Programme Specialist (Gender and Child Rights), NO-4, Harare, Zimbabwe, Fixed Term, Two Years (Open to Zimbabwean Nationals Only)

Contract

This is a NO-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-4 contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, an opportunity

UNICEF has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1982. We are a team of passionate professionals committed to the protection and fulfillment of children’s rights.

Supporting the Government’s vision of a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society, the country programme is aimed at contributing to sustainable socioeconomic development that provides all children, including adolescents, with opportunities to fulfil their potential, lead a healthy life, access quality learning and protection and meaningfully participate in society.

For more information about UNICEF Zimbabwe please click here

You can also access and explore all new UNICEF vacancies and create job alerts via the UNICEF Zimbabwe website link below:

https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/work-us

How can you make a difference?

A challenging and exciting opportunity has arisen within UNICEF Zimbabwe's Deputy Representative Programme’s Office for a passionate and committed Programme Specialist (Gender and Child Rights). Under the guidance of the Deputy Representative, P5, the Programme Specialist (Gender and Child Rights) will lead technical, programmatic and coordination support to the office focus on (1) Gender in Programme Results (2) Gender in Programme Strategies and Institutional systems in alignment with the UNICEF Global Gender Action Plan (GAP) (3) PSEA implementation and adherence with corporate benchmarks and (4) support the office engagement on Child Rights Monitoring and Reporting.

Specifically, the position will be accountable for:

• Gender in programme results mainstreaming gender across all outcome areas by working with the Programme teams to identify programmatic entry point(s) for the office.
• Gender in programme strategies and institutional system will focus on gender analysis informed programme design, delivery and reporting, including sex- and age disaggregated data and strategies, gender responsive capacity development of staff and partners and tracking of gender diversity in the office
• Ensure the implementation of PSEA priorities, risk assessment and adherence with corporate benchmarks by working closely with staff and partners.
• Child Rights implementation, monitoring and reporting in coordination with the programme team, to provide technical assistance to the government and other relevant institutions and partners.
• Provide technical assistance to government and key stakeholders in meeting state party obligations, including CRC, CEDAW, UPR and the CRPD.

The incumbent will (1) work with the Programme Sections to mainstream gender by prioritizing key gender results within the sector(s) with a strong gender relevance; (2) leads cross-sectional collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on gender, ensuring coherence, maximization of synergies and efficiency in utilization of resources and delivery of results; (3) Coordinate with the Programme team to identify and entry point for Gender in programme results and be accountable for cross-cutting (gender-related) technical assistance in support of programme results (4) works with programme colleagues and management so that gender results are effectively defined, measured, and reported, and high quality assessment, research, evidence generation and evaluation on gender programming is undertaken and utilized and effective theories of change; (5) Supports/leads effective review, assessment, planning, capacity building, and knowledge management on gender; (6) Supports the assessment and identification of gender needs for emergency preparedness and response, and provides gender relevant guidance and technical input on emergency programming; (7) Provide support to program sections, staff and partners PSEA management including prevention, detection and response; (8) Supports management to ensure compliance with PSEA corporate benchmarks, including incident reporting and follow up; (9) Represent UNICEF in the PSEA interagency network;(10) Coordinate with Programme Sections to support the effective implementation of UNICEF child rights priorities, including national CRC, CEDAW UPR and the CRPD reporting and implementation of state party obligations, including UNICEF’s engagement with the National Human Rights Institutions and stakeholders; (11) Represent UNICEF in interagency Human Rights coordination mechanisms.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Management and/or advisory support to Deputy Representative Programmes
2. Program development and planning
3. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results
4. Advisory services and technical support
5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Please refer to the attached job description for more information; Programme Specialist (Gender and Child Rights) JD.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in the social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF’s sectoral work (e.g. Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, HIV/AIDs, etc.).
• Academic credentials in gender are a strong asset.

Experience:

• Minimum eight years of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming and research on gender and development in key issue areas that are the focus of UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan.
• Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes on gender and development or any other cross cutting programme, especially at country/field level, experience in emergency response is an asset.

Language requirements:

Fluency in English and in the local language of the duty station. Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either: a role with direct contact with children, works directly with child, is a safeguarding response role or has been assessed as an elevated risk role for child safeguarding. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) applies.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.