Int'l Senior Gender Adviser, Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS)

Contract

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Background

South Sudan signed the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) on 12 September 2023, to resolve the conflicts that commenced in December 2013. Since the signing of the R-ARCSS, some progress has been made in the implementation of the R-ARCSS, including the incorporation of the Agreement into the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 (as amended), formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) in February 2020, the formation of the reconstituted transitional legislature, progress on the establishment of Transitional Justice mechanisms, and also progress in legal reforms. However, there have been delays in implementing substantial provisions of the R-ARCSS, including with regard to the permanent constitution-making, electoral process, redeployment of the unified forces, as well as establishment of the Women Enterprise Development Fund. Due to these delays, a Roadmap to a peaceful and democratic end to the transitional period of the R-ARCSS was adopted in August 2022, extending the transitional period for 24 months, from 22nd February 2022 to 22nd February 2025. The Roadmap provides an opportunity for the Parties to implement the outstanding provisions of the R-ARCSS and to the holding of elections in December 2024.

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) was established and reconstituted pursuant to Chapter VII of the R-ARCSS to monitor and oversee the implementation of the Agreement and the mandate and tasks of the R-RGoNU, including adherence of the Parties to the agreed timelines and implementation schedule. In case of non-implementation of the mandate and tasks of the R-TGoNU, or other serious deficiencies, the RJMEC shall recommend appropriate corrective action to the R-TGoNU.

The RJMEC also oversees the work of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), the Strategic Defence and Security Review Board (SDSRB), the National Elections Commission (NEC), and all other transitional institutions and mechanisms created by this Agreement and established as part of the RTGoNU. The CTSAMM, the SDSRB, the NEC, CTRH and other institutions and mechanisms created by this agreement shall present regular reports to RJMEC for this purpose.

UN Women has facilitated women, peace and security interventions in South Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict in December 2013, including women’s mobilization to develop a 7 Point Agenda to influence the Peace Agreement, supported women’s participation and engagement in negotiating the Peace Agreement to ensure the inclusion of gender-sensitive provisions, and has supported the government to develop a national plan of action on UNSR 1325. UN Women with the support of Sweden, has also previously supported the placement of a senior Gender Adviser within RJMEC to ensure that the gender provisions of the Peace Agreement are adhered to, implemented and reported, and that accountability mechanisms are established for those provisions. UN Women continues to support the engagement of the signatory to the Peace Agreement representing women, the Women’s Bloc of South Sudan and other women peace networks, including the South Sudan Women Peace Network, to effectively engage with all the implementation arrangements and structures.

To support the work of RJMEC to monitor and oversee the implementation of the R-ARCSS, UN Women South Sudan Country Office is seeking to recruit a Senior Gender Adviser to provide technical and advisory assistance to advance a gender-responsive implementation to the R-ARCSS.

Duties and Responsibilities

Technical assistance and strategic partnerships:

