UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, an advocate

Guided by the Gender Action Plan III, the role of the Gender Programme Specialist is primarily technical and programmatic, with the normative advocacy and coordination roles serving as a secondary function. The Specialist provides authoritative technical guidance/operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results contributing to gender equality in alignment with the Gender Action Plan. S/he supports the development, implementation, and monitoring of high quality gender programming across sectors in alignment with the Gender Action Plan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43aiG4w2q_M

How can you make a difference?

1.  Management and/or advisory support to Deputy Representative, or Representative
   • Actively participate in Country Management Team (CMT); Programme Coordination Team; partnerships, research, financial and contract review committees; and other key country-specific leadership teams to ensure strategic inclusion of gender in all country-specific programming.
   • Coordinate with the Regional Gender Advisors and the Headquarters Gender Section to plan, utilize, monitor and report on programmatic funds with large gender components that are allocated to the country-specific interventions for the Country Programme, under the Country Office senior management.
   • In collaboration with sectoral colleagues and under the guidance of Deputy Representative, participate in the planning and monitoring of the utilization of the budget allocated to sectoral and cross-sectoral gender interventions with sectoral colleagues.
   • Lead the gender component of the reporting of the routine country-level programme expenditures, including the annual reporting and the RAM.
   • Provide technical input and review on the gender components in key funding proposal appeals and submissions and in the design of funded projects/programs so that gender technical components are clearly defined, and technical capacities are included.
2. Program development and planning (including emergency contexts)
   • Lead and/or support the evidence-based programme planning on gender, incorporating robust measurement and evaluation of results – especially in the event of the Country Programme development and Mid-Term Review.

   • Provide technical leadership on integration of gender into programmatic assessment and institutional strengthening components of gender reviews by sections.

   • In collaboration with sectoral colleagues, follow up on the identified areas of focus for gender programming in alignment with the GAP and the country/regional priorities.

   •  Work with sectoral counterparts to incorporate sound gender indicators and measures in programme and policy initiatives, proposals, and advocacy efforts and assist in developing gender-sensitive theories of change models for sector and cross-sectoral programming.

3. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results (including emergency contexts)

   •  Provide technical support in reporting against gender indicators in the CPD in collaboration with Planning, M&E and planning section and sectoral teams.

   •  Lead and/or support cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on gender, ensuring coherence, maximization of synergies and efficiency in utilization of resources and delivery of results.

   • Support the strengthening of data systems and collection, as well as accountability mechanisms to monitor and evaluate progress on gender results.

   • Support high quality reporting on gender results, and a biannual performance review of GAP specified results.

   • Work closely with evaluation colleagues to effectively integrate data collection, tracking, analysis and reporting on the indicators for the GAP into programme results and gender performance benchmarks into M&E systems.

   • Support and strengthen the quality of research and evidence building on gender related programming by sectors.

   •  Support the Deputy Representative in the implementation of the TCO Action Plan that resulted from the 2023 Gender Programmatic Review.

   •  Actively represent UNICEF in relevant coordination bodies at the inter-agency level (gender theme group or other networks, GBV cluster if relevant), participate as a member of steering committees, and provide close oversight of inter-agency joint programmes

4.  Advisory services and technical support

   • Provide technical support and guidance to national government, NGOs, UN Agencies and other country-level and local-level partners on aspects of gender programming and to ensure incorporation of gender indicators and measures in programmes/projects, policy initiatives, proposals, and M&E systems.

   •  Support the integration of gender in emergency preparedness measures and contingency plans and establishment of early warning mechanisms.

   •  Lead and/or participate in needs assessment missions on gender, and in the event of an emergency, be deployed as a member of the Emergency Response Team.

5.  Advocacy, networking and partnership building

   • Liaise and consult with sections, government and other external partners (civil society, NGOs, UN Agencies, private sector) to identify areas for convergence, and develop and reinforce partnerships in gender programming.

   • Forge and support internal and external partnerships and networks in the development of harmonized, gender-transformative programme interventions.

   • Build strategic alliances for gender equality with various partners, including institutional links with UN agencies and other relevant entities.
   • Collaborate with other UN agencies and partners to enhance robust gender results in sectoral programmes at the country level. If necessary, represent UNICEF in external meetings on gender integration into sectoral and cross-sectoral results, including UN Country Team meetings.
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
   • Represent the gender section at sectoral, country-level and regional-level network meetings, and ensure best practices on gender programming according to 5 GAP principles are highlighted in these forums.
   • Bring best practices in gender programming and measurement to the attention of senior management and sectoral colleagues, as well as Regional Gender Advisor and gender section staff at HQ
   • Support innovative research on gender at the country-level.
   • Support management and HR in the development of an online source that enable staff members to enhance their understanding of gender and to support implementation of the GAP

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Master’s level university degree in Development Studies, Gender and Development, Social Sciences, Public Health, Business Administration or another relevant field.

•  5 relevant years’ experience in the area of gender

•  Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes on gender and development or any other cross cutting programme, especially at country/field level, experience in emergency response is an asset.

•  Background/familiarity with mainstreaming gender equality in development and in emergency. Knowledge and awareness of gender in emergencies is an asset

•  Demonstrated experience with approaches to build capacity on the technical aspects of gender programming and analysis for a diverse set of stakeholders.

•  Strong analytical, coordination, and partnership building skills.

  • Experience working with the UN or other international development organization; experience working with donor agencies and private sector engagement an asset.

  • Fluency in English, knowledge of other UN languages is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

.UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.