UNDP Jobs - 5270- HIV/AIDS Advisor

HIV/AIDS Advisor - Gender

Location :

Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA

Type of Contract :

200 Series

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

01-Jul-08 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

L-5 (ICS-12)

Duration of Initial Contract :

one year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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 AIDS epidemic is a critical obstacle to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and advancing human development. UNDP’s HIV/AIDS Practice, led by the HIV/AIDS Group in the Bureau for Development Policy, works to promote an enabling environment to contribute to the achievement of the MDGs, and to the goals of the 2001 General Assembly Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS.

UNDP is a founding Cosponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The UNAIDS division of labour provides the framework for UNDP’s response to the AIDS epidemic. UNDP is responsible for leading the UNAIDS response in addressing dimensions of AIDS relating to:

Development Planning and Mainstreaming
AIDS responses are integrated into poverty reduction strategies, MDG-based national development plans and macro-economic processes.

Governance of the HIV responses
Strengthened national capacity for inclusive governance and coordination of HIV responses, and increased participation of civil society organizations and people living with HIV in the design, implementation and evaluation of HIV programmes.

Human Rights and Gender
Policies and programmes implemented through multi-stakeholder approaches to protect the human rights of people affected by AIDS, mitigate gender related vulnerability and address the impact of AIDS on women, girls and men who have sex with men and sexual minorities.

Country Implementation Capacity
Accelerated implementation of AIDS funds and programmes financed through multilateral funding initiatives, including the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Driven by demand, The HIV/AIDS Practice provides the tools, analysis and capacities that country offices need to make a real difference in responding to the epidemic at national level.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Gender and HIV/AIDS Advisor serves as technical resource in Gender and HIV/AIDS activities in all African Country Offices as well as participating in UNDP’s global HIV/AIDS practice.

Summary of Functions:

Policy Development and Advisory Services
Research and Content Development
Practice Advocacy
Management and Coordination

Detailed functions and results in line with UNDP Strategic Plan Results Framework:

Policy Development and Advisory Services (35%)

Lead policy development and advisory services for programme support in the gender and HIV/AIDS thematic area in the Africa region;
Lead the provision of policy advisory and technical support to Country Offices, UN Country Teams and other beneficiaries in the area of gender and AIDS.
Provide guidelines and technical support to scale-up integration of gender equality in national AIDS plans
Provide policy advice for advancing gender equality and equity through AIDS programming, including addressing economic empowerment of HIV positive women; inheritance and property rights of women; gender based and sexual violence; and trafficking of women and girls
Support UNDP Country Offices in strengthening the integration of gender into all UNDP Country Office AIDS activities
Contribute to collaborative capacity building efforts targeting:
Women’s networks and groups of women living with HIV to strengthen their participation in all aspects of the AIDS response at the national level
Government and Civil Society in addressing gender inequality, gender-based violence, and discrimination against women and girls in responding to HIV/AIDS
UNDP AIDS focal points to strengthen their roles in implementing gender and AIDS programmes and as effective advocates for gender equality and women’s rights in the context of HIV/AIDS

Research and Content Development (25%)

Advocacy and policy development of normative standards and approaches on HIV and gender equality and women’s empowerment
Promote the integration of gender sensitive approaches into national development planning
Promote and disseminate evidence-informed policies and practices in gender-sensitive HIV/AIDS initiatives
Collaborate with gender focal points in the Regional Service Centre and Country Offices on HIV/AIDS initiatives
Provide substantive and technical leadership in promoting gender equality and women’s rights in HIV/AIDS
Contribute experience and expertise to the formulation of new policies, documenting practice and cross-practice experience and lesson learned in the region
Monitor trends, good practices and case evidence in gender and HIV including support to address the vulnerability of women to HIV, sexual and gender-based violence and inheritance and property rights in Africa, in order to provide technical leadership in the field
Actively participate in the global HIV/AIDS community of practice and in sub-practice activities in the area of gender equality and women’s rights ; and
Promote knowledge management to enrich the content base for AIDS response strategies by documenting practice experience, lessons learned, and replicable tools from applied initiatives

Practice Advocacy (10%)

Take the lead in maintaining and developing regional partnerships in gender and AIDS.
Contribute to strengthening partnership with UNAIDS by leading UNDP’s regional work in gender equality and AIDS in line with the division of labor
Support the involvement of positive women’s groups and people living with HIV/AIDS in the formulation and implementation HIV policies and programmes
Promote global, regional and local partnering and exchange, through HIV/AIDS information and learning networks
Support in networking among partners, including the identification of external support providers
Support the communication of UN/UNDP policy positions and practice approaches to external support providers to ensure continuity and coherence in all collaborative efforts

Management and Coordination (5%)

Contribute to HIV/AIDS RSC practice team strategy development from a gender and HIV/AIDS perspective;
Work closely with the Regional Practice Leader and the Global Cluster Leader on Human Rights and Gender to develop work plan and monitor and report progress on gender and AIDS in line with the strategic goals of the HIV/AIDS Practice; and
Enlist management solutions to troubleshoot programme delivery difficulties and share best practices.

Impact of Results

The Gender and HIV/AIDS Advisor’s role will impact the strengthening of the practice architecture of UNDP, the quality and delivery of programme and project services in the practice area and the delivery of UNDP’s programmes in the region in the practice area. He/she will also contribute to fulfilling UNDP’s responsibilities within the UNAIDS division of labour in the region and delivering on the CD-PGA Strategy in Africa and the corporate Strategic Plan 2008-2011 in the area of HIV-AIDS.

Competencies

Corporate

Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional

Minimum of 10 years of relevant national/international working experience preferably in gender and HIV/AIDS;
Proven professional credibility, as well as senior-level working experience in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization, in both developed and developing countries;
Work experience in a developing country highly desirable;
Extensive network of international and individual contacts;
Advanced university degree in a development related area including Social Science, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Health or Epidemiology etc.;
Fluency and proficiency in English; working knowledge of Portuguese and/or French would be an advantage.

Leadership

Strong managerial/leadership experience and decision-making skills;
Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience;
Knowledge and expertise in UNDP’s programming processes;
Proven ability to lead a practice area and drive for results with a strong knowledge of results-based management and budgeting.

Managing Relationships

Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational skills;
Strong ability to manage teams; creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff;
Excellent negotiating and networking skills;
Strong resource mobilization and partnering skills.

Managing Complexity

Ability to address global development issues;
Substantive knowledge and understanding of development cooperation with the ability to support the practice architecture of UNDP and inter-disciplinary issues;
Demonstrated substantive leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;
A sound global network of institutional and individual contacts.

Knowledge Management and Learning

Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products;
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
Provides constructive coaching and feedback.

Judgment/Decision-Making

Mature judgment and initiative;
Proven ability to provide strategic direction in practice area;
Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

An advanced university degree in a development related area Social Science, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Health or Epidemiology etc

Experience

10 years of overall relevant professional experience as well as a proven professional record in the practice area;
Work experience from a developing country context is a necessity;
A track record of extensive national/international working experience with increasing managerial responsibilities in the development arena and UNDP’s practice areas;
Experience in leading/managing knowledge product development and dissemination.

Language Requirements

Fluency and proficiency in English;
working knowledge of another UN language desirable