Gender Advocate-Care

Volunteering Communications & PR

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

Kenya is a lower-middle-income country in the horn of Africa, with a population of 47.6 million as of 2019 and a multi-party parliamentary system. Kenya’s score on the Human Development Index has risen steadily from 2019 to 2022, positioning it at 143 out of 189 countries and territories in 2022. It is the third largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa after Nigeria and South Africa. The economy has since recovered from the effects of COVID-19, with growth projected despite facing global food price increases and drought conditions. Inequality persists, including gender inequality, exacerbated by climate change leading to inter-communal violence. COVID-19 caused job losses and other sources of livelihood for women more so than men. At the same time, there are increasing risks of sexual exploitation, physical violence, harassment and child marriages due to prolonged drought and displacement due to flooding experienced in 2024. Over the past decade, Kenya has made important governance and structural reforms that have contributed to impressive political gains, economic growth and social development.

As part of enhancing its legal frameworks and policies, Kenya incorporated development of a National Care Policy document in its Medium-Term Plan (MTP) III of vision 2030 and its Women Economic Empowerment Strategy 2020-2025 and by extension, UN Women has unpaid Care work as an output in its Strategic Note 2023-2026. Additionally, UN Women has supported State Department of gender and Affirmative Action (SDfGAA) to develop a National Care Policy which should be adopted and implemented. This will require intensive socialization to communities which are largely patriarchal, to enable Recognition that care is an issue that limits women’s participation in the economic space, Reducing care, Redistributing it especially with the male members of households, Rewarding it and ensuring decent employment for paid care and, Representing the same at policy level (5Rs). Kenya Country Office has received funding from the Bill and Gates Foundation to finalise the development of the Care policy and has also received funds from UNPRPD for a disability in care project to be implemented together with UNDP, UNICEF and ILO.

Under the overall guidance of the Team Leader-Women Economic Empowerment, the Gender Advocate-Care shall be responsible for the coordination of the implementation of the National Care Policy and the Disability and Care projects.

The position’s responsibilities will span Programme Management Support; Administrative Support to the Care Project; Provide Technical and Advisory, Support; Provide Substantive Inputs to Building Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Strategies; Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building, and communication efforts. • Provide programme and administrative support to the WEE Unit on the National Care and the Disability in Care programmes in the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements. • Provide technical inputs and analysis to various gender-related strategic and policy documents, joint programmes, and communication materials on issues of women’s rights, gender equality, gender legislation and policy, gender-based violence and access to justice, gender-sensitive work environment with regards to care. • Support preparation for advocacy and learning events and conduct relevant training sessions when necessary. • Attend with team members relevant forums and support coordination within the UN Women economic empowerment. • Ensure close follow-up for the effective implementation of a strategic partnership between UN Women, the UN Agencies that are part of disability in Care, the Government through the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action (SDfGAA), and civil society organizations implementing the care projects, to promote gender equality and especially care, in line with the commitments. • Undertake relevant environment scanning on political, environmental, economic, and social development trends and issues affecting gender equality and women’s equal rights in the area of care and disability and provide timely updates to the WEE team and management; participate in developing innovative projects and intervention summaries with a focus on both care, disability in care and gender equality aspects. • Assist in conducting research on new areas of engagement and in developing concept notes to support resource mobilization for upscaling the Care and disability in care work. • Support monitoring & evaluation, documenting, and reporting to donors and the host entity of the outcomes, impact, and lessons learned. Review and monitor the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports on care. • Undertake field visits to monitor performance of commitments by implementing partners and ensure programme objectives are being met. • Provide administration/procurement support to the project: organization of conferences, workshops, seminars, missions, budget the events. • Make travel arrangements as necessary including preparation of travel requisitions and claim. • Create and maintain appropriate folders for reference materials received electronically. • Prepare presentation material/slides in PowerPoint for presentations for the meetings/workshops and keep all papers ready for meetings. • Prepare relevant documentation such as project summaries, conference papers, briefing notes, speeches, and donor profiles. • Participate in donor meetings and public information events, as delegated. • Organize advocacy campaigns at county and grassroots level, events, trainings, workshops, and knowledge products. • Identify best practices and lessons learned to guide programme improvement and strategy planning. • Contribute to develop knowledge management strategies, products, and methodologies on care.

• Accountability • Client orientation • Creativity • Integrity • Knowledge sharing • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Respect for diversity • Working in teams

gender mainstreaming and women’s rights or designing, managing, and implementing development projects including on care and disability or other relevant programmes around women’s economic empowerment; experience in partnership with NGOs and civil society organizations is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization. A professional work experience at the national and/or international level • Overall good understanding of the social and political landscape of the country especially rural development including patriarchal traditions and norms and perceptions of care and gender roles. • Experience in monitoring and evaluation (using qualitative and quantitative methodologies); • Experience in analytical writing and research; writing strategy documents and project/programme reports; excellent oral and written skills. • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing. • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management and office technology equipment. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines. • Have affinity with or interest in Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls and, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Kenya and Nairobi in particular is a multicultural city, very well served with transport and technological advancement, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is just 25Ks away from the City Centre accessible by public transport and taxis. Uber and other taxi services are in plenty. There is availability of diverse housing depending on affordability while food is easily accessed through the many supermarkets and open markets in the city centre and Nairobi’s environs. Nairobi has been fairly safe as long as you don’t patronise well known insecurity prone regions. However, with the ongoing demonstrations by youth on the cost of living, taxation, and governance of the country, one needs to be careful and pay attention to the UNDSS alerts. Nairobi is generally warm with no particular dress code.

Kenya is a unique country. It provides an interesting and enriching environment but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, stamina and commitment to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in potentially hazardous conditions, is essential.

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Added 2 hours ago - Updated 2 hours ago - Source: unv.org