Gender Programme Specialist, NO-3, Temporary Appointment (364 days), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, #1281714 (Open to Ethiopian Nationals Only)

UNICEF Ethiopia is hiring a seasoned Gender Specialist to provide technical support and assistance for effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Global Partnership for Education’s Girls’ Education Accelerator (GEA) component of the Education program, and support the integration of gender equality in GPE and contribute to the implementation of the gender equality commitments of the country program.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a champion

Ethiopia is situated in the Horn of Africa and is the second most populous country on the continent with an estimated population of 115 million. It borders six African countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, and covers 1,104,300 square kilometers. Approximately 85 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Ethiopia represents a melting pot of ancient cultures with Middle Eastern and African cultures evident in the religious, ethnic, and language composition of its people.

Over the past two years, children and their families across Ethiopia faced multiple and complex emergencies, such as the conflict in the northern Ethiopia and the drought, which resulted in millions of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. UNICEF has programmes in Child Protection, WASH, Health, Nutrition, Social Policy, and Education and serves over 15 million children in Ethiopia. Join UNICEF Ethiopia to contribute to improving the lives of children and women.

How can you make a difference?

Roles and responsibilities:

1.  Program development and planning (including emergency contexts)
   • Coordinate the situation Analysis study on Girls’ Education Accelerator- GPE by compiling data, reviewing analysis and evaluation.
   • Provide technical guidance for Government and CSO Partners in the development of Gender transformative Work Plans for GPE program, and ensure the coherence of the GEA related targets indicator and objectives.
   • Support relevant government offices at national, regional and woreda levels in planning and organizing training for hardwiring gender in GPE Funded programs.
   • Develop and implement capacity building plans based on Identified training needs and gaps on gender transformative programming of GPE to partners and staff.
   • Provide technical and operational support to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of the GPE’s gender hardwiring program with other UNICEF Education and sectoral Programs.
   • Work closely and collaboratively with UNICEF Education team and the Gender Specialist, and partners for the achievement of GEA Results.
2. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results (including emergency contexts)
   • Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and country office partners and donors on interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices and approaches on GEA program and related issues to support program management, implementation and delivery of GEA results.
   • Monitor and evaluate the of Girls’ Education Accelerator of the GPE Program interventions. Analyse and evaluate data to ensure achievement of objectives and/or takes corrective action when necessary to meet objectives set out for the Girls’ Education Accelerator. Contribute to the development and/or introduction of new approaches, methods and practices in project management and evaluation in accelerating the education of the girl child in in GPE target regions.
   • Undertake field visits to monitor the GPE Girls’ Education Accelerator program component, as well as conducts periodic performance reviews with government counterparts and other partners on gender hardwiring of the GPE program.
   • Propose and/or undertake action on operational procedures affecting the GEA management and implementation.
   • Verify the optimum and appropriate use of GPE’s GEA program resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with UNICEF’s organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources. Provide technical support in indicator identification, measurement and performance tracking as it relates to GPE’s GEA and the Targeted Gender Priorities, in collaboration with Education Section Quality and skills unit, and system enhancement unit, Education Section.
   • Prepare regular and mandated program reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of GEA program progress.
   • Develop tools and processes that enable GPE staff and external partners to enhance their understanding and adoption of gender transformative implementation the GPE.
   • Develop and implement strategies for meaningful participation of girls in implementation and monitoring.
3. Advocacy, Networking and Partnership building for the GEA Program
   • Participate in GPE collaboration and intersectoral meetings with other program colleagues.
   • Support development of appropriate SBC strategy to advocate for the importance of accelerating the education of the girl child in GPE target localities.
   • Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with Ministry of Education and other relevant government counterparts, national stakeholders, global partners, GPE, and academia through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge/expertise and to reinforce cooperation to achieve sustainable and broad results on the GPE/ GEA programs.
   • Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic program materials for management use in its approach to the GPE Board.
   • Prepare communication and information materials for GPE funded program advocacy to promote awareness and establish partnerships.
   • Represent GEA in internal Gender Working Group Meetings and external platforms.
4. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building of the GPE/GEA
   • Apply and introduce innovative approaches and good practices to build the capacity of Government partners and stakeholders and to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable GPE/ GEA program results.
   • Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best practices in GEA.
   • Assess, document, institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned from the implementation of the GEA program.
   • Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects.
   • Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of staff and partners to promote sustainable results on GEA and related programs/projects.
5. Other Duties
   • Provide support to the implementation of the UNICEF Ethiopia CO’s Gender Action Plan in coordination with the Gender Specialist.
   • Perform any other task requested by the supervisor as necessitated by the GPE Grant Program Manager- P4.

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

The following minimum requirements:

• Education:
  An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in the social sciences (i.e., Education, Gender, sociology, psychology, social policy or economics), or in an area relevant to education and gender programming.
• Academic credentials in gender are a strong asset.

• Work Experience: 
  A minimum of five years (5 years) of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming on education and gender.
•  
  Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programs on Education and gender or any other cross cutting program, especially at country/field level, experience in emergency response is an asset.
• Language Requirements:  Fluency in English and Amharic. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (2)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (2)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (2)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (2)

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people (2) 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes[KR5] , and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and persons with disability are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required[LK6]  to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.