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 UN Women Geneva Office works to expand, deepen and broaden UN Women’s strategic engagement in Geneva-based intergovernmental and multilateral processes related to human rights, humanitarian affairs, and others. The Geneva Office builds and nurtures strategic relationships and alliances with Geneva-based stakeholders that are essential for advancing and successfully achieving the mission of UN Women. It works with a wide range and number of key humanitarian and development partners, including delegates appointed to the UN, International NGOs, UN Geneva-based agencies, as well as the private sector, foundations, academia, think tanks, and the media to support them to effectively contribute to the full realization of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
The Human Rights and Development team of UN Women Geneva works closely with Member States and other key stakeholders such as treaty bodies and Special Procedures mandate holders to mainstream gender in intergovernmental processes and high-level discussions, in the Human Rights Council as well as in discussions related to trade, labor, health, and climate. The section aims to strengthen the integration of a gender perspective in the outcomes of the Human Rights Council, build stronger and solid relationships with Geneva-based UN agencies as well as with other International Organizations, Member States, civil society organizations and the private sector, to mainstream gender across the UN system and beyond. Additionally, this team leads relevant UN-wide communications campaigns and provides support in the dissemination of UN Women’s latest research and evidence base.
Reporting to Head of Human Rights and Development and the Deputy Director of the UN Women Geneva Office, the Human Rights and Development Specialist is responsible for providing technical support to intergovernmental processes, managing the development, implementation, and monitoring and reporting of the Human Rights and Development Team’s portfolio, coordination of relationships with partners, and providing support in development resource mobilization strategies, and managing knowledge building efforts. The Human Rights and Development Specialist works in close collaboration with UN Women HQ staff, country and regional offices, representatives of Member States, UN system, and civil society, to ensure successful implementation of the Geneva Office’s Human Rights and Development portfolio.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Provide technical and coordination support to intergovernmental processes and policy development
- Implement UN Women’s engagement in Geneva-based intergovernmental processes including the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, and other relevant policy-making organs and bodies related to trade, labor, health, and climate.
- Provide substantive and technical support to UN Women’s engagement in intergovernmental processes, such as gender analysis, technical inputs and advocacy materials, support to negotiations, and analysis of outcomes;
- Establish and nurture relationships with technical counterparts at Permanent Missions, UN agencies, civil society, and other relevant entities to support the implementation and expansion of the portfolio, raise potential problems, and suggest solutions;
- Ensure effective information flow, communication and coordination across the office, between programmes, projects and operations, and with other UN Women offices and units;
- Participate in intergovernmental, inter-agency, and other meetings and advocacy engagements;
- Identify capacity building needs and support Member States and other partners through technical assistance, as needed.
2. Manage the implementation of the Human Rights and Development Team’s portfolio
- Coordinate the overall workplan development and implementation in line with the Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division (PPID) Strategic Note, including by providing technical support in the design and formulation programme strategies and approaches, workplans, budgets, and activities;
- Establish systems, processes and mechanisms to support project planning, implementation and monitoring and progress reporting, ensuring compliance with UN Women objectives and indicators;
- Liaise with donors, strategic partners, UN Women teams, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the programme results are achieved and resources are managed;
- Record and maintain documents on relevant programme activities, issues, and risks;
- Analyze and ensure alignment of programme budgets with results frameworks and workplans.
3. Manage the monitoring and reporting of the Human Rights and Development Team’s portfolio
- Manage the monitoring of mutually agreed results frameworks and performance indicators, including by managing and regularly updating relevant internal databases;
- Recommend and establish programme monitoring standards, criteria, and other indicators for measuring and assessing progress/results;
- Coordinate the process of gathering information and preparing progress reports on programme implementation.
4. Build partnerships and support in developing resource mobilization strategies
- Provide technical support to the development of partnerships and resource mobilization strategies;
- Identify potential programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UN Women, office needs, and donors’ priorities and develop the relevant partnerships;
- Analyze and research information on donors, finalize substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for resource mobilization and cost sharing;
- Keep track of trends and policy approaches, UN system’s work, and intergovernmental debates in regards to human rights and development, and identify entry points and areas for support.
5. Manage knowledge building efforts
- Manage the process of identifying and synthesizing of best practices and lessons learned that are directly linked to the implementation of the programme and contribute to their dissemination;
- Draft policy documents, briefs and other strategic papers/materials for their use in the development and presentation of policy and programmatic positions;
- Contribute to the exchange of information and knowledge products internally and externally.
6. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core Values:
- Respect for Diversity
- Integrity
- Professionalism
Core Competencies:
- Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
- Accountability
- Creative Problem Solving
- Effective Communication
- Inclusive Collaboration
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Leading by Example
Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:
- Strong technical understanding of gender-related issues in the context of intergovernmental processes, particularly in the field of human rights;
- Strong knowledge of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms;
- Ability to establish, build and sustain strong relationships with Member States and other strategic partners, demonstrating understanding of diverse perspectives, and focusing on impact on results for the clients;
- Strong analytical and writing skills;
- Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting skills;
- Ability to maintain diplomacy, tact and strict confidentiality with internal and external partners and clients.
Required Skills and Experience
Education and Certification:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in Political or Social Science, Economics, International Development Studies, Gender/Women’s Studies is required.
- A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in project and programme management, coordination, or policy development and gender analysis is required, at least 2 of which should be directly related to human rights in intergovernmental mechanisms.
- At least 2 year of field experience related to the advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is required.
- Experience working at country or regional level is a distinct advantage.
- Experience coordinating and liaising with Member States and UN agencies is desirable.
Languages:
- Fluency in English is required.
- Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).
Application:
All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc. 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.
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.
Diversity and inclusion:
At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.
If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.
UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel 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.