Re-advertised: Technical Specialist, Gender Equality, GBV and Humanitarian Response, Harare, Zimbabwe, P-4

The Position:

The Technical Specialist, Gender Equality, GBV and Humanitarian Response leads the Gender Unit of UNFPA Zimbabwe Country Office. S/he will lead the programming, delivery and reporting on Gender Equality, Gender Based Violence (GBV), and Human Rights in the Zimbabwe Development and Humanitarian Nexus Context. S/he will substantively contribute to the UNFPA design, implementation, coordination and monitoring of programme activities across the country in the areas of Gender Equality including Gender-Based Violence (GBV), gender and population issues in both humanitarian and development settings.

The Technical Specialist will provide overall leadership and technical support to the government, local development partners and implementing partners to ensure optimal programme implementation, effective use of resources, quality tracking of results, adequate coordination, advocacy for policy change and clear communication of UNFPA mandate, work and results in the country across humanitarian and development settings.

S/he will work under the overall guidance of the Representative and will be directly supervised by the Deputy Representative.

How You Can Make a Difference

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s new strategic plan (2022-2025), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.

The transformational journey mapped out in the Strategic Plan leads to 2030 and the achievement of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Emerging trends inform the plan, new and expanded priorities add to longstanding commitments, and “how we work” is changing.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose

Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative the Technical Specialist substantively contributes to the acceleration of efforts to advance gender equality and equity as a human right for the reduction of Gender Based Violence (GBV), teenage pregnancies, HIV and AIDS and poverty in line with the Zimbabwe National Gender Policy (NGP); and for the effective delivery of an integrated package of rights (SRHR/GBV/HIV/HR) in Zimbabwe. The Technical Specialist will be overall responsible for the Gender Unit of UNFPA Zimbabwe.

S/he will work to keep the issues of SRHR from a Gender lens and high on the agenda of Local Government/s and of the Local Development Partners. Using a Gender Mainstreaming approach, optimize the allocation of resources, create synergies, influence policies and improve consistency and effectiveness of UNFPA’s work in the country within a framework of integrated delivery of a SRHR/GBV/HIV rights package in the evolving development-humanitarian context.

Responsibilities

The Technical Specialist, Gender Equality, GBV and Humanitarian Response will be responsible for:

