Background

1. Office/Unit/Project Description  

UNDP Yemen is committed to supporting gender equality and women's empowerment in line with the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy 2022–2025 and the Gender Action Plan of the UNDP Yemen Country Office. The Gender Specialist will help ensure impactful gender mainstreaming throughout the country programme and projects, consolidating an enabling environment for institutional effectiveness and supporting the Country Office to meet benchmarks for the UNDP Gender Seal Certification. 
 
The role involves close collaboration with programme and project teams, stakeholders within the UNDP system, and extensive engagement with international and national partners, including other UN agencies, government counterparts, civil society, women’s organizations and networks, donors, syndicates, and private sector actors. The Gender Specialist will contribute to resource mobilization and support the integration of gender equality and women’s empowerment into all aspects of UNDP’s work, focusing on poverty elimination and community resilience. 

2. Scope of Work  

1) Provide guidance and support for gender equality programs and integration within the office. 
    | Provide overall strategic direction on the implementation of gender within the context of the country programme document.  Advise and support management, programme, operations, and project personnel on the implementation of the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy Oversee the development of the gender activities under country office pillar’s portfolio and ensure synergies and maximize the results.  Ensure continuous liaison with implementing partners on the progress of gender work in close collaboration with pillar team leaders and project managers. 
2) Build strategic partnerships and resource mobilization
  | Lead identification and facilitation of strategic partnership building opportunities for gender equality. Lead analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization. Lead development and implementation gender resource mobilization plan to advance gender responsive programming with the support of senior management
3) Mainstream gender equality in programmes and operations. 
  | Lead and conduct gender analysis to inform the design of new programmes and ensure gender equality integration in newly developed concept notes and proposals.  Integrate gender equality in the country office programme/projects’ annual plans including planning for expenditures, activities, partnerships, resources, capacities, communication, and learning. Lead gender review on an annual basis to assess the overall country office performance, and document recommendations and lessons learned.  Ensure gender equality is integrated in seniors' and team leaders' performance management goals.  Plan and coordinate with the HR and staff association initiatives that promote an enabling environment for women and men to perform equally.  Update the gender parity analysis/strategy and ensure gender equality consideration within human resources and procurement processes.
4 ) Lead monitoring & evaluation, and learning
  | In collaboration with CO M&E and RBM focal point at PMSU, oversee the development of gender transformative indicators for the newly formulated initiatives.  Lead effective application of gender mainstreaming throughout the Country office programme and project cycle, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, communication and advocacy, results reporting and quality assurance of results. Lead the design and implementation of the anticipated impact/independent evaluation to capture gender contribution and results by including relevant baselines.  Conceptualize training for UNDP staff/personnel and implementing partners to build capacity on designing of gender related monitoring and evaluation plans and activities.
5) Communication, Knowledge Management & Community of Practice Networking 
  | Ensure gender equality integration into UNDP website, social media, and any developed knowledge products.   Produce key strategic guidance and progress update documents on gender and development.  Ensure comprehensive documentation of the implementation of the gender-related activities  Capture and adequately communicate lessons learned on gender-related activities and suggest recommendations for enhancing gender engagement UNDP programmes.  Build partnerships and actively network with experts on gender, including relevant women and youth groups as well as private sector and syndicates. Assess the gender learning gaps, develop and conduct gender capacity building plans including learning exchange, mentoring and coaching learning modules Keep abreast of strategic developments in gender mainstreaming and engagement, gathering best practices from other (pilot) countries, capturing lessons learned etc.;  The incumbent of the position should avoid any kind of discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that  Human rights and gender equality are prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions. Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP Any kind of diversity based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production. Differentiated needs of women and men are considered. Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created. Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings etc. introduced.  
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

 3. Institutional Arrangement 

Direct Supervisor(s): Matrixed to DRR (P) and Head of Programme Management Support Unit 

4. Competencies 

 Core Competencies: 

Core 
Achieve Results:  | ​​LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact ​ 
Think Innovatively:  | ​​LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems ​ 
Learn Continuously:  | ​​LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences​ 
Adapt with Agility:  | ​​LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands ​ 
Act with Determination:   | ​​LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results​ 
Engage and Partner:  | ​​LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration​ 
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  | ​​LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity​ 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies  

Thematic Area  | Name  | Definition 
 2030 Agenda: People  | Gender  | Gender Equality and Institutional Transformation. 
2030 Agenda: People  | Gender  |  Gender Equality Seal for Development 
 Partnership management  | Resource Mobilization  |  Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements 
 Business Direction and Strategy   | System Thinking   | Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system 
Business Development   | Knowledge Facilitation   | Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange  
Business Management  | Communication   | Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels 

5. Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA 

Min. Education requirements     | Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Development, Affairs, Social/Public Policy, Gender, Economics, or related field is required, OR A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of master´s degree. 
Min. years of relevant work experience      | Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) in gender technical advice, research, policy formulation, project management.
Required  skills     | Experience with office software and web-based systems.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section  | Experience in crisis/post-conflict countries, fostering networks, and partnerships. At least two years’ experience coordinating or advising with UN agencies or major NGOs. Experience with the UN or international partners Experience in designing training for staff in the organization and implementing partners to build capacity  Experience in designing gender related monitoring and evaluation plans and activities.
Required Language(s)   | Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
Professional Certificates, (Desirable but not mandatory)   | Data Analysis or Research Skills Certifications  Certification in Excel Advanced, Power BI, STATA, SPSS, Kobo Toolbox or similar  
  |  

6.  The following documents shall be required from the applicants: 

- Personal CV or P11, indicating past positions, functions, durations, qualifications, and contact details of at least three recent professional references. 
- Cover letter (max 1 page) explaining suitability for the position. 
- Additional materials (reports, presentations, publications, campaigns) as requested. 

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.