• Provide systematic guidance and support to the RJMEC Secretariat to ensure implementation of commitments to promoting women’s meaningful participation and representation in all processes within the context of the R-ARCSS, addressing women’s needs in conflict resolution and prevention efforts including at the community level, and build strategic links with the work being done under international frameworks on women, peace and security issues;
• Serve as the RJMEC primary liaison person to the RTGoNU on gender issues and the pre-transitional and transitional institutions and mechanisms created by the Agreement; Assess the implementation of gender provisions, integration of gender-related considerations and compliance with the Agreement by the RTGoNU and by the pre-transitional and transitional institutions and mechanisms created by the agreement; report on the work of these institutions and mechanisms from a gender perspective to the RJMEC leadership; and identify needs for assistance to the institutions and mechanisms as appropriate;
• Advise the RJMEC leadership on challenges and deficiencies in the work of the pre-transitional and transitional institutions from a gender perspective, and identify opportunities for correction, where appropriate. Also, assists in developing strategies and priorities for RJMEC engagement on gender-related issues linked to the implementation of the R-ARCSS;
• Strengthen and enhance partnership/cooperation/consultation/coordination of the JMEC Secretariat and key South Sudanese stakeholders with women and gender advocates including UN entities, national, regional and international civil society actors, especially UN Women Regional and South Sudan Country Offices, the AU Liaison Office in South Sudan, the Office of the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, as well as South Sudanese women’s organizations, to ensure women’s engagement in the implementation of a sustainable peace agreement in South Sudan;
• Identify relevant actors/forums, seize advocacy opportunities and strengthen strategic partnerships to facilitate access of South Sudanese women’s organizations to peace-building forums organized or supported by JMEC, IGAD, the African Union, the United Nations, and/or other relevant stakeholders;
• Liaise with key international, national, regional, and local stakeholders, relevant government organs, and civil society to strengthen strategic partnerships to facilitate and increase access of women peace advocates to JMEC and ARCSS institutions, mechanisms and processes;
• Facilitate and support the participation of South Sudanese women, in all implementation mechanisms of the Agreement, and by closely collaborating with JMEC thematic advisers on questions of women’s representation, inclusion and engagement in the institutions, mechanisms and processes specified by the peace agreement;
• In coordination with the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff, liaise with international partners on relevant gender-specific issues, and collaborate with external subject matter experts and consultants, where necessary;
• Provide gender expertise and training to RARCSS mechanisms as requested and encourage women’s involvement in such mechanisms and institutions;
• Facilitate the participation of South Sudanese women, and the inclusion of their needs, concerns and perspectives in the proposed legal, security and policy reforms, permanent constitution-making process, and transitional justice mechanisms, and accountability, as outlined in the R-ARCSS;
• Participate in the various RJMEC working committee meetings to ensure the integration of a gender perspective in their work;
• Participate and advocate for equitable representation of women and gender expertise in the RJMEC secretariat and in its working committees;
• Liaise with all Thematic Advisors, and RJMEC leadership, compile activities reports and contribute to reporting requirements of RJMEC as required and contribute to the development of RJMEC quarterly and special reports;
• Assist the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff (Strategy) with tasks as may be required.

Policy dialogue and analysis:

• Develop with other RJMEC Advisors, position papers and policy analysis for the RJMEC Leadership on required subject matter;
• Ensure appropriate information flow between RJMEC, UN Women, and relevant stakeholders to promote women’s engagement in the peacemaking and peacebuilding process, including through the development of joint statements and press releases;
• Facilitate training workshops and sensitization of government, women’s organizations and civil society organizations on effective inclusion and engagement of women in the implementation process of the peace agreement.
• Perform other tasks as may be required by R-JMEC and/or UN Women.

Key Performance Indicators:

Deliverables:

• A work plan is prepared, indicating proposed activities and expected results, indicators, outcomes, timeframe or proportion of time to be devoted to each. The work plan will be for three months initially, and adjusted as necessary in consultation with the RJMEC Chief of Staff or Deputy Chief of Staff-Strategy, and the UN Women Country representative.
• Monthly Gender Policy Briefs from the implementation of the R-ARCSS and in consultations with women peace networks/groups the Women Bloc of South Sudan and other women networks/coalitions/CSOs, to be presented at the R-JMEC Monthly Plenary Session;
• Press releases developed every month from the R- JMEC Plenary Session on behalf of Women Peace Networks/Women Bloc of South Sudan, highlighting key achievements and gaps in the gender implementation of the Peace Agreement;
• Quarterly monitoring report on gender equality and women’s empowerment in the peace process covering all progress and results in integrating a gender equality perspective in the implementation and monitoring of the peace agreement. The report will summarize lessons related to achieving gender equality results and recommendations for future action;
• Written opinions on program and project-specific documents related to the South Sudan peace process, and regular policy briefs as requested.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity;
• Integrity;
• Professionalism.

Core Competencies:

• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Leading by Example.

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity;
• Integrity;
• Professionalism.

Core Competencies:

• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Leading by Example.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, law, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field is required.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible work experience in women, peace and security and political participation;
• Experience in negotiating and mainstreaming gender in Peace Agreements is an asset;
• Previous experience working in a similar position is an asset;
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies, bilateral partners and UN agencies.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required
• Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Application Information:

• All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment;
• Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment, scan your documents into one single file. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and may not be considered for further assessment.

Qualified women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

• Note: In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.