UNDP JPO – Policy Analyst, Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025

Job Description

IMPORTANT: This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of Canada and is addressed exclusively to nationals of Canada. For more information about the JPO Programme and eligibility criteria, please visit the site of the JPO Service Centre.

The UNDP Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme:

The UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) JPO Programme equips outstanding young leaders with the skills and experience required to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and make a positive difference in the world. As a pathway into the world of development, the programme offers young professionals excellent exposure to multilateral cooperation and sustainable development while providing a valuable entry point into the UN system. 

During their assignments, JPOs benefit from the guidance of experienced UNDP staff members and are actively involved in supporting the design and implementation of UNDP’s programs within UNDP’s headquarters, regional or country offices. Additionally, the JPO will undergo a journey of exposure and growth which will build both personal and professional capacity for a career within the multilateral development sector.

As a JPO and young professional in UNDP you should be interested in pursuing a global career with aspiration to work for a field-based organization in support of the development agenda.

The JPO will work as part of a team and be supervised by an experienced UNDP staff member, including :

• Structured guidance and feedback, especially in the beginning of the assignment, with the purpose of gradually increasing of responsibilities 
• Establishment of a work plan, with clear key results
• Guidance and advice in relation to learning and training opportunities within the field of expertise
• Completion of the yearly UNDP Annual Performance Review (APR) including learning and development objectives

The JPO will benefit from the following learning and development opportunities:

• Participation in a virtual Programme Policy and Operations Induction Course within the first 4 to 6 months of assignment
• Use of yearly JPO duty-related travel and training allocation (DTTA), as per the online DTTA guide
• On-going Masterclasses on relevant and inspiring themes
• Career development support mechanisms and activities
• Networking with fellow JPOs, young professionals and senior UNDP colleagues
• Mentoring programme 
• Other training and learning opportunities, as presented in the UNDP JPO Orientation Programme 

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes.  BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data-driven including in its programme support efforts.

UNDP has achieved significant progress in making gender equality and women’s empowerment integral to its work on human development. It’s Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025 builds on the lessons of the previous strategies and has established as the main goal to help governments to shift systems and power structures that generate gender inequalities and women’s disempowerment. It will work through its six signature solutions on poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, energy and gender equality; and promote integrated approaches in each thematic area, stronger investments in data and analysis, the implementation of innovative solutions to transform social norms, and stronger partnerships with UN agencies and with civil society.  The Gender Team (BPPS) has the leading role in the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025, including through the implementation of UNDP’s Gender Integrate Offer 2022-2025.
 

Position Purpose

The Policy Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Director of the Gender Team, to provide support for the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025 and UNDPs Gender Integrated Global Offer.   As such, the incumbent, will have to demonstrate a level of agility and breadth of knowledge and skills to manage competing demands while delivering quality outputs of high standard.  She/he will be responsible for supporting:

• Policy advocacy and implementation (40%)
• Strategic partnership and resource mobilization (30%)
• Communication for Advocacy and Innovation (20%)
• Monitoring and Reporting (10%)

Key Duties and Accountabilities

1. Policy advocacy and implementation (40%)

• Support the Director in the implementation of new UNDP Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025 and related activities.
• Coordinate the develop a strategy to engage with feminist organization, International and local CSOs, as well as other relevant actors from civil society.
• Support the creation and coordination of an external Group composed by academia and CSOs to guide the implementation of the new Strategy; organize meetings; follow up of feedback.
• Support the implementation of key flagships of the Strategy: Inclusive Governance and Countering the Backlash; EQUANOMICS; and Energy for All; and presentation of its results.
• Collect, compile, analyze and present data and information on gender equality to support design of policy and advocacy documents; and coordinate with regional gender teams.
• Support development of briefing documents, TPs, presentations, and other strategic papers/materials.

2. Strategic partnership and resource mobilization (30%)

• Support the organization of relevant meetings, including with donors, governments, UN agencies, civil society, private sector and other stakeholders.
• Help to identify strategic partnerships and to implement resource mobilization activities.
• Attend interagency meetings and working groups and be point of liaison for relevant initiatives such as Generation Equality; IANGWE; or the Feminist Alliance.
• Design of materials and documents for global, public information/ relations events and key meetings attended by the Director.

3. Communication for Advocacy and Innovation (20%)

• Help to identify allies, tools and targeted actions in support of UNDP’s advocacy goals; 
• Identify global and regional forums; events and conferences for UNDP to advocate and position UNDP’s key policy messages and work.
• Support the Gender Team to build a public profile through working with media and social media, elevating the public profile of the Team and Team Head.
• Help to identify persuasive techniques and digital technologies to transform complex issues into accessible information.
• Contribute to UNDP communities of practice and knowledge platforms.

4. Monitoring and reporting (10%)

• Support gathering inputs for the preparation of work-plans, and to periodic learning and outreach events (e.g., workshops, conferences).
• Support other gender team activities.

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

Cross Functional and Technical Competencies

 Agenda 2030: https://www.undp.org/tag/agenda-2030: 

• Gender and Institutional Development 
• Gender Mainstreaming
• Gender Issues and Analysis 
• Gender corporate reporting
• 2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness: Performance and data analysis and sharing lessons 
• Business Management/Communications: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. 
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
  Business Management 
• Digital awareness and literacy: Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent Advanced Degree in gender studies, political and social sciences or development studies

Experience, knowledge and skills:

• A minimum of two years of relevant paid work experience in the field of gender and development.
• Proven on-the-ground and/or policy work experience in developing countries is desirable.
• Proven experience in policy advocacy and strategic partnerships/resource mobilization, including research and drafting reports and briefs is desirable.
• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), SharePoint; online tools and content management systems is desired.
• Excellent writing and oral communications skills in English is required; working knowledge of other UN languages is considered an asset

Nationality and age of applicant:

• This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of Canada and is addressed exclusively to nationals of Canada. For more information about the JPO Programme and eligibility criteria, please visit the site of the JPO Service Centre.
• Maximum 32 years of age on 31 December 2023

Attachments:

• Brief motivation
• Copy of your passport
• Copy of your Master’s degree

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.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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