Gender Equality Specialist

Job Overview

Gender Equality Specialist – Gender Mainstreaming (Homebased Retainer)

Join UNOPS to Champion Gender Equality and Mainstreaming

Are you an experienced Gender Equality Specialist passionate about integrating gender considerations into sustainable development projects? The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) actively invites applications for a Home-based Retainer Gender Equality Specialist to contribute to a vital environmental project across the Lake Tanganyika basin. This unique role allows you to work remotely, with potential for occasional travel to the project region, making a tangible difference from your home base. As a gender mainstreaming professional, your contributions will directly enhance project impact.

About UNOPS East & Southern Africa (ESAMCO)

UNOPS ESAMCO, based in Nairobi, Kenya, manages a diverse portfolio of engagements across East and Southern Africa, including Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Somalia, and Eritrea. We consistently deliver essential infrastructure, procurement, and project management services. Our goal involves supporting countries, helping people in need, and empowering our partners as we deliver on our mandate in these critical sectors.

The Lake Tanganyika Basin Project

This project, “Biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management and enhanced water security in Lake Tanganyika basin,” aims to strengthen collaborative partnerships between the Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA) and the four contracting States: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. Furthermore, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funds this project through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). UNOPS executes the project, thus overseeing its overall implementation. A trans-boundary Project Coordination Unit (PCU) in Bujumbura, Burundi, coordinates daily operations across these riparian countries.

The project encompasses four crucial components:

Addressing identified transboundary threats to fish biodiversity.
Protecting core conservation zones in protected areas.
Promoting sustainable natural resource use in protected areas and their buffer zones.
Strengthening transboundary coordination, information management, and Monitoring & Evaluation.

Your Role: Gender Equality Specialist and Advisor

As a Home-based Retainer Gender Equality Specialist, you will report directly to the Senior Project Manager, providing essential gender inputs and activities. Consequently, you will ensure the project’s successful, timely, and on-budget delivery. This role demands a high degree of autonomy, strong collaborative relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, and you may also supervise or guide the work of other team members. This is a retainer position, requiring work equivalent to two months per year over a three-year period.

Key Responsibilities: Driving Gender-Inclusive Development and Equality

The Gender Equality Specialist will carry out the following functions to achieve gender integration:

Gender Work Oversight: You will develop, oversee, and coordinate the implementation of all gender-related work within the project.
Action Plan Management: Furthermore, you will annually review, update, and revise the Gender Action Plan as necessary.
Reporting & M&E Integration: You will ensure comprehensive gender considerations integrate into project reporting, monitoring, and evaluation frameworks.
Training & Capacity Building: Additionally, you will include gender sensitization modules in all project-supported training activities and assist in their development.
Cultural Sensitivity & Empowerment: You will verify that training materials and activities align with local family realities. Moreover, you will promote women’s positive involvement in income-generating activities and family finances, and respect diverse community and cultural practices, including women’s time availability.
Policy & Procedure Mainstreaming: You will ensure that all guidelines, protocols, procedures, standards, and incentives developed by the project explicitly incorporate gender dimensions.
Women’s Participation & Benefit: Crucially, you will actively ensure women’s participation in and benefit from all project-related activities.
Data Collection & Analysis: You will support partner institutions in collecting sex-disaggregated and gender-specific data.
Livelihoods Support: Additionally, you will ensure the project supports women’s groups interested in project-supported livelihoods development activities.
Impact Assessment: You will conduct a Gender Assessment as part of the Mid-Term Review (MTR). Based on the results of the Gender Assessment and other MTR recommendations, you will then make recommendations for improving gender-related interventions.

Impact of Your Contributions as a Gender Equality Specialist

As the Gender Equality Specialist, your direct efforts will prove crucial. They will ensure all genders equitably benefit from project activities, and they will systematically integrate gender considerations throughout every project stage. This consequently enhances UNOPS’ visibility and image as an effective and competitive partner in sustainable development and project management. Your work as a gender expert will leave a lasting mark.

