Gender Equality Specialist - Gender Mainstreaming (Retainer)

Peace and Security Cluster

UNMAS Palestine Response

The conflict started in Gaza in October 2023 is anticipated to leave an unprecedented amount of explosive remnants of war (ERW) across the Gaza Strip. This will further exacerbate the ERW contamination that existed prior to 7 October 2023, stemming from previous escalations since 2008.

The ERW contamination poses an immediate risk to lives, hinders the delivery of humanitarian aid, restricts safe movement, and impedes recovery and development initiatives. This is an especially serious issue in the Gaza Strip as there are significant need for humanitarian assistance, including rubble removal, reconstruction, food, water, and health, for almost the entire population, with over 1.7 million people, or nearly 75 percent of the population, estimated to be internally displaced as of February 2023.

In the West Bank, the security situation has been exacerbated since the conflict started in Gaza, including clashes between the IDF and Palestinian militants in Jenin and across all governorates of the West Bank, adding to the contamination that existed prior to the conflict in Gaza. According to OCHA, between 7 October 2023 and 1 April 2024, 428 Palestinians, including 110 children, have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

In response, UNMAS Palestine implements multiple projects to mitigate the threat of ERW in Gaza to enhance safety for the vulnerable populations, as well as for UN and humanitarian partners, through the delivery of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) response and explosive ordnance risk education (EORE). In the West Bank, UNMAS develops the capacity of the national authorities, including the Palestine Mine Action Centre (PMAC) to deliver the EORE.

Project Background

In the West Bank, UNMAS technical assistance led to the creation of the PMAC which was established within the Ministry of Interior in Ramallah in April 2012, to execute and implement the PA’s strategic plan and coordinate all mine action-related aspects in the West Bank. The PMAC continues to require UNMAS technical assistance to adequately coordinate mine action across Palestine. In addition, as Palestine acceded to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, as well as the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War, UNMAS provides guidance and technical assistance to the PMAC on meeting their obligations toward the treaties. In 2024, UNMAS Palestine continues to focus on enhancing and formalising this ongoing support to the PA via the PMAC for mine action activities in the West Bank through a capacity enhancement project to allow the PMAC to sustain gender-mainstreamed EORE in the West Bank. Further capacity enhancement is required to assist PMAC in its continued coordination of EORE, quality assurance of EORE, Victim Assistance Strategy, data management in line with Protection Principles, their ability to work remotely, and the reporting and coordination with the UN's Protection Cluster.

Under this project, UNMAS will support the delivery of gender mainstreaming training to the PMAC personnel so they can incorporate and integrate the gender perspective into the planning, development, and implementation of the different mine action activities such as the improvement and delivery of EORE messaging, data collection, and analysis, etc. The training will aim at promoting equal participation from males and females and will cover topics such as gender analysis, gender-sensitive indicators, gender-based violence, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and strategies for promoting women's participation and leadership.

* CANDIDATES WITH NO UN OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY!* 
* QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY!*


This position will report to the Head of Project Unit, or, once recruited, the Chief of Operations. S/he will be expected to work closely with the Capacity Development Office based locally in the West Bank. S/he will be expected to liaise with the international gender specialist, the PSEA network, and the protection cluster in the West Bank. 

This individual will provide support to the local Capacity development Officer through:

• Conduct an assessment of PMAC Capacity in regards the gender mainstreaming and PSEA.

• Identify needs and gaps in the Palestinian Mine Action Center in relation to gender knowledge

• Develop the training tools and methodologies. 

• Develop training material on leadership, Networking, women's participation, strategic planning, Human rights-based approach, gender analysis, gender-sensitive indicators, gender-based violence, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and strategies for promoting women's participation and leadership in Arabic and developing a draft of the vision and mission of the PMAC.

• Develop narrative reports in English and Arabic and finalise the PMAC vision, mission, and strategic plan in Arabic and English.

• Define practical knowledge and skills on gender mainstreaming concepts. 

• Setting a list of good practices on gender to ensure a change in behaviour, attitudes, beliefs, and culture.

• Equipped participants with practical skills on how to include gender in their day-to-day work, planning, reporting, behaviour, attitudes, and beliefs.

• Explain various dimensions of gender in a dynamic environment

• Link other diversity issues with gender

• Provide practical examples of how gender can be mainstreamed in planning and reporting.

• Compile an easy-to-use handbook on gender mainstreaming that will be a tool used by all PMAC staff.

Education

• Master degree or equivalent with a minimum of 5 years or relevant experience.

• Bachelor degree or equivalent with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience.

Experience

• Relevant experience is defined as experience working on gender mainstreaming, gender and development, gender and security, gender analysis, or gender training .

• Experience working in protracted crises is desirable

• Experience working with UN agencies is desirable.

Languages

• Fluency in English and Arabic required

1. Contract type: Local Individual Contractual Agreement (LICA) - Retainer
2. Contract level: ICS 10 / LICA 10
3. Contract duration: 4 months - (with possibility of extension, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance)
   

• 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.