Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Policy Division develops and implements the UN Women program of work on analysis, research and knowledge management that provides the evidence base for the advice and guidance UN Women provides to the intergovernmental process, the UN system, and to UN Women staff working at country and regional level. It identifies emerging issues and trends, and develops and proposes new strategies for achieving the agreed goals through innovative approaches and lessons learned about what works in practice. It also designs and oversees the training and capacity development programs of UN Women, working closely with the UN Women training facility in Santo Domingo.

The Policy Division staff is organized in Thematic Sections, bringing together technical experts who: undertake issues-based research; analyze data on country, regional or global trends; build a knowledge base on policy commitments and their implementation; propose evidence-based options for global policy, norms and standards and for UN Women global programme strategies; and contribute substantive inputs to policy advocacy and technical cooperation programmes.

The Macroeconomics thematic area of work focuses on the framework and incentives that create the enabling environment for women and men to engage in labour, financial, goods and services markets. Macroeconomics shapes development and growth path, determines patterns and levels of inequalities, delineates boundaries between paid and unpaid work, influences social reproduction and shapes the structure of the formal and informal sectors. Working in this area of focus, will unable UN Women to engage in policy work on exit routes from crises (i.e., economic and financial crisis; food and fuel crises, etc) and on how social protection can complement and support policies for poverty elimination and growth for development. The work will enable UN Women to engage in debates and produce policy advocacy tools aimed at designing sectoral policies – in agriculture, trade, investment and labour market, for example – so that increased gender equality and social justice are integral to development. Under the supervision of the Chief of Section, the Policy Advisor is responsible for developing and implementing the organization’s policies in the Macroeconomics area of expertise to achieve gender equality and advancement of women. He/she provides technical and policy advice at country and regional levels, through strategy development, thematic reviews, tools for capabilities building and channels for knowledge sharing and prepare documentation for UN normative intergovernmental processes; prepare studies, reports and content for policy advocacy.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

  • Substantive input to policy development in Macroeconomics;  
  • Advisory services, technical guidance and programme support;
  • Substantive support to intergovernmental processes and policy development;
  • Representation and advocacy;
  • Knowledge generation and capacity building.

Substantive input to policy development in Macroeconomics:

