Gender Strategy Consultant

Result of Service To ensure that the promotion of gender equality is holistically integrated across the Programme of Work and not left solely to stand-alone, gender equality initiatives or activities. Gender equality should be built into the different steps of UNICRI’s programme cycle at strategic and technical levels.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 10 months

Duties and Responsibilities United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) is a United Nations entity established in 1968 to support countries worldwide in preventing crime and facilitating criminal justice. UNICRI is mandated to assist intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations in formulating and implementing improved policies in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice.

UNICRI's goals are: - to advance understanding of crime-related problems; - to foster just and efficient criminal justice systems; - to support the respect of international instruments and other standards; - to facilitate international law enforcement cooperation and judicial assistance.

Reflecting the threats and challenges identified through research and needs assessments, analyses of evolving trends, as well as feedback from partners, academics, civil society, policymakers and practitioners, the UNICRI Strategic Programme Framework 2023-2026 sets forth the following strategic priorities: - Countering Criminal Enterprises, Illicit Financial Flows, and Corrupt Practices - Preventing and Countering Transnational Security Threats, Terrorism, and Points of Nexus - Promoting the Responsible Use of New and Emerging Technologies to Address Crime and Exploitation - Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization - Promoting Rule of Law and Safeguarding Access to Justice

UNICRI employs a wide range of tools within its Programme of Work to address emerging areas, specialised niches, and selected fields of crime prevention, justice and security. These tools include: - Action-oriented research - Training and capacity-building activities - Field activities at the global, regional, national and local levels - Advocacy - Evaluations - Knowledge transfer and dissemination

In pursuing the five above-mentioned strategic programme priorities to advance its mandated objectives of crime prevention and criminal justice, UNICRI will incorporate cross-cutting themes, and in particular gender, in the delivery of its programmes. The focus on gender is critical to UNICRI’s work when considering pathways for sustainable change in the fields of crime prevention and justice, as well as opportunities for fundraising and partnership with Member States. Given its diversity of programme issues, contexts, locations, and beneficiaries, UNICRI tailors and adapts the ways in which these cross-cutting themes apply to each situation and desired outcome.

The purpose of the assignment is to support UNICRI in developing and adopting a Gender Strategy document that outlines, at the strategic level, how and when the gender equality perspective is included in UNICRI programmes, projects, and related tools. The Gender Strategy is intended as a programmatic complement to the Strategic Programme Framework 2023-2026.

As an addendum to the Gender Strategy, there should also be a practical toolkit that sets forth how and when gender mainstreaming may be applied throughout the programme cycle at UNICRI for best results, including during: - Research and analysis: evidence-gathering with gender-analysis of context and findings from UNICRI’s action-oriented research, evaluations and programme research; - Programme design, including the selection of priority issues, target groups and coverage, and their integration in terms of programme activities, results, indicators and intervention modalities; - Planning and budgeting; - Implementation modalities; - Advocacy and communications; and - Monitoring and evaluation, learning, and reporting

The purpose of mainstreaming gender in UNICRI’s programme planning, budgeting, development and implementation is not to create a separate substantive gender equality programme but to ensure that the promotion of gender equality is holistically integrated across the Programme of Work and not left solely to stand-alone, gender equality initiatives or activities. Gender equality should be built into the different steps of UNICRI’s programme cycle at strategic and technical levels.

Specific tasks to be performed by the consultant: Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Officer (Deputy Director), in close cooperation with the UNICRI Gender Focal Point(s), and the overall guidance and approval of the Director, the incumbent will perform the following tasks:

Step One: Prepare brief inception report - Meeting with Director, Senior Programme Officer (Deputy Director) and Gender Focal Points to discuss scope, methodology and timeline; - Prepare inception report outlining the key steps/methodology with specific deliverables and timeline; contextual analysis (2 pages)

Step Two: Review, assess and analyze - Review relevant UNICRI key documents (Statute, Strategic Programme Framework 2023-2026; UNICRI ECOSOC reports (2020 to 2022); project documents, project narrative reports, and evaluation reports for active projects; research documents (2020 to present), Programme plans, status and achievements for active projects; as well as the UN SWAP report for 2020 to present, which serve as background materials; - Analyze current opportunities and challenges to mainstream the gender perspective throughout the programme cycle and UNICRI tools; - Consult with relevant UNICRI staff to gain inputs on lessons learned, good practices and challenges faced in implementing gender mainstreaming in justice-sector programmes; - Consult with assigned member(s) of UNICRI’s Board of Trustees, as relevant; - Consult with select UN gender specialists in sister UN agencies, such as UNDP, UNODC, UNICEF, OHCHR, and other autonomous UN research and training institutes to gain inputs on lessons learned, good practices and challenges faced in implementing gender mainstreaming in similar justice-sector programmes.

Step Three: Prepare and present the Gender Strategy document - Based on the analysis and consultation with UNICRI staff, Board of Trustees member(s), and UN gender specialists, prepare a Gender Strategy document with a practical addendum (max 20 pages single-spaced total; split roughly 5 pages Strategy plus 15 pages addendum) that outlines, at the strategic level, UNICRI’s approach to mainstreaming gender perspectives in programme planning, budgeting, development and implementation and provides, in an addendum, practical guidance on how and when to ensure that the gender equality perspective is included in UNICRI’s programmes, projects, activities and related tools throughout the programme cycle at strategic and technical levels. The Gender Strategy document should consider, to the extent relevant to delivery of UNICRI’s Strategic Programme Framework 2023-2026, the UN SWAP reporting which UN entities are responsible for compiling annually; - Discuss the draft Gender Strategy document with UNICRI staff to ensure consistency in strategy and feasibility across all programmes and projects; - Validate the draft Gender Strategy document with select UN gender specialists in sister UN Agencies, such as UNDP, UNODC, UNICEF, OHCHR, and other autonomous UN research and training institutes, through a validation workshop; - Present and discuss the Gender Strategy document with the Director and Senior Programme Officer (Deputy Director) and address any comments they may have in the document.

Step Four: Finalize the Gender Strategy document - Present the final Gender Strategy document to the Director and Senior Programme Officer that takes into consideration their feedback and feedback from meetings with staff and UN gender specialists. The Gender Strategy document should also be reviewed by the UNICRI Gender Focal Point(s). - Upon request of the Director, present the final Gender Strategy document to the Board of Trustees and address any comments they may have in the document.

Qualifications/special skills An advanced university degree (i.e. Master or equivalent) in political science, law, criminology, social sciences, gender studies or related field is required. Juris Doctor or PhD in relevant disciplines shall be an asset. A minimum of 10 years of relevant working experience, at national or international level, in strategic planning and programme management, including experience in drafting and editing written outputs, reports and recommendations, is required. Previous experience on issues pertaining to gender equality and gender mainstreaming in criminal justice and crime prevention is required. Experience within the United Nations or other large international organizations is desirable.

Languages Proficiency (i.e. oral and written fluency) in English is required.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.