UN Women HeForShe Barbershop Facilitator Consultant Roster: Remote Consultancy Opportunity for Gender Equality Experts

Professionals with expertise in gender equality, equitable masculinities, male allyship, social norm change, human rights, training and community engagement can explore a consultancy opportunity with UN Women through the HeForShe Barbershop Facilitator Consultant Roster.

The opportunity is designed to establish a pool of qualified and pre-vetted facilitators who can support the delivery and contextual adaptation of the HeForShe Barbershop Toolkit across different countries, languages and communities.

The consultancy is home-based and primarily remote, although selected consultants may be required to undertake short-term in-person facilitation assignments or field missions depending on programme requirements.

Unlike a conventional full-time employment position, inclusion in the consultant roster does not guarantee an immediate assignment. Instead, successful candidates become part of a pre-vetted pool that UN Women can draw upon when programmes, country offices, regional offices or implementing partners require qualified Barbershop facilitators.

About UN Women

UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The organization works toward 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.

The Barbershop Facilitator opportunity sits within UN Women’s Strategic Partnerships Division, specifically the Private Sector Partnerships Section.

The Private Sector Partnerships Section leads UN Women’s engagement with:

• Private-sector organizations
• Corporations
• Philanthropic organizations
• Foundations
• Individuals

The section also supports and drives several major global initiatives, including:

• HeForShe
• Women’s Empowerment Principles
• Unstereotype Alliance

Its broader objective is to develop and sustain high-quality, impact-focused partnerships that contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

What Is the HeForShe Barbershop Toolkit?

The Barbershop Toolkit is a participatory HeForShe programme designed to engage men and boys in discussions and learning around gender equality, equitable masculinities and social norms.

The programme is rooted in the Transforming Patriarchal Masculinities (TPM) approach.

Through facilitated discussions, participants can explore how social expectations and norms surrounding masculinity affect individuals, relationships, communities and broader society.

The initiative is intended to operate across multiple countries and languages. Because of this, UN Women is seeking qualified facilitators who can not only deliver Barbershop sessions but also help adapt the programme to different local environments and communities.

What Is the Consultant Roster?

The consultant roster is a mechanism used by UN Women to maintain a pool of pre-vetted experts with particular areas of specialization.

The purpose is to make it easier for UN Women headquarters, regional offices and country offices to quickly access qualified expertise when new programmes need to be launched, existing programmes need additional support, or urgent assignments require rapid deployment.

For this particular opportunity, successful consultants can potentially be called upon to support Barbershop programming based on demand from UN Women and its implementing partners.

However, applicants should understand an important distinction:

Being accepted into the consultant roster does not guarantee employment or an assignment.

Actual engagements depend on:

• Programme needs
• Requests from implementing partners
• Availability of resources
• The geographic requirements of a particular assignment
• The need for specific expertise

Consultants are therefore engaged on an as-needed basis, with the duration and frequency of assignments potentially varying over time.

Working Arrangement

The consultancy is structured as a home-based assignment.

Consultants will primarily work remotely and may receive assignments depending on UN Women’s programme requirements.

However, the work is not necessarily exclusively virtual.

Where necessary, consultants may be asked to undertake:

• Short-term in-person facilitation assignments
• Field missions
• National travel
• International travel

Travel requirements will be determined on a case-by-case basis according to the needs of the programme and the location where Barbershop sessions are being implemented.

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When Will Barbershop Sessions Begin?

The consultant roster onboarding process includes mandatory webinars and preparation activities.

The actual Barbershop Toolkit sessions are expected to begin in Q4 2026.

Consultants will report to the Partnerships Engagement and Special Initiatives Advisor and Global Head of HeForShe, who will serve as the focal point for contractual and payment-related matters.

Once engaged, consultants are expected to work independently while following the established Barbershop methodology, facilitation standards, implementation protocols and monitoring and evaluation framework.

Consultant Responsibilities and Deliverables

The consultancy includes several stages, beginning with onboarding and preparation and continuing through session delivery, monitoring, evaluation and knowledge sharing.

1. Complete Mandatory Barbershop Onboarding

Consultants must participate in mandatory Barbershop orientation and coordination webinars.

They are expected to attend at least 80% of the mandatory webinars organized by UN Women.

The purpose of these sessions is to ensure that facilitators understand and can properly apply:

• Barbershop methodology
• Facilitation standards
• Implementation protocols
• Curriculum objectives
• Reporting requirements

Consultants must also review relevant materials, including:

• The facilitation toolkit
• Safeguarding guidance
• Implementation framework

After completing the onboarding process, consultants are expected to confirm their understanding of the curriculum objectives and reporting requirements.

The onboarding webinars are envisioned to take place during 2026.

