UNICEF, Gender Programme Specialist, P-4, Niamey, Niger

Location: Niger
Work Type : Fixed Term Staff
Opening Date 7 Jan 2017 W. Central Africa Standard Time
Closing Date 16 Jan 2017 W. Central Africa Standard Time

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Organizational Context

Gender disparities and inequalities in Niger are still persistent. Women's health is affected by limited access to information and poor level of instruction, influencing their decision-making including their reproductive health. A Gender Programmatic Review was conducted during the last quarter of 2015. Priority action points for strengthening gender equality programming and addressing gender equality priorities, targeting girls (adolescents) in Nutrition, Child Protection, Education through a double approach combining gender-specific results and gender mainstreaming. In addition to that, Niger CO wishes to align with UNICEF Gender Action Plan (GAP) 2014-2017 which requires Country offices with a programme budget above USD 75 million to recruit a least one Gender Specialist in order to respect the GAP benchmarks.

Purpose of the Position

In alignment with the GAP, 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. She/he supports the development, implementation, and monitoring of high quality gender programming across sectors in alignment with the Gender Action Plan.

She/he:
Supports senior programme colleagues and management of the Country Office to advance one or more of the four Targeted Gender Priorities in the Gender Action Plan with support from the Regional Gender Adviser. She/he also plays a role in working with one or more of the 7 UNICEF sectors to mainstream gender by prioritizing key gender results within the sector(s) with a strong gender relevance;
Leads cross-sectional collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on gender, ensuring coherence, maximization of synergies and efficiency in utilization of resources and delivery of results;
Works with programme colleagues and management so that gender results are effectively defined, measured, and reported, and high quality assessment, research, evidence generation and evaluation on gender programming is undertaken and utilized, including through the application of the MoRES framework and effective theories of change;
upports/leads effective review, assessment, planning, capacity building, and knowledge management on gender;
Supports the assessment and identification of gender needs for emergency preparedness and response, and provides gender relevant guidance and technical input on emergency programming.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

1. Management and/or advisory support to Deputy Representative, Senior Gender Programme Specialist 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 the Gender Thematic Fund, or other 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 country programming phases, including strategic planning, SitAns, strategic moments of reflection, CPDs, CPMPs, mid-term reviews, extended annual reviews, programme component strategy notes and in the programmatic assessment and institutional strengthening components of gender reviews
In collaboration with sectoral colleagues, identify the areas of focus for gender programming with the greatest potential for impact and scale, 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 in alignment with the MoRES framework.

3. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results (including emergency contexts)
Provide technical support in indicator identification, measurement and performance tracking as it relates to gender mainstreaming and the Targeted Gender Priorities, in collaboration with Planning, M&E and planning section and sectoral teams.
Lead 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, bringing in the latest learning and insights from the field of gender and development, and putting in place a coherent, well-prioritized research agenda in alignment with the GAP.
Oversee the planning and implementation of the gender reviews and make sure that the recommendations that come out of the gender review are integrated into the Country Programme strategy and action plans and humanitarian strategies and action plans in emergency contexts.
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.
Provide technical support and advocacy to reporting and follow-up on international and regional gender equality commitments made by the countries
Support the development of adequate emergency preparedness measures, updating of contingency plans and establishment of early warning mechanisms that reflect gender needs.
Support the development and of sex-disaggregated databases on information crucial for the planning and implementation of emergency plans.
Support the development and deployment of emergency training that incorporates gender issues and relevant strategies.
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.
Identify implementing/operational partners, and establish implementing arrangements in order to ensure an effective, gender-inclusive emergency response.

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 and UNDAF/UNAF preparations.
Lead mapping of potential new partnerships and leverage existing partnerships to accelerate GAP implementation at the country level in determined priority areas.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
Initiate documentation and sharing of the country-level experience in gender programming and lessons learned, which will be shared with internal network and external partners and utilized for South-South cooperation.
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 and conduct innovative research on gender at the country-level
Support Regional Gender Advisor in advancing the technical and research capacity of country-level staff, offices and programs on gender to continue to build evidence base for programming and to ensure continuous capacity in gender at Country Office level.
Support management and HR in the development of systems, tools and processes that enable staff members and external partners to enhance their understanding and adoption of gender sensitive behaviors and to support implementation of the GAP.

Impact of Results

Sectoral and cross-sectoral programmes/projects on gender are effectively and efficiently supported and implemented in alignment with the Gender Action Plan's (GAP) four targeted gender priorities and country/ regional/ sectoral priorities through the timely and systematic provision of coordination and technical expertise on gender.

The performance of the gender programmes are timely monitored, analyzed and evaluated, and the findings of the measurement and research are integrated into the planning and reporting. Programmatic financial resources allocated to gender programming and results are effectively planned and managed for cost-efficient utilization, and the progress on the gender programme expenditures are timely monitored and reported.

Knowledge, information and best practices on effective gender programming is generated, managed and shared within internal networks and with external partners to support programmes in changing gender disadvantage and discrimination.

Gender needs for emergency preparedness (response and reconstruction, in the event of emergencies) are identified and integrated into the emergency programme planning and implementation.

Overall, this Gender Programme Specialist will support progress in the four target priorities for gender, the five performance benchmarks, and the seven results areas specified globally for UNICEF in the Gender Action Plan (GAP).

Qualifications of a Successful Candidate
An advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in the social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF's sectoral work (e.g. Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, HIV/AIDs, etc.).
Academic credentials in gender are a strong asset.
A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming and research on gender and development in key issue areas that are the focus of UNICEF's Gender Action Plan.
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.
Fluency in French and English (written and verbal) is required.
Knowledge of local working language of the duty station/region is an asset. Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) or a local language is considered an asset.

Competencies and level of proficiency required

Core Values
Commitment
Diversity and inclusion
Integrity

Core competencies
Communication - Level II
Working with People - Level II
Drive for Results - Level II

Functional Competencies:
Leading and Supervising - Level II
Formulating Strategies and Concepts - Level III
Analyzing - Level III
Relating and Networking - Level III
Deciding and Initiating Action - Level II
Persuading and Influencing - Level III
Applying technical skills - Level III
Entrepreneurial thinking - Level III

To view our competency framework, please click here.

REMARKS: This is a re-advertisement. Candidates who applied previously will be considered and need not re-apply.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.

How to Apply:
To apply, click on the following link https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=498914