The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

UNDP’s work in Eritrea is guided by the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), the Country Programme Document (CPD) and the Gender Equality Strategies (both corporate and Country Office’s). The programme priorities of the CO as outlined by the CPD are i) human development and well-being and ii) inclusive, diversified, green and climate-resilient economy. The two programme portfolios are led by Programme Managers, who are responsible for ensuring compliance to Gender Markers and overall harnessing support to maintain gender-responsiveness of the programmes. To fulfil its commitment at the national level, UNDP Eritrea developed a Gender Equality Strategy (GES) for the period of 2022-2025 which guides the country office on mainstreaming gender equality and women empowerment within the framework of the Country Programme Document – CPD (2020-2026).

Despite notable progress, Eritrea still faces persistent challenges in achieving full gender equality. The government, along with national and international organizations, continues to stress the collective efforts required to advance gender equality in the country. There  is high level commitment by the government to gender equality in Eritrea, but patriarchal attitudes remain and sometimes challenge women’s empowerment in the society. Women are represented in the workforce, but higher positions and decision-making roles are often occupied by men . There is a lot of work to be done to improve gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) in social, political and economic arenas.

There are many gaps in data that make it difficult to get a full picture of the specific challenges that women face, for example in the context of climate change, disability, age, etc. UNDP is working on understanding the context in which especially rural women live and committed to leaving no one behind (LNOB).

The National Union of Eritrean Women (NUEW) was established in 1979 and mandated to mobilize women, raise awareness for the elimination of traditional harmful practices against women, and advocate and lobby for the issuance of proclamations and policies on gender equality, among other roles. This has laid the foundation for social justice and gender equality in Eritrea. In 1995, the government ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and is committed to its periodical reporting through NUEW.

The Country Office received its first Gender Equality Seal certification in 2023/2024, which will set the future direction and ambition for gender mainstreaming in the country office.

The UN Country Team (UNCT) has a thematic working group that includes GEWE, the Programming Principles Thematic Group. The working group includes members of every UN agency operating in Eritrea and oversees inter-agency work on gender equality, disability inclusion, human rights, youth and LNOB.

Gender dimensions are central to the development agenda of Eritrea as well as the programming activities of the Country Office (CO). The Gender Analyst is expected to work on ensuring that the programme and project activities of the CO are fully aligned to the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy and the Country Office Gender Equality Strategy and appropriate Gender Markers. The Gender Analyst is expected to support the programme teams in ensuring gender-responsiveness and gender analysis of projects.

As the gender focal point for the CO, the Gender Analyst is expected to also support the CO’s internal gender mainstreaming and building of the gender capacity of colleagues. They will also support the CO’s efforts to maintain respect, inclusivity, diversity, and gender equality as core values of the workplace culture.

The Gender Analyst will lead and identify strategic approaches to address gender issues as well as the risks of gender-based violence to ensure gender-inclusive analysis in programmatic interventions. The Specialist will provide a gender analysis of the activities planned and executed under the project and will point out the steps the project needs to take to mainstream gender considerations in its activities. The Analyst will also identify risks and take measures to address them aligned with the CPD 2022-2026 and UNDP Eritrea Gender Equality Strategy (GES).

• Support management, programme and operations staff on the implementation of the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2026 and gender-responsive implementation of the CPD and UNSDCF priorities;
• Monitor and support assessing political, environmental, economic, and social development trends and issues affecting gender equality and women’s equal rights in Eritrea, to help inform strategic response to opportunities and challenges;
• Support effective application of gender mainstreaming/GE Action Plan throughout the CO’s programmes, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, communications, and advocacy;
• Identify opportunities for deployment of relevant UNDP Signature Solutions and UNDP’s integrator role as a key development partner in the area;
• Support the inclusion of GEWE in strategic documents and reporting;
• Ensure quality assurance of the Gender marker for projects (whether correct GEN1, 2, 3 is assigned);
• Support effective implementation of the Gender Equality Seal (re-)Certification;
• Timely provision of inputs to corporate communications and reporting requirements relating to the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy;
• Identify actions for implementation for complying with the requirements of the gender, disability and GBV action plans and monitor related activities.

2. Support for collaboration and partnership building of UNDP with the United Nations system, Government, and other partners by focusing on achieving these results:

• Support identification and facilitation of strategic partnership building opportunities for gender equality;
• Actively participate in and support the work of the Programming Principles Thematic Group, representing UNDP;
• Support the effective implementation of a strategic partnership between UNDP, the Government and national organizations to promote gender equality;
• Contribute to the strengthening of relations and collaboration in gender-related areas between the Government and UNDP;
• Support gender promotion to key partners in collaboration with other development actors and United Nations System agencies.

3. Facilitate knowledge management by focusing on achieving these results:

• Identify training needs and develop appropriate training curriculum and programs including potential trainees among the project staff, communities and key stakeholders, and integrate the training plan in annual work programs;
• Support the capacity building of staff and partners on gender equality principles and gender mainstreaming;
• Work with programme team to map best practices to inform gender integration into pipeline of projects and programme reviews;
• Map partners for effective gender programming by the CO;
• Participation in global knowledge networks, peer to peer exchanges, communities of practice, and potential regional and intra-regional exchanges.

Perform other duties within the functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Institutional Arrangement

The Gender Analyst is expected to lead the work on the Gender Equality Seal process and support organizations in the application and promotion of Gender Seal for Public Institutions. As the focal point, the Analyst is also part of the inter-agency working group, representing UNDP.  The Gender Analyst is expected to keep the CO Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan up to date, and to act as the main support mechanism for any gender-related activities. They are also expected to support communication with implementing partners and donors together with management and programme staff as needed.

The Gender Analyst reports to Senior Management, with the Deputy Resident Representative as the direct supervisor.

• Gender and Institutional Development
• Gender Corporate Reporting
• Gender Issues & Analysis
• Gender Mainstreaming
• Gender Women’s Economic Empowerment

Business Management: Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable result