Gender Programme Specialist

<!–

Description

–>

• Management and/or advisory support to Deputy Representative, Senior Gender Programme Specialist, or Representative
• Actively participate in or support Country Management Team (CMT); Programme Coordination Team; partnerships, research, financial and contract review committees; financial and contract review committees, and other key country-specific leadership teams to ensure strategic inclusion of gender in all country-specific programming.  
• In collaboration with sectoral colleagues and under the guidance of Gender Programme Specialist, participate in the planning and monitoring of the utilization of the budget allocated to sectoral and cross-sectoral gender interventions with sectoral colleagues.
• Support the gender component of the reporting of the routine country-level programme expenditures, including the annual reporting and the RAM.
• Provide technical input and review on the gender components in key funding proposal appeals and submissions and in the design of funded projects/programs so that gender technical components are clearly defined and technical capacities are included.

• Lead the overall implementation of the gender, GBV and PSEA component of the World Bank and ADB projects, including supporting planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting.
• Provide technical support to UNICEF programme sectors in particular including Health, Nutrition, Education, WASH and Polio to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the World Bank and ADB projects.
•  Support on the planning, implementation and monitoring of all interventions by UNICEF implementing partners and frontline workers implementing World Bank and ADB interventions in Health, Education, Nutrition and WASH to promote gender responsive services for women and adolescent girls in coordination with all relevant sections including GBV and PSEA Specialists in the Afghanistan Country Office. This will include identifying all necessary resources including human and material resources to support capacity strengthening for all targeted frontline workers,
• Support any capacity assessments that may be necessary as part of capacity strengthening on gender integration as well as GBV/SEA Risk mitigation and response, for all implementing partners,
• Provide support to activities of the Gender and Adolescent Units, including developing rolling workplans, conducting annual reviews and annual reporting, in coordination with sectoral and zonal gender focal points Participate in and collaborate closely with UN Agencies in Inter-Agency Coordination mechanisms such as GIHA, GBV Sub-Cluster and the PSEA Inter Agency Network for coordination, referral and knowledge sharing purposes.

• Participate and support in evidence-based programme/project planning on gender, incorporating robust measurement and evaluation of results – especially in the event of the Country Programme development and Mid-Term Review.
• Provide technical leadership on integration of gender into country programming phases, including strategic planning, SitAns, strategic moments of reflection, CPDs, CPMPs, mid-term reviews, extended annual reviews, programme component strategy notes and in the programmatic assessment and institutional strengthening components of gender reviews.
• In collaboration with sectoral colleagues and senior management, identify the areas of focus for gender programming/projects with the greatest potential for impact and scale, in alignment with the GAP and the country/regional priorities.
• Work with sectoral counterparts and senior management to incorporate sound gender indicators and measures in programme/project and policy initiatives, proposals, and advocacy efforts and assist in developing gender-sensitive theories of change models for sector and cross-sectoral programming in alignment with the MoRES framework.

• Support indicator identification, measurement and performance tracking as it relates to gender mainstreaming and the Targeted Gender Priorities, in collaboration with Planning, M&E and planning section and sectoral teams.
• Participate in cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on gender, ensuring coherence, maximization of synergies and efficiency in utilization of resources and delivery of results.
• Support the strengthening of data systems and collection, as well as accountability mechanisms to monitor and evaluate progress on gender results.
• Support high quality reporting on gender results, and a biannual performance review of GAP specified results.
• Take the lead in monitoring and reporting to the World Bank and ADB on progress, including coordinating with UNICEF programme sectors, regional office and HQ teams as well as WB/ADB counterparts to support compliance with reporting requirements. This includes participating in regular and ad hoc coordination meetings and missions.
• Undertake site visits during project execution and operation to assess how PSEA/SH mitigation measures are succeeding or have succeeded in minimizing impacts.
• In coordination with other gender and other sectoral counterparts, contribute to regular reporting on implementation of the Gender/GBV/SEA Action Plan.
• Work closely with evaluation colleagues to effectively integrate data collection, tracking, analysis and reporting on the indicators for the GAP into programme results and gender performance benchmarks into M&E systems.
• Participate in the strengthening of the quality of research and evidence building on gender related programming, by supporting the bringing in of the latest learning and insights from the field of gender and development, and supporting the input of a coherent, well-prioritized research agenda in alignment with the GAP.
• Support the planning and implementation of the gender reviews and make sure that the recommendations that come out of the gender review are integrated into the Country Programme strategy and action plans and humanitarian strategies and action plans in emergency contexts.
• Participate and/or actively represent UNICEF in relevant coordination bodies at the inter-agency level (gender theme group or other networks, GBV cluster if relevant), participate as a member of steering committees, and provide close oversight of inter-agency joint programmes.

