Mission and objectives

UNICEF was established in 1946 to supply emergency relief to millions of children suffering in the aftermath of World War II. The organization still functions to ease the suffering of millions of children in emergency situations across the world. UNICEF also focuses on the protection and promotion of child rights, working for the survival, protection, education and healthy development of every child. UNICEF has worked in Jordan since 1952 to promote and protect the rights of children. In the following decades, significant progress has been achieved for children. Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2013, UNICEF has significantly increased its operation to respond to the challenges faced by both refugee children and those in the communities where they live. Building on the lessons learned from this emergency response, UNICEF Jordan moved to a vulnerability approach in 2018 – supporting interventions that target the most vulnerable children in the country, regardless of their nationality.

Context

2025 reaffirms that gender equality is an organisational priority, a fundamental value and a cross-cutting principle for all five Goal Areas, as well as across UNICEF’s programs and workplaces. Aligned to the Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan, 2022-2025 | UNICEF (GAP) outlines a programmatic and ‘whole-of institution’ agenda for gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment. Similar to Gender Equality, the vision of the UNICEF Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) 2022-2030 | UNICEF aspires for a more inclusive world, where all children, including those with disabilities, live in barrier-free and inclusive communities. The Jordan Country Office (JCO) is currently implementing its second year of the Country Programme Document (2023–27), having made progress with instituting a Gender Action plan (2023-24) and built internal capacity through the recruitment of a National Specialist and a Knowledge Management Fellow to work alongside the international Gender Programme Specialist, and the appointment of sector-based gender focal points. The Deputy Representative (Programmes) leads the monthly gender focal meetings and provides leadership in ensuring gender is embedded into programme work as well into institutional systems and business processes. UNICEF JCO is seeking a dedicated national UN Volunteer Gender Officer to join its Gender and Disability Inclusion team. The UN Volunteer will contribute to strengthening UNICEF’s gender strategy and advancing its Gender Transformative approach in Jordan. The UN volunteer will support various Programme sections (Education, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, WASH, Adolescents and Youth, and Social Policy) to ensure programs are both gender-responsive and gender-transformative. Additionally, the UN Volunteer will help implement UNICEF’s policy commitments and technical guidance on gender equity and equality. National UN Specialist Volunteers in Jordan are entitled to: • Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of JOD 1101.58; • Annual and learning leaves; • Free Medical and life insurance; and • Free access to different learning platforms. For more information on UN Volunteer benefits, entitlements and support, please visit: https://www.unv.org/volunteer-your-country-conditions-service

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the international Gender Programme Specialist, and the strategic guidance of the Deputy Representative, the UN Volunteer will support the work on a gender transformative agenda in Jordan. The UNV will support the UNICEF Programme sections (Education, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, WASH, Adolescents and Youth and Social Policy/Social Protection) to ensure that their programmes are not only gender responsive, but also gender transformative. The UNV will also ensure that UNICEF’s policy commitments and technical guidance on gender equity and equality are operationalized. 1) Support the strengthening of JCO gender responsive and/ or gender transformative programming aligned to sectoral annual work plan priorities. – Work closely with the international gender programme specialist in technical and advisory support to sectors (internal) and to implementing partners, as required. – Support the monitoring and reporting of the gender dashboard and gender and disability outputs and outcomes. – Contribute to review and technical support in national policy/ strategy documents. – Co-create the advancement of JCO’s adolescent girl empowerment strategy, together with ADAP team. – Generate and update evidence-informed, gender and disability-responsive data to monitor existing and future efforts on addressing disability needs in Jordan. 2) Support JCO institutional capacity strengthening on gender equity and equality. – Support and promote JCO’s capacity on gender equity and equality and disability inclusion among staff by planning quarterly/ bi-annual capacity building sessions. – Plan Brown Bag sessions for and with JCO staff and coordinate with guest speakers (when relevant) to foster sharing of gender-focused and disability inclusive information and learning on a quarterly basis. – Co-organize and support in preparation of monthly gender and disability inclusion focal points meetings, prior to each meeting. 3) Strengthen JCO Gender Equality Advocacy work – Co-create briefs on gender sectoral work with the support of gender and disability inclusion focal points to showcase existing gender responsive/transformative and disability inclusive programmatic accomplishments and sectoral action plans. – Translate into Arabic key resources produced by the Gender & Disability Inclusion Team. – Support in the quality assurance of Gender & Disability Inclusion key documents/publications. – Manage flawless internal and external Gender & Inclusion technical meetings, workshops (e.g. venue, invites, pre-event organization, translations, facilitating contracts and payments). 4) Support and engage in volunteering activities: including engaging in events that mark International Volunteer Day, contribute to articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.

Competencies and values

• Communication • Development work • Knowledge Sharing • Manages ambiguity and complexity. • Thinks and acts strategically. • Works collaboratively with others

Living conditions and remarks

Amman, the capital, is a peaceful city with over four million residents. People are friendly to visitors. Services in terms of banking, transportation, health, and communications are easily available. Though Arabic is the official language, English is widely spoken among most of the population, especially in Amman. Road network is good both in terms of spread and quality of the roads. Public transportation in Amman is limited. Taxis are relatively cheap and easily available. There are several shopping malls, restaurants, gyms, and cinemas. A large variety of accommodation options can be found; however, it is worth noting that prices in Amman have generally increased in the past few years. There are no specific security threats. Amman is a very easy city in which to live; large, many amenities, very modern and serviced by an international airport with direct flights to most capital cities. According to the assessment of the UN Department of Safety & Security (UNDSS) Jordan is a family duty station (category A hardship). As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the insurance plan.