Gender Project Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

The objective of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is to combat desertification and land degradation, and to mitigate the effects of drought (DLDD) in affected countries around the world, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels. Established in 1994, the UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. In decision 30/COP.13 Parties to the UNCCD adopted the Gender Action Plan (GAP) (https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/documents/2018-01/GAP%20ENG%20%20low%20res_0.pdf ) recognizing that all aspects of DLDD have gender dimensions and call to further mainstream gender equality and empowerment of women and girls into desertification/land degradation and drought-related policies and activities, as appropriate, to implement the Convention and the UNCCD 2018−2030 Strategic Framework. The Global Mechanism (GM) is an institution of the UNCCD, mandated to assist countries in the mobilization of financial resources from the public and private sector for activities that prevent, control or reverse desertification, land degradation and drought. As the operational arm of the convention, the Global Mechanism supports countries to translate the Convention into action. With the view to increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of existing financial mechanisms, the GM is requested to promote “actions leading to the mobilization and channeling of substantial financial resources, including for the transfer of technology, on a grant, and/or on concessional or other terms, to affected developing country Parties” (Article 21, para. 4, UNCCD). Such actions include a broad range of country-level strategic planning and implementation efforts. The Global Mechanism is currently spearheading several initiatives to implement its resources mobilization mandate and respond to Parties’ need for innovative approaches to attain the Convention’s aims, including: (i) Supporting countries in the development of land-based transformative projects and programmes through the provision of technical support to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN); (ii) Development of innovative financial initiatives aiming at channeling resources from new public and private funding sources, including through blended finance. (iii) Development of new integrated approaches to facilitate the financing and implementation of projects contributing to achieve synergies across the objectives of the three Rio Conventions; and (iv) Strengthening and developing partnerships with a view to facilitate country-level implementation of the Convention.

Responsibilities

The promotion of gender equality and tenure security is both central to UNCCD’s mandate and is a priority within the organization’s activities. Under the overall supervision of the LDN and Land Restoration Programme Coordinator of the Global Mechanism and working in coordination with the Global Mechanism Team Leads and Global Policy, Advocacy and Regional Coordination (GPARC) unit of the UNCCD, the incumbent will be responsible for the following tasks: • Contributing to the development of transformative projects and programmes that consider gender and tenure security developed by the Global Mechanism in line with the UNCCD Gender Action Plan, other relevant UNCCD policies and international best practice. • Contributing to the development of the land tenure Toolbox and roll out of the usage of the Toolbox. • Provide support in the development of gender responsive LDN transformative projects and programmes in close collaboration with the project managers by delivering support for improvements and/or providing gender related technical assistance on the implementation of ongoing project. • Supporting the development and implementation of joint collaborative mechanism between UNCCD secretariat and GM led projects to ensure that opportunities to promote and implement gender and tenure responsive approaches are executed efficiently and cost effectively. • Providing gender and tenure related technical input at different levels of proposal development and project lifecycle; providing technical review of final versions of project concept notes and/or full fledge project documents; and leading and taking responsibility for the gender and tenure -responsive design of the whole proposal, including coherence with the gender and tenure requirements of the funding source. • Assist in identifying and supporting the delivery of gender and tenure technical outputs during project design and project implementation. • Be proactive in canvasing suggestions for partnerships and resource mobilization, including with the private sector, to support projects and programmes advancing gender equality and tenure security and initiate follow-up processes. • Participating in evaluating project’s gender equality and tenure security performance and take lead on action planning including assisting with the analysis of data, identifying potential gaps and strategies to address them. • Review and monitors programme results, outputs and outcomes from the gender and tenure perspective and provide substantive inputs to the preparation of donor and the annual reports relating the UN System-wide Action Plan (UN-SWAP) on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and application of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure and other relevant frameworks. • Identify opportunities for capacity building of partners and develop gender and tenure responsive technical/ programming support, design tools and deliver training to partners, as needed. • Preparing, maintaining and updating an LDN/Gender/Tenure knowledge agenda, capturing lessons learnt including collection and dissemination of knowledge products to stimulate internal and external knowledge exchange and initiate global learning and communities of practice. • Undertakes outreach activities: building, maintaining and utilizing networks and relationships with relevant stakeholders e.g. UNCCD parties, companies, research institutions, universities, donors, etc. to support implementation and expansion of the LDN programme. • Ensures provision of timely and quality technical backstopping by identifying the needs and sources for technical assistance and facilitating the provision of expert support (consultants/short timers). • Performs any other job-related activities required to achieve the goals and objectives of the team, the Unit, the Programme or the secretariat.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of project management and preparation of project proposals. Ability to identify issues, analyses and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Conceptual, analytical and political skills. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender and tenure perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in a field relevant to the assignment, for example in environmental management, agriculture economics, rural development, gender studies, social sciences, or another relevant field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least five (5) years of proven ability and solid experience providing technical assistance in gender transformative approaches and developing successful proposals for external donor funding, including technical writing, particularly in the context of land/natural resource use and management, land and forest restoration, agriculture, food and water security is required. Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts in project preparation and programme management is required. General knowledge of gender and tenure integration into transformative project design is required. Excellent social and networking skills, ability to engage with governments and the private sector including influencing skills and experience of working effectively in an international organization is desirable. Highly developed conceptual, analytical and innovative problem-solving ability; demonstrated ability to handle complex issues is desirable.

Languages

For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language would be considered an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This is a project position. It is for an initial period of one year and may be renewed subject to the availability of project funding and satisfactory performance.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.