ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING:
The Programme Specialist post is located in the UNFPA Arab States Regional Office (ASRO) in Cairo, Egypt, and reports to the Regional Advisor on Gender, Human Rights and Culture who provides overall direction and guidance. The incumbent assists in the management of the regional programme and provides UNFPA country offices with daily support on programmatic and operational issues in the areas of gender and human rights. The Programme Specialist is part of a team, coordinated by the Deputy Regional Director, which provides integrated programme and technical support within a systems strengthening approach fundamental to UNFPA’s overall strategy.
A. Ensure efficient and successful management of the gender and human rights components of the UNFPA/ASRO regional program. This includes:
● Successful planning, implementation, management and monitoring of the gender and human rights components of the regional program under the supervision of the Gender, Human Rights and Culture (GHRC) Advisor and guidance of the Deputy Regional Director.
● Lead development of regional and subregional knowledge products including research, studies, policy briefs, and reports on sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, gender based violence including harmful practices and mainstreaming a human rights based approach into programs. This includes coordination with implementing partners and research institutions in development and humanitarian settings.
● Coordinate the joint UN Gender Justice Programme and oversee see finalization of country reports and national validation processes.
● Coordinate and oversee all activities related to implementation of the Essential Services Package for women survivors of violence.
● Coordinate provision of capacity building and technical support to NHRIs, COs and civil society organizations on the follow up to the Universal Periodic Review recommendations.
● Coordinate activities related to the 16 days of activism to combat violence against women and other relevant international days and campaigns.
● Contribute to various joint UN statements, policy briefs and reports on GBV and harmful practices.
B. Ensure provision of support to implementation of the harmful traditional practices (HTP) component at the regional level in both development and humanitarian settings
● Coordinate UNFPA/ASRO efforts in launching campaigns to end harmful practices (Female genital mutilation and child marriage) together with the program analyst.
● Coordinate development of research on the situation of child marriage in select countries of the region including development of methodology for the child marriage costing in select countries
● Coordinate knowledge production pertaining to FGM and social norms including a communications campaign and production of a documentary.
● Update the Regional Y-Peer manual to include FGM jointly with Youth Unit
C. Ensure provision of support and contribution to the overall work of the regional office and country offices
● Provide analysis and feedback to incoming documents, draft statements, talking points, correspondence, annual work plans and briefing notes on gender, GBV and human rights.
● Draft background papers/briefing documents, concept notes and project proposal documents including budgets and performance indicators.
● Provide technical and operation support to country offices in the gender and human rights arena.
● Monitor performance indicators and provide assistance and support in operations, programme development and implementation to assigned countries (currently Palestine and Jordan) in the region as desk officer including provision of feedback to strategic UN documents
D. Effectively supervise and manage a small team within the Gender, Human rights and culture Unit.
• Under the overall guidance of the regional advisor, the incumbent manages and supervises a team of three staff members including two analysts and a program associate.
Education and Qualifications
• Advanced university degree in international development, gender studies, human rights, public health, international relations or other related fields.
• At least 5 years of increasingly responsible and demonstrable professional experience in development work.
• Substantive knowledge and proven practical experience in programming on cross cutting issues, sexual and reproductive health, and gender programming.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable; knowledge of French is an asset.