Location :
Panama City, PANAMA
Application Deadline :
03-Dec-13
Additional Category
Management
Type of Contract :
FTA International
Post Level :
P-4
Languages Required :
English Spanish
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
01-Jan-2014
Duration of Initial Contract :
1 year renewable
Expected Duration of Assignment :
1 year renewable
Background
UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP has a longstanding commitment to mainstreaming gender equality and promoting women's empowerment in its work. As the UN's lead development agency, with extensive field presence, UNDP has facilitated the integration of gender equality in the work of Country Offices through core and non-core fund investments and has initiated and implemented numerous innovative initiatives, some of them in partnership with UNWomen, that support both government and civil society work on gender issues.
UNDP is currently working its Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017. The new strategy will be aligned with UNDP's Strategic Plan and will seek to ensure that the gender equality be central to the organization's strategic vision and planning for the next four years. In order for UNDP to sustain momentum and achieve measurable gender equality results, the organization has to continue restructuring itself and building its internal capacity to address the gender dimensions in all its work.
During the last 4 years (linked to the implementation of the first Gender Equality Strategy 2008-2013), UNDP has strengthened its capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean to support national counterparts to formulate policies, plans, programmes and projects promoting gender equality and women's empowerment through knowledge management.
The Regional Centre in Panama serves 24 country offices in Latin America and the Caribbean region. The overall priorities of the UNDP Regional Centers are to help countries in the region to better achieve development results through:
- Provision of policy advisory, programme development and technical support services to UNDP country offices;
- Implementation of regional programmes;
- Building of partnerships and the promotion of regional capacity development initiatives.
The Regional Centres are organized along the lines of UNDP practice areas.
In general, when it comes to gender, the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region sustained important progress in the institutional reforms oriented towards achieving gender equality, in accordance with the Beijing Platform for Action and the signing of international agreements like the CEDAW, including constitutional changes, the approval of laws to protect women, the creation of ministries or institutions for women's affairs, civil code modifications and the adoption of policies aimed toward gender equality . Another advance related to the higher participation of women in decision making bodies is the recognition of topics in which they are directly affected such as sexual and reproductive health rights (maternal mortality, teen pregnancy), the care economy and violence against women, among others. Although there have been setbacks and general obstacles to the effective implementation of the laws (such as impunity and the lack of financing, evaluation and compliance), these reforms represent an opportunity to strengthen women's rights. Along with this, the strong presence of emerging groups (Afro-descendants, indigenous people, youth, and LGBTTI groups, etc.) is posing multiple demands to build a citizen democracy in various countries of the region.
At the same time the majority of the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are facing a paradigm shift expressed in a growing family diversity and the transformation of gender roles within it. The latter is associated with the massive incorporation of women into the labor market. Between 1990 and 2008, the average female participation rate in Latin America grew more than 10 percentage points, ending the decade at 53%. These changes have led some countries in the region to respond to the new social needs through public policies oriented towards reconciling home and work lives from a social co-responsibility perspective. Social protection public policies that include the organization of care, laws regarding leaves of absence, as well as proposals for measuring time poverty are important advances from the last decades together with the adoption of legal frameworks oriented towards recognizing and guaranteeing labor and social rights. Likewise, and despite a higher level of education, women have been able to gain more access to employment but of lesser quality in terms of a decent job, meaning remuneration, social protection, stability and the exercise of their labor rights. The burden of family responsibilities is the basis for the discrimination and disadvantages that they experience in the labor market.
At the individual economic level, poverty affects women most severely since they lack the same levels of economic autonomy enjoyed by men. Moreover, women do not have/control their own income compared to men (57% of women do not have their own income vis a vis 20% of men in the rural sector and 43% women vis a vis 20% in the urban sector) and 86% of single parent households are headed by a woman (in urban sectors).
In the political realm, substantial advances have been achieved in terms of greater presence of women in parliaments and decision making spaces. The most decisive factor to explain this trend is the adoption of affirmative actions or quota laws. However, the region should continue advancing the parity agenda and also support women's decision-making capacities within a system of power steeped in imbalances and restrictions on women.
