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.

Generation Equality is the world’s leading effort to unlock political will and accelerate investment and implementation on gender equality. It recognizes that a bold, whole of society approach is needed to disrupt entrenched and rising global gender inequality, underscored by intensified ambition, investment and accountability. The initiative brings together organizations from every part of society to catalyze progress, advocate for change and take bold actions together.

Generation Equality was initiated to disrupt decades of under-investment and lack of progress on gender equality implementation. The initiative intends to support the achievement of the SDGs and the realization of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action on women’s rights. With the intersecting challenges to gender inequality of COVID-19, the climate crisis, growing conflicts and intensified economic and political instability, the initiative aims both to stop reversals in women’s and girls’ rights as well as accelerate concrete progress.

Generation Equality was launched in 2021 at events in Mexico and France, and in the presence of Heads of State, VIPs, CEOs and civil society and youth leaders and activists. Initially conceived as a five-year initiative, work will continue through and beyond 2026 to enroll new commitment makers, press for collective action on gender equality and ensure accountability.

Generation Equality launched six Action Coalitions led by Action Coalition ‘leaders’ from every sector, including an Action Coalition focused explicitly on Feminist Action for Climate Justice.  Together these leaders co-designed ‘blueprints’ of the most catalytic actions necessary to achieve gender equality, codified into a holistic Global Acceleration Plan.

Reporting to the Chief of the Economic Empowerment section of the Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division (PPID), UN Women is seeking to fill the position of Thematic Lead for Generation Equality’s Feminist Action for Climate Justice Action Coalition to manage and grow the multistakeholder Action Coalition on Feminist Action for Climate Justice.   

Duties and Responsibilities

1.     Manage the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Action for Climate Justice:

  • Convene the Action Coalition on Feminist Action for Climate Justice regularly and in line with Generation Equality core principles of intersectionality, intergenerational and co-leadership
  • Drive multi-stakeholder dialogues and collective agreements around contentious issues between member states, private sector, philanthropic organizations, civil society, youth, adolescent girls, and international/multilateral organizations, drawing on the expertise, knowledge and experience of relevant UN Women focal points.
  • Convene, coordinate and drive progress towards an Action Coalition annual workplan through consensus building leading to co-accountability with a wide range of stakeholders across the Leaders and Commitment-Makers, and in collaboration with UN Women regional and country offices.
  • Develop and deliver a Commitment Maker Engagement Strategy at global level, to ensure engagement of new and existing Commitment Makers to the Feminist Action for Climate Justice Action Coalition.
  • Facilitate cross-thematic collaboration between Action Coalitions that break up siloes, advance thematic synergies and foster collective action.
  • Develop opportunities across to Action Coalitions to support Global Alliances, including the Global Alliance for Care and the Alliance for Feminist Movements, to advance joint action of Commitment Makers.
  • Develop and deliver a clear communications strategy and associated mechanisms with Leaders and Commitment Makers to ensure effective, consistent, and transparent communication, and ensure consistency in approach & synergies across all Action Coalitions. 
  • Support the meaningful engagement of youth and adolescent girls across all aspects of the Action Coalition’s efforts and engagement, drawing on the expertise, knowledge and experience of relevant UN Women focal points.
  • Facilitate a regular self-assessment of Leaders on the alignment with the Generation Equality core principles (intersectionality, inter-general, co-leadership).

2.     Lead advocacy, knowledge exchange and external engagement efforts for the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Action for Climate Justice:

