Inclusion & Women, Peace & Security Policy Advisor

This position is located in the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESGY). The incumbent will report directly to the Senior Advisor on Gender and Inclusion and support the gender inclusion team in providing systematic and strategic guidance and support to the Head of Mission and senior management. The role is focused on supporting the mainstreaming of gender throughout the office's activities in support of women's leadership and effective engagement in any political process and mediation effort where the Office is engaged. The Policy Advisor will contribute to efforts that include promoting direct, meaningful participation and representation of Yemeni women across all tracks, engaging in informal consultations and dialogues, internal and external policy-making, and addressing women's needs in conflict resolution through dialogue with women's groups, women leaders, and women's rights actors operating inside and outside Yemen. 

The Policy Advisor will support the Senior Advisor on Gender and Inclusion in preparing and planning for an inclusive, peaceful political transition and a sustainable conflict settlement. This will include undertaking gender conflict analysis to ensure the inclusion of women's priorities for peace.

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

• Provide policy advice and strategic guidance to the Senior Advisor on Gender and Inclusion and to other team members on integrating gender perspectives and promoting women's rights in peace processes and conflict resolution efforts. 

• Provide advice and strategic guidance on the latest developments, research, and best practices related to Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and peacebuilding in Yemen.

• Conduct research and analysis on the gender dimensions of conflicts and their impact on women's lives in Yemen.

• Identify key barriers and challenges to women's meaningful participation in peacebuilding and propose strategies for their removal. 

• Analyze data and information to assess the effectiveness and impact of inclusion and WPS programs and initiatives. 

• Monitor the implementation of gender inclusion and WPS policies, including tracking progress, analyzing results, and identifying areas for improvement. 

• Prepare regular reports on the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned in the implementation of WPS policies. 

• Contribute to the preparation of donor reports and participate in donor meetings as required. Draft, edit, and finalize all reporting and written materials from the Gender Team, including inputs for the Secretary-General's reports on Women, Peace, and Security. 

• Support the Senior Advisor of Gender and Inclusion in liaising and coordinating with internal and external partners, including government agencies, UN entities, NGOs, and civil society organizations, to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in Yemen. 

• Collaborate with partners to ensure effective coordination, information sharing, and joint advocacy efforts. 

• Provide inputs and guidance on gender-related issues in mission planning and strategic developmental processes. 

• Ensure the integration of the gender perspective in results-based budgeting and reporting. 

• Perform other duties as required.

Core Competencies:

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

• Advanced University Degree (Master's or equivalent degree) in social sciences, gender/women's studies, international development, peace studies, or related fields.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.  

•  A minimum of 5 years of experience of work on gender/inclusion related issues, and/or relevant human rights issues is required.
• Strong knowledge of Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) frameworks, policies, and best practices is required.
• Experience in providing policy advice and strategic guidance on gender equality and women's empowerment in conflict and post-conflict settings is required.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct research, data analysis, and policy development on WPS is required.
• Knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM) principles and ability to apply them in policy planning and evaluation is desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality reports and presentations is highly desirable.

• English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat.
• For the position advertised, English and Arabic are required. 

• Please note that 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 advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, 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.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.