• Provide technical support and guidance to national government, NGOs, UN Agencies and other country-level and local-level partners on aspects of gender programming and to ensure incorporation of gender indicators and measures in programmes/projects, policy initiatives, proposals, and M&E systems.
• Provide technical support and advocacy to reporting and follow-up on international and regional gender equality commitments made by the countries
• Support the development of adequate emergency preparedness measures, updating of contingency plans and establishment of early warning mechanisms that reflect gender needs.
• Support the development and deployment of emergency training that incorporates gender issues and relevant strategies.
• Participate in needs assessment missions on gender, and in the event of an emergency, be deployed as a member of the Emergency Response Team.
• Support implementing/operational partners and implementing arrangements in order to ensure an effective, gender-inclusive emergency response.

• Liaise and consult with sections, government and other external partners (civil society, NGOs, private sector) to support convergence, and develop and reinforce partnerships in gender programming.
• Support building and maintenance of internal and external partnerships and networks in the development of harmonized, gender-transformative programme interventions.
• Support building and maintenance of strategic alliances for gender equality with various partners, including institutional links with UN agencies and other relevant entities.
• Collaborate with other UN agencies and partners to enhance robust gender results in sectoral programmes at the country level. If necessary, represent UNICEF in external meetings on gender integration into sectoral and cross-sectoral results, including UN Country Team meetings and UnDAF preparations.
• Support mapping of potential new partnerships and leverage existing partnerships to accelerate GAP implementation at the country level in determined priority areas.

• Support documentation and sharing of the country-level experience in gender programming and lessons learned, which will be shared with internal network and external partners and utilised for South-South cooperation.
• Bring best practices in gender programming and measurement to the attention of senior management and sectoral colleagues, as well as Regional Gender Advisor and gender section staff at HQ
• Support Regional Gender Advisor in advancing the technical and research capacity of country-level staff, offices and programs on gender to continue to build evidence base for programming and to ensure continuous capacity in gender at Country Office level.
• Support management and HR in the development of systems, tools and processes that enable staff members and external partners to enhance their understanding and adoption of gender sensitive behaviors and to support implementation of the GAP. 
• Support evidence generation and gender analyses for the World Bank and ADB and across all targeted programme sectors to inform programme interventions, including leading quality assessment, research and evaluation on gender programming.
• Plan, convene and coordinate well planned platforms to share such analyses internally within UNICEF and externally across all targeted partners, with the WB and ADB and wider UN.
• Lead the strengthening of the Community of Practice for UNICEF staff and partners on gender and adolescent programming,
• Take stock of lessons learned from previous projects, global regional and national best practices, and current UNICEF, WB and ADB principles guidelines and procedures to ensure Action Plan documents for the project remain up to date.
• Document lessons learned, experiences and case studies from project implementation to inform capacity development trainings as well as address gaps and refine project procedures.

• Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in the social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF’s sectoral work (e.g. Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, HIV/AIDs, etc.).
• Academic credentials in gender are a strong asset.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming and research on gender and development in key issue areas that are the focus of UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan.
• Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes/projects on gender and development or any other cross cutting programme, especially at country/field level, experience in emergency response is an asset.
• professional experience in project management and development relevant to the World Bank and Asia Development Bank among other donors and funding partners of the United Nations is an advantage.
• Experience of working on GBV and PSEA risk mitigation and response. Previous experience in GBV risk mitigation in areas of UNICEF Programming such as Health, Nutrition, Education and WASH desirable, including developing and utilizing context specific gender and adolescent programming tools and guidance is an asset
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

<!—

<!–

–>