Project Analyst, Gender Mainstreaming

Despite the passage of 28 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration, Montenegro has not effectively integrated gender concerns into all aspects of society or delivered inclusive public policies and services for all. Hence, the proposed Action aims to strengthen the gender mainstreaming efforts of governing institutions responsible for implementing domestic and international legal frameworks concerning gender equality and women’s rights. In doing so, it seeks to support the country in aligning with the EU gender equality acquis in the pre-accession perspective.

This slow progress on gender equality in Montenegro matches poor awareness and knowledge about gender equality and gender mainstreaming in the institutions. Namely, UNDP survey on perceptions of public administration employees in 2021 revealed that the largest number of employees tend to conform to patriarchal values and consider the issue of gender equality to be excessively forced as an unnatural and unattainable goal. Also, only every-third employee would be able to recognize elements of gender equality in public administration work. This survey revealed that public administration employees need continuous capacity-building support to develop informative and gender-mainstreamed policies since more than 75 percent of employees in institutions have not undergone any training on gender equality in the past five years^[1].

Overall progress has been slow due to the lack of staff competencies, lack of a gender mainstreaming system in the overall public administration, and weak institutional frameworks and lack of regulatory enforcement. This leads to a lack of accountability for gender equality results.

UNDP in Montenegro is initiating the implementation of the “United in Gender Equality’’ project aiming to enhance Montenegro’s government’s capacities to promote gender equality and apply gender mainstreaming across strategic, legislative and policy frameworks and state programmes and development plans. Technical assistance and gender mainstreaming support will be informed by gender analyses, and guided by tools, methods, and knowledge products, ensuring dialogue. This will help to channel political will and commitment of the highest-ranking public officials into concrete actions and help support the reinforcement of Montenegro’s gender equality infrastructure.

UNDP continuously provides strategic guidance, policy advice and technical support to the decisions makers at various levels and ensures the gradual process of development of the overarching system of gender mainstreaming in the governance system, making it consistent and aligned with international commitments and best practices in gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment approach. Overall, UNDP’s efforts create a conducive environment for gender equality and women’s empowerment initiatives, driving positive systemic changes and promoting inclusivity across all levels of governance.

UNDP CO Montenegro fully aligned the Country Programme Document for Montenegro (2023-2027) (CPD) with the Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and global Gender Equality Strategy, 2022-2025. The UNDP CPD is based on a gender analysis, that is then integrated within programmatic priorities, while CPD’s results framework uses gender-sensitive and disaggregated data. The CPD plans to allocate a minimum of 15% of the planned resources in gender specific initiatives.

Accordingly, in line with Gender Equality Strategy UNDP assures gender mainstreaming across its programmes driven by national development choices. Committed to structural transformation UNDP works with country to shift the underlying systems and power structures that determine development. Linking issues and partners, asking questions and holding difficult conversations helps development build on a foundation of gender equality and inclusion. In this regard, UNDP serves as a convener and advocate as much as, if not more than, a programme provider.

The UNDP Gender Strategy includes a focus on addressing the multiple and intersecting forms of deprivation, disadvantage, and discrimination. For instance, discrimination against women based on sex and gender is inextricably linked with factors such as race, ethnicity, religion or belief, health, status, age, class, caste, and sexual orientation and identity. Other factors are urbanization, migration and displacement, natural disasters and armed conflicts.

Furthermore, building resilience by helping countries develop capacities to prevent, mitigate and respond to diverse risks and crises. This depends on fully involving women, on equal terms and at all levels, including in decision-making. UNDP will put gender equality at the centre of resilience-building by diminishing structural obstacles and empowering individual

Guiding principles of results-based management, human rights-based approach, capacity development, digital transformation, and environment-friendly interventions will be assured to bring added value and awareness of partners regarding human-cantered policy design and gender equality.
[1] Survey on Gender Mainstreaming in Public Administration, 2020

Ensure effective Project management:

• Contribute to the formulation and development of new projects and strategic plans that are in line with the UNDP strategic focus.
• Monitor implementation progress and ensure quality and timely reporting to donors and Project partners.
• Maintain regular communication with other UN Agencies, CSOs, international organizations and stakeholders interested to provide further support to gender equality in Montenegro.
• Identify opportunities for synergies between the gender equality work, UNDP CO portfolios and ongoing and planned UN programmes.

Ensure effective Project implementation:

• Maintain regular communication and provide advisory support to identified institutional and CSO partners towards development of gender responsive institutions and policies.
  • Organize teamwork within the gender equality projects consisting of team members, consultants, prepare and assign tasks, monitor progress and motivate hired pool of experts.
  • Ensure that work plans are prepared and updated on time and reflect project objectives and outputs.
  • Ensure timely coordination and implementation of recruitment of individual consultants.
  • Ensure that procurement of goods and services under covered projects is undertaken in an optimal quality manner.
  • Monitor implementation progress and ensure quality and timely reporting to project partners.
  • In cooperation with the Project Assistant ensure the establishment and maintenance of complete accounting records of all project activities (budget, commitments, expenditures, income); ensure proper follow up in relation to project expenditures, approval, and financial reporting.
  • Be responsible for all assets purchased and used under the portfolio.
  • Monitoring of the resources being spent i.e., approve requisitions in Quantum and certify/confirm receipt of goods and services.

Oversee day-to-day Projects’ activities:

• Ensure day-to-day management and oversight of all project activities.
• Assistance in identifying relevant sources of expertise and funds for project/activity implementation.
• Implementation of action plans and assigned tasks including the field visits to monitor progress on a regular basis.
• Review official documents and communications, including drafting routine correspondence, facsimile, memoranda and reports from oral instructions, previous correspondence or other available information sources, in accordance with the standard office procedures.
• Advice respective Team Leader on potential adjustments of actions and procedures in light of changing requirements, issues, risks and needs.
• Regular monitoring of the relevant events and/or subjects in the local media.

Support implementation of the CO Gender Strategy:

• Gender mainstreaming in UNDP projects, programmes and portfolios across the CO, and
• Institutional gender mainstreaming in line with Gender Equality Strategy and golden standards of the Gender Equality Seal.

Gender Sensitive Communication and Advocacy:

• In coordination with CO Communications team ensure visibility of projects by keeping target public informed about project objectives, results/achievements and their impact on the recipient communities.
• Ensure that outputs produced by the projects are adequately communicated in partnership with relevant institutions and donors.
• Contribute to the learning and knowledge sharing within UNDP and among external partners at the country, regional and global levels.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Analyst reports to the Team Leader on Gender Equality. S/he works in close collaboration with other members of the programme team, the operations team, UNDP HQs global and regional, other UN Agencies staff, government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, civil society and private sector. The Project Analyst will supervise the Project Assistant.