Intergovernmental Specialist – P4  

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.

The Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division (PPID) provides global support to UN Women offices at Headquarters and in all field locations to deliver results in support of UN Women’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and internationally agreed goals on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, including the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Division provides intellectual and strategic leadership on normative support and the delivery of integrated policy and programme advice, including through policy analysis and gender mainstreaming. The Division leverages innovation, knowledge management, and cutting-edge technical expertise to support UN Women programmes and to build the capacity of partners to deliver results on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

The Intergovernmental Support Section in PPID is responsible for leading UN-Women’s strategic engagement with, and support for intergovernmental bodies and processes towards ensuring that a comprehensive and dynamic set of global norms, policies and standards on gender equality, the human rights and the empowerment of all women and girls is strengthened and implemented. It manages and coordinates the Entity’s substantive engagement with intergovernmental bodies on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls and drives the process of integration of normative frameworks into UN Women’s operational and UN system coordination functions.

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Intergovernmental Support Section, the Intergovernmental Specialist ensures that UN Women provides substantive support by engaging with Member States and other stakeholders towards strengthening attention to gender perspectives in intergovernmental processes, particularly those related to sustainable development, macroeconomic policy questions, financing for development, eradication of poverty, food security and nutrition and other development related issues and processes. 

Functions:

Provide substantive and technical support to the Intergovernmental Support Section’s engagement with intergovernmental processes with a particular focus on sustainable development, macroeconomic policy questions, financing for development, eradication of poverty, food security and nutrition and other related development issues and processes:

• Develop engagement strategies and activities to guide UN Women’s work in specific intergovernmental processes and events, in particular in the focus area, to help advance the global normative framework for gender equality;
• Engage in intergovernmental meetings and negotiations, identify key messages on gender equality issues, propose action points for UN Women and undertake follow up;
• Liaise and coordinate with the Secretariats of relevant intergovernmental bodies to ensure that gender equality issues are mainstreamed in the work of those bodies and in negotiated outcomes. 

Undertake research and analysis on gender perspectives regarding sustainable development, macroeconomic policy questions, financing for development, eradication of poverty, food security and nutrition and other related development issues and processes: 

• Monitor policy approaches and intergovernmental debates regarding gender perspectives in the processes mentioned above; 
• Undertake analysis of selected policy areas in intergovernmental processes and on the implications of discussions and outcomes on gender equality, the human rights and the empowerment of all women and girls;
• In coordination with other teams, draft substantive papers, background and briefing notes, talking points and key messages, and provides policy inputs to relevant of the Secretary-General. 

Strengthen partnerships with Member States, international organizations, civil society organizations and other stakeholders with a particular focus on sustainable development, macroeconomic policy questions, financing for development, eradication of poverty, food security and nutrition and other related development issues and processes: 

• Build and strengthen relationships and informal networks with Member States and other stakeholders;
• Build partnerships with UN entities and other organizations for the promotion of gender equality, human rights and the empowerment of all women and girls; 
• In coordination with other teams, organize and participate in inter-agency and expert group meetings with a particular focus on the processes mentioned above;
• Organize panel discussions, side events, briefings and stakeholder events, and other alliance building activities;
• Provide technical inputs to information dissemination, including through UN Women’s website and social media.

Provide other support to the effective functioning of the Intergovernmental Support Section, as required:

• Collaborate with colleagues at Headquarters and in Regional and Country Offices on linkages between normative and operational issues; 
• Support the work of the Commission on the Status of Women;
• Contribute to internal monitoring and reporting processes in the framework of the UN Women Strategic Plan and Strategic Framework;

Liaise with the Comms team to update UN Women internet and intranet webpages on the areas and processes mentioned above

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Substantive knowledge of gender equality issues in the context of sustainable development, macroeconomic policy questions, financing for development, eradication of poverty, food security and nutrition and other related development issues or relevant intergovernmental processes;
• Effectiveness in establishing and fostering strong relationships with government delegates, UN agencies and other international organizations, civil society representatives and other stakeholders;
• Proven communications and presentation and networking skills;
• Ability to write policy papers, speeches, briefings;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Recruitment Qualifications

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in international relations, business or development studies, gender studies, social sciences, or other related fields. 
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in providing analysis and policy guidance on issues related to sustainable development, macroeconomic policy questions, financing for development, eradication of poverty, food security and nutrition and other related development issues and processes.
• Experience with a UN organization highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. 
• Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

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