UN WOMEN IS HIRING: National Technical Consultant – Women Artisans of Change | Home-Based, India 🇮🇳 | 2026

UN Women is recruiting a National Technical Consultant – Women Artisans of Change (Crafts Sector) to support its Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme in India. This is a home-based, full-time individual consultancy focused on women’s entrepreneurship, handloom and handicrafts, sustainable textiles, capacity building, partnerships and programme implementation.

The consultancy has an initial duration of one year, with the assignment structured around 20 working days per month. The application deadline is August 28, 2026, at 9:10 AM, according to the vacancy information provided.

Importantly, the vacancy does not state a salary or consultancy fee, so applicants should not assume a specific compensation amount.

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About UN Women

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

UN Women works to eliminate discrimination against women and girls and supports women’s participation and leadership across development, human rights, humanitarian action, peace and security.

In India, UN Women works with government institutions, development partners, civil society and other stakeholders to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. The organization is also supporting initiatives that strengthen the participation of women in sectors such as handloom, handicrafts and textiles.

Opportunity Overview

The National Technical Consultant – Women Artisans of Change (Crafts Sector) will support the implementation of UN Women’s partnership with the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, as well as the Women Artisans of Change (WeACe) initiative.

The role combines technical expertise, programme coordination, research, training, stakeholder engagement and knowledge production.

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Programme Analyst, Women’s Economic Empowerment, and in coordination with the Country Programme Manager, Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Supporting women’s economic empowerment initiatives in the textile, handloom and handicrafts sectors.
• Coordinating with government agencies, development partners, industry, academia and implementing organizations.
• Designing and facilitating training programmes and workshops.
• Developing training materials, technical reports, policy briefs, concept notes and proposals.
• Supporting research and advocacy related to women artisans, entrepreneurship and circularity.
• Organizing consultations, conferences, exhibitions and other major events.
• Supporting partnership development and resource mobilization.
• Monitoring programme implementation and documenting results and lessons learned.
• Preparing programme and donor reporting inputs.
• Supporting communication and advocacy activities related to women artisans and sustainable textiles.

Expected Monthly Outputs

The consultancy includes several practical monthly deliverables.

The consultant is expected to support at least one capacity-building workshop or session per month for women weavers, artisans or relevant stakeholders.

The role also calls for at least two consultations or meetings per month with women weavers, artisans, entrepreneurs or collectives.

In addition, the consultant will contribute to technical and knowledge products such as reports, training documentation, concept notes, policy briefs, proposals and communication materials.

The consultant is also expected to support one to two social media and communication outputs per month, highlighting programme activities, results, women’s leadership and relevant sector messages.

Who Is This Opportunity Suitable For?

This opportunity is particularly relevant for professionals who have already developed substantial experience in the textile, handloom, handicrafts or sustainable/circular economy sectors.

It may suit candidates working in areas such as:

• Women’s economic empowerment
• Textile and fashion development
• Handloom and handicraft development
• Sustainable or circular economy
• Livelihoods programming
• Women’s entrepreneurship
• Skills development
• Value-chain development
• Programme management
• Capacity building and training
• Policy and advocacy
• Development consulting

The position is especially relevant to professionals who can combine sector-specific technical knowledge with gender-focused programme implementation.

Salary and Benefits

Salary or Consultancy Fee

The vacancy information provided does not specify the consultancy fee or salary.

Therefore, applicants should verify the financial terms through the official UN Women application system and any consultancy documentation associated with the recruitment process.

Contract Duration

The initial contract duration is one year, with the assignment structured at 20 working days per month.

Work Arrangement

The position is listed as Home Based and classified as an Individual Consultancy.

The consultant is expected to use their own computer equipment, as the office will not provide a computer for this assignment.

The vacancy also states that this is a full-time assignment. Consultants are required to disclose outside activities and will not be permitted to undertake outside work during the assignment.

Required Qualifications Explained

The vacancy lists education requirements connected to the technical nature of the consultancy.

Candidates should have a degree in:

• Design;
• Fashion Technology; or
• An equivalent related field.

The vacancy also states that a first-level university degree combined with additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

The initial job information lists a minimum education-and-experience combination of Bachelor’s Degree with two years of experience OR High School certificate with five years of experience. However, the detailed education and experience section specifies a more specialized profile, including at least five years of progressively responsible experience in the relevant sectors.

Because of this difference within the supplied vacancy text, applicants should carefully review the official application requirements and ensure their qualifications clearly match the detailed criteria.

Required Experience

The detailed vacancy requires at least five years of progressively responsible experience working in the handloom, handicrafts, textile sector, and sustainable or circular economy.

Applicants should also demonstrate:

Gender and Women’s Economic Empowerment

Candidates need sound knowledge of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, particularly in areas such as:

• Livelihoods
• Entrepreneurship
• Skills development
• Value chains

Training and Capacity Building

Significant experience developing training manuals and conducting training workshops in the textile sector is required.

This means applicants should be able to demonstrate more than attendance at workshops. Their CV should show concrete involvement in designing, organizing or delivering capacity-building programmes.

Stakeholder Engagement

Experience working with several stakeholder groups is important, including:

• Government institutions
• Development partners
• Private-sector organizations
• Civil society organizations
• Academic institutions
• Industry stakeholders

Technical Writing

Applicants should have strong technical writing abilities and experience producing documents such as:

• Technical reports
• Proposals
• Policy briefs
• Concept notes
• Knowledge products
• Briefing materials

Digital Skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint is required. Familiarity with digital collaboration and communication tools is considered an asset.

Experience with UN agencies or international organizations would also be an advantage.

