UNDP Jobs - 55215- UNDP-GEF Portfolio Gender Expert

UNDP-GEF Portfolio Gender Expert

Location :

Home-Based with possibility of New York-based meetings

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

22-Apr-2015

Application Deadline :

17-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

up to 90 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

August 31, 2015

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has a longstanding commitment to mainstreaming gender equality and promoting women’s empowerment in its work. UNDP’s work on gender is guided by the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the frameworks provided by the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As the UN’s lead development agency, with extensive field presence, UNDP has facilitated the integration of gender equality in the work of Country Offices through core and non-core fund investments and has initiated and implemented numerous innovative initiatives, some in partnership with UN Women that support both government and civil society work on gender issues.

The Gender Team is at the forefront of UNDP's commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment. The Gender Team is part of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) which provides policy advice and technical support to all of UNDP’s operations. The Gender Team works to implement gender equality as a core objective of UNDP through a two-pronged approach (i) mainstreaming gender in all core practices; and, (ii) dedicated interventions that empower women and promote gender equality. The Gender Team is also responsible for all corporate planning, for supporting corporate programming and reporting on gender and for supporting the Regional and Global Gender Steering and Implementation Committees. Finally, the Gender Team is responsible for support the Administrator and senior management in addressing gender equality and women’s empowerment in their convening and representational functions.

In order to advance UNDP’s mandate on gender equality and women’s empowerment, UNDP has a Corporate Gender Equality Strategy (GES) 2014-2017 which outlines in detail how UNDP will work towards gender equality in each of the goals and key results set out in the UNDP Strategic Plan 2014-2017. The Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017 has just been finalized and a range of practical guidance tools are required to assist in rolling out the actions outlined in the GES.

As part of these efforts, UNDP is implementing a project on “Global Gender Responsive Climate Change”. This project has been running since 2008 and has succeeded in shifting the gender and climate change paradigm. Through a coordinated partnership approach with other key organizations, they have ensured that gender equality principles are part of the discussions in the outcome documents of UNFCCC negotiations, as well as in the operations of major Climate funds.

The GEF policy on gender mainstreaming expresses the Global Environment Facility’s commitment to enhancing the degree to which the GEF and its Partner Agencies promote the goal of gender equality through GEF operations. It commits the GEF to address the link between gender equality and environmental sustainability and towards gender mainstreaming in its policies, programs, and operations. It has been developed to assist the GEF and its Partner Agencies in ensuring that GEF operations promote gender equality and equity. The GEF acknowledges that project results can often be superior when gender considerations are integrated into the design and implementation of projects, where relevant. It is important, in many instances for programme and project interventions to take into account differences in ways men and women perceive incentives linked to the sustainable use of resources and how these perceptions can influence the achievement of the results specified in project objectives.

The “Global Gender Responsive Climate Change” project is made possible mainly through contributions of the government of Finland to the UNDP Gender Thematic Trust Fund. Current funding is entering its fourth phase in 2014 and will continue through 2016.This umbrella programme is one of the main programming vehicles for the Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA).

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP-GEF Portfolio Gender Expert will work under direct supervision of the Gender Team and in close collaboration with UNDP GEF Team. The Gender Expert will develop a number to tools to support the mainstreaming of gender in the design of GEF-financed projects.

Deliverables:

Develop guidance to support the preparation of GEF Project Identification Forms (PIFs) (May 2015)

Become familiar with the portfolio of GEF-financed projects and the tools and approaches currently used to mainstream gender into project design;
Develop guidance and best practice examples (including from other GEF Agencies) on addressing the gender questions in the GEF PIF.

Develop a package of materials to support the full analysis of gender during the project preparation stage. (June 2015)

Develop a questionnaire to be used during stakeholder consultations to elicit the different needs of women and men;
Develop practical guidance of gender-relevant indicators to be used in the UNDP-GEF project results framework.Include best practice examples.Develop supporting documents on how the indicators should be monitored during project implementation;
Develop a standard TOR for undertaking a gender analysis during project preparation;
Develop/update a roster of gender experts per UNDP-GEF regional work.

Develop a Fast Facts on gender mainstreaming in UNDP-GEF projects for Country Offices. (July 2015)

Develop a Fast Facts on gender mainstreaming in UNDP-GEF projects to support Country Offices initial discussions with national counterparts.

Document/systematize relevant gender mainstreaming/women’s empowerment related stories and key lessons learned from UNDP-GEF projects. (August 2015)

Identify, gather and document at least 10 relevant gender mainstreaming/women’s empowerment related stories and key lessons learned from UNDP-GEF projects, mainly in the adaptation, ecosystems management and mitigation thematic areas.

Competencies

Strong analytical skills;
Proven ability for multi-disciplinary analysis;
Proven knowledge of development issues, particularly in Gender and Climate Change/Environment;
Proven knowledge of UNDP Programming approaches and GEF Project cycle, initiation, approval procedures and rational;
Demonstrates excellent organizational skills and proven ability to deliver consultancy products within deadlines;
Writes clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences;
Speaks clearly and convincingly, demonstrating strong presentation skills in meetings;
Listens actively, acknowledging and responding constructively to other points of view.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Gender, Environment or any relevant field.

Experience:

A minimum of 15 years of policy advice and/or management-related experience at the international level, preferably in gender and sustainable development, climate change or environment;
Proven experience in designing and implementing programmatic tools/ methodologies on gender mainstreaming for sustainable development;
Knowledge of UNDP’s programmatic work and policies as well as GEF procedures;
Proven experience in working with UNDP or UN system in policy advice, programming, gender, sustainable development, climate change or environment is an asset.

Language:

Fluent in English.