  • Lead corporate policy development in the area of Macroeconomics;
  • Lead development of policy strategies in the area of Macroeconomics;
  • Develop tools, guidelines and manuals on the thematic area, for use by UN Women country offices, the UN system, and other partners;
  • Provide technical and policy leadership when UN Women participates in, convenes, or leads interagency group on policy related areas;
  • Provide thematic inputs and guidance to corporate strategic planning and positioning;
  • Oversee, develop proposals and/or manage projects/studies with respect to global/ thematic gender equality policies and programmes or other relevant interventions;
  • Contribute to the preparation of UN Women’s flagship reports on the status of women Conduct and/or lead the analysis of data and provide evidence to build the case for policies and interventions on gender equality and distill relevant lessons;
  • Research, develop and/or present policy papers, practice notes/concepts and other knowledge based-tools for discussion in global and regional forums to help influence/advance policy dialogue.
Advisory services and programme support:
  • Provide Policy Advisory services in the thematic areas to ROs/MCOs/Cos;
  • Provide policy guidance on conceptual strategy development and management of the implementation of overall strategies and intra and inter-divisional policies and procedures;
  • Work closely with UN WOMEN’s regional and national programme offices to support the development and implementation of programmes in the area of Macroeconomics;
  • Provide technical inputs into program documents, country strategies, and knowledge products;
  • Organize technical consultations, South-South and South-North exchanges and other opportunities to share experiences and promising practices on effective means of enhancing gender equality and women’s influence;
  • Develop catalytic global programmes with normative and universal content which can add value to UN Women’s leadership in innovation, knowledge, and technical areas;
  • Plan, organize and substantively service ad hoc expert group meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops and similar gatherings, including identification and determination of major issues for discussion and selection of participants, development of background documentation, preparation of reports and policy recommendations, and dissemination of results of such meetings;
  • Manage, supervise and carry out the work programme of the Unit under his/her responsibility to ensure substantive and technical quality according to standards and goals for each thematic area.
Substantive support to intergovernmental processes and policy development:
  • Provide substantive input in the preparation of position papers and reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as Commission on the Status of Women, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate and prepare analytical summaries of debates, supporting negotiations and analyzing/compiling outcomes;
  • Prepare substantive input into and help coordinate the development of analytical reports to contribute to the Secretary-General’s mandated reporting to intergovernmental forums;
  • Support the implementation of resolutions, decision and other directives in relevant areas of focus, including through support to expert bodies created by intergovernmental forums;
  • Provide inputs in international fora to help shape development of global and regional policies, norms and standards and implementation strategies.
Representation and advocacy:
  • Represents the UN Women at policy making inter-agency, inter-governmental and international technical and advocacy for the area of Macroeconomics;
  •  Participates in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or hold programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions;
  • Contribute substantively to the development of strategic approaches to policy dialogue, resource mobilization, partnerships, advocacy and outreach;
  • Establish and nurture relationship with academia, research institutions, civil society and experts to expand and share knowledge, exchange views on latest findings, incorporate cutting-edge thinking in UN work;
  • Contribute to pro-active positioning and planning for the ED’s trips and meetings.
Knowledge generation and capacity building
  • Contribute substantively to the knowledge management and development of capacity building of UN Women Programme staff in the Macroeconomics area of focus;
  • Contribute to the development/expansion of knowledge management strategies and methodologies in the Macroeconomics area of focus;
  • Establish and lead global communities of practice that promote collaboration, peer support, consultation and surface innovation, good practices, lessons and needs and opportunities;
  • Engage in existing thematic and gender equality networks to better connect UN Women and partner work and promote learning and innovation;
  • Develop and maintain rosters of gender experts, who can develop technical support to UN Women offices, national partners, UNCT’s or other UN system entities;
  • Contribute to the internal flow of information throughout the organization on policy and technical issues;
  • Produce knowledge products to meet UN Women needs and standards of quality;
  • Maintain and ensure quality of content in the thematic area in UN Women guidelines, tools and other materials;
  • Advise possible evaluations to the Evaluation Section and extract learning from evaluations and reviews across the regions.

Impact of Results:

The Policy Advisor impacts on the development and implementation of UN Women policies and strategies in the Macroeconomics area of focus. Failure to proactively develop and help implement UN Women policies would greatly diminish the impact and credibility of UN Women within the area of women’s economic empowerment.

Competencies

Core Values/Guiding Principles:
Integrity: 
  • Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
Professionalism:
  • Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:
  • Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.
Core Competencies:
Ethics and Values:
  • Demonstrate and promote ethics and integrity by creating organizational precedents;
Organizational Awareness:
  • Build support for the organization and ensure political acumen;
  • Development and Innovation: Support staff competence development, and contribute to an environment of creativity and innovation;
Work in teams:
  • Build and promote effective teams. Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
Communication and Information Sharing:
  • Create and promote an environment for open and effective communication;
Self-management and Emotional Intelligence:
  • Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others;
Conflict Management:
  • Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution;
Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing:
  • Share knowledge across the organization and build a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:
  • Ensure fair and transparent decision making processes and manage risk.

Functional Competencies:
  • Substantive knowledge and experience related to current policies and practices in the Macroeconomics area of focus;
  • Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience;
  • Strong communications skills, with proven expertise in writing cogent and convincing policy and programme documents for development practitioners;
  • Proven analytical and problem solving skills;
  • Ability to leverage information technology, executive information systems, management techniques and tools for optimal office performance;
  • Good planning, goal-setting and prioritization skills;
  • Effectiveness in establishing and fostering good relations with government counterparts, UN agencies, donors, and NGO partners;
  • Proven track record of excellent management and technical leadership skills and ability to delegate appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master's degree (or equivalent) in Economics or related field.

Experience:

  • A minimum of 10 years of extensive development experience that combines intellectual, strategic and managerial leadership in development, policy analysis, sociological/gender equality at least seven of which is in the thematic area of the post.

Language Requirement: 

  • Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.


Note:
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment

Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.