Office/Unit/Project Description 

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). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes.  BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data-driven including in its programme support efforts.

UNDP has achieved significant progress in making gender equality and women’s empowerment integral to its work on human development. The new UNDP Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025 builds on the lessons of the previous strategies it has established as the main goal to help governments to shift systems and power structures that generate gender inequalities and women’s disempowerment. It will work through its six signature solutions on poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, energy and gender equality; and promote integrated approaches in each thematic area, stronger investments in data and analysis, and the implementation of innovative solutions to transform social norms, and stronger partnerships with UN agencies and with civil society.

The Gender Team (BPPS) has the leading role in the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025, including through the implementation of Gender Equality Global Program 2023-2025.

Scope of Work 

The Gender Specialist- Inclusive Governance and gender-based violence prevention, under the supervision of the Director of the Gender Team (New York), will:

1.           Provide strategic leadership for effective planning and implementation of the inclusive governance and gender-based violence prevention priorities of the Gender Equality Global Program.

• Provide guidance and technical advice to advance the implementation of the inclusive governance and GBV prevention priorities of the Gender Equality Global Program (Outcome 2), including to support women, feminist organizations, and women’s networks to influence public decision making (Activity 2.2); to equip public institutions to prevent and reduce gender-based violence (Activity 2.3) ; and to advance social norms change and prevention of backlashes against women’s rights through data and innovation (Activity 2.4).
• Identify opportunities for synergies with other UNDP global flagship initiatives, and other GPN Teams, including the Governance and Rule of Law Teams, the Nature, Climate and Energy Hubs, the Chief Digital Office, and the Gender and Crisis Facility, among others.
• Liaise with Regional Hubs and Country Offices to identify their needs and interests relevant to these thematic areas, to ensure ownership and contribute to strengthening their capacities.
• Ensure effective implementation of specific programmes/initiatives on these topics channelled through the Gender Equality Global Program (e.g., Spotlight Initiative, technology enhanced GBV, integrating a GBV lens in non-GBV initiatives, etc.), including management of resources, monitoring and evaluation of results and corporate reporting (e.g., BPPS and donors).

2.           Build and maintain strategic partnerships.

• Represent UNDP and the Gender Team in UN interagency coordination spaces, as well as in other fora, to advance UNDP strategic agenda on inclusive governance and gender-based violence prevention (e.g., Spotlight Initiative).
• Provide substantive advice and support to foster/strengthen strategic partnerships with UN entities working on SDG 5.2 (e.g., Joint Respect Framework on preventing GBV and the UN Essential Services on Ending GBV), governments, civil society, academia and donors.
• Strengthen resource mobilization efforts for the expansion of this area of work, including by identifying funding opportunities, preparing funding proposals, donor briefings, etc.
• Attend meetings, prepare concept notes, presentations, briefs and talking points for senior management as needed.

3.           Ensure effective knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy.

• Contribute to knowledge management on inclusive governance and GBV prevention, aligned to the new global Knowledge Management Strategy and Framework for Action (e.g., CoPs, knowledge platforms, high-quality knowledge products, evidence-based good practices, among others).
• Keep the Gender Team and the GPN abreast of main advances on data and cutting-edge knowledge and academic feminist research on this strategic agenda.
• Design and coordinate the implementation of learning initiatives, including by ensuring lessons learned from emerging and innovative approaches (e.g., transforming masculinities and targeting men and boys for the eradication of GBV) are widely disseminated both internally and externally.
• Provide guidance and technical support to the Gender Team and BERA on all communications and advocacy efforts related to SDG 5.2 on ending violence against women and girls, including advocacy campaigns as 16 Days of Activism, among others.

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 incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Director of the Gender Team.

Competencies.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Min.Education requirements    

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Gender Equality and/or other related disciplines.  Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) In the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience 

• Minimum of seven (7) years (with master’s degree) or nine (9) years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in gender and development with a particular focus in inclusive governance and GBV prevention is required.

Required skills               

• Experience in providing technical and project management support, particularly in complex initiatives including different levels (global, regional, and country levels) is required.
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Understanding and experience on Gender-based violence prevention is desirable.
• Understanding and experience in collaborating with civil society and feminist organizations is an asset.
• Proven experience in partnerships and resource mobilization is desirable.
• Proven experience in communications, knowledge management and learning is an asset.
• Knowledge of UNDP operations and structures, particularly those related to gender equality and women’s empowerment, is highly desirable.

Required Language(s)   

• Fluency in English, both written and oral is required.
• Working knowledge of a second UN language is an asset.