General

Description of assignment title: Programme Analyst, Gender and Women’s Economic Empowerment

Assignment country: Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Expected start date: 10/01/2023

Sustainable Development Goal: 5. Gender equality

Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist

DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No

Accessibility measures in place

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Host entity: UNDP

Type: Onsite

Duration: 24 months

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Vientiane

Reasonable accommodation

No

Additional accessibility info

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Details

Mission and objectives

Breaking the cycle of poverty in Lao PDR and graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) Status represents the heart of the Government’s development aspirations. UNDP has a key role in assisting the country with a smooth transition to non-LDC status, as well as the complex process to strategically raise needed funds for programs that benefit poor people. UNDP Lao PDR works toward localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), implementation of the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025 and, more broadly, Lao PDR’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status. UNDP supports to strengthen the Government’s capacity at central and local levels in ensuring the formulation and implementation of their development plan encompassing all key aspects, such as equitable growth, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability, with special attention given to achieving the SDGs. UNDP offers ground-breaking research on human development in Lao PDR through supporting the preparation of National Human Development Reports which advocate for policies placing people at the centre of the development process towards inclusive and sustainable growth and the achievement of the SDGs as well as LDC graduation.

Context

The UN Volunteer will contribute to the UNDP’s programming on creating high value incomes for women and marginalized youth through high-quality research and advisory services, project development and delivery support, securing a wide range of strategic partnerships with government, donors, NGOs and the private sector. The assignment, inter alia, will contribute to the effective delivery of poverty reduction priorities targeting women.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Team Leader of the Inclusive Growth Unit (previously known as Poverty Reduction and Livelihood Unit), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

•  Regularly research and analyze poverty reduction interventions, needs and priorities with a focus women’s role in economic diversification, sustainability and inclusion;
•  Assist UNDP in Lao PDR and Government in designing systems for information-sharing and knowledge management in creating high value incomes for women;
•  Support the preparation of knowledge products, communications, and advocacy tools aimed to strengthen the understanding of UNDP’s work in the area of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment by partners;
•  Participate in the formulation of new project designs and individual activities in the areas of creative high value incomes for women and marginalized youth, green growth, human development and SDGs;
•  Support the implementation of the UNDP’s country-level Resource Mobilization Strategy, including by preparing funding proposals, negotiating with multi- and bilateral agencies, private sector entities, providing high-quality donor reporting and donor briefings in the area of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment;
•  Identify new resource mobilization opportunities, including by collecting and analyzing information on donor funding priorities in the areas of employment, green value chains, livelihoods targeting women and youth in Lao PDR and ASEAN, funding criteria and processes.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 – 80

Additional eligibility criteria

This assignment is funded by JICA, therefore only former Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JICA-JOCV) who could get recommendation by JICA-JOCV Secretariat are eligible to apply. Please check your application eligibility on the JICA website (https://www.jica.go.jp/volunteer/obog/career_support/unv/index.html). The assignment is planned to start October/November 2023.

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Donor priorities

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Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in research, project delivery support, partnerships and/or resource mobilization, preferably with a strong focus on gender and women’s economic empowerment.

•  Excellent research and analytical skills;
•  Knowledge of private sector partnerships (businesses, financial institutions) for ensuring sustainability of livelihood interventions would be a strong advantage;
•  Familiarity working with women’s groups and women-led businesses.

Area(s) of expertise

Economics and finance, Development programmes

Driving license

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Languages

English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, International development or Gender Studies.

Competencies and values

☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Vision ☒ Working in Teams

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

The position will be based in the Vientiane Capital City of Lao PDR with occasional travel to project sites in provinces. Living conditions in Vientiane are good with facilities and products available at affordable prices. Vientiane is a relatively safe place to live in, with violent crime incidents very rare. The biggest hazards relate to traffic accidents, hence utmost care should be exerted when in traffic, especially when riding a motorbike. There is a wide range of housing options in Vientiane located within easy reach of the office. Houses or apartments are usually of good standards. All basic commodities can be bought in Vientiane and its immediate vicinity. When travelling within the province or project site, staff will experience more hardship due to lack of infrastructure. Accommodation during site visits will be basic guest houses or homestays.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy