Gender Specialist - Inclusive Governance and Gender-based violence Prevention

Background
  Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
  UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Office/Unit/Project Description 

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP's policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP's Strategic Plan. BPPS's staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP's Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP's development programmes.  BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data-driven including in its programme support efforts.

UNDP has achieved significant progress in making gender equality and women’s empowerment integral to its work on human development. The new UNDP Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025 builds on the lessons of the previous strategies it has established as the main goal to help governments to shift systems and power structures that generate gender inequalities and women’s disempowerment. It will work through its six signature solutions on poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, energy and gender equality; and promote integrated approaches in each thematic area, stronger investments in data and analysis, and the implementation of innovative solutions to transform social norms, and stronger partnerships with UN agencies and with civil society.

The Gender Team (BPPS) has the leading role in the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025, including through the implementation of Gender Equality Global Program 2023-2025.

Scope of Work 

The Gender Specialist- Inclusive Governance and gender-based violence prevention, under the supervision of the Director of the Gender Team (New York), will: 

1.           Provide strategic leadership for effective planning and implementation of the inclusive governance and gender-based violence prevention priorities of the Gender Equality Global Program.

• Provide guidance and technical advice to advance the implementation of the inclusive governance and GBV prevention priorities of the Gender Equality Global Program (Outcome 2), including to support women, feminist organizations, and women’s networks to influence public decision making (Activity 2.2); to equip public institutions to prevent and reduce gender-based violence (Activity 2.3) ; and to advance social norms change and prevention of backlashes against women’s rights through data and innovation (Activity 2.4).
• Identify opportunities for synergies with other UNDP global flagship initiatives, and other GPN Teams, including the Governance and Rule of Law Teams, the Nature, Climate and Energy Hubs, the Chief Digital Office, and the Gender and Crisis Facility, among others.
• Liaise with Regional Hubs and Country Offices to identify their needs and interests relevant to these thematic areas, to ensure ownership and contribute to strengthening their capacities.
• Ensure effective implementation of specific programmes/initiatives on these topics channelled through the Gender Equality Global Program (e.g., Spotlight Initiative, technology enhanced GBV, integrating a GBV lens in non-GBV initiatives, etc.), including management of resources, monitoring and evaluation of results and corporate reporting (e.g., BPPS and donors).

  2.           Build and maintain strategic partnerships.

  • Represent UNDP and the Gender Team in UN interagency coordination spaces, as well as in other fora, to advance UNDP strategic agenda on inclusive governance and gender-based violence prevention (e.g., Spotlight Initiative).
  • Provide substantive advice and support to foster/strengthen strategic partnerships with UN entities working on SDG 5.2 (e.g., Joint Respect Framework on preventing GBV and the UN Essential Services on Ending GBV), governments, civil society, academia and donors. 
  • Strengthen resource mobilization efforts for the expansion of this area of work, including by identifying funding opportunities, preparing funding proposals, donor briefings, etc.
  • Attend meetings, prepare concept notes, presentations, briefs and talking points for senior management as needed.

    3.           Ensure effective knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy.

    • Contribute to knowledge management on inclusive governance and GBV prevention, aligned to the new global Knowledge Management Strategy and Framework for Action (e.g., CoPs, knowledge platforms, high-quality knowledge products, evidence-based good practices, among others).
    • Keep the Gender Team and the GPN abreast of main advances on data and cutting-edge knowledge and academic feminist research on this strategic agenda.
    • Design and coordinate the implementation of learning initiatives, including by ensuring lessons learned from emerging and innovative approaches (e.g., transforming masculinities and targeting men and boys for the eradication of GBV) are widely disseminated both internally and externally.
    • Provide guidance and technical support to the Gender Team and BERA on all communications and advocacy efforts related to SDG 5.2 on ending violence against women and girls, including advocacy campaigns as 16 Days of Activism, among others.

      The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

      📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

      ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

      Institutional Arrangement.

      The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Director of the Gender Team. 

      Competencies. Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact  Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems  Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands  Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

      Cross-Functional & Technical competencies  Thematic Area Name Definition 2030 Agenda: People Gender Gender Mainstreaming 2030 Agenda: People Gender Gender Issues and Analysis 2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness. Effectiveness RBM standards and practices for programming 2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness. Effectiveness Performance and data analysis and sharing lessons 2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness. Effectiveness Development Partnership Architecture Business Direction and Strategy SystemThinking

      Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

      Business Management Communication Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

      Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

      Min.Education requirements    

      • Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Gender Equality and/or other related disciplines.  Or 
      • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) In the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

        Min. years of relevant work experience 

        • Minimum of seven (7) years (with master’s degree) or nine (9) years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in gender and development with a particular focus in inclusive governance and GBV prevention is required.

          Required skills               

          • Experience in providing technical and project management support, particularly in complex initiatives including different levels (global, regional, and country levels) is required.
          • Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required. 

            Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

            • Understanding and experience on Gender-based violence prevention is desirable.
            • Understanding and experience in collaborating with civil society and feminist organizations is an asset.
            • Proven experience in partnerships and resource mobilization is desirable. 
            • Proven experience in communications, knowledge management and learning is an asset.
            • Knowledge of UNDP operations and structures, particularly those related to gender equality and women’s empowerment, is highly desirable.

              Required Language(s)   

              • Fluency in English, both written and oral is required.
              • Working knowledge of a second UN language is an asset. Disclaimer
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