Gender Programme Specialist, (NO-3), Beijing, China #126316 [Temporary Appointment of 364 days]

Job no: 566482

Position type: Temporary Appointment

Location: China Division/Equivalent: Bangkok (EAPRO), Thailand

School/Unit: China

Department/Office: Beijing, China

Categories: Gender Development, Programme Management

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Gender Equality

UNICEF is at an important turning point, as a new Sustainable Development framework has been adopted. Within this context, implementation of UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan 2022-2025 in alignment with the Strategic Plan demonstrates the organization’s strengthened commitment to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as its core mandate.

UNICEF’s work on gender equality is guided by the Gender Action Plan 2022-2025 (GAP), which advances gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in key areas of UNICEF’s work. The priority results for gender equality across the UNICEF Strategic Plan Goal Areas include improvement in the quality of maternal health care and nutrition, and HIV testing, counselling and care; more gender-responsive education systems and equitable access to education for all; progress towards the elimination of violence and harmful practices; more equitable water, sanitation and hygiene systems; and gender-responsive social protection systems. Targeted actions for adolescent girls include promoting health, nutrition and pregnancy care, and the prevention of HIV and human papilloma virus; advancing girls’ education, learning and skills; ending child marriage and early unions; and promoting accessible and dignified menstrual health and hygiene services. To address gender-based violence, UNICEF will adopt a multisectoral strategy across all Goal Areas, using sector-wide and survivor-centred approaches. Integrating gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls into all humanitarian action is also a priority in the GAP.

How can you make a difference?

In alignment with the GAP, the role of the Gender Programme Specialist (NOC) is primarily technical, programmatic, and supports coordination. The Specialist provides authoritative technical guidance/operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results contributing to gender equality in alignment with the Gender Action Plan (GAP). S/he supports the development, implementation, and monitoring of high quality gender programming across sectors in alignment with the GAP. To support senior programme colleagues and management of the Country Office to advance one or more of the four Targeted Gender Priorities in the GAP and supports sectors to mainstream gender by prioritizing key gender results within the sector(s) as identified by the country office.

1. Management and/or advisory support to Deputy Representative and Representative

•  Actively participate in or support Country Management Team (CMT); Programme Coordination Team; Gender Equality Team; partnerships, research, financial and contract review committees; financial and contract review committees, and other key country-specific leadership teams to ensure strategic inclusion of gender in all country-specific programming.
•  Coordinate with the Regional Gender Advisors and the Headquarters Gender Section to plan, utilize, monitor and report on the Gender Thematic Fund, or other programmatic funds with large gender components that are allocated to the country-specific interventions for the Country Programme, under the Country Office senior management.
•  In collaboration with sectoral colleagues and under the guidance of Deputy Representative, participate in the planning and monitoring of the utilization of the budget allocated to sectoral and cross-sectoral gender interventions with sectoral colleagues.
•  Lead the gender component of the reporting of the routine country-level programme expenditures, including the annual reporting and the Results Assessment Module (RAM).
•  Provide technical input and review on the gender components in key funding proposal appeals and submissions and in the design of funded projects/programs so that gender technical components are clearly defined and technical capacities are included.

2. Support to program/project development and planning (including emergency contexts)

•  Participate and support in evidence-based programme/project planning on gender, incorporating robust measurement and evaluation of results – especially in the event of the Country Programme development and Mid-Term Review.
•  Provide technical leadership on integration of gender into country programming phases, including strategic planning, Situational Analysis (SitAns), strategic moments of reflection, Country Program Documents (CPDs), Country Program Management Plans (CPMPs), mid-term reviews, extended annual reviews, programme component strategy notes and in the programmatic assessment and institutional strengthening components of gender reviews.
•  In collaboration with sectoral colleagues and senior management, identify the areas of focus for gender programming/projects with the greatest potential for impact and scale, in alignment with the GAP and the country/regional priorities.
•  Work with sectoral counterparts and senior management to incorporate sound gender indicators and measures in programme/project and policy initiatives, proposals, and advocacy efforts and assist in developing gender-sensitive theories of change models for sector and cross-sectoral programming.

3. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results (including emergency contexts)

•  Support indicator identification, measurement and performance tracking as it relates to gender mainstreaming and the Targeted Gender Priorities, in collaboration with Planning, M&E and planning section and sectoral teams.
•  Participate in cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on gender, ensuring coherence, maximization of synergies and efficiency in utilization of resources and delivery of results
•  Support the strengthening of data systems and collection, as well as accountability mechanisms to monitor and evaluate progress on gender results.
•  Support high quality reporting on gender results, and a biannual performance review of GAP specified results.
•  Work closely with evaluation colleagues to effectively integrate data collection, tracking, analysis and reporting on the indicators for the GAP into programme results and gender performance benchmarks into M&E systems.
•  Participate in the strengthening of the quality of research and evidence building on gender related programming, by supporting the bringing in of the latest learning and insights from the field of gender and development, and supporting the input of a coherent, well-prioritized research agenda in alignment with the GAP.
•  Support the planning and implementation of the gender reviews and make sure that the recommendations that come out of the gender review are integrated into the Country Programme strategy and action plans and humanitarian strategies and action plans in emergency contexts.
•  Participate and/or actively represent UNICEF in relevant coordination bodies at the inter-agency level (gender theme group), participate as a member of steering committees, and provide close oversight of inter-agency joint programmes.

4. Advisory services and technical support

•  Provide technical support and guidance to national government, NGOs, UN Agencies and other country-level and local-level partners on aspects of gender programming and to ensure incorporation of gender indicators and measures in programmes/projects, policy initiatives, proposals, and M&E systems.
•  Provide technical support and advocacy to reporting and follow-up on international and regional gender equality commitments made by the countries
•  Support the development of adequate emergency preparedness measures, updating of contingency plans and establishment of early warning mechanisms that reflect gender needs.
•  Support the development and deployment of emergency training that incorporates gender issues and relevant strategies.
•  Participate in needs assessment missions on gender, and in the event of an emergency, be deployed as a member of the Emergency Response Team.
•  Support implementing/operational partners and implementing arrangements in order to ensure an effective, gender-inclusive emergency response.

5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

•  Liaise and consult with sections, government and other external partners (civil society, NGOs, private sector) to support convergence, and develop and reinforce partnerships in gender programming.
•  Support building and maintenance of internal and external partnerships and networks in the development of harmonized, gender-transformative programme interventions.
•  Support building and maintenance of strategic alliances for gender equality with various partners, including institutional links with UN agencies and other relevant entities.
•  Collaborate with other UN agencies and partners to enhance robust gender results in sectoral programmes at the country level. If necessary, represent UNICEF in external meetings on gender integration into sectoral and cross-sectoral results, including UN Country Team meetings and UNSCDF preparations.
•  Support mapping of potential new partnerships and leverage existing partnerships to accelerate GAP implementation at the country level in determined priority areas.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

•  Support documentation and sharing of the country-level experience in gender programming and lessons learned, which will be shared with internal network and external partners and utilised for South-South cooperation.
•  Represent the gender section at sectoral, country-level and regional-level network meetings, and ensure best practices on gender programming.
•  Bring best practices in gender programming and measurement to the attention of senior management and sectoral colleagues, as well as Regional Gender Advisor and gender section staff at HQ.
•  Support management and HR in the development of systems, tools and processes that enable staff members and external partners to enhance their understanding and adoption of gender sensitive behaviors and to support implementation of the GAP.

Impact of Results

Sectoral and cross-sectoral programmes/projects on gender are effectively and efficiently supported and implemented in alignment with the Gender Action Plan’s (GAP) four targeted gender priorities and country/ regional/ sectoral priorities through the timely and systematic provision of coordination and technical expertise on gender.

