Gender Equality Officer( Retainer Contract)

Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-8 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-8 contracts.

Background Information - Pakistan

UNOPS Pakistan (Project Office) is part of the Sri Lanka Multi Country Office in the Asia Region. UNOPS commenced operations in Pakistan in 1999 and significantly upscaled activities from 2005 onwards to support populations affected by and vulnerable to earthquakes. In 2010, UNOPS opened a permanent office in Islamabad to support the Government of Pakistan and other partners to undertake humanitarian and reconstruction services, following the most devastating floods in the nation’s history.

UNOPS Pakistan has been implementing projects in the areas of early recovery and reconstruction of community infrastructure, project management, monitoring and evaluation, community development, fund management, human resources management, procurement, and infrastructure design and implementation. Supported strategically by a regional operational hub and UNOPS headquarters in Copenhagen and within the overarching framework of the ONE UN Programme, UNOPS Pakistan continues to deliver projects across the country under its core delivery practices of sustainable infrastructure, sustainable procurement, and sustainable project management.

With a steady growth of the project portfolio in recent years and a new strategic direction, UNOPS Pakistan is looking to strengthen the relationships with existing partners as well as build new alliances and diversify the portfolio of work, in line with UNOPS strategic and Asia regional objectives.

Background Information - Job-specific

As part of UNOPS Pakistan’s work to improve gender, diversity and inclusion both in and outside the office, and to increase women’s representation in the construction & engineering sector, the office is seeking the services of a Gender Equality Officer (retainer) to draft and implement the GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) and PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment) action plans.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Gender Focal Point of the Pakistan Country Office, the retainer will be responsible for:

1. Development and implementation of the GESI and PSEAH action plans
2. Technical expertise
3. Communication
4. Knowledge sharing and knowledge building
5. Monitoring and reporting

1. Development and implementation of the GESI and PSEAH action plans

• Develop a gender action plan, aligned with UNOPS’ strategy, for the Country Office.
• Develop a PSEAH action plan, aligned with UNOPS’ strategy, for the Country Office.
• Lead the implementation and monitoring of the action plans in collaboration with the gender focal point.
• Provide guidance on safeguarding with the aim of promoting a conducive environment where sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment are reported immediately.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance on GESI and PSEAH as required.

2. Technical expertise

• Facilitate consultations in all projects’ target agencies and areas; and capture gender considerations ensuring equal participation of women in identified stakeholder groups and forums.
• Assist in the pre and post evaluation processes for the projects under Country Office; help in coordination, represent UNOPS during project partners coordination, manage and implement planned activities with a gender perspective.
• Assist in the preparation of gender based annual work plans for project related activities, engagement activities and assist implement plans with clear milestones and deadlines.
• Support the project teams and partnership focal point in the development of new proposals and concept notes from a gender lens.
• In consultation with the Country Manager, make recommendations to adapt project implementation activities from the lens of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning components.

3. Communication

• Provide support in establishing and maintaining close dialogue/open channels of communications with all project stakeholders, including partners engaged in the project for delivery of specific activities.
• Contribute to communication and visibility activities related to GESI and PSEAH.

4. Knowledge sharing and knowledge building

• Provide support in developing, building and strengthening understanding of gender mainstreaming by providing/coordinating appropriate training to personnel and relevant stakeholders & contractors, as required.
• In collaboration with different project teams, support the development and dissemination of outreach materials such as brochures, fact sheets and presentations, ensuring they are gender sensitive and promote gender equality.
• Capture good practices and lessons learned, related to areas of GESI and PSEAH.
• Help support and strengthen knowledge on the gender and cultural context in the country for more effective project planning, implementation and delivery, monitoring and governance according to UNOPS policies.

5. Monitoring and reporting

• Document gender considerations from consultations and support the Gender Focal Point in prioritizing and implementing gender-equitable interventions.
• Contribute to identification and assessment of issues and risks related to the complementary social inclusion and implement responses in accordance with all the project’s Risk Management Strategies.
• Preparing gender mainstreaming reports as requested.
• Follow up on the GESI and PSEAH action plans making sure targets are revisited on a quarterly basis.
• Maintain records of the organizations working in community partnership in the project areas and update projects periodically.
• Assist in the preparation of reports as per project requirements and support the project teams to prepare monthly, quarterly progress report, quarterly socio political update reports and other ad hoc reports as required.

Duration

The contract will be for a total duration of 70 working days. Additional work days will be pre-agreed prior to the commencement of and during the assignment. Payment will be made for days actually worked and certified by the relevant supervisor/authority. The final documents/tasks will be due by 31 December 2023

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• A first-level university degree (e.g. Bachelor) in gender studies, sociology, anthropology, development studies, political science or other relevant discipline is required.

Experience - A minimum of 2 years of experience in gender, diversity and inclusion related issues is required. - Experience in the following is desirable but not essential: - Experience in gender mainstreaming/analysis/research, and/or designing gender policies/strategies/guidelines/training manuals. - Practical work exposure in the field with an understanding of environmental, social and economic dynamics of gender. - Experience in the implementation of gender-sensitive projects and programmes in the context of peace and conflict areas. - Practical expertise in designing training activities appropriate for community and government representatives and providing training on gender analysis and mainstreaming.

Language Requirements: - Fluency in English and Urdu is required. - Knowledge of provincial languages (Pashto, Punjbai, Sindhi & Balochi) is an asset

Contract type, level and duration

• Contract type: Local ICA Specialist (Retainer Contract)
• Contract level: LICA 8
• Contract duration: 31 Dec 2023 (70 working days)

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.