Background
UNDP’s core vision is to help countries achieve the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion. Addressing gender equality and women’s empowerment is a key aspect of the UNDP approach to achieving its core vision. In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in UNDP’s Strategic Plan, gender equality is both a goal and an essential catalyst to progress across all development outcomes. The UNDP Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025, provides a road map to elevate and integrate gender equality into all aspects of UNDP's work to reduce poverty, build resilience, and achieve peace in communities and territories, helping to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda.
The UNDP Renewed Strategic Offer in Africa identifies structural economic transformation as one of the key pillars for accelerated and inclusive growth, with regional integration as a key enabler. As acknowledged in SDG 17, trade is a means of implementation for sustainable development. Boosting production and intra-African trade are intrinsically linked to the success of UNDP’s renewed strategic offer in Africa. UNDP’s Africa Regional Programme (2022 - 2025) provides dedicated support to the African Union member States and regional institutions to ensure, inter alia, that regional growth and structural transformation are inclusive, transformational, and sustainable with reduced economic inequalities. The programme is anchored using a ‘regional lens’ that promotes a coordinated approach and coherence between regional and national level interventions that align with regional frameworks and policies across Africa.
UNDP and its partners continue to support national and regional institutions through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) support programs. The initiatives focus on institutional support to the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and for effective implementation of the AfCFTA by the AU Member States. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of countries to develop strategies, and policies necessary for the implementation of the Agreement in a gender-responsive manner; and build the capacity of trade, business, and investment support institutions and organizations to increase their engagement with businesses on intra-African trade opportunities within the AfCFTA context.
Scope of Work
Under the direct supervision of the Regional Gender Team Leader and in close collaboration with the RSCA Inclusive Growth Team/AfCFTA Unit and Gender Team, the Gender Analyst will provide consultancy service to support the effective integration of gender equality in the multi-national projects on Institutional Support to partner funded-projects for effective implementation of the AfCFTA.
Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure in effectively integrating gender equality in knowledge products/tools, strategies, and policies
Provide consultancy service through tailored technical support to project countries to effectively undertake sectoral gender-sensitive analysis, including in support of the AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade. This includes providing gender expertise in designing research methodologies, analyzing gender impacts, and applying the findings to improve sector-specific outcomes; Support data collection for the production of policy-oriented and gender-sensitive knowledge products; Provide technical support in integrating gender equality in the AfCFTA strategic documents and policies at national and regional levels, particularly in relation to policies integrating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the challenges faced by women’s enterprises. This includes supporting in analysis of policies and development of gender-sensitive AfCFTA-related sectoral strategies/policies; Support the development of a gender-sensitive regional action plan, in support of an effective AfCFTA. This includes developing actionable plans that reflect gender equality principles and contribute to the overall effectiveness of AfCFTA initiatives.Support advisory services to countries and regional institutions to enhance their understanding and build consensus on AfCFTA-related issues, with a strong focus on integrating gender perspectives.
Support the regional and national stakeholder consultations and capacity-building activities in targeted project countries to ensure that gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout these efforts. This involves creating awareness, fostering collaboration, and providing training to ensure stakeholders at all levels have the necessary skills to integrate gender considerations into their decision-making processes; Provide sustained consultancy service through technical support to regional institutions and countries to effectively integrate gender equality in the AfCFTA. This includes supporting a strategic approach to communication and visibility through supporting targeted visibility campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and the development of impactful resources.Actively support ensuring gender equality is effectively integrated into the regional private-public sector dialogues on the AfCFTA framework
Support organizing the regional private-public sector dialogues on the AfCFTA framework and ensure mainstreaming of gender equality in the dialogues. This includes ensuring the inclusion of gender perspectives into outcome documents that reflect commitments to gender equality and women's empowerment.Provide technical assistance to research materials and opinion pieces on regional integration in Africa
Contribute to research outputs of Gender/AfCFTA regional team/Inclusive Growth Team; Identify sources of data and draft short notes of trends in intra-African trade with a particular focus on the integration of gender equality.Provide project management support for initiatives related to women's economic empowerment and AfCFTA
Support the implementation of project activities in the areas of women's economic empowerment and trade, including ensuring timely completion, efficient resource use, and coordination with stakeholders for successful implementation; Support in monitoring of initiatives, including tracking progress and providing regular updates to ensure alignment with project objectives; Support compiling and submitting regular progress reports, including qualitative and quantitative data, to demonstrate the project's impact on women's economic empowerment and AfCFTA.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Gender Analyst will provide consultancy service to work under the direct supervision of the UNDP Regional Gender Team Leader in collaboration with the Regional AfCFTA Advisor
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results:-LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively:-LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements Learn Continuously:-LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback Adapt with Agility:- LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible Act with Determination: - LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident Engage and Partner:-LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: - LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discriminationCross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Management:
Project Management : - Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals Risk Management : - Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks Partnership Management: - Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide network of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies. Results-based Management:- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results. Digital Awareness and Literacy :- Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to UNDP | People for 2030 – Competency Framework – Cross-functional Competencies (2024) use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends.Business Direction & Strategy:
Negotiation and Influence:- Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win- win’ situations.Partnership Management:
Relationship Management :- Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understandingRequired Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Economics, Development/Policy Studies, or any equivalent Social Science degree is required. 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.Experience:
Applicants with Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international level in the areas of gender, economic or trade.Required Skills:
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; Knowledge and experience in gender field.Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
Knowledge of or previous work experience in the fields of international/regional trade policy; Proved track record of good knowledge and experience of the gender equality and women empowerment, and the AfCFTA framework is an asset; Proven track record of good understanding of women economic empowerment and financing for MSMEs is an asset; Demonstrable expertise on public sector engagement; Familiarity/previous work with trade agreement /policies will be an added advantage; Experience supporting gender-sensitive trade policies and strategies nationally/regionally will be an added value; Good networking abilities and partnership development.Required Language(s)
Fluency in English. Good knowledge of French will be an asset.Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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