The performance of the gender programmes is timely monitored, analysed and evaluated, and the findings of the measurement and research are integrated into the planning and reporting. Programmatic financial resources allocated to gender programming and results are effectively planned and managed for cost-efficient utilisation, and the progress on the gender programme expenditures are timely monitored and reported.

Knowledge, information and best practices on effective gender programming is generated, managed and shared within internal networks and with external partners to support programmes in changing gender disadvantage and discrimination.

Gender needs for emergency preparedness (response and reconstruction, in the event of emergencies) are identified and integrated into the emergency programme planning and implementation.

Overall, this Gender Programme Specialist will support progress in the target priorities for gender, the performance benchmarks, and the results areas specified globally for UNICEF in the Gender Action Plan (GAP) 2022-2025.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

•  Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in the social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF’s sectoral work (e.g. Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, HIV/AIDs, etc.).
•  Academic credentials in gender are a strong asset.

Experience:

•  Minimum five years of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming and research on gender and development in key issue areas that are the focus of UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan.
•  Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes/projects on gender and development or any other cross cutting programme, especially at country/field level, experience in emergency response is an asset.

Language Requirements:

•  Fluency in English and Chinese.

Technical knowledge:

•  Strong substantive, technical, programmatic and research skills in gender along with sectoral expertise in at least one of the following sectors: Health, Education, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), HIV/AIDS, Protection, Social Policy, Social and behavior change, Early Child Development (ECD), or combined expertise in Adolescents.
•  Proven ability to connect sectoral issues and programmatic approaches on gender; experience with this in emergency contexts an asset.
•  Substantive knowledge and experience integrating gender into humanitarian responses and programming, including needs assessment, programme implementation and monitoring, an asset.
•  Proven rigor in analytical, conceptual and programme /project design skills relevant to gender and development with an understanding of theories of change and path from intervention to results.
•  Demonstrated experience in supporting or conducting rigorous research and analysis on gender, including quantitative research methodologies, and monitoring and evaluation.
•  Wide knowledge and understanding of country/regional/global gender equality issues, specifically relating to children and women, and the current trends, methods and approaches. Familiarity and work experience in the country/region of preferred placement also an asset.
•  Demonstrated success in developing proposals and securing resources for programme and research initiatives with a strong gender component.
•  Ability to contextualize and be able to translate the approaches into practicable programme/project design in complex environments where gender issues are often sensitive to raise within certain national contexts
•  Excellent written and oral communication skills, including an ability to write succinctly and clearly and speak in public forums compellingly and with confidence.
•  High level of initiative and independence in ability to undertake complex tasks while proactively seeking relevant input, cooperation, and guidance from key constituents.
•  Experience and demonstrated ability to motivate others and create and encourage a climate of team-work and collaboration across sectors and in a multi-cultural environment.
•  Ability to make effective use of political processes to influence and persuade others inside and outside UNICEF and negotiate a desired direction and/or outcome
•  Ability to think outside the box, generate new ideas, approaches, or insights and develop innovative ways to undertake projects and initiatives, shape solutions to problems.
•  Strategic thinker who can pull disparate ideas into a cohesive vision, strategy, plan that is positive and compelling for other to join, collaborate, and implement.
•  Proven ability to build rapport with individuals and groups and maintain an effective network of individuals across organizational departments as well externally.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Core Competencies

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2) Works Collaboratively with others (2) Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2) Innovates and Embraces Change (2) Thinks and Acts Strategically (2) Drives to achieve impactful results (2) Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Functional Competencies

▪ Analyzing (2) ▪ Deciding and Initiating Action (2) ▪ Persuading and Influencing (2) ▪ Applying technical skills (2) ▪ Entrepreneurial thinking (2)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

Remarks:

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Advertised: Oct 11 2023 China Standard Time

Application close: Oct 24 2023 China Standard Time

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•  Closes Oct 24 2023Gender Programme Specialist, (NO-3), Beijing, China #126316 [Temporary Appointment of 364 days] in China

  UNICEF China is seeking a Gender Programme Specialist to provide authoritative technical guidance/operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results contributing to gender equality in alignment with the Gender Action Plan.

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