Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Gender equality and women’s empowerment are key to sustainable human development. Building resilient societies based on gender equality and respect for human rights are central to UNDP’s mandate to promote gender-responsive sustainable development. UNDP works closely with governments, national and sub-national institutions to support integration of gender-related concerns in their development agendas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP Congo is working towards contributing to the achievement of national development plan (PND) of Congo. Our work is based on a number of strategic development frameworks, namely UNDP Strategic Plan, UNDP Gender Strategy as well as the SDGs and Agenda 2030. At the national level, UNDP is guided by the Country Programme Document (CPD), and the overall UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The UNDP Congo develops national initiatives to advance gender equality and supports the Government of Congo to deliver gender equality results aligned with the SDGs as part of their national programmes and policies and aligned with the UNDP Global Gender Strategy 2022-2025.
Within the Program Team, the Gender Specialist works under the supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative to lead the process of mainstreaming gender and women’s empowerment in the UNDP country office at all levels.
Position Purpose
The selected candidate will contribute to the CO Program Team’s in providing support to the CO on gender policies and programming including the gender equality seal process as well as collaborate with the regional programme and hub teams in other areas to ensure gender is integrated across all areas of work. As such the candidate would need to be familiar with the specific gender context in the Africa region and savvy about potential cultural sensitivities and safety risks that could result from gender equality programme implementation and advocacy.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the guidance of the Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR), the Gender Specialist advises Senior Management and the Program Team on gender policies and trends and relevant linkages to UNDP programmes and analyzes strategies and briefings to Senior Management.
1.) Ensures effective management of the CO programme and gender specific portfolio focusing on quality control of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation, achieving the following results:
- Develop and implement the Action Plan for re-validating the silver-level Gender Equality Seal and lead the assessment and certification process in close collaboration with the Gender Focal Team, senior management, and UNDP Regional Hub Gender Team.
- Lead gender equality initiatives of the Gender Focal Team, including coordination meetings, its action plan, learning events, and advocacy initiatives.
- Support programs and project managers in gender mainstreaming by developing comprehensive gender-responsive results frameworks, TORs, gender action plans, and budgets in line with international and national commitments on gender equality.
- Support program and project evaluations, ensuring that gender concerns are clearly reflected and mainstreamed in the process.
- Support senior management in all areas of inter-agency gender coordination and lead UNDP’s contribution to the Gender Task Team (GTT) under UNCT, the PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) Network, UNDP Regional Gender Focal Point Network, and any other groups coordinating initiatives relevant to the incumbent’s scope of work including coordination groups on youth.
- Strengthen office initiatives against Sexual Harassment (SH) and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and coordinate closely with headquarters and The Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate (OVRA) to ensure compliance with all operational requirements.
- Training and capacity-building support for UNDP staff, and Government officials, and public institutions on gender issues.
- Coordinate with the relevant local and international stakeholders on issues related to enhancing gender mainstreaming into policy and programming.
- Establish a network of key actors and partners that support UNDP’s goal of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
2.) Provides advice and support to UNDP management, programmes, and projects focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Support the coordination and development of research papers, policy notes, and partnerships on gender equality and women empowerment issues by supporting the coordination and development of research papers, policy notes, and partnerships.
- Provision of policy options and high-quality advisory inputs to UNDP programmes and projects to ensure these are responsive to national policies, priorities, and strategic plans and advance UNDP’s corporate goals.
- Support the coordination and development of research papers, policy notes, and partnerships on gender equality and women empowerment issues by supporting the coordination and development of research papers, policy notes, and partnerships.
- Provision of policy options and high-quality advisory inputs to UNDP programmes and projects to ensure these are responsive to national policies, priorities, and strategic plans and advance UNDP’s corporate goals.
- Develop gender analyses and provide advisory on gender equality initiatives to support inclusive engagement of women in the development assistance provided by program teams.
