Gender Analyst

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Development Programme works in about 170 countries and territories, helping Governments achieve their own development solutions to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion.

On October 21, 1974, the United Nations Development Programme and the Government of Barbados entered into an agreement to “support and supplement the national efforts of developing countries at solving the most important problems of their economic development and to promote social progress and better standards of life.”

Subsequently, similar agreements were entered with Governments of the ten countries and territories that the UNDP Multi-Country Office (MCO) for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean serves: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

UNDP’s work in the region continues to evolve and is now classified under three main pillars (1) Sustainable Solutions, Energy and Climate Change (SSECC) (2) Prevention, Recovery and Resilience (PRR) and (3) Poverty and Governance (P&G).

The three aforementioned pillars of work follow the "Blue Economy for Green Islands approach" that incorporates the deep interlinkages between blue and green while encompassing an entire island system and its maritime waters as one interlinked economic, social and environmental system.  

At UNDP in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, we follow the Blue Economy for Green Islands approach in order to promote economic diversification, job creation and resilience.

Some of the activities that will be described below such as the Blue Economy Scoping Studies and the SDG Fund Component 1 have positioned the MCO as a leader in the blue economy space in the Eastern Caribbean.

The position of Gender specialist will be based in Barbados and he/she will work under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP's Multi-Country Office.

DUTIES

• Provide technical support to UNDP's Multi-Country Office in Barbados in the design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of all projects in the area of gender. The work will, inter alia, involve analysis of challenges and interventions in terms of gender issues, provide technical support to project partners, knowledge management, financial management and administrative support.
• Manage, monitor and expedite project implementation by developing Letters of Agreement, work-plans, monitoring and evaluation of plans, and providing support in undertaking consultation with Governments and executing and implementing agency focal points, to identify optimal approaches for meeting stated objectives;
• Provision of top-quality analysis and substantive inputs to CPD, CCA, UNSDCF, and other strategic documents.
• Prepare relevant inputs to UNDP monitoring databases and platforms and contribute to programme strategies;
• Manage the performance of consultants and specialist advisors engaged to support the project;
• Manage project implementation activities, including the design of Terms of Reference for consultants;
• Development of knowledge and knowledge exchange on gender issues, including participation in the UNDP LAC Community of Practice.
• Support programme managers for the improvement of Gender Marker ratings at MCO level.
• Collaborates closely with UN Women, UNFPA and other United Nations System agencies working in support of gender equality and women’s empowerment to ensure complementarity and avoid overlap.
• Collaborates closely with UN Women, UNFPA and other United Nations System agencies working in support of gender equality and women’s empowerment to ensure complementarity and avoid overlap.
• Provide assistance to other projects, particularly to those with GEN3 or clear gender focus such as Engender, Guyana Dominica and others.
• Elaborate a MCO gender strategy in line with UNDP corporate gender strategy.
• Coordination and technical leadership of the Gender Equality Seal Certification process in UNDP to achieve institutional commitment and leadership in the implementation of its benchmarks
• Provides advise to the top management of the Country Office to develop a strong institutional commitment and leadership, and accompanies them to implement the UNDP Gender Equality Seal Certification
• Provide a high quality of technical support on policy and research documentation from within the Gender area, UNDP's Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean and from development and national partners as necessary;
• Collaborates closely with UN Women, UNFPA and other United Nations System agencies working in support of gender equality and women’s empowerment to ensure complementarity and avoid overlap.
• Supports strategic advocacy activites to maximize the support of the United Nations System, the Government and civil society partners on gender equality in line with international commitments such as the Agenda 2030, CEDW, Bejing, among others
• Prepare correspondence to UNDP headquarters, executing agencies, government authorities and other institutions that relate with the Multi-Country Office on project related matters;
• Engage in, and provide support to negotiating, formulating and reviewing UNDP technical assistance programmes and projects in the area of gender;
• Work with government counterparts and other stakeholders to coordinate logistical and thematic aspects of meetings, webinars and workshops as necessary;
• Monitor project progress against annual and quarterly work plans and budgets; and in alignment with the UNDAF, UNDP’s Strategic Plan and other institutional planning documents;
• Monitor and evaluate activities implemented and manage the accurate and timely submission of the narrative and financial reporting obligations on the progress of the support project;
• Consolidate inputs from country programmes, as required and ensure reports are provided to donors according to UNDP’s contractual obligations;
• Identify opportunities for enhancing resources, knowledge and good practices;
• Develop as needed, knowledge products for the promotion of programmes, sharing of results and for presentations and other public speaking activities;
• Advocacy efforts in the area of Gender;
• Provide inputs to the MCO Business Continuity Plan and crisis response and recovery programme;
• Contribute to the implementation of the MCO communications strategy;
• Year-end reporting and administrative closure of project; and
• Provide other programmatic support as required,

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

The position of Gender specialist will be based in Barbados and he/she will work under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP's Multi-Country Office.

Duty Station:  Bridgetown, Barbados

Type:  Office based

COMPETENCIES

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction and Strategy - Strategic Thinking

Definition

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

Business Development- Knowledge Facilitation

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management - Partnerships Management

• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Business Management - Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION

• Master’s degree in social sciences, Sociology, Gender/ Women’s studies, International Development or any relevant field; OR
• A bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Sociology, Gender/ Women’s studies, International Development or any relevant field;

EXPERIENCE

• At least 2 years of technical experience in gender issues and violence against women and girls and/or family violence with a Master’s Degree or 4 years with a Bachelors;
• At least 2 years of progressive experience in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of complex development projects, a significant portion of which is based in the English-speaking Caribbean with a Master’s Degree or 4 years with a Bachelors;
• At least 2 years of relevant experience in human development work,
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors;
• Experience working with civil society and community-based organizations;
• Experience working in the field of knowledge management;

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• Fundamental knowledge of development issues;
• Fundamental knowledge of gender issues in the Caribbean;
• Building strategic partnerships and maintaining a network of contacts in the Caribbean;
• Promoting organizational learning and knowledge sharing;
• Promoting innovative strategies and new approaches;
• Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategy;
• Relevant experience working in the English speaking Caribbean is an important asset;
• Relevant experience working with the UN and/or UNDP is an important asset;

REQUIRED LANGUAGE

• Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required;
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset;

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

a) Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers. b) A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position. c) Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.