Importantly, the supplied information states that the first six months from roster onboarding are not paid activity and that the webinars are not compensated. Consultants may spend up to 10 hours per year participating in mandatory onboarding and knowledge-exchange webinars, with that participation time not compensated.

2. Prepare Adapted Barbershop Session Materials

Before delivering sessions, consultants will be responsible for reviewing the standard Barbershop curriculum and adapting the content where necessary.

The adaptation process may involve considering:

• Local language
• Cultural context
• Socio-cultural environment
• Participant profile
• Specific setting
• Partner requirements
• Available logistics

The consultant must ensure that adaptations remain aligned with the core objectives and methodology of the Barbershop programme.

Consultants will also coordinate with UN Women or the relevant implementing partner to ensure that the session design is appropriate and that all necessary preparations have been completed.

The finalized adapted materials must be submitted at least 7 working days before the workshop delivery date.

3. Deliver Barbershop Sessions

The central responsibility of the facilitator is to conduct Barbershop sessions with groups of men and boys.

Sessions must be delivered according to the standardized curriculum and approved guidelines.

Facilitators will be expected to:

• Conduct Barbershop sessions
• Facilitate discussions about gender equality
• Explore equitable masculinities
• Use the approved curriculum
• Create a safe and inclusive learning environment
• Maintain respectful dialogue
• Adapt facilitation techniques to group dynamics
• Preserve the core learning objectives of the programme

Facilitators must therefore be able to manage group discussions effectively while creating an environment where participants can engage in sensitive conversations in a constructive and respectful manner.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

Following each workshop, consultants must complete a structured monitoring and evaluation process.

The post-workshop report must align with the Barbershop Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

The report should document:

• Session delivery
• Participant attendance
• Participant engagement
• Participant profiles
• Key discussion themes
• Outcomes
• Facilitation observations
• Challenges encountered
• Lessons learned
• Recommendations for future sessions
• Suggested improvements

The post-workshop monitoring and evaluation report must be submitted within 5 working days after the workshop has been completed.

5. Contribute to the Barbershop Community of Practice

Consultants are also expected to contribute their knowledge and experience to the broader Barbershop community of practice.

This can include:

• Sharing facilitation insights
• Sharing lessons learned
• Sharing good practices
• Participating in community-of-practice platforms
• Participating in debrief sessions
• Providing written input for guidance notes
• Contributing to supplementary facilitation materials
• Recommending improvements to future Barbershop sessions
• Providing recommendations for implementation approaches
• Submitting facilitator testimonials
• Providing reflective statements for potential use in UN Women communications and advocacy materials

This element of the consultancy means that facilitators are not only expected to deliver sessions but can also contribute to improving and strengthening the broader Barbershop initiative.

Core Values Expected From Consultants

UN Women identifies several core values that consultants are expected to demonstrate.

These include:

• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity

These values are particularly relevant to a programme that involves discussions around gender, social norms, identity and cultural contexts.

Core Competencies

Applicants should also demonstrate a range of professional competencies relevant to facilitation and gender equality programming.

These include:

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues

Facilitators must understand the sensitive nature of gender-related discussions and be able to engage participants respectfully.

Accountability

Consultants must take responsibility for delivering agreed activities, meeting deadlines and completing required reporting.

Creative Problem Solving

Facilitators may encounter different cultural, logistical and group-dynamic challenges and should be able to develop appropriate solutions.

Effective Communication

Strong communication skills are essential for facilitating discussions and ensuring participants understand the subject matter.

Inclusive Collaboration

Consultants must be capable of working constructively with UN Women, implementing partners, participants and other stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement

The role requires the ability to engage effectively with different stakeholders involved in programme delivery.

Leading by Example

Facilitators are expected to demonstrate the principles and professional standards promoted through the programme.

Functional Skills and Expertise Required

Beyond the general competencies, the consultancy requires specialized knowledge and experience.

Applicants should have a strong understanding of:

• Gender equality
• Equitable masculinities
• Social norm change approaches

Strong interpersonal, communication and facilitation abilities are also required.

Applicants should be capable of:

• Managing groups
• Resolving conflicts
• Facilitating difficult conversations
• Adapting content to different contexts
• Working with diverse populations
• Adjusting content to different literacy levels
• Working across different languages and cultures

Experience in monitoring, evaluation and reporting for training or community-engagement programmes is considered an asset.

Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with intergovernmental processes are also considered assets.

Experience with the HeForShe Initiative and Barbershop Toolkit is an additional advantage.

Educational Requirements

Applicants are generally required to have a Master’s degree or equivalent.

The preferred fields include:

• Social Sciences
• Human Rights
• Gender Studies
• Women’s Studies
• International Development
• Related disciplines

However, an alternative pathway is available.

A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree.

Professional Experience Requirements

Applicants must have a minimum of 5 years of work experience.

