Temporary Appointment Gender Programme Specialist Full-Time

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,

UNICEF Mozambique is a mid to large (and growing) UNICEF Country Office (CO) In ESAR with an exciting and innovative programme for championing child rights in the country. The 2017-2021 country programme has a broad portfolio in Communication and Health, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection and Social Policy & Research. The programme is transitioning into more integrated and convergent programming hence requiring innovative and collaborative programming skills especially for early childhood development and adolescent development and protection. UNICEF Mozambique is also part of the global initiatives to eliminate violence against women and girls and harmful practices such the UN-EU global Spotlight Initiative and the Global Programme on elimination of Child Marriage. In preparation for the next country programme (2022- 2025) this year, the country office will also undertake key research and reviews such as the Gender Review, the Country Programme evaluation and Country office situation analysis of status of Children.

UNICEF is at an important turning point, as a new Sustainable Development framework has been adopted.  Within this context, implementation of UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan 2014-2017 in alignment with the Strategic Plan demonstrates the organization’s strengthened commitment to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as its core mandate.

UNICEF’s work on gender equality is guided by the Gender Action Plan 2018-2021 (GAP), which advances gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in key areas of UNICEF’s work. The GAP identifies five targeted gender priorities;

• Promoting adolescent girls’ nutrition, pregnancy care, and prevention of HIV/AIDS and human papilloma virus (HPV);
• Advancing adolescent girls’ secondary education, learning and skills, including STEM;
• Preventing and responding to child marriage and early unions;
• Preventing and responding to GBV in emergencies;
• Facilitating accessible and dignified menstrual hygiene management (MHM).

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct guidance from the Deputy Representative and in alignment with the GAP, the role of the Gender Programme Specialist is primarily technical and programmatic; 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.

Key functions includes

S/he i) Will support the coordination and Management of the UN- EU Spotlight Initiative ii) Oversee the Country programme Gender and Review process and support Management and management to advance one or more of the 5 Targeted Gender Priorities in the Gender Action Plan iii) Supports the Country Programme development process including providing strategic guidance/Inputs to the SITAN, The country Programme evaluation and the sectorial strategic note development iv) ) leads cross-sectional collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on gender, ensuring coherence, maximization of synergies and efficiency in utilization of resources v) 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; vi) Supports/leads effective review, assessment, planning, capacity building, and knowledge management on gender; vii) Supports the assessment and identification of gender needs for emergency preparedness and response, and provides gender relevant guidance and technical input on emergency programming.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Country Program development and planning;
2. Coordination and management Key one UN Gender related Programme;
3. Management and/or advisory the Deputy Representative and the Representative;
4. Coordination and management Key one UN Gender related Programmes;
5. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results;
6. Advisory services and technical support;
7. Advocacy, networking and partnership building;
8. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building.

1.Program development and planning Process

• Lead the country office Gender Programmatic Review and ensure the recommendations are reflected and anchored on the on the CPD process;
• Provide technical leadership on integration of gender into country programming phases, including SitAns, the country programme evaluation, strategic moments of reflection, development of sectorial strategic notes and in the programmatic assessment;
• 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.

2. Coordination and management Spotlight Initiative and other one UN Gender related Programme

• Lead the Coordination of the Spotlight with the key Spotlight RUNOs, the Spotlight Coordinator and the RCs office. The Gender Specialist Serves as the primary technical focal point representing UNICEF at the technical coordination team;
• Lead and coordinate the UNICEF cross sectorial collaboration for Spotlight Initiative including grant management process, compiling Mid – year and annual Narrative/financial reporting, monitoring of programmatic implementation and monitor financial utilization;
• Support the Representative with coordinating UNICEF inputs on high level engagements with the RCs office, EU, the secretariat and the steering committee;
• Support the Strengthening of coordination and linkages between existing Joint Programmes (Spotlight initiative, the Rapariga Biz Programme and Global Programme on Elimination of Child Marriage)

 3. Management and/or advisory the Deputy Representative and the Representative

• Actively participate in the Programme Coordination Team; planning focal point team; and other key country-specific leadership teams to ensure strategic inclusion of gender in all country-specific programming;
• 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.

4. Advisory services, Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Provide technical support and advocacy to reporting and follow-up on international and regional gender equality commitments made by the countries;
• 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.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Support 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;
• 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 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.

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

Education:

•  Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in the social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public or other related subjects. Academic credentials in gender are a strong asset.

Experience:

• Minimum eight years of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive on gender Programming including strong background on Gender based Violence Programming. Strong experience in Conducting research/reviews is required, Previous experience with engaging UNICEF SITAN/Evaluation/ Gender Review development process will be highly desired. Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes on gender and Adolescents Programming especially at country/field level, is an asset.

Language Requirements:

•  Fluency in English and a Latin language. Fluency in Portuguese is a strong asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are…

• Leading and Supervising [III]
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [III]
• Analyzing [III]
• Relating and Networking [III]
• Deciding and Initiating Action [III]
• Persuading and Influencing [II]

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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:

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