Gender Specialist

UNDP in the Pacific has developed its multi-country programme document (MCPD, 2023-2027) to guide its interventions in the next five years in full alignment and directly to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2023–27). The Office covers 10 countries in the Pacific with an extensive portfolio which has grown over time. The UNSDCF and UNDP MCPD are designed in full alignment with the 2030 agenda, Samoa Pathway, and 2050 Blue Content Strategy, which is endorsed by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) among others.  The UNDP Pacific Office next five-year plan strategic priorities are encapsulated under three outcome areas: (i) Planet, (ii) Prosperity, and (iii) Peace. 

Following a strategic review process which was completed in June 2022, UNDP Pacific office structure is aligned to the emerging priorities of the office. In this regard, the programme portfolio will include mutually reinforcing work streams crafted around two clusters (i) Resilience and Climate Change; and ii) Inclusive growth and Effective governance, supported by a policy and innovation team, Operations team, Management and Oversight team that provides strategic guidance on  results Management  and compliance entrusted with the corporate alignment, programme finance management and quality assurance,  and strategic communications  team that provides knowledge management and communication support to all programme interventions. 

The Governance team desires to recruit a Gender Specialist who will work under the direct supervision of the Team Leader and in close coordination with Programme/Project Managers.  

The Gender Specialist advises on gender policies and trends and relevant linkages to EG’s programmes. He/she advocates for  and represents UNDP in the area of gender equality and women empowerment in governance as requested by his/her supervisor. He/she is expected to maintain a network with colleagues from UNDP, UN Agencies, Government officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society. 

The Gender Specialist is to provide advice and support to EG on gender equality and women empowerment/leadership (GEWE) and gender based violence (GBV) issues; facilitation of knowledge building on GEWE/GBV issues; creation of strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization in supporting GEWE/GBV in governance and advocacy/promotion of UNDP's mandate and mission in GEWE/GBV. 

The successful candidate will work directly under the supervision of the Team Leader of the IGEG; the candidate will work with all project’s partners and stakeholders at local and national levels.
 

Provides advice and support to EG on GEWE/GBV issues 

• Compilation, analysis and interpretation of gender, women empowerment and GBV issues and statistical data, thorough research and preparation of top quality analysis and reports.
• Provision of top quality analysis and substantive inputs to UNDP’s strategic documents related to GEWE and GBV.
• Advice on possible areas for EG’s support and adjustment of on-going programmes to ensure that EG’s programmes are in line with national policies and priorities on gender.

Ensures effective gender mainstreaming into EG’s programme and gender specific portfolio and reports on gender results:

• Production and launch of gender reports.
• Contribution to sub-regional, regional and inter-agency initiatives related to gender issues.
• Representation of UNDP in different working groups and interagency working groups
• In charge of report on gender results at project and programme level, including the gender part on the results-oriented annual report (ROAR)
• Serves as the Governance’s focal point on implementation of the MCO’s Gold gender seal. 

Provides policy advice and facilitation of knowledge building and management in gender issues:

• Facilitates knowledge building and mainstreaming of gender equality in related perspectives within EG’s programmes and actively participates in corporate UNDP knowledge creation.
• Provision of policy options and high quality advisory inputs relating to gender equality to EG’s programmes and projects to ensure these are responsive to the PIC’s national policies, priorities and strategic plans, and advance UNDP's corporate goals.
• Assessment of the PIC's gender policies and their impact on governance, poverty reduction, growth, equity, etc.
• Training and capacity building support for UNDP staff and Government officials, public institutions on gender issues.

Advocacy and promotion of awareness of UNDP mandate on gender equality, GEWE, GBV, women leadership 

• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice through identification of best practices and lessons learned in gender issues
• Management of events and publications on gender issues.
• Public and policy advocacy for corporate gender policies, the Sustainable Development Goals, pro-poor and equitable economic growth by participating in relevant forums, conferences and trainings.

Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization for gender issues:

• Support to monitoring progress and formulation of strategies towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender with collaboration with other UN agencies
• Development of partnerships with other UN Agencies and task teams, including the Joint UN working groups on Gender, Health, and Governance and other task teams.
• Strengthens partnerships with governmental institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society based on strategic goals of UNDP, PICs’ needs and donors' priorities. 

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree) in Social Sciences, Gender or Women’s Studies or other relevant field with a focus on Gender is required; OR 
• A first-level University degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Social Sciences, Gender or Women’s Studies or other relevant field in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.
• Forensic and Criminal Psychology Degree will be an added advantage. 

Experience          

• Minimum 5 years (with Master´s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of work experience in/with law enforcement bodies, SGBV state institutions or other justice stakeholders, including relevant CSOs 
• At least 2 years of working in GEWE, GBV issues and in Pacific Island Countries will be an asset.
• Experience in organizing capacity building trainings and knowledge sharing initiatives on gender and GBV is required. 
• Drafting of SOPs and other legal/strategic framework
• Senior level experience of leading the gender/GBV related work in state institution or CSO 
• Experience of working on GBV with law enforcement and prosecutions agencies  is an added advantage. 
• Extensive experience in research and policy-level analysis.
• Substantial experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of gender projects is required.
• Experience of working in/with law enforcement bodies, SGBV state institutions or other justice stakeholders, including relevant CSOs is an added advantage

Required Languages:      

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of local language is an asset.

Professional Certificates               

• Trainer Certificate for Gender/SGBV