In addition to the general experience requirement, candidates must have experience facilitating:

• Trainings
• Workshops
• Dialogue-based programmes

The experience should specifically relate to areas such as:

• Gender equality
• Male allyship
• Equitable masculinities

This is an important requirement because the role is not simply an administrative consultancy. Consultants are expected to have the professional experience necessary to lead structured conversations and learning sessions with groups of men and boys.

Language Requirements

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Knowledge of an additional language is highly desirable.

Additional language skills can be particularly valuable where the facilitator needs to adapt the Barbershop Toolkit and supporting materials to regional or local contexts.

UN Women Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

UN Women states that it is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment based on mutual respect.

The organization states that recruitment, employment, training, compensation and promotion are carried out without discrimination based on factors including:

• Race
• Religion
• Colour
• Sex
• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Age
• Ability
• National origin

UN Women states that employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

Candidates who require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment and selection process are encouraged to include that information in their application.

Safeguarding and Standards of Conduct

UN Women maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women.

This includes:

• Sexual exploitation and abuse
• Sexual harassment
• Abuse of authority
• Discrimination

Selected candidates are expected to comply with UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct applicable to UN Women personnel.

Candidates who are selected may also be subject to rigorous reference and background checks.

These checks can include verification of:

• Academic credentials
• Employment history
• Other information required for the recruitment process

Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to complete the background-check process.

Important Point About the Consultant Roster

Prospective applicants should understand that this is a consultant roster opportunity rather than a guaranteed employment position.

Being accepted into the roster means the consultant becomes part of a pool of pre-vetted experts whom UN Women may approach when suitable assignments become available.

Actual assignments depend on:

• Programme demand
• Partner requests
• Available funding and resources
• Required expertise
• Location and implementation needs

Consequently, inclusion in the roster does not automatically mean that a consultant will receive a specific number of assignments or a guaranteed workload.

Remote Work and Potential Travel

The position is advertised as home-based and remote, making it potentially suitable for qualified professionals who are not based at UN Women offices.

However, candidates should be prepared for the possibility of travel.

Depending on programme requirements, assignments may involve short-term in-person facilitation or field missions.

Travel can potentially be:

• Within the consultant’s country
• International

The exact travel requirements will depend on the assignment and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Timeline and Key Dates

The supplied opportunity information indicates that:

• Mandatory onboarding webinars are envisioned for 2026.
• The first six months from roster onboarding involve onboarding activity that is not paid.
• Barbershop Toolkit sessions are expected to begin in Q4 2026.
• Adapted session materials must be submitted at least 7 working days before the relevant workshop.
• Post-workshop M&E reports must be submitted within 5 working days after workshop completion.

No specific application deadline is stated in the supplied information.

Who Should Consider This Opportunity?

This consultancy is particularly suited to established professionals who have already developed substantial experience in gender equality and facilitated learning or dialogue programmes.

Potentially suitable candidates may include professionals working in:

• Gender equality
• Women’s rights
• Human rights
• Social sciences
• International development
• Gender studies
• Community development
• Social norm change
• Male allyship
• Gender-transformative programming
• Training and facilitation
• Community engagement
• Advocacy
• Peace and development
• International development programmes

However, applicants should carefully compare their qualifications with the stated requirements, particularly the 5-year professional experience requirement and the requirement for experience facilitating programmes related to gender equality, male allyship and equitable masculinities.

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Conclusion

The UN Women HeForShe Barbershop Facilitator Consultant Roster provides an opportunity for experienced gender equality and facilitation professionals to become part of a global pool of pre-vetted experts supporting the expansion of the Barbershop Toolkit.

The programme focuses on engaging men and boys in conversations about gender equality, equitable masculinities and social norm change. Successful consultants may support the adaptation and delivery of sessions across different languages, cultures and communities.

The consultancy is home-based and primarily remote, while short-term national or international travel may be required for particular assignments. Consultants will be expected to complete onboarding, adapt session materials, facilitate worksho

s, conduct monitoring and evaluation, meet reporting deadlines and contribute to the wider Barbershop community of practice.

The opportunity is best suited to professionals who already possess significant experience in gender equality-related facilitation. Applicants should have a relevant advanced degree or an accepted combination of a first-level degree and additional experience, at least five years of professional experience, demonstrated experience facilitating gender-related dialogue or training programmes, and fluency in English.

Importantly, inclusion in the consultant roster does not guarantee employment or future assignments. Consultants are engaged according to UN Women’s programme needs, partner requests and available resources.

For qualified professionals with the appropriate background, the roster can provide an opportunity to contribute to a global initiative focused on challenging harmful gender norms and advancing more equitable approaches to masculinity.

For more global grants, scholarships, fellowships, internships, jobs, conferences, competitions, and other career opportunities for young people, visit the Opportunities for Youth (OFY) website at www.opportunitiesforyouth.org.