- Identify new entry points and initiatives in collaboration with program teams for UNDP Congo to strengthen UNDP’s response to gender inequality at the national and local level, including the response to gender-based violence (GBV).
- Effective application of Results Management tools establishes gender-specific management targets and results.
3.) Ensures the creation of strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization and communication by focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Development of partnerships with other UN Agencies and task teams. Also, the specialist will strengthen partnerships with government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, and civil society based on gender and women-specific strategic goals of UNDP, country needs, and donors’ priorities.
- In collaboration with the Communications Officer and the Gender Focal Team, develop and execute innovative and inspiring advocacy campaigns during International Women’s Week, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, and any other related occasion and campaigns.
- Build and nurture partnerships with gender equality and youth rights advocates to amplify voices to influence decision-making processes that shape women’s lives.
- Seek out and expand UNDP’s strategic alliances with international stakeholders to strengthen women’s rights and maintain active partnerships with the international community on women’s issues and rights to enhance collaboration and resource mobilization.
- At the request of senior management, represent UNDP in conferences and meetings relating to gender equality.
4.) Provide advice and support to UNDP management, business development, and programme quality assurance by focusing on the following results:
- Prepare and contribute to concept notes, project documents, and other written outputs on the relevant work areas.
- Advice on possible areas for UNDP support and adjustment of ongoing programmes to ensure that UNDP programmes are in line with national policies and priorities.
- Compilation, analysis, and interpretation of gender issues and statistical data, thorough research, and top-quality analysis and reports preparation.
- Representation of UNDP in different working groups and interagency working groups
- Undertake research, draft write-ups, and prepare presentations relating to UNDP’s relevant area of work.
- Perform any other tasks assigned by the supervisor.
5. Advise on the effort of country office’s knowledge management and dissemination.
- Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities
- Provide substantive and sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including gender repositories.
- Organize and provide training, consultancy, and advice to UNDP staff on internal and external knowledge management.
- Work with the Programme teams to ensure all knowledge products are captured, updated, readily available and in the right order, as and when necessary.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Gender Focal Point Specialist (UNV).
Institutional Arrangement
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative, The Gender Specialist will work closely with members of the Governance and resilience and Environment and Economic Diversification pillars, as well as other CO teams. He/she will closely collaborate with the Regional Hub Gender Team.
Competencies
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site
- Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
2023 Agenda: People & Gender: Gender Issues & Analysis.
2023 Agenda: People & Gender: Women’s Economic Empowerment, including labour issues.
2023 Agenda: People & Gender: Women’s Leadership (Political, Public Admin and Private Sector).
Business Direction, Strategy & Entrepreneurial Thinking: Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.
Business Management & Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
Business Direction, Strategy & System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Management-Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
Required Skills and Experience.
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social policy, public policy, gender studies, development studies, law, or a related area is required, OR
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields in combination with and additional two years of qualifying work experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years (with a Master’s degree) or 7 years (with a Bachelor’s degree) of progressive working experience in the areas related to governance, social development, gender or social inclusion-focused programs/projects and/or gender equality and women’s empowerment, gender-based violence in a development context is required.
- Specialization in integration of gender in a specific thematic area is required.
- Deep understanding/experience of current and emerging gender equality challenges in the Africa region is required.
- Previous experience in development assistance or related work for a development organization, governmental institution, NGO, or private sector/consulting firm is an asset.
- Experience in the Results Based Management tools, and establishment of gender-specific management targets and results is an asset.
- Practical working experience in gender inclusivity, empowerment, and sustainable development in a relevant country or regional context is an asset.
- Proven knowledge of programs and project managers in gender mainstreaming through developing comprehensive gender-responsive results frameworks, TORs, gender action plans, and budgets in line with international and national commitments on gender equality is an asset.
- Demonstrated comprehensive understanding and knowledge of UNDP’s work including current guidelines and project management tools is an asset..
Language
- Proficiency in French language is required
- Working knowledge in English is desired
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters.
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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