Gender Specialist

Contract

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

The Gender Specialist (UN Volunteer) will work closely with the Sub-regional Gender Specialist, who is based in the UNDP Samoa MCO, in providing support to implementing MCO’s Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan, with the aim of obtaining the Gender Equality Seal certification by 2023. S/he will support both programme teams in the MCO in reviewing their portfolios and mainstreaming gender across all projects. S/he will also participate in the design and formulation of new gender-responsive projects, and assist in their implementation. The Gender Analyst will also have the opportunity of contributing to the roll-out of the new 5-year UNDP programme framework for the Pacific Islands and Territories 2023-27.

The MCO is participating in the UNDP Gender Equality Seal Initiative/2021-23 Round, and has put in place a dedicated Gender Task Force (GTF) and Gender Equality Strategy and Action Plan (GES/AP), which it is implementing in 2022-23. The UNV Gender Specialist will work as part of the MCO team to support the holistic approach to strengthening gender in the office. This involves the direct targeting of gender in programming through the design and implementation of projects and initiatives that are gender specific while also mainstreaming gender in all other projects, office operations and management, partner engagement and communications. Gender mainstreaming will cover projects, office operations, partner engagement and communications of the office. The UNV Gender Specialist will support implementation of the GES/AP by the MCO and serve as Secretary to the GTF.

The UNV Gender Specialist will work as part of the MCO Strategic Team, in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations Teams, Communications, Monitoring & Evaluation and Partnerships functions, Senior Economist and Sub-regional Gender Specialist, programme staff in other UN Agencies through the UN Gender Outcome Group, and UNDP staff in Fiji, at the Bangkok Regional Hub and UNDP HQ, to advance the gender equality agenda in the Pacific.

Under the direct supervision of the UNDP Samoa MCO Deputy Resident Representative, the UNV Gender Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

Provide advice and support to UNDP management, programme, and projects on gender issues focusing on the following results: • Hands on support and advice to Samoa MCO management, programme, operations and project staff on the implementation of the UNDP Gender Seal; • Coordinate implementation of Samoa MCO GES/AP, and support the implementation of the Samoa MCO Action Plan on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, including reporting on implementation progress; • Review new project concepts and documents to ensure that gender analysis in-formed the project design, and the design responds to the analysis with concrete measures to address gender inequalities and empower women, providing recommendations for improvements; • Provide high-quality analysis and substantive inputs to UN and UNDP annual re-ports, including corporate and donor reports, and other strategic documents, with a focus on evidence-based reporting on gender equality and women’s empowerment; • Provide technical expertise and strategic advice on good practices and tools on gender issues for the Programme Team.

Provide advice on the management of the Samoa MCO’s gender programme focusing on the following results: • Provide technical advice and guidance to Samoa MCO on the implementation of existing gender equality and women’s empowerment programmes – with particular focus on the Spotlight Initiative, Access to Justice, Women in Leadership in Samoa, and other projects – by quality assuring annual work plans, budgets, procurement plans, terms of reference, deliverables by contractors and partners, alignment to donor requirements, and ensuring that implementation is aligned to the agreed tar-gets; • Identify opportunities and facilitate UNDP’s strategic collaborations with UN agencies and task teams that respond to the concerns and needs of women and men in promoting women’s empowerment; • Guide the Samoa MCO team on effective application of gender mainstreaming throughout MCO’s programme, monitoring and evaluation frameworks and results reporting; • Collect gender data, contribute to evaluations of gender-related programme interventions, and quality assure results reporting with focus on gender impact; • Contribute to expanding the MCO’s programme pipeline through gender specific projects and strengthening gender in current pipeline concept notes.

Facilitate knowledge management, capacity building and coordination across the organization, focusing on the following results: • Organize and conduct training for Samoa MCO staff on gender advancement, gen-der equality, women’s empowerment, gender issues across different thematic areas and social development; • Support project Teams to institutionalize gender mainstreaming, gender screening in the project development and implementation cycle as per UNDP standards; • Coordinate the Samoa MCO Gender Task Force responsible for organizing and documenting the GTF meetings and keeping records of their deliberations; • Identify and formulate lessons learned and recommendations to strengthen UNDP Samoa’s gender equality efforts; • Guide project teams on key messages and branding to support yearly gender equality advocacy goals in each portfolio, and develop gender change stories and gender related knowledge products; • Mobilize regional and technical support to Samoa MCO, if and when needed, including designing training modules and support regional webinars to enhance under-standing of gender mainstreaming; • Support organizational culture of equality that addresses how gender intersects with multiple forms of discrimination.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Building Trust ☒ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Empowering Others ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Judgement and Decision-making ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Leadership ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Working in Teams

advocating for social issues, including gender equality • Experience working with people from different cultures and backgrounds • Volunteering and/or volunteerism • Collaboration with multiple partners and organisations • Ability to effectively use Microsoft Office • Experience in coordination • Excellent planning and time management skills

Samoa gained independence in 1962 – the first Polynesian country to achieve this political status. Situated about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, Samoa is made of nine volcanic islands, two of which - Savai'i and Upolu - make up more than 99% of the land. The capital city of Samoa is Apia. The total population of Samoa is 200,000 with a total ar-ea of 2,934 square km. The terrain consists of narrow coastal plains with volcanic, rocky, 6 rugged mountains in interior.

Samoa is a bilingual country. Samoan is the main language and English is the second offi-cial language. Most government bodies and institutions work primarily in English.

The traditional Samoan way, the fa’a Samoa, remains a strong force in Samoan life and politics where family is all-important and elders are highly respected. Each village is made up of extended families that are represented on the village council by a chief (matai). The more western-style parliamentary system in Samoa is highly influenced by traditional social systems and the family, civic and political duties performed by the matai at village level. The country is predominantly Christian.

The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remit-tances from overseas and agricultural exports. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Tourism is an expanding sector in Samoa.

Apia has good accommodation facilities in terms of the Pacific standard and good road networks. Medical facilities are limited in comparison to developed countries and emergen-cies are undertaking in New Zealand. Food items and imported commodities are easily available in the market. There is a functioning banking system in the country. Samoa has a warm tropical climate and insect repellents are needed for the nights. Apia has an interna-tional airport which is well connected to New Zealand, Australia and Fiji.