  • Develop a thematic advocacy strategy on Feminist Action for Climate Justice in collaboration with Generation Equality Action Coalition partners (Leaders & Commitment Makers) to accelerate action on (a) Commitments; (b) Global Acceleration Plan targets; and (c) Resource mobilization. 
  • Oversee implementation of the advocacy strategy to expand and strengthen the impact of prioritized commitments on Feminist Action for Climate Justice, and support partners to design individual and collective commitments through new or improved partnerships.
  • Support the execution of 2-3 political dialogues per year, bringing together multi-stakeholder partners on Feminist Action for Climate Justice, in collaboration with regional and country offices. 
  • Develop relevant technical guidance and knowledge products on Feminist Action for Climate Justice, in collaboration with multi-stakeholder partners, which fosters peer-to-peer learning and cross-thematic collaborations
  • Harness Action Coalitions leadership structures to support Commitment Makers reporting for the annual GEF accountability report.  Provide commitments analysis to Leaders using the results of the accountability framework
  • Identify and build a pipeline of stories of progress and impact as a way of conveying the results of the work of the Action Coalition, and work with Communications teams to share and promote these stories
  • Identify strategic opportunities to leverage UN Women’s coordination mandate to influence and enhance the coherence of UN system work to facilitate the mobilization of joint and coordinated action for the Acton Coalition on Feminist Action for Climate Justice.
  • Ensure coherence and synergies across all Generation Equality Action Coalitions by sharing lessons learned and co-designing products and approaches with Action Coalition Thematic Leads. 
  • Support the execution of thematic-specific and overarching Generation Equality events and milestones in line with the Generation Equality Project Document.
  • Contribute to and participate in stakeholder engagement and communications opportunities convened and facilitated by the Generation Equality Coordination Hub on the work of the Action Coalition and its contributions to the Generation Equality Project Document, including with the Multi-Stakeholder Leadership Group in its advisory capacity to UN Women and its role as convenor of Generation Equality.

3.     Support localization of the Action Coalition on Feminist Action for Climate Justice across UN Women Country & Regional Offices:

  • Prepare and implement a prioritization strategy that leverages existing mechanisms and potential entry points for greater impact of Feminist Action for Climate Justice commitments, in concert with Country & Regional Offices
  • Engage Leaders and commitment makers in forging new partnerships and collectively identify and implement prioritized commitments in collaboration with UN Women Regional Offices
  • Provide technical support to regional and country offices to generate new Generation Equality commitments on Feminist Action for Climate Justice, monitor implementation and facilitate synergetic collaborations among partners.
  • Foster and promote opportunities for local actors to have global voices for Generation Equality and to meaningfully contribute to and participate in global advocacy initiatives.

4.     Contribute to Resource Mobilization efforts on Generation Equality

  • Actively support a joined-up approach to resource mobilization for the Generation Equality Project Document as whole and expand / deepen UN Women’s overall partnerships for Feminist Action for Climate Justice.   
  • Contribute to the whole-of-organization approach of Generation Equality in collaboration with UNW colleagues and in alignment with the approved Generation Equality Project Document

5.     Manage financial resources and supervise staff:

  • Supervise and manage staff, review performance and mentor/ coach staff [as applicable]
  • Develop and prepare annual workplans, financial resources of the programme including budgeting and budget revisions, and expenditure tracking and reporting.
  • Oversee and monitor the allocation and disbursement of funds to participating partners.
  • Ensure appropriate actions are taken to optimize use of programme funds.
  • Contribute inputs to narrative and financial reporting in relation to the Action Coalition’s commitments in the Generation Equality Project Document.
  • Work in regular and close collaboration with the Generation Equality Coordination Hub, including through the exchange of information, given the Hub’s role in coordinating the timely and quality delivery of project document results.

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:

  • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral;
  • Excellent drafting skills with the ability to edit and clear written work products;
  • Strong planning, goal-setting, prioritization and organizational skills;
  • Strong analytical, information processing, and review strategic skills;
  • Ability to contribute to detailed operational plans, budgets, and monitor these;
  • Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports;
  • Good knowledge of UN programme management systems and Results Based Management;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of gender equality and women's empowerment;
  • Ability to work in a high pressured environment with frequent short deadlines;
  • Ability to demonstrate a sense of humor and collegiality with solid interpersonal skills;
  • Defined sense of responsibility, confidentiality and accountability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, international relations, business administration or management, public administration, or other related fields; or a first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience;

Experience:

  • At least 7 years progressively responsible working in international development, with a focus on climate change;
  • Experience working on gender equality and women’s empowerment;
  • Experience in programme, policy analysis, and strategic planning;
  • Experience working with, and building partnerships with governments, donors and civil society organizations internationally and in the field;
  • Experience leading a team;
  • Experience in or with the United Nations system highly preferred.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English is required;
  • Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.

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.)