UN WOMEN Jobs - 54903- Junior Professional Officer (JPO)

Junior Professional Officer (JPO) - ICT for Development Officer

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2015

Application Deadline :

02-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-2

Duration of Initial Contract :

Initially one year with the possibility to extend up to 3 years

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Initially one year with the possibility to extend up to 3 years

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

Note : this post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to candidates from developing countries . Candidates MUST BE NATIONALS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THAT APPEAR ON THE LIST OF THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES FOR THE DUTCH JPO PROGRAMME:

http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20developing%20countries%20-%202015.pdf

For general information on the Dutch JPO Programme and criteria see the website of Nedworc Foundation: http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/Index.htm?hoofdpath=/NL/JPO/General%20Information.htm&hoofdhash

Background: Technology can be a game changer for girls and women’s empowerment and achieving gender equality. ICTs – in all their forms, including radio, the internet, social media, applications, devices – can enable significant advances in improving livelihoods, learning, active citizenship, expression of culture and community building. There is a clear imperative for women to co-develop and harness these advances to positively impact their rights and lives, innovate and build their own futures, while preventing further entrenchment of inequality, discrimination, exploitation and addressing new threats and risks. Yet, despite the recognized potential and areas of progress, impact is not happening fast enough, to a transformative degree and investments are lacking. Women are not sufficiently engaged in and influencing the direction and content of the knowledge society. Successes in leveraging technology for women’s empowerment are too often the exceptions rather than the rules. Our challenge is how to move beyond recycling recommendations on what needs to be done, how to implement commitments, and move from pilots and anecdotes to increased understanding and evidence, holistic efforts, greater investments, scaled action, and ultimately transformation and impact for women on the ground.

UN Women has established itself as an important leader in gender and ICTD at a time when there is growing interest in and momentum around this agenda but also a tremendous need to do more, address gaps, and connect the dots between various initiatives. The organization has a unique role to play as it straddles the UN system, inter-governmental processes, development programming and has a universal mandate. Moreover, it is a valued and trusted partner within the gender community which is where improved linkages need to be made with the ICTD community. UN Women brings these important perspectives and partners.

The duty station, New York, is the headquarters of UN Women and will enable the officer to interact with many staff working across themes and functions, as well as with other parts of the UN system. The team in which the Officer will work is part of the planning and guidance unit and it is expected that the Technology and Innovation team will grow in the upcoming year to total of three people.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibility 1 – Support the Knowledge, Innovation and Technology for Development Coordinator

Summary of duties and expected output

Advocacy and Normative Frameworks (10%): Support to UN Women’s role in monitoring the ICT and gender commitments in the Sustainable Development Goals, the gender commitments under the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), as well as around WSIS+10 Inter-governmental negotiations during 2015; Support to organization of Beijing+20 and Commission on the Status of Women ICT related events.
Programming (15%): Assist with the development and /or implementation of the UN Women global programme on T4D, as well as global flagship initiatives including around advancing girls and women as producers and leaders in the technology sector, the application of technology for women’s empowerment including in priority areas such as education, economic empowerment and ending violence against women; and in national level ICT and gender policy development and capacity building.
Partnerships (10%) : Assist with the development of a network of women in tech, women and gender advocates using tech, and policy makers promoting gender and technology; Provide support to global partnerships such as the Broadband Commission Gender Working Group chaired by UN Women.
Strategic Direction, Technical Support and Learning (15%): Support to the KIT Coordinator to mainstream T4D in UN Women through engagement in annual work planning processes. Advance organizational and partner learning through the development of guidance and showcasing of experiences (lessons), support to UN Women offices, webinars and other learning events, and through the maintenance of online sites on T4D. Support to organization of the annual UN Women and ITU Gender Equality and Mainstreaming in Technology (GEM TECH) awards.
Communications (5%): Provide support to KIT on the preparation of talking points and speeches for ED and ASGs; Development of Communications plan and content (including through social media).
Other (5%): other support will be provided as necessary around the management of programmes, the Innovation Incubator, organization of meetings, and monitoring and reporting.

Responsibility 2 – Supporting the functions of the Eminent Advocate on ICT for Development

Summary of duties and expected output

Support to Eminent Advocate (40%): Duties will include direct support around priority initiatives related to advocacy, partnership building and the promotion of women in technology. These will be further defined by the Eminent Advocate.

Competencies

Core competencies:

Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity;
Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative;
Work in 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;
Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for 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 behaviour 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: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge;
Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Key competencies

Understanding of ICT for Development policy and programming issues and secondarily application of ICT for women’s empowerment and gender equality.
Ideally experience with developing and implementing and ICTD project and demonstration of partnership building in this area.
Builds strong relationships with and focuses on results for clients and partners
Takes initiative and thinks innovatively. Responds positively to feedback and demonstrates openness to change.
Good inter-personal and communication skills. Ability to liaise and network with a diverse range of stakeholders and work as part of a team.
Ability to work independently, flexibly and under pressure. Strong organizational, analytical and writing skills. Seeks and applies new knowledge and learning.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's degree or equivalent in one or more of the following disciplines: International development, technology for development, or related field.
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in combination with qualifying experience (4 years of relevant working experience, but not more than 5 years) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Part of the candidates' academic training must have taken place in a developing country that appears on the following list of eligible countries of the Dutch JPO Programme: http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20countries.pdf

The Grade will be P1 step 1 or P2 step 1 in the first year, depending on the level of education and relevant working experience of the candidate.

Working experience:

Preferably 2 to maximum 4 years relevant working experience in programme and/or project support, planning and operations in a large international and/or corporate organization. Familiarity with the UN Common System and in particular UNWOMEN is an asset.

Languages:

Written and oral proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Nationality:

This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to candidates from developing countries. Candidates MUST BE NATIONALS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THAT APPEAR ON THE LIST OF THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES FOR THE DUTCH JPO PROGRAMME: http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/pdf/List%20of%20eligible%20countries.pdf