As the most visible manifestation of discrimination against women, violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread human rights violations, constituting a threat to democracy. It is a barrier to achieving peace, a public health and social justice problem, as well as a burden on national economies. It is violence based on gender inequalities and discrimination.
The Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (RBLAC) Gender Strategy and Action Plan addresses these crucial gender issues and outlines UNDP's priorities for work in the region on gender equality and women's empowerment.
Post Specific Context:
The Gender Practice Area of the UNDP Regional Center was set up in 2009 with the aim of promoting technical, political and cultural changes to gender equality in Latin America and the Caribbean. To achieve this goal the Area should strengthen national capacities for gender mainstreaming, support country offices to address these key priorities and support the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy in the region.
The Gender Practice Area develops several key regional projects among which include 'America Latina Genera, knowledge management for gender equality', 'Innovation, Knowledge, and Gender Equality in LAC' , 'Political Participation of Women in Parliaments and diversity' and 'Gender Equality Management System in private sector', among others. The strategies in which the Area work is based are knowledge management, building partnerships, South-South cooperation and capacity development.
Presently, the Gender Practice Area is comprised by a Practice Leader, a P-3 Gender Specialist, a Programme/Finance Associate and a regional project team 'Latin America Genera'. The area needs to make a shift in the qualification of its team facing the new changes UNDP is going to undertake in the next years, in order to implement and manage the current cross-practice projects, to widen the advisory services and to build on the current competencies of UNDP country offices and national counterparts to formulate policies, plans, programmes and projects in order to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. As the post also intends to create regional spaces for exchange and learning so that gender and human development are at the center of our interventions in the LAC region, a senior specialist is required.
This position will work with the Team Leader of the Cluster to improve services delivery and to coordinate and manage all aspects of the gender LAC projects portfolio to assure successful implementation.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Gender Practice Leader, the incumbent will carry out different responsibilities for the provision of gender technical assistance to UNDP/UN Agencies initiatives; LAC UNDP Country Offices and LAC UNDP regional Practice/ Practice Areas teams and, through them, to governments and other national actors in the areas of gender and democratic governance, gender mainstreaming, knowledge management and communication. The incumbent will also support the gender team specifically on the coordination and implementation of the Annual Work Plan.
Functions / Key Results Expected
The incumbent will be expected to have specific results in the following areas:
- Leadership, Coordination and practice management;
- Implementation of regional projects, oversight and support;
- Provision of top quality policy advocacy and advisory services to the regional and national organizations, country offices and national partners;
- Coordination of the Communication and Knowledge strategy.
Leadership, coordination and practice management
- Establishing and mainstreaming a strategic understanding of, and engagement with the substantive technical issues, institutions and processes within the region, including the regional Community of Practice, establishing contact with COs, and through COs developing strategic partnership with other agencies, donors, NGOs, the private sector, academia and the like;
- Prepare annual work plan to mainstream gender into the RSC overall integrated work plan;
- Identify regional and sub-regional development and integration opportunities and translates them into capacity development initiatives to address cross border issues;
- Coordinate and inform cross-practice collaboration in the RSC and capitalize on the approaches and tools in other practices,
- Support the Gender Team Leader to provide substantive and managerial coordination of the regional gender team and coordination for all personnel engaged in related operational activities in the RSC;
- Support and oversee regional gender programme activities and gender mainstreaming in the regional programme;
- At the UNDP CO´s and UNDLAC request, promote the integration of Gender into the CCA and UNDAF process and in its portafolio;
- Support the Gender Team Leader in establishing new partnerships with national and regional institutions, organizations, networks and agencies, especially UN agencies;
- Contribute to the development and formulation of global and regional policies, norms and standards in UNDP;
Implementation of regional projects, oversight and support
- Provide effective support for the overall day to day management of all aspects of the gender LAC projects portfolio on Democratic Governance, Gender Mainstreaming and for America Latina Genera- Gestión del Conocimiento para la Igualdad de Género and for timely feedback and reporting on implementation of programmes in support of the gender architecture;
- Ensure effective management of the projects through effective application and quality control of RBM tools, Atlas management, monitoring achievement of results, coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review, participates in recruitment processes for Project;
- Prepare the gender work plan to integrate into the RSC overall work plan;
- Prepare global and regional reports about gender activities and projects;
- Contribute to the formulation of regional and CO programmes drawing upon lessons from programmes and other initiatives in the region and from global experiences;
- Oversee support to country offices on gender issues and liaise with country offices to support the inclusion of gender dimensions at the planning and programming stages of country and regional programmes;
- Support resource mobilization for gender in the region and develop multi-partner proposals; assists in the analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new Project;
- Coordinate the Gender Associate Experts Network of the RSC.