Who We’re Looking For: Qualifications & Experience for this Gender Role

Education:

You need an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent proficiency) in gender studies or another directly related field.
Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree in one of the above-mentioned or related fields combined with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may fulfill the requirement.

Experience:

You must have at least 5 years of experience in gender in development projects, with a specific focus on working with women in African rural communities.
Experience addressing gender-based violence issues in rural communities offers a valuable asset.
Gender-based working experience with UN agencies and/or multilateral agencies also constitutes an asset.
A functional knowledge of gender policies, legislation, and strategies in the Lake Tanganyika riparian countries likewise offers an asset.

Language Requirements:

Full working knowledge of English is required.
Intermediate working knowledge of French is also required.

Key Competencies: We seek a professional who:

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinking long-term and externally.
Treats all individuals with respect, promotes diversity and inclusion, and upholds ethical norms.
Acts as a positive role model, fosters team spirit, and supports the development of others.
Demonstrates a strong understanding of their role’s impact on all partners, prioritizing the end beneficiary.
Efficiently plans and executes actions with a concern for quality and resource optimization.
Adapts flexibly and continuously pursues improvements in a dynamic environment.
Evaluates data and takes a rational, unbiased approach to problem-solving with creativity.
Communicates clearly, concisely, and empathetically, actively listening and effectively managing conflict.

Contract Details

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Retainer – Homebased Retainer Contract level: International Individual Contractor Agreement, IICA2 (ICS-10 equivalent) Contract duration: 3 years (with an equivalent of 2 months of work expected within each year)

Important Note on Retainer Contracts: This is not a full-time position. A retainer contract specifies a “unit price” per day worked, with a monetary cap for budgetary purposes. Payment occurs only upon completion of work, and it does not provide a minimum payment guarantee. As per UNOPS policy for home-based positions where the National Professional Officer (NPO) category exists, a Local ICA Specialist position will be issued.

Additional Information

UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and will advance to the next stage of the selection process.
UNOPS embraces diversity and commits to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce includes many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity, ensuring equal opportunities and an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
We want to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If shortlisted and you require reasonable accommodation or additional assistance for assessments, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
This is a home-based position. However, the incumbent may occasionally travel to the project region.
Selected candidates must complete a few mandatory courses (approximately 4 hours) in their own time before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may likewise be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking these courses and refreshers.
All UNOPS personnel perform their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. Furthermore, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
UNOPS conducts background checks on all potential personnel; recruitment is contingent on the results of such checks.
The selected candidate may be responsible for arranging a secure internet connection, laptop, and/or equipment necessary for work (as defined by UNOPS).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What’s the main focus of this Gender Equality Specialist role? A1: This role primarily focuses on gender mainstreaming within development projects. Consequently, it specifically ensures that gender considerations fully integrate into all aspects of the Lake Tanganyika basin conservation project. You will work to ensure all genders benefit from project activities. This makes you a key gender specialist in our team.

Q2: Is this a full-time position? What does “Homebased Retainer” mean? A2: No, it is not a full-time role. A “Homebased Retainer” means you will work intermittently from your home. The contract is for three years, and you expect to work the equivalent of two months per year, providing services as needed. Payment then occurs only after you complete specific work or deliverables.

Q3: Can I work from anywhere? Will I need to travel? A3: Yes, this is a home-based position, so you can work remotely. However, you might experience occasional travel to the project region in East and Southern Africa, which UNOPS will cover.

Q4: What kind of experience does UNOPS seek in this specialist role? A4: UNOPS requires at least 5 years of experience in gender within development projects. Furthermore, you should have a specific focus on working with women in African rural communities. Experience with gender-based violence (GBV) issues and working with UN or multilateral agencies also offer valuable assets. As a gender equality professional, this experience is critical.

Q5: What are the language requirements for this consultancy? A5: You need full working knowledge of English. Additionally, intermediate working knowledge of French is required, as this helps with communication in the project region.