Date: National Gender and Youth Expert

​Requisition ID: 4929
Grade: SB5 – Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior)
Country: Pakistan
Duty Station: Karachi
Category: National Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 17-Dec-2024, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization’s application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization’s normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.

The Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of MSMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among MSMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of MSME manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade-related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and of conformity assessment service institutions (testing, certification, inspection and calibration) and the strengthening of their capacities.

The Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit (TCS/SME/CQC) builds national and regional production and quality infrastructure systems, with an emphasis on providing internationally recognized services, facilitating MSME participation in regional and global value chains; strengthening institutional quality infrastructure capacities; building conformity assessment capacities; and supporting market access and quality awareness with the public sector, economic operators and consumers, placing a special emphasis on capacitating MSMEs.

PROJECT CONTEXT

One of the projects implemented by UNIDO “Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development across Rural Sindh (PAIDAR)” is a five-year programme funded by the European Union to support the Government of Sindh (GoS) in implementation of its Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). The long-term objective of PAIDAR is to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction and improvement of livelihoods of poor women, men and young people across Sindh province. The PRS has three pillars: 1) Community Driven Local Development 2) Addressing Urban Poverty including Urban Economic Clusters and 3) Rural Growth Centres.

PAIDAR has been conceived to mainly focus on fostering the economic development dimension of the PRS, and targeting the most vulnerable, in particular through support to enterprise development, focusing on the development of Rural Growth Centres and Urban Economic Clusters under PRS implementation. To this end, the programme will:

• Provide necessary financial and technical support to a significant number of micro and small enterprises.
• Contribute technically and financially to building and upgrading public infrastructure for improvement in basic service delivery; and
• Assist the GoS in strengthening internal coordination and monitoring and optimising provincial public resources allocation towards meeting PRS objectives.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Expert will guide PAIDAR’s efforts to empower women and youth in Sindh through tailored support in economic participation, social cohesion, and sustainable development. The role entails designing, implementing, and monitoring gender- and youth-centred approaches to economic opportunities vis-à-vis PAIDAR’s grant windows, technical support for women and youth-led SMEs, and entrepreneurship while promoting social cohesion, aligning with SDGs, public sector priorities, and proven global best practices.

The expert will deliver the following:

1. PAIDAR’s Gender and Youth Development Framework

The expert will regularly review and propose improvements when necessary in PAIDAR’s Gender and Youth Development Framework aiming to promote equitable economic participation and social empowerment for women and youth in programme’s target districts. The key ingredients of the framework will be aligned with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 UNSCR 2050, and national gender and youth policies, it addresses barriers to resources and business opportunities, particularly for marginalized groups. The framework also incorporates partnerships with public and private sectors, fostering local champions and integrating SDG 5, 8, and 10 for long-term impact.

2. Technical Support and Entrepreneurship Development

The expert together with the technical team of the programme will design and implement tailored entrepreneurship and technical support programs for women and youth, focusing on business planning, digital skills, financial literacy, and sustainable business practices. He/she will facilitate partnerships with local incubators, accelerators, and training providers to offer ongoing support, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

3. Social Cohesion and Community Engagement

The expert in consultation with social sector expert will foster community-based approaches to social cohesion, ensuring the active participation of women and youth in PAIDAR’s initiatives to promote access to social services including infrastructure and utilities. He/she will identify and support local champions, especially women and youth leaders, to drive social cohesion, conflict resolution, and community solidarity initiatives. This includes working with local councils, youth groups, and women’s networks to promote inclusive dialogue on shared development goals and address social issues impacting gender and youth.

4. Sustainable Development and Alignment with SDGs

The expert will guide PAIDAR’s gender and youth strategies to support SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). This will involve integrating environmental sustainability into gender and youth initiatives, promoting green practices in business support and vocational training for long-term resilience.

5. Strengthening Public Sector Priorities and Partnerships

The expert will liaise with government departments, local authorities, and stakeholders to align gender and youth activities with Sindh’s development plans, policies, and public sector priorities. Additionally, the expert will provide technical inputs to build government capacity in implementing gender and youth-centric policies, especially in economic development and employment sectors.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

The expert will collaborate with the MEL expert to develop gender and youth-sensitive indicators and tracking mechanisms to measure impact and adapt strategies. He/she will regularly assess the effectiveness of gender and youth-focused interventions, using data to refine approaches and ensure alignment with PAIDAR’s goals. The expert will prepare detailed reports, case studies, and presentations highlighting successes, challenges, and impacts of gender and youth initiatives within PAIDAR’s program framework.

Under the overall guidance of PAIDAR Programme Manager and direct supervision of National Programme Coordinator and National Technical Advisor, the expert will be responsible for the performance of the following main duties:

MAIN DUTIES

– Conduct needs assessments to identify specific barriers faced by women and youth in Sindh’s priority districts.

– Collect sex-aggregated baseline data that could be used to monitor potential gender impacts.

– Develop a comprehensive framework to advance gender and youth equity, aligning with international and national standards.

– Integrate sustainable practices and align gender and youth initiatives with SDGs 5, 8, and 10, Sindh’s public sector priorities and policies, UN gender and youth principles, and proven practices into programmatic frameworks.

– Create tailored outreach and communication strategies to increase participation by gender and youth in the programme’s initiatives.

– Develop reform recommendations/policy papers that increase women’s and youth’s access to economic resources and representation.

– Based on gender analysis, support in developing a plan of action that identifies opportunities and entry points for mainstreaming gender into the projects.

– Support in providing trainings on gender mainstreaming.

– Work with local schools and training centres to improve access to quality education, particularly for young girls and marginalized youth.

– Facilitate partnerships with incubators/accelerators and training providers to expand resources in underserved areas.

– Facilitate scholarships, mentoring, and vocational training programs to increase educational opportunities for youth and women.

– Coordinate with local health providers to improve access to preventive healthcare, immunizations, and reproductive health services.

– Design and implement tailored entrepreneurship programs with ongoing technical support for women and youth.

– Provide support to the promotion of the gender mainstreaming for the specific project.

– Develop customized training materials on business skills, digital literacy, and financial management for youth and women. Organize workshops with practical, hands-on training focused on sustainable business practices.

– Foster community-based social cohesion initiatives, empowering local champions to drive inclusivity.

– Develop mentorship programs for youth leaders to encourage civic responsibility and community leadership.

– Establish gender and youth-sensitive indicators to measure and refine program impact.

– Assess and identify potential gender-differentiated impacts of the project.

– Monitor of the project implementation with respect to the gender component of the programme (regular monitoring and reporting of gender issues towards greater gender equality and empowerment of women).

– Document and report insights from gender and youth initiatives, lessons, and impact stories for program improvement and strategic alignment.

– Carry out any other gender tasks requested by the Project manager and International/National Project Coordinator.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Youth Development, Development Economics, Social development, Sociology, or a related field is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least five (5) years of work experience in gender and youth empowerment, economic inclusion, or a related field, ideally within the context of development programs in Pakistan is required.
• Proven expertise in gender-sensitive access to finance, and community development; knowledge of global frameworks and national policies on gender equality and youth inclusion, with proficiency in applying these within programmatic contexts; strong analytical skills in conducting gender and youth assessments, especially in economic and social development contexts is required.
• Experience of working with diverse partners, including the public sector, NGOs, community leaders, and youth and women’s organizations is required.
• Experience with gender analysis tools and methodologies is required.
• Experience/knowledge of the national gender context is desirable.
• Experience in evaluating the gender related needs, conditions and problems of the country in the regions is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of Urdu is required.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org