications after the closing date of the vacancy. We will keep you informed on the status of your application.

EIP firmly believes that diverse perspectives are key to our work. Therefore we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusiveness. Your qualities and commitment are what matter to us, regardless of race, nationality, gender, age, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

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