Language Requirements

The vacancy requires:

• Strong written English skills
• Good command of Hindi

For this particular consultancy, language ability is important because the role involves technical writing, stakeholder engagement, training and coordination.

Key Competencies UN Women Is Looking For

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate both professional expertise and strong interpersonal skills.

Core values include:

• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Respect for diversity

Core competencies include:

• Gender awareness and sensitivity
• Accountability
• Creative problem solving
• Effective communication
• Inclusive collaboration
• Stakeholder engagement
• Leading by example

A strong candidate should therefore be able to show evidence of these qualities through previous projects rather than simply listing them as personal attributes.

How Competitive Is the Opportunity?

This is likely to be a specialized and competitive consultancy because the role combines several areas of expertise rather than requiring general programme experience alone.

The selection criteria provided give particular weight to relevant experience and government engagement:

• Required degree and qualification – 5 points
• Minimum relevant experience – 10 points
• Working knowledge and experience working with government on gender issues – 5 points

Candidates who meet the minimum criteria then face a further assessment consisting of:

• Interview – 80 points
• Writing samples – 20 points

This means applicants should prepare for both competency-based interviewing and technical writing assessment.

Simply having a strong CV may not be enough. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how their previous work produced practical results.

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How to Prepare Your CV

A tailored CV is particularly important for this consultancy.

1. Lead With Relevant Sector Experience

Your professional experience should clearly show work involving:

handloom + handicrafts + textiles + sustainability/circular economy + women’s economic empowerment.

Avoid relying on generic descriptions such as “programme officer” or “project consultant” without explaining the technical areas involved.

2. Quantify Your Achievements

Where accurate, include measurable results.

For example:

• Number of artisans trained
• Number of workshops facilitated
• Number of partner organizations coordinated
• Number of communities reached
• Number of training materials developed
• Number of policy or research outputs produced

Only include figures you can substantiate.

3. Highlight Government Engagement

Because government experience receives specific attention in the selection process, clearly identify previous work involving government ministries, departments or agencies.

4. Showcase Writing Experience

Create a dedicated section or clearly visible experience entries for:

• Policy briefs
• Research reports
• Technical reports
• Proposals
• Training manuals
• Knowledge products
• Advocacy materials

5. Demonstrate Training Expertise

Explain what you actually did.

Instead of simply writing “conducted training,” specify whether you:

• Designed curricula
• Developed facilitator guides
• Delivered workshops
• Trained trainers
• Evaluated participant learning
• Adapted materials for different audiences

Common Application Mistakes

Using a Generic CV

A generic development-sector CV may fail to demonstrate the specialist textile and women’s economic empowerment experience required.

Listing Responsibilities Instead of Results

Recruiters need to understand what you achieved, not just what was included in your job description.

Ignoring the Writing Component

Because writing samples account for 20 points, applicants should treat written communication as a major part of their preparation.

Failing to Complete the Application Form

UN Women specifically states that applicants must complete all sections of the application form, including education and employment history. Incomplete applications may be disqualified.

Overlooking the Hindi Requirement

Applicants should honestly assess whether they meet the stated language requirement.

Applying Without Relevant Evidence

General experience in international development may not compensate for insufficient experience in the handloom, handicrafts, textile or sustainable/circular economy sectors.

Career Paths After This Consultancy

Experience in this assignment could help strengthen a professional profile for future roles in areas such as:

• Women’s economic empowerment
• Gender and livelihoods programming
• Textile and handicraft development
• Sustainable fashion
• Circular economy programmes
• International development consulting
• Programme management
• Government-development partnerships
• Policy research and advocacy
• Capacity-building programmes
• UN and international organization consultancies

The combination of technical sector expertise, government coordination, gender programming and UN project experience can be particularly valuable for professionals seeking longer-term careers in international development.

Similar Opportunities

Applicants interested in UN Women consultancy roles may also explore other positions within the organization’s recruitment system, particularly opportunities involving:

• Women’s economic empowerment
• Inclusive governance
• Executive learning
• Gender-responsive policy
• Programme coordination
• Institutional development
• Knowledge management

The vacancy listing itself identifies other UN Women home-based consultancy opportunities, including positions related to inclusive governance and executive learning and strategy, budget oversight and executive learning.

Applicants should always verify that similar vacancies remain open before applying.

Official Application Information

Organization: UN Women
Position: National Technical Consultant – Women Artisans of Change (Crafts Sector)
Programme: Women’s Economic Empowerment
Location: Home Based, India
Job Type: Individual Consultancy
Schedule: Full Time
Initial Contract: 1 year, 20 working days per month
Job Identification: 36351
Posting Date: August 19, 2026
Application Deadline: August 28, 2026, at 9:10 AM
Salary/Consultancy Fee: Not specified in the vacancy information provided

Official application: Apply through the UN Women Careers portal

Applicants should complete every required section of the application and carefully review the official vacancy before submitting.

Final Thoughts

The UN Women National Technical Consultant – Women Artisans of Change opportunity is a specialized consultancy for professionals who understand the intersection of women’s economic empowerment, textiles, handicrafts, entrepreneurship and sustainable production.

The strongest applicants are likely to be those who can demonstrate not only sector knowledge but also practical experience delivering training, coordinating with government and development partners, producing high-quality technical documents and turning research and stakeholder feedback into programme action.

Because the selection process places substantial weight on the interview and writing samples, applicants should prepare concrete examples from previous assignments and ensure their CV clearly demonstrates the experience requested in the vacancy.

For candidates with the right combination of textile-sector expertise, gender programming and stakeholder coordination experience, this consultancy could provide valuable exposure to a major UN women’s economic empowerment initiative in India.