Provision of top quality policy advocacy and advisory services to the regional and national organizations, country offices and national partners
- Provide Quality Assurance to ensure alignment with global development policies, norms and standards;
- Co-ordinate with the Gender Practice Leader delivery of demand-driven service delivery to country offices and regional programmes ensuring professionalism in support – e.g. timelines, responsiveness, quality in deliverables, etc;
- Ensure cross-practice approach and cross-regional collaboration;
- Development of country-oriented support tools addressing specific country request and challenges;
- Strengthen internal CO capacity on the use of UNDP corporate practice development frameworks; providing substantive advice and support and organizing capacity development activities;
- Promote partnership building with regional and local institutions and consultancies.
- Provide Quality Assurance to ensure alignment with global development policies, norms and standards;
Coordination of the Communication and Knowledge strategy
- Mobilizing the Gender Community of Practice at the regional level, by providing training and networking opportunities;
- Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to country policy goals;
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
- Ensure that all activities and projects are systematized and shared with the rest of the region through knowledge management;
- Ensure regular systematization of product as well as their translation into other languages;
- Support the implementation of a communication strategy and oversee the performance and actualization of the Regional Services Center and Gender web sites;
- Ensure the systematization, publication, translation and dissemination of all activities;
- Reflect the region-wide lessons learnt, best practices and knowledge into UNDP's strategies in the region;
Impact of Results
The key results have an impact on the efficiency of the Area as the incumbent will assume several initiatives included in Annual Gender Practice Area Work Plan and also he/she will contribute with research, analysis, technical assistance to improve services for Country Office focal points, internal and external clients and facilitate subsequent action by the supervisor. Incumbent's own initiative is decisive in results of work and timely finalization. The key results have an impact on the success of the projects within specific area of Gender. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities and creation of strategic partnerships. The Gender Specialist´s role will impact the strengthening of the practice gender architecture of UNDP, the quality and relevance of programme and project services and the results of UNDP's programmes in the region in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment.
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;
- Demonstrated substantive leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;
- Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products;
- 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;
- Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit;
- Strong IT skills.
Management and Leadership
- Strong managerial/leadership experience and decision-making skills;
- Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Strong ability to manage teams; creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff;
- 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;
- Ability to develop good inter-personal relationships and encourage team-building;
- Strong resource mobilization and partnering skill.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master's Degree or equivalent in Gender and Development, Social Sciences, Economics and/or Development Studies or related field.
Experience:
- A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in gender and development Experience in working with UN-UNDP CO;
- Work experience from a developing country or the LAC region highly desirable;
- Experience in leading/managing knowledge product development and dissemination;
- Demonstrated ability in coordination projects in gender and knowledge management; Experience in advisory on gender mainstreaming;
- Substantial experience in working with governments and international organizations on gender development issues;
- Ability to synthesize and analyze scientific, technical and policy documents;
- Experience with UNDP project cycle and general procedures;
- Knowledge on gender public policies and/or gender mainstreaming is a must;
- Knowledge on Communication will be desirable.
Language requirements:
- Fluency in Spanish and English is essential;
- Excellent written and verbal communication required;
- Working knowledge in Portuguese or French will be an asset.
Note:
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be notified. The electronic version of a UN Personal History Form (P.11) can be downloaded from the UNDP RSC website: http://www.regionalcentrelac-undp.org/en/p11forms.
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UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
