The Position:

The Gender and GBV Specialist post is located in the Gender and Human Rights Branch of the Technical Division, UNFPA HQ. S/he is the adviser at the global level for integrated technical and programme advice on gender equality and gender-based violence (GBV).

You will report directly to the Chief of the Gender and Human Rights Branch and work in close collaboration with the Senior Gender and GBV Advisors.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s new strategic plan (2018-2021), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. 

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

UNFPA makes critical contributions to promoting the broader gender equality agenda at global, regional and country levels using ICPD as the entry point. ICPD provides UNFPA with a particular responsibility for specific aspects of gender equality, including addressing gender-based violence and harmful practices, and promoting the rights of adolescents and youth. 

UNFPA is committed to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Agenda 2030, in particular through delivering three transformative results: ending preventable maternal deaths; addressing the unmet need for family planning; and ending GBV and Harmful Practices. Underpinning all these major changes, there is the need to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and adolescent girls, as no progress can be sustained within ICPD Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals if not underpinned by gender equality and empowerment of women, young and adolescent girls (SDG5).

As part of its own mandate and also in collaboration with other sister UN Agencies through the Spotlight Initiative, UNFPA addresses all forms of violence against women and girls, and harmful practices, which follows a transformative and evidence-based approach, addressing unequal power relations between men and women and focusing on gender equality and women’s empowerment. 

At Headquarters level, UNFPA addresses these developmental concerns through the Gender and Human Rights Branch (GHRB) of the Technical Division. 

The Division provides thought leadership and develops tools in support of the implementation of the UNFPA mandate and is best positioned to identify critical areas to advance implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and generate knowledge that is useful to support regional and country offices in their programmatic work and policy dialogue. The Branch is responsible for the leadership in the areas of gender and human rights. 

Education: 

Advanced University Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Health, Gender Human Rights and Development, or other field directly related to the substantive area identified in the title of the post.

Knowledge and Experience:

Seven years of increasingly responsible professional experience in issues related to gender equality, social protection, health and development, required;

Experience with gender equality, women’s development and rights-based programming, both at field and international levels, required;

Experience in addressing gender and social equity issues in reproductive health and population issues, including culturally sensitive programming, required;

Strong track record of technical leadership, and proven ability to produce demonstrable results;

Strong verbal and written communications skills in English;

Demonstrated ability to network within the academic and development community;

Demonstrated expertise in policy dialogue and high level advocacy is desirable;

Familiarity with UN systems and procedures, management and monitoring tools is desirable;

Languages:

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is desirable.