National Gender Expert, Gedaref / Sudan

​Requisition ID: 3765 
Grade: SB5 – Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior) 
Country: Home Based 
Duty Station: Home Based 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff – WhenActually Employed
Contract Duration: 50 days over a period
Application deadline: 08-May-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)  

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
 

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR)

Under the overall guidance of the Director General, the direct supervision of the Managing Director, Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR) supports Member States in their efforts to pave the way to sustainable rural development and a structurally transformed and modernized agribusiness sector. Capitalizing on the experience gained by UNIDO in this field over decades and on tried-and-tested and to-be-developed service modules, the Division will explore innovative approaches to maximize the potential that exists in agribusiness development, addressing emerging global trends, in particular food security, poverty alleviation and climate change. It will explore new ways to contribute to global efforts to reduce hunger, accelerate food systems transition, and generate income and employment, especially among women and youth. The Division provides technical cooperation services to assist the modernization of agriculture and agro-industry, especially in less-developed countries, ensuring that enterprises add value to primary agricultural production, substitute the imports of food and other value-added agricultural products, and participate effectively in local, regional and global value chains. Where needed, it will develop infrastructure and agro-industrial parks and capacities for agro-industrialization, value addition, quality assurance and food safety. It will also bring innovative approaches to Member States to fully benefit from carbon-neutral and biodiversity-enhancing agricultural and agro-industrial production and development opportunities in the green and blue bio economy.

Food Security and Food Systems Unit (IET/AGR/FSS)

The Food Security and Food Systems Unit (IET/AGR/FSS) promotes the development of food industries and food value chains and the production of local food products in less-developed countries to end hunger and ensure food and nutrition security while generating income and employment adhering to principles of sustainable industrial development. It provides a range of technical assistance services that allow food enterprises – including in the informal sector and especially SMEs – to extend their production, improve their products, comply with quality and other standards, become more competitive and deliver adequate and nutritious food to local populations and for export. Where opportune, it also promotes the development of food safety compliance infrastructure and building related food safety systems capacities.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The UNIDO Project 220085 “Agribusiness for food security in Sudan”, has the overall objective to enhance food security, increase target agricultural communities and households’ incomes while creating jobs, particularly for women and youth in the selected states in Sudan. The specific objective is to provide technical assistance to upgrade strategic agro-food value chains and increase equitable economic opportunities for women small farmers and producers in Gedaref State in Sudan.

To support this initiative, the project inception phase necessitates the recruitment of a Gender Expert, with the aim to ensure that gender considerations are at the forefront of project planning and implementation. This position is pivotal in addressing gender disparities and promoting equitable benefits across all target groups, hence enhancing the project’s effectiveness and sustainability.

The project will contribute towards “SDG 1”: End poverty in all its forms everywhere”. It will also contribute to “SDG 5”: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, and “SDG 9”: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. It also falls into UNIDO’s poverty reduction portfolio (EC1) and in particular Agribusiness and Rural Enterprise Development (GC11); its thematic area is poverty reduction through productive activities (PRP).

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, the expert’s primary responsibility will be to conduct a comprehensive gender analysis to understand the current gender dynamics within the target value chains and communities in Gedaref State, Sudan. This analysis will serve as the foundation for developing a tailored gender action plan, which will outline specific strategies and actions to address identified gender gaps and ensure equitable opportunities and benefits for women and men, particularly focusing on empowering women and youth.

The scope of the services is outlined as follows:

Support the development of a Comprehensive Gender Analysis

Conduct the review and finalize the in-depth gender analysis for the project, examining the roles, needs, and opportunities of different gender groups within the project’s focus areas. The gender expert will coordinate with the UNIDO’s service provider on ground conducting the gender analysis to technically review and provide inputs to finalize the gender analysis according to the project objectives and outcomes, including identifying gender-based constraints and opportunities within the agricultural value chains and local communities, informed by quantitative and qualitative data analysis and research.

Develop Project-Specific Gender Action Plan

Based on the gender analysis findings, develop a gender action plan in line with the planned activities. This plan details strategies to mitigate identified gender disparities and leverage opportunities for promoting gender equality. The action plan will guide the project team on integrating gender considerations into all project activities, ensuring that interventions are designed to be inclusive and equitable.

Stakeholder Consultations

Engaging with local stakeholders, including women’s groups, community leaders, and project beneficiaries, through consultations. The aim is to gather insights and feedback to inform the gender analysis and the development of the gender action plan, ensuring local relevance and buy-in.

Integration of Gender Perspectives into Project Design

Provide guidelines and recommendations for integrating gender perspectives into the overall project design and implementation. This includes advising on project activities, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and capacity building initiatives to ensure gender considerations are consistently applied.

Capacity Building and Sensitization

The Gender Expert will also conduct ToT-oriented capacity building sessions to provide key findings and recommendations from the Gender Action Plan for the key project team and partners. The expert may also be involved in conducting capacity-building sessions and sensitization workshops for the project team and stakeholders on gender issues. This will help foster a gender-sensitive project environment, enhancing the project’s impact on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The main duties of the expert are summarized in the table below

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in gender studies, social sciences, development studies, or a closely related field with a strong focus on gender is required.

Training or certification in gender mainstreaming, gender analysis tools, and methodologies is desirable.

Technical and Functional Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in gender analysis and planning in development projects, with proven ability to conduct gender assessments and develop gender action plans is required. Experience of similar assignments in Sudan is desirable.  
• Demonstrated experience in integrating gender considerations into project design and implementation, with tangible outcomes is required.
• Strong analytical skills and experience in using qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods relevant to gender is required.
• Experience working in agricultural or rural development projects with a focus on gender is desirable.

• Experience in working with the UN system, international organizations or non-governmental organizations and with the donors community, is desirable.
• Experience in facilitating stakeholder consultations and workshops on gender-related topics is desirable.
• Experience in working in Sudan or similar contexts, understanding the unique gender dynamics and challenges in conflict or post-conflict settings is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English is required.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core values
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key competencies
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: [email protected]