Gender Specialist

Summary:

Location: Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA

Application Deadline: 16-Nov-08
Type of Contract: 200 Series
Post Level: L-3
Languages Required: English
Duration of Initial Contract: One Year
Expected Duration of Assignment: Expected duration 2 years

Organizational Context:

In 2007 the UNDP Cambodia office launched an internal gender mainstreaming process with the objective of identifying how the UNDP Cambodia Programme can better support gender equality and women’s empowerment. As part of this process, a series of practical briefing and training activities were conducted followed by preliminary gender analysis reviews of UNDP projects. This resulted in a series of recommendations at the project level and in the development of project specific gender mainstreaming work plans. These recommendations are summarized in the Project Gender Equality Strategy Reports.

Meanwhile in January 2008, UNDP Headquarters launched the corporate Gender Equality Strategy (GES) 2008-2011: ‘Empowered and Equal’, which was formally endorsed at the Gender Steering and Implementation Committee (GSIC), chaired by the UNDP Administrator. The GES puts strong emphasis on supporting national capacity development for gender mainstreaming and the need for sex-disaggregated data for relevant policy development. It also stresses the importance of treating gender- based violence (GBV) as a pressing and fundamental human rights challenge, with implications for all aspects of development, including democratic governance. The GES provides gender explicit outcomes and indicators for each UNDP Practice Area which serves as guidance to Country Offices in their programming for gender equality. Thus, Human Rights based approach can reinforce progress towards GE.

Fundamental to the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment is the human rights based approach to programming, which contributes to the conceptual framework of human development and is based on international human rights standards and conventions. From a human development perspective this focuses, in particular, on the principles of non-discrimination and equality.

To support UNDP projects in the application of rights based approach, and more specifically in gender mainstreaming, UNDP Cambodia is recruiting one international Gender and Rights Advisor, and one National Officer. Both the International Advisor and the National Officer will be located in the Management Support Unit (MSU), in the UNDP Cambodia Country Office. This Unit is responsible for supporting senior management with regard to quality assurance on development effectiveness and organizational effectiveness in country programme management.

Working in close collaboration with the National Officer, and under the direct supervision of the MSU head, the Gender and Rights Advisor will guide UNDP projects and divisions (Programme, Operations) in translating UNDP’s commitments towards gender equality and human rights into concrete and measurable actions, with particular attention to capacity development.

Summary of Key Functions:

1. Technical Support
2. Capacity Development Support
3. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
4. Partnerships and Knowledge Management
5. Coaching of national staff

Responsibilities:

1. Provide Technical Support to UNDP supported projects and SWAPs in Gender Mainstreaming and the Application of a Right Based Approach

• Recommend on data collection, disaggregated for all demographics including sex, ethnicity, age where needed
• Ensure the inclusion of such data in the design and formulation of project and programme strategies, including the UNDAF and CPAP and advise on strategies that reflect the needs of marginalised and vulnerable groups, especially women.
• Ensure gender responsive implementation of project and programme strategies and advise how to engage women, and marginalised and vulnerable groups more fully in the development processes that affect their livelihoods and their lives
• Advise on allocation of project and programme budgets for gender mainstreaming & rights based programming
• Organize trainings on relevant topics, e.g gender sensitive project management skills and contextually relevant skills.
• Use GM and HRBA principles to create synergies across UNDP's project work

2. Provide Capacity Development Support for Gender Mainstreaming and Rights Based Programming

• Introduce the UNDP human rights based approach to programming to UNDP Cambodia, identify training needs in gender mainstreaming & rights based programming and develop concrete capacity development plans through UNDP's systematic CD approach.
• Identify competent training providers, create a database of national and international gender and human rights experts with appropriate subject/sector specializations and field experience.
• Support the preparation of/or dissemination of toolkits, training manuals and checklists for each focus area/sector

3. Support the Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting on Gender Mainstreaming and Rights Based Programming

• Ensure the collection of relevant baseline information and advise on the formulation of indicators and M&E systems, sensitive to gender and human rights
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to project sites
• Recommend, and where feasible, participate in impact assessments and project evaluations
• Ensure quarterly reporting on progress against the project strategies, with information on achievements, challenges and areas of support needed
• Compile/ extract relevant information from project strategies for the UNDAF & CPAP annual/mid term reports, and the UNDP Gender Steering and Implementation Committee (GSIC) bi-annual reports
• Enhance accountability for gender equality and human rights through the establishment of a gender/ human rights focal point system (or Committee, Cluster, Project Board)

4. Support Partnerships with CSO, media and UN agencies and knowledge Management

• Ensure engagement with civil society organizations representing the interest of women, vulnerable and marginalized groups of society
• Advise on/ prepare advocacy and communication materials to promote gender equality and human rights and across the UNDP practice areas
• Advise on resource mobilization for gender equality and human rights based programming
• Work closely with UNIFEM, OHCHR and other UN agencies on issues of gender mainstreaming and human rights
• Participate and share information in UNDP's knowledge networks
• Liaise with regional UNDP gender and human rights focal points, women's machineries, civil society groups, academic networks and external specialists for advisory services, and sharing of information / best practices.
• Packaging of relevant 'gender' issues for specific target audiences

5. Coaching of national staff

• Identify capacity needs in national staff (within PMU), Programme Team and projects
• Develop learning plan for individuals on rights based approaches and gender mainstreaming
• Provide coaching and structured advice
• Organize/support specific learning services

Impact of Results:

The envisioned impact is UNDP Cambodia?s enhanced ability to implement a human rights-based approach to its support to national development programmes and policies. This translates in very practical terms into supporting the design and implementation of national MDG-based poverty reduction strategies that reflect the needs of marginalised and vulnerable groups; and the capacity to engage them more fully in the development processes that affect their livelihoods and their lives. Particular emphasis is hereby put on the economic, social and political rights of women and the poor. Among the expected results are the following:

1. Improved information base for gender equality and promotion of human rights through a better understanding of the importance of research for pro-poor/ gender sensitive policy development and the systematic collection of data disaggregated for all demographics including sex, ethnicity, age and data on socio- economic conditions of women and men;
2. Improved representation and participation of women and men in the management and delivery of government services and project activities, especially in sectors where women involvement is so far weak (e.g environment sector);
3. Improved and increased interventions that directly support womens, political, economical and social empowerment, such as access to finance, information, training etc;
4. Systematic approach to CD for long-term capacities of staff and implementing partners to HRBA and gender mainstreaming developed and implemented; and
5. Enhanced partnerships and resources for the promotion of gender equality and human rights.

Competencies:

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office
• In-depth knowledge on development issues
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources
• Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit
• Strong IT skills
• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

Management and Leadership

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Prince2 training and certification, RMG desirable

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:

• Master's Degree or equivalent in Development Studies, Gender Studies, or related discipline. Courses in gender or womens studies or human rights desirable

Experience:

• Minimum of five years of working experience at the national or international level
• Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and programmes
• Experience in dealing with issues of women's rights and gender mainstreaming within public institutions, UN agencies and/or international system
• Experience in mentoring desirable
• Familiarity with Capacity Development approaches

Language Requirements:

• High level of proficiency in written and oral English

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