Background:
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for 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.ย
Placing women's rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations System efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) for 2018-2022 is the UNโs strategic programme framework in Sri Lanka that defines the UNโs support to national development results. UN Women in Sri Lanka co-chairs the UN Gender Theme Group (UN GTG), which is the UN Country Team (UNCT) group responsible for the coordination of and policy advice on gender equality issues in the UNSDCF, which identifies gender equality and womenโs empowerment (GEWE) as a cross-cutting theme. UN Women is also a principal partner in several outcome results groups in the UNSDCF as well as a partner to several UN joint programmes.ย
In 2020, the United Nations in Sri Lanka conducted a UNCT SWAP Gender Scorecard Exercise that assessed the capacities of the United Nations Country Team to respond to its gender mainstreaming responsibilities and the gender coordination mechanisms. The recommendations from the Scorecard are to be implemented through the resultant UNCT Action Plan of the Gender Scorecard. With the enhanced role of UN Women as the leading agency on coordination and gender mainstreaming, and the ensuing increased role of UN Women to support the UN GTG, a strong, flexible and versatile coordination function within UN Women office is required. This will be an important effort towards strengthened accountability for results for gender equality and women's empowerment, enhanced efficiencies, improved coherence, and joint action through better coordination between UN agencies, the government and development partners.
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Country Focal Point/Programme Analyst, UN Women Sri Lanka, and in close collaboration with the Head of the UN Resident Coordinatorโs Office (RCO) and the Chair of the UN Gender Theme Group (GTG), the Gender Coordination Officer will support UN Womenโs coordination mandate on gender equality and womenโs empowerment (GEWE), including leading inter-governmental processes, strengthening the UN GTG, and facilitating joint UN System and RCO initiatives on GEWE.
Key Functions and Accountabilities:
1.ย Provide technical inputs to UN Women on its UN coordination mandate on GEWE:
Work closely with the Country Focal Point/Programme Analyst to assist in the strategic coordination of Sri Lanka's priorities and commitments for gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE). Identify and lead UN joint programming opportunities for UN Women and partner agencies to deliver on the UNSDCF's GEWE commitments, including leading the coordination of the development joint programmes on GEWE. Provide substantive technical inputs on behalf of the office where UN Womenโs feedback is required โ particularly inter-agency frameworks and other documents.ย Produce policy notes, briefs and other documents as required to support UN Womenโs coordination efforts. Undertake gender analysis of joint UN programming. Represent UN Women in UNSDCF Outcome Results Groups and ensure gender equality and womenโs rights are mainstreamed in processes and documents. Document and advocate best practices and lessons learnt for UN System-wide coordination. Liaise with UN Women regional and HQ offices on developments related to UN Women's coordination mandate. Contribute to joint UN and donor advocacy efforts for GEWE, including serving as a member of the Secretariat of the G7+ Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.2. Provide technical support to UN Women on GEWE related inter-governmental processes:
Liaise and coordinate with relevant government, UN and civil society stakeholders in preparation for GEWE related inter-governmental processes such as CEDAW, CSW, BPFA etc.; Provide technical inputs to or draft reports and documents related to inter-governmental processes that require UN Womenโs feedback. Review, analyse and draft summaries of reports and policy documents, and of intergovernmental outcomes, from a gender equality and womenโs empowerment perspective; and draft documents (i.e. concept notes, briefing notes, talking points and presentations). Foster knowledge management and information flow on UN Coordination on GEWE and inter-governmental processes within the UN Women office. Provide coordination and logistic support to government and CSO participation in inter-governmental processes. Conduct briefings and training for relevant government and other stakeholders on relevant processes and mechanisms, as well as key messages, lessons learnt and good practice.ย3. Coordinate and strengthen UN GTG:
Provide coordination and secretarial functions for the UN Gender Theme Group, closely collaborating with the RCO, the Chair and co-Chairs of the UN GTG, and Gender Theme Group members of UN agencies. ย Draft Terms of Reference (TOR), and the roll-out of strategy and Annual Work Plans for the UN GTG, in line with the Action Plan stemming from the UNCT SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard exercise and goals of the UNSDF; Support the UN GTG to conduct/organise series of training for relevant UN inter-agency structures on mainstreaming GEWE in SDGs. Provide substantive technical inputs to reports, documents, briefing notes, policy briefs on specific thematic issues. Coordinate, consolidate and finalise inputs from GTG members for country and HQ level reports as needed. Contribute to strengthening strategic partnerships and coordination for GEWE within the UN System and with external partners, including government and development partners. Foster knowledge management and information flow among GTG members, including creating a repository.4. Coordinate joint efforts of GEWE of the UN system and RCO:
5. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
Competencies:
Core Values:
Respect for Diversity Integrity ProfessionalismCore Competencies:
Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues Accountability Creative Problem Solving Effective Communication Inclusive Collaboration Stakeholder Engagement Leading by ExamplePlease visit this link for more information on UN Womenโs Core Values and Competencies: ย https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:
Strong technical expertise, knowledge and understanding of GEWE in Sri Lanka. ย Demonstrated practical experience in coordination, strategic partnership development, and capacity-building initiatives related to Gender Equality and Womenโs Empowerment (GEWE) Strong analytical, written and oral communication skills, including good presentation skills. Demonstrated strong understanding of UN Womenโs mandate and work, including coordination within the UN system, engagement in women, peace, and security initiatives, and participation in inter-governmental processes Familiarity of the Sustainable Development Goals. Ability to conceptualize, develop and use knowledge management strategies to promote effective decision-making and intra/inter-organizational collaboration. Ability to work within a diverse team as well as carry out tasks independently. Strong planning and organizing skills with ability to identify priority activities and assignments and to use time efficiently. Strong problem-solving skills. Ability to take decisions and manage political/cultural sensitivities. Proficient IT skills. Familiarity with results-based management and rights-based programming.Recruitment Qualifications:
Education and Certification:
Masterโs degree in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.Experience:
Minimum one year of progressive experience at the national or international level on gender equality, womenโs empowerment, and human rights,ย Experience in capacity building and training UN, government, or stakeholders on gender mainstreaming. Familiarity with results-based management and rights-based programming. Familiarity with UN system and UN Womenโs GEWE coordination mandate. Experience in the areas of Women, Peace and Security and GEWE-related inter-governmental processes an advantage. Experience in mobilizing resources desirable. Experience in providing substantive technical inputs on GEWE an advantage.Languages:
Fluency in English and Sinhala/Tamil is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.