• Programme Management and Technical Support
• In collaboration with Government counterparts, UN, CSOs and other partners, overseeing the design and implementation of UNFPA programmes in Zimbabwe, aligning with Government priorities and UNFPA programmes, policies and procedures.
• Contributing to effective coordination related to gender equality and GBV prevention in the country by being actively involved in key coordination meetings and platforms. This includes participating in relevant development and humanitarian coordination platforms meetings, including inter-agency.
• Ensuring ownership and sustainability of the programme by directly engaging with the management in the Ministry of Women Affairs on the issues of UNFPA concern, including advocating for enhanced domestic financing to Gender equality and GBV response.
• Providing high level technical support to partners when needed, including supporting capacity building of district local governments and local partners to generate, analyze and utilize quality GBV data for evidence-based decision making, policy and program formulation, monitoring and evaluation
• Assessing implications of new policy developments and strategies on programme execution, and ensuring their integration.
• Providing technical support to the development of relevant advocacy and policy documents to address GBV prevention and broader gender issues in the country.
• Offer technical support to the government and implementing partners to ensure efficiency, effectiveness and coherence of program implementation in humanitarian and development settings.
• Leading the GBV sub-cluster in all its core functions (1) supporting service delivery; 2) informing strategic decision making; 3) planning and implementing cluster strategies; 4) ensuring monitoring and evaluation; 5) building national capacity in preparedness and contingency planning; and 6) supporting advocacy. Within the development-humanitarian nexus context and in preparation for the transition from Clusters to Sectors system, coordinate with the relevant Government counterparts and Inter-cluster group in support of the centrality of protection framework and advancement of Women and girls in hybrid settings.
• Leading and providing technical guidance to the UN convergence areas that are relevant to the UNFPA’s mandate in the country and the region.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management for Policy Advocacy
• Overseeing achievement of programme results by ensuring that monitoring and oversight mechanisms are established and implemented
• Ensuring effective knowledge management strategies are implemented by the programme team, capturing lessons learned and best practices for future planning; addressing training needs of partners and staff.
• Supporting district local governments and implementing partners in the region to prepare and submit technical and financial reports in conformity with signed donor agreements and in accordance with UNFPA guidelines and standards.
• Actively participating in the evaluation and documentation of program results in the country, best practices and lessons learned and effectively sharing these with relevant partners to inform programming, policy and advocacy.
• Conducting regular field visits to follow up and monitor the technical quality and financial effectiveness and accountability of UNFPA-supported programmes in the country to ensure value for money. Support district local governments to conduct quarterly and annual review meetings to address coordination, implementation and planning across development and humanitarian settings.
• Prepare analytical and project reports to be shared with the Local Government, UNFPA Country Office, UN Country Team (UNCT), donors and other relevant stakeholders.
• Partnerships and Communications
• Establishing and maintaining mutually respectful relationships with strategic partners, development partners, UN agencies and implementing partners and other duty bearers in the country to facilitate timely and efficient delivery of programmes
• Reviewing the political, social and economic environment relevant to UNFPA programme activities in the country, and pursuing opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention. This includes promoting UNFPA’s mandate areas in district development planning and budgeting processes and policies at regional and national level.
• Actively promoting and supporting UN Reform/delivering as one initiatives and the UN Area Coordination in the country to strengthen coordination, coherence and efficiency of the programmes
• Proactively contribute to Gender advocacy, partnership building and resource mobilization efforts of Country Office by preparing relevant documentation (i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles, and participating in donor meetings and public information events).
• Working with media to publicize UNFPA’s development and humanitarian work and achievements, to disseminate UNFPA’s field-level results in national media.
• Facilitating the identification of resource gaps in the districts and humanitarian settings and providing technical input to the development of resource mobilization strategic documents.
• Supporting accountability and Programme visibility for UNFPA programmes in the country, in alignment with donor signed agreements. Providing leadership in demonstrating UNFPA’s work to the district local governments and local development partners to enhance goodwill and partnership.
• Maintaining solid, cooperative and multi-sectoral working relationships with the Government, UN partner agencies and other stakeholders across humanitarian and development settings.
• Administration, Management and Representation
• Providing administrative oversight including ensuring awareness and adherence to all organizational policies (audit guidelines and recommendation, travel, vehicle, procurement, human resources, security, etc) of the Gender Unit.. Ensure organizational equipment and assets are maintained and used in accordance with UNFPA policies and business practice.
• Overseeing the development of project proposals, resource mobilization, donor report and other related documents, liaising and coordinate with donors, development partners, government and other relevant stakeholders.
• Directly supervising the UNFPA Programme Analyst in the Gender Unit
• Facilitating professional development of staff and promoting their safety and well-being
• Representing UNFPA at key Humanitarian Response and Gender events where required, in line with UNFPA’s mandate, including high level field visits by government and donors, international days and policy formulation fora.
• Providing leadership, supervising and regularly appraising staff
• General Support
• Stand-in for other Programme team members on selected functions as may be required.
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Education

Qualifications and Experience:

• Masters Degree degree in Gender, health, population, demography, development, law and/or other related social science field.

Knowledge And Experience

• At least 7 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of development and population activities;
• Significant work experience in the field of Gender, Gender-Based Violence, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
• Specialized knowledge and experience in GBV response within the development-humanitarian nexus and integrated SRHR/GBV/HIV approaches will be desired;
• Experience in programme/ project management including experience in large multi-sector programmes;
• Experience in implementing legislation;
• Field experience is required;
• Prior experience in the UN system is required
• Excellent communication skills and experience with management of staff in multi-locations.
• Substantive work experience in the field of Gender, SRHR, GBV and/or Gender in humanitarian and multi-hazard emergency settings is preferred.
• A thorough understanding of the UN system in general, and especially UNFPA mandate, its policies and operations and current development topics and political issues in Zimbabwe will be an added advantage
• Demonstrated ability to work in and lead a team

Languages

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of another UN Official Language, an asset.

Values

Required Competencies:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves, our relationships, and others
• Communicating for impact

Functional Skill Set

• Advocacy/Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation
• Delivering results-based programmes
• Resource mobilization and donor relations
• Technical Understanding of the areas of work
• Project Management
• People Management and Leadership
• Managing financial processes
• Proficiency in current office software applications

Managerial Competencies

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

Compensation And Benefits

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

Disclaimer

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm