Individual Contractor: Gender, Putrajaya, Malaysia (for Malaysian Only)

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, a fair chance

How can you make a difference?

Background

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the equal rights of women and girls and to support their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their communities. It strives to mainstream gender equality in all its work for children with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as a principal reference, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) as an important underpinning of the organisation’s mandate and mission. In addition, as a joint implementer of the Common Chapter of the strategic plans of the funds and programmes and a participating entity of the UN System-wide Action Plan (UN-SWAP) on gender equality, UNICEF annually reports on the 17 common Performance Indicators. Programmatically and institutionally, UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan (GAP) provides the main vehicle for integrating gender equality concerns into its operational processes and policies, guiding the organisation’s contributions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The GAP 2022-25 specifies how UNICEF will promote gender equality across the organization’s work, in alignment with the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-25 and supports the achievement of gender equality goals as outlined in Agenda 2030 and the SDGs.

The GAP 2022-2025 framework defines a dual-track approach for both integrated and targeted approaches to gender quality in programme strategies and results. Integrated refers to the integration of gender equality outcomes across the life course in all five Goal Areas of the Strategic Plan 2022-2025, such as (a) quality maternal health care and nutrition, and HIV testing, counselling and care; (b) gender responsive education systems and equitable access to education for all; (c) addressing violence against girls, boys and women, as well as harmful practices; (d) equitable WASH systems; and (e) gender-responsive social protection systems and care work.

Targeted refers to four targeted priority actions designed to advance adolescent girls leadership and wellbeing, such as (a) promoting adolescent girls’ nutrition and pregnancy care and preventing HIV/AIDS and human papillomavirus; (b) advancing girls’ education, learning and skills, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics and digital skills; (c) eliminating child marriage and early unions; and (d) promoting accessible and dignified menstrual health and hygiene services, including tackling taboos with respect to menstruation.

GAP 2022-25 also articulates four cross-cutting principles and priorities to ensure the integration of gender within programmatic results remains tangible and actionable across all sections. These are (a) addressing gender-based violence; (b) changing discriminatory gender norms; (c) promoting gender-responsive workplaces and institutional accountability; and (d) engaging men and boys as allies for gender equality.

In addition to gender equality, disability inclusion is also central to UNICEF’s mandate and its focus on equity. UNICEF recognizes that it must take an intersectional approach to addressing gender inequalities and barriers for people/children with and without disabilities to pursue its mandate and realize the rights of every child, especially the most marginalised. A broad range of evidence shows that gender, disability, poverty, geographic residence and migration status are some of the strongest factors determining disparities in child well-being and rights. As the only United Nations agency with the rights of children at the heart of its mandate, UNICEF is in a position to foster equitable child outcomes as a catalyst to a more equitable and inclusive world by addressing barriers to participation and redefining gender roles and power relations for the men and women of tomorrow. UNICEF recognizes that many individuals experience multifaceted and multilayered barriers and exclusion and commonly these occur at the intersection between gender and disability. Accordingly, in the Malaysia Country Office context intersectionality between gender and disability is given high consideration.

This is further evidenced in the new UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and the new Malaysia Country Office Country Programme Document 2022-2025. In both documents the areas of gender and disability have been strengthened as a focus for cross-cutting programming and as critical change strategies. This reflects UNICEF’s shift towards a transformative, intersectional approach to inequality and discrimination, by address the underlying drivers of gender and disability inequality.

Purpose Of Activity/Assignment

UNICEF Malaysia Country Office (MCO) is seeking to recruit a Gender Specialist to provide technical assistance to the Programme Specialist (Gender and Disability) to support the dual-track integration of gender transformative approaches across MCO’s new country programme document and selected country programme outputs, sectoral or cross-sectoral programme components and results. The technical assistance required by MCO includes – but is not limited to – gender analysis, stakeholder mapping, capacity building, programme support and partnership building in support of gender-transformative results for children in Malaysia.

The Specific Objectives Of This Role Are

Scope of Work:

• Gender stakeholder mapping: Develop a robust methodology and conduct a national stakeholder mapping analysis of women and girl led organisations and networks (WGLON) in Malaysia. The mapping should – but not be limited to – highlight potential partnerships that could support selected country programme outputs, sectoral or cross-sectoral programme results, as well as identify levels of readiness, capacity building needs and gaps within the mapped WGLONs operating within Malaysia.
• Partnership building: support the development of partnerships with relevant WGLON in Malaysia that can support selected country programme outputs, sectoral or cross-sectoral programme component and results.
• Gender capacity building/training: support gender development building efforts in a variety of models, methods and materials delivered in multiple accessible formats and languages relevant to the Malaysia country context and enhance gender capacity for high quality gender-integrated programming, research, advocacy and communications, through coordination of training for UNICEF staff/implementing partners/contractors.
• Gender analysis: support section leads with in-depth gender analysis linked to selected country programme outputs, sectoral or cross-sectoral programme components. The analysis should outline the gender norms present in Malaysia, identify barriers/bottlenecks to gender equality and as well as support section leads to develop actionable interventions that accelerate gender equality integration with programming.
• Gender support to sectoral programming: based upon the gender analysis support the provision of technical assistance to conceptualize and operationalize gender mainstreaming and targeting in MCO’s programming: Nutrition, Child Protection, Education, Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP), Social Policy, Climate Action, Emergency, Social and Behaviour Change (SBC), Innovation, Private Sector Engagement (PSE), Gender and Disability.
• Adopt and promote an intersectional approach: work closely with the Programme Specialist (Gender and Disability) and other employees within the team to adopt, model, promote and support an intersectional approach (which includes but is not limited to gender, disability, diversity, equity and inclusion) within all objectives and work assignments outlined in the terms of reference.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks

• Workplan
• AGORA Training
• WGLON Mapping Exercise
• WGLON Strategic Partnership
• Gender Training
• Gender Analysis
• Documentation
• Gender Programming Support

Output

• Workplan agreed with supervisor for 11.5 months
• Complete all mandatory UNICEF online training
• Inception report, Mapping report in spreadsheet format and word document summary analysis and Summary presentation and slide deck
• WGLON Strategic Partnership concept note, 3-5 consultation / engagement workshops/meetings
• 6-8 gender capacity building/training sessions
• 3-4 gender analysis papers i.e. programme/section reviews, issue briefs, policy briefs etc.
• 2-3 case studies on UNICEF Malaysia gender transformative programming and Update MCO Gender Transformative Programming SharePoint page
• 3-4 gender mainstreamed or targeted programmes/initiatives supported

Mode Of Consultancy

• The contractor will be expected to make his/her own arrangement for transport to and from the office
• The contractor will develop (in collaboration with the Programme Specialist, Gender and Disability) a monthly workplan outlining expected activities, deliverables and deadlines over the consultancy period
• Payments in ringgits will be made on a monthly basis upon the submission of: Monthly invoice and Monthly progress report including an overview of workplan activities undertaken and completed deliverables as certified by the supervisor
• UNICEF will pay for travel costs relevant to the assignment as per the organizational guideline

Working Modality

• 3 days/week work in office PJH/E&C as agreed with supervisor
• 2 days/week work from home as agreed with supervisor
• Duration: 11.5 months

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

Education

University Bachelors degree (or above) in any relevant field including but not limited to gender studies, social sciences, international development is essential.

Work Experience

At least 3-5 years of strong technical skills in gender equality related research, capacity building and partnership development is essential with additional experience in adopting an intersectional approach to the above tasks as an asset, as well as proven ability to design, implement and document activities related to the above tasks.

Language

Fluence in English and Bahasa Malaysia are required

Competencies

• Programmatic work experience in gender and intersectional issues, with an understanding of social norms and behaviour change, is essential
• Expertise in developing training materials and conducting training and related capacity building activities on gender equality is essential.
• Experience of working in the Malaysian WGLON community is an essential.
• Excellent written communication skills in English, with strong presentation skills is essential.
• Excellent networking and interpersonal communication skills are essential.
• A proven record of undertaking gender analysis, stakeholder mapping and providing guidance on gender integrated programme design and implementation is desirable.
• Strong analytical skills in gender programme design and assessment are an asset
• Some prior experience working with UNICEF or other UN agencies as an asset
• Current knowledge of gender inequality and discrimination issues, national strategies, as well as policies and procedures at a regional and global development level are an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to formulate innovative, creative, and interactive solutions is an asset
• Knowledge and understanding of international human rights standards and conventions with regards to children, women and persons with disabilities is an asset.
• Ability to engage with a wide range of partners, such as civil society organizations, government, private and academia is an asset.
• Understanding of UNICEF’s work in Malaysia is an asset
• Ability to conceptualize and articulate ideas in a clear and concise form is an asset
• Ability to take initiative and to work with minimum supervision is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

 To view our competency framework, please visit here.

 UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.