Senior Gender Affairs Officer, P5(Temporary) at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

• Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director, Policy and Programme Division, the incumbent will manage the Gender and Safeguards Unit that is responsible for coordinating, monitoring, knowledge management, capacity building and technical support for mainstreaming gender and environmental safeguards across UNEP.

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for the implementation and monitoring of UNEP’s Gender Policy and Strategy to address the integration of gender perspectives into UNEP’s Programme of Work and policies, and, ensure its alignment with the UN System Wide Action Plan (UNSWAP) on gender mainstreaming.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of a capacity building programme to facilitate, the integration and monitoring of gender actions throughout UNEP's Subprogramme priority areas (as approved in the Programme of Work) and related projects, and human resources management policies. Further, where required, ensure the participation of women in environmental programmes and shape activities to reflect specific needs of women.
• Establish and coordinate a comprehensive accountability framework that includes an implementation and tracking mechanism that will ensure implementation of gender mainstreaming commitments made at corporate level, through integration of gender perspectives into UNEP's activities at programme and operations level.
• Develop innovative approaches and tools to enhance gender equality in the field of environment and the work of UNEP, including the development of project proposals to attract extra budgetary resources for gender and social safeguards related aspects of environmental protection.
• Coordinate information exchange with government partners, civil society and promote inter- agency cooperation, including with the Secretariats of Multilateral Environmental Agreements as it relates to the integration of gender and environmental social safeguards into programmes and activities.
• Coordinate policy development on gender and environmental social safeguards concerns; review the assessments of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or research activities and studies, written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
• Ensure implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.
• Manage the process of compiling reports and lessons learned on gender and environment and contribute to UNEP's knowledge management efforts; provide strategic information to input into briefings by UNEP's Executive Director to the UN Secretariat and United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), as requested.
• Facilitate cross-regional exchange of best practices and lessons learned with UNEP regional offices, identified centres of excellence and UN partners to develop a knowledge hub and propose plans to enrich its evidence base on gender and environmental management.
• Develop and maintain relationships with especially with counterparts, senior officers and technical staff in relevant Secretariat units and in UN funds, programmes and other UN specialized agencies, representatives, and officials in national governments, international organizations and consultants.
• Manage and coordinate outreach activities of the Gender and Environmental Social Safeguards Unit; direct research and programme evaluation and presents information gathered from diverse sources; direct substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences and serve as an effective spokesperson on gender and environmental social safeguards work and approaches in UNEP.
• Prepare documents for United Nations Environment Assembly on UNEP's progress in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment through its programmes and operations.
• Leads team members efforts to collect and analyse data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
• Perform any other duties as may be required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of planned actions on environmental management including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operations. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. The ability to analyse and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.
• LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
• MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in social sciences, environmental sciences, international development or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience, especially at international level on issues related to gender and women's empowerment and/or gender and environment is required.
• Work experience in mainstreaming gender perspectives into environment and sustainable development issues at all levels is required.
• Work experience on gender issues in an international context in the field of research on gender issues and social safeguards issues, including gender sensitive programming and monitoring is required.
• Work experience with international, regional and national networks working on gender equality and women’s empowerment is desirable.
• Work experience with UN system, governmental or non-governmental institutions addressing environment social safeguards in programme and project development is desirable.
• Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

Closing Date: 02 October 2023