Senior Gender Specialist at UNDP

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and coordinate with gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) as a guiding principle during the implementation of the UNSDCF.
• Review and provide technical guidance and inputs to each step of the UNSDCF to ensure the integration of gender equality considerations, specifically with a view to: strategic prioritization, results matrix, joint programmes, monitoring and evaluation;
• Provide strategic guidance and coordinate the UNCT to strengthen monitoring and reporting arrangements on GEWE, in the context of the UNSDCF;
• Support the analysis of Joint Work Plans and their translation into UN INFO;
• Ensure coherent UN advisory support to the RC and UNCT with a view to national GEWE policy and implementation.
• Foster coherent inter-agency planning, analysis and action for enhanced accountability to GEWE:
• Coordinate with the UNCT on improved accountability tools to ensure the UN’s commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment are tracked and up-scaled as opportunities arise
• Coordinate and lead the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard exercise and implementation of its Action Plan, and provide coordination and technical advisory support to the application of the UNCT Gender Equality Marker;
• Provide strategic guidance to facilitating, managing, developing and providing oversight to joint programmes related to gender equality and empowerment of women and girls priorities highlighted in the UNSDCF, such as Spotlight, Africa Women Leadership Network (AWLN), Affirmative Action Bill  programmes and UN Gender Commemorative Days, including International Women’s Day where relevant;
• Serve as member of the UNCT;
• Serve as member of the Inter-Agency Work Group on Gender  and Gender Equality Sector Team Group, and other relevant groups.
• Coordinate technical support to strategic partnerships building and resource mobilization:
• Working closely with the RCO and UN WOMEN West Africa Regional Office (WCARO) through its policy and coordination experts, support in the provision of technical and substantive inputs to partnerships, as well as joint resource mobilization strategies related to GEWE and UNSDCF;
• Coordinate and advise the RC and UNCT in the analysis and monitoring of trends, opportunities and challenges around gender equality and women’s empowerment:
• Support the development of Country Gender Equality Briefs/Profiles and in policy dialogues around gender equality and the empowerment of women;
• Support on entry points for new initiatives for the UN Systems to strengthen capacities for gender equality and to support the advancement of women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Timely and quality contribution and leadership to the UNCT and DPG working groups and other coordination meetings;
• Quality advice to RC, UNCT, and Senior Management;
• Quality advice provided to the government officials and UN agencies at regional level;
• Increased communication and collaboration on GEWE between agencies;
• Increased RCO’s leadership and results in gender equality space;
• Increased joint programming on GEWE;
• Increased knowledge and strategic inputs provided to DCO RO;

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent knowledge of general gender equality and women’s empowerment issues;
• Excellent knowledge of UN system and understanding of inter-agency coordination and UNSDCF processes;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice and interact with high level decision makers; 
• Ability to envision, conceptualize and communicate strategic vision;
• Strong gender-focused results-based management, programme implementation and monitoring and evaluation skills;
• Excellent analytical and conceptual thinking skills;
• Excellent negotiating, cultural sensitivity and diplomatic skills;
• Strong planning, goal-setting and prioritization and organizational skills;
• Familiarity with the region and women's rights organizations and networks in the region considered an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree in the social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science and economics), public policy or international development. A specialization in gender is a strong asset.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least ten years of progressively responsible relevant work experience/ demonstrated track record that combines intellectual, strategic and managerial leadership in development programs.
• The majority of which should include having undertaken and led substantive programming and research/analysis on gender and development in key issue areas;
• Experience in working in emergency and crisis/conflict contexts is desired;
• Experience with UN joint programming development and implementation in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Experience in UN coordination and joint advocacy and/or programming is required;
• Experience in building and maintaining effective relationships with government institutions, CSOs and donors is required.

Languages:

• English, French, Spanish or Arabic are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.