Short-term consultancy: Analysing gender, climate and water issues in a changing climate in the Pacific region
October 2025
Timeframe: November 2025 – February 2026
Days Required: 14 days
Reports to: Head of Strategy
Location: Remote, no travel
Pacific Islanders or Pacific-based consultants are strongly encouraged to apply
Background
Pacific Island nations are experiencing escalating challenges related to climate change, resulting in slow onset impacts such as sea level rise and more frequent and intense extreme weather events. These environmental shifts are placing increasing pressure on already fragile water systems, leading to greater water insecurity, particularly in remote and low-lying island communities. For example, access to safe, reliable, and sufficient water is increasingly compromised by saltwater intrusion, changing rainfall patterns, and infrastructure limitations. These challenges intersect with deeply rooted gender inequalities, placing disproportionate burdens on women, girls, and marginalized groups, who are often responsible for water collection and household water management. Despite growing recognition of these issues, there remains a critical gap in consolidated, policy-relevant evidence that brings together the intersecting themes of climate, gender, and water insecurityin the Pacific context. For example, menstrual health is a neglected gender equality issue that impacts the climate resilience of women girls, and all menstruators yet has been systemically overlooked in climate change policies across the region.
There is a need to improve evidence to inform collaborative advocacy and influencing.
WaterAid is seeking a short-term gender consultant to develop a policy brief exploring the interlinkages between water, climate and gender in the Pacific region. The policy paper will examine how climate-related stressors—drought, saltwater intrusion, flooding, and water contamination—impact water access, quality, and management from a gendered perspective. The paper will inform discussions at Women Deliver 2026.
The consultant will review literature and conduct interviews to examine how the three areas intersect, what the gaps and opportunities are. The scope and methodology will be designed in consultation with a small advisory group that WaterAid has established and may include exploration of programmatic evidence to capture promising practices and traditional indigenous knowledge. The findings will inform a set of recommendations co-developed with Pacific women’s rights groups.
Purpose
To develop a short policy brief which raises awareness of the intersection between climate change, gender inequality, and water insecurity in the Pacific to inform advocacy for practical change among policy decision-makers and development partners.
Objectives
- Develop a simple methodology to explore the intersections between climate change, gender inequality and water insecurity in the Pacific region, in collaboration with a small advisory group; and
- Analyse evidence collected and facilitate participatory development of practical recommendations with the advisory group.
Methodology
- Refine the scope, methodology and plan in consultation with the advisory group and WaterAid;
- Conduct a desk review of academic and grey literature and policies;
- Engage approx. 10 expert stakeholders for short virtual key informant interviews and analyse findings;
- Facilitate a workshop with advisory group to validate analysis and co-develop recommendations;
- Synthesize findings into a short policy paper, with practical recommendations.
Deliverables
- Desk review findings;
- Co-facilitation of three advisory group meetings together with WaterAid
- A final policy brief (8-10 pages) published, including key findings; case study highlighting good practice and actionable recommendations
Timeline
See position description.
To Apply
Please submit an application to recruitment@wateraid.org.au by 5pm AEST 4 November 2025 with the subject line Application – Gender Consultant.
Applications for this consultancy must include a CV, brief overview of the proposed methodology (1-2 pages max) and a fee proposal.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Pacific Islander consultants are strongly encouraged to apply.
WaterAid is a child-safe organisation and we are committed to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse in everything we do. We recognise that we must meet community expectations and the trust placed in our personnel to maintain the highest standards of conduct with children. Therefore, all roles within WaterAid are required to comply with our Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.
Successful candidates will also be asked to undergo police and other integrity checks.
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