Expert – Gender Humanitarian Action

Contract

This is a UNV International Expert contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Expert contracts.

The humanitarian situation in Niger is further deteriorated in 2023, especially since Avril 2023 with (i) the worsening of the security crisis in the Liptakoo-Gourma three-border area in the Tillaberi region and (ii) the planned return of displaced persons to their places of origin in the Diffa region, where most social and economic assets of households and communities were destroyed by terrorist groups. Conflict-related violence continued to force people to abandon their homes, resulting in the displacement of some populations. According to OCHA’ report of May 2023, 371,9 K people are displaced within their own country. In addition, 255,5 K refugees fled insecurity in neighboring Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria and 41,8 K PDIs returned in their origin villages. The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan estimates, 4.3 million people need humanitarian assistance, an increase of 14% compared to 2022. At the end of the Harmonized Framework analysis for the month of March 2023 in Niger: 2,454,354 people are food insecure (phase 3 and +) and 398 060 people under pressure (phase 2). In the phase (June to August 2023), it is estimated that nearly 3.3 million people will be food insecure (phase 3 and +) and 7,341,355 people under pressure (phase 2). This poses a major challenge to the State and humanitarian actors to take urgent measures to help communities to mitigate the shock. In this regards, UN Women with the support of a NorCap and GenCap deployed advisers is working at coordination level to ensure gender is considered in the responses, but the current increasing humanitarian needs of women and girls cannot be addressed. Thus, UN Women is thus seeking a Humanitarian specialist to support the UN Women Country Office role in Niger and its contribution to the response, by strengthening the work programme of UN Women with partners in this area so that humanitarian response and coordination structures integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Reporting to the Programme Management Specialist and working in close consultation with the Regional and HQ Peace, Security and Humanitarian Specialists, and fostering good relationships with Government officials, multi and bi-lateral donors and civil society, the Expert – Gender Humanitarian Action will provide technical and policy advice on gender in humanitarian action related issues, contribute to the German project's monthly reports on humanitarian coordination and localization, ensure overall coordination of the GiHA on behalf of UN Women as lead, conduct regular monitoring of GiHA work plan implementation and else.

Under the overall guidance of the Country Representative and in direct collaboration with Programme specialist and team leads, the women humanitarian program, leads the development and implementation of a program strategy in line with the corporate standards geared towards increasing the outreach and visibility of contribution to the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment in Niger.

Oversee the development of programs on Gender and Humanitarian to Niger Country office • Provide technical inputs to program proposals from country office. • Oversee the technical aspects of the implementation and coordination of humanitarian programs, (localization, LEAP Provide advice on contextualizing/ localizing program documents, country strategies, and knowledge products. • Coordinate proper monitoring and reporting for humanitarian action in collaboration with program teams. • Provide strategic direction, leadership, and overall technical management of humanitarian programming in country in line with the Strategic Action Plan outcomes. • Liaise regularly with the relevant humanitarian regional and HQ technical units.

Provide technical and capacity building support to Niger Country Office.

• Provide substantive technical and policy support to country office, teams in developing and strengthening projects/programs. • Develop, implement, and monitor capacity building initiatives. • Provide technical support to partners on implementation of humanitarian action program. • Lead the implementation of a Gender in Humanitarian (GIHA) working group in NIGER. • Support clusters in integrating gender in their strategic and actions plans coordination mechanism. • Conduct a gender analysis assessment to inform the Humanitarian Response Plan and the Humanitarian Needs Overview. • Train humanitarian actors in gender and humanitarian action. • Support the constitution of a data base of women CSOs working on humanitarian actions in Niger’ humanitarian areas. • Support and provide technical support to the local women organizations members of humanitarian working group. • Develop an analysis of the situation of gender in humanitarian action in NIGER and draft a programme and projects for resource mobilisation.

Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with stakeholders, regional/ international actors, and development partners.

• Build and maintain alliances and strategic partnerships for the advancement of humanitarian action. • Build and maintain close liaisons with relevant donors and other actors supporting efforts towards humanitarian action. • Produce periodic updates and briefs on country humanitarian situation to be used by stakeholders, CO, and HQ. • Maintain close contact with relevant staff in UN Women RO and HQ. Manage the resource mobilization strategy for humanitarian action in the CO.

• Participate in the implementation, monitoring and periodic updating of the resource mobilization strategy on women and humanitarian action in the CO.

• Provide technical support to field-based presences in the region in mobilizing resources for the implementation of humanitarian action. • Research and analyze information on donors; prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation. • Oversee the delivery of high-quality technical proposals and reports, in line with donor requirements. • Work in close collaboration with UNWOMEN grants and finance staff to finalize proposals and respond to any requests for additional information. • Manage grant/program implementation including staff recruitment and training, work plan development, procurement and inventory planning, and budget management.

Oversee the design of humanitarian action in the CO and the development of relevant knowledge products.

• Provide policy recommendations and guidance to strategic planning and positioning humanitarian action. • Research, develop and present analytical reports, research papers, briefing notes, background papers, summaries, correspondence, and knowledge products on humanitarian.
• Identify promising practices, technical expertise, and strategic opportunities in humanitarian action.

Oversee the advocacy of humanitarian action through inter-agency coordination.

• Work closely with and provide advice to national bodies and interagency groups that influence national policies related to humanitarian action and where necessary represent UN Women. • Lead UN Women’s role in the Humanitarian country team, and coordination groups • Lead specific efforts in mainstreaming gender and protection in disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts of other clusters and relevant working groups, including inclusion and participation of under-represented groups in accordance with Commitments on Accountability to Affected Populations. • Advocate for the engagement and participation of local organizations and civil society networks in humanitarian coordination mechanisms. • Build capacities of local women organization Provide technical support to local women organization to integrate gender, in humanitarian action.

Oversee advocacy and communication of humanitarian action. • During emergency response, develop and implement communication and advocacy messages and strategies on key gender and protection concerns. • Develop information, education, and communication (IEC) materials, press releases, situation reports, alerts and contribute gender and protection-related inputs to documents prepared by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Oversee knowledge building and sharing for humanitarian action. • Identify and disseminate lessons learnt and good practices in collaboration with country office and regional team. • Ensure technical skills and knowledge are shared within and among country teams, and coordination groups. Any other duties as assigned by UN Women.

CORE VALUES / GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct • Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work • Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity: Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues • Accountability • Creative Problem Solving • Effective Communication • Inclusive Collaboration • Stakeholder Engagement • Leading by Example

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skill • Strong knowledge of Results Based Managemen • Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making • Strong knowledge of gender equality and the empowerment of women • Strong knowledge of women, peace and security and/or gender in humanitarian action • Strong knowledge of gender and livelihood programming • Strong analytical skills • Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising and develop strategies.

work experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects • Technical experience in women, peace and security, gender in humanitarian action • Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset • Experience working in the UN System is an asset • Working experience in Niger is an asset

The recruited UN Volunteers will be based in Niamey and will work at the ONUFEMMES office. In Niger, the climate is harsh, ranging from extremely hot in April and May to dry and cool between November and February. Niamey is the capital of Niger, Tahoua and Maradi are large cities with all the commodities , there are opportunities to find suitable accommodation. The spontaneous welcome and hospitality of Nigeriens are among the characteristic features of this West African country. Living conditions in Niamey are good, as is access to health services. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory and vaccination cards must be presented upon entry. Vaccines against meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis A and B are also recommended. Basic medications are available in pharmacies, but it is recommended to bring specific medications. There are several banks in Niamey and decent clinics including the United Nations Clinic. The security level in Niamey is 3 (moderate).