Gender, Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) Specialist

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organisations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

Background Information - Ukraine Country Office (UAMCO) 

On 24 February 2022, the military of the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, with strikes across the territory of Ukraine. Since then, Russia’s invasion imposes a severe humanitarian and socio-economic toll, global energy and food crisis, large-scale destruction of the country's infrastructure, and disruptions in the provision of critical services and degradation of social fabrics and communities’ ties, triggering one of the world’s most significant forced displacements. 

Severe attacks on energy and critical infrastructure facilities leave millions of people without electricity, water or heating supply, struggling to access water, food, health services, materials to repair homes, among others. The continued attacks cause substantial damage to the country’s economy and agricultural production, and also affect the poorest countries worldwide.

UNOPS support to partners spans the humanitarian-early recovery-development nexus from emergency response to building back better, across the housing, health, education, transport, energy and humanitarian mine action sectors, with the ultimate aim of supporting the country on its EU accession and in its achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals

Background Information - Job-specific 

UNOPS is seeking a Gender Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) Specialist with experience in the field of gender mainstreaming in humanitarian and early recovery contexts.

Peace and Security Cluster

The role and responsibilities of the GDI Specialist (under the supervision of the Head of Programme) will include the following:

Map, Assess and Analyse:

• Ensure UNOPS GESII strategy and guidelines, as well as the Gender Guidelines for Mine Action Programmes and Peace and Security Gender and Diversity Strategy, are applied across the full project/programme management cycle in order to ensure GESI is systematically integrated in analysis, initiatives and operations, as well as decision-making processes and the development of good practices;

• Introduce GESI mainstreaming and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to UAMCO by designing, maintaining, updating, and implementing a UAMCO GESI/DEI Workplan; 

• Collect data and analyze information on GESI in the sectors of Humanitarian Mine Action, health, education, rule of law and housing in Ukraine, especially related to humanitarian response, early recovery and development; 

• Map current GESI mainstreaming initiatives in Ukraine, identify strategic gaps in UAMCO projects, and make recommendations to senior leadership;

• Review planned UAMCO initiatives for comment/input regarding barriers to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion;

• Identify gaps and training needs and support capacity building activities for all UAMCO personnel, to strengthen their capacities to mainstream GESI in the design, planning, monitoring and implementation of projects; 

• Recommend to senior leadership gender mainstreaming related partnering opportunities for increased collaboration with other UN agencies, authorities, services and civil society; 

• Collect, supervise and analyze sex and disability disaggregated data and measure progress against GESI indicators in all UMACO projects/programmes.

• Ensure that all UAMCO projects integrate disability-inclusive approaches, addressing barriers to participation and access for persons with disabilities in humanitarian response, early recovery, and development efforts.

• Collect and analyze disability-disaggregated data to inform project planning and monitor the impact of interventions on persons with disabilities, ensuring alignment with international standards such as the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy.

Provide Technical Guidance and Support:

• Provide technical support to ensure that GESI is mainstreamed into all areas of the UAMCO Multi-Country Office strategy;

• Review all new Concept Notes and Proposals and provide recommendations on inclusion of GESI and PSEAH components from the design stage through implementation and reporting, including in the Theories of Change;

• Represent UNOPS at all relevant GESI-related coordination fora, thematic and sectoral working groups and clusters;

• Support the roll-out of internal and general UN advocacy/sensibilization/awareness raising campaigns. Organize joint briefings/training sessions on Gender to improve understanding of all personnel;

• Provide strategic advice on processes to take into consideration the specific needs of women to overcome social barriers, perceptions and challenges impeding women’s participation and influence in bidding processes;

• Facilitate training/workshops for the UAMCO staff and partners on gender mainstreaming. Examples may include: information management, protection mainstreaming, prioritization setting, planning, and costing of activities, infrastructure design, supplier outreach and selection, ensuring meaningful engagement of women and men in all aspects of the UAMCO project/programme cycle;

• Proactively make recommendations on GESI responsive approaches, and support on specific global, country and organizational initiatives;

• Advise on GESI mainstreaming to contractors and grantees, as and when required;

• Include specific GESI indicators and describ- strong and critical aspects related to the implementation of the planned GESI/ DEI-related activities in quarterly internal reports for UAMCO;

• Support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security;

• Coordinate, as needed, with other UN agencies, Funds and Programmes that have complementary mandates on gender-related issues through participating in working- level mechanisms, as well as coordinate with relevant institutions; 

• Directly supervise the GESI/PSEAH Officer and provide mentoring and capacity building as required;

• Provide technical assistance and support to the management of the UAMCO Grievance Redressal Mechanism;

• Actively contribute to existing and emerging corporate initiatives and work closely with UNOPS regional and global GESI/ DEI advisors and communities of practice and share knowledge, lessons learned and best practices;

• Increase profile and visibility of GESI mainstreaming/ DEI activities and strategies in UAMCO through events, articles and communications materials;

• Provide technical expertise on DEI focus areas, including gender parity, disability inclusion, anti-racism, LGBQTI+ inclusion and enabling environments to enable strategy implementation;

• Build internal capacity and lead awareness raising on DEI, including the organization of workshops and training sessions in collaboration with HQ as appropriate;

• Work with colleagues working on information management and data analytics to support the improvement of DEI data management and the measurement of DEI progress and results; 

• Identify and share best practices within and outside the organization; contribute to existing and emerging corporate initiatives;

• Perform any other duties as requested and tasked by the Head of Programme.

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in development related disciplines, gender issues, human rights, political science, behavioral science, or other relevant social science fields, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; OR

•  First level University degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in development related disciplines, gender issues, human rights, political science, behavioral science, or other relevant social science fields, with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience

Experience:

• Relevant experience is defined as  experience in gender and development, gender and security, gender analysis, gender training or Diversity, Equity and inclusion (DEI);

• Within relevant experience, 3 years experience implementing gender-responsive initiatives with an intersectional lens and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all their diversity including in the work force;

• Within relevant experience, 2 years experience in implementing standalone and mainstreaming gender responsive programming in humanitarian crises or conflict/post-conflict environments is required; 

• Experience establishing, building and sustaining effective relationships with stakeholders, demonstrating understanding of their perspective and building the case for gender, diversity and inclusion mainstreaming in their activities is desired;

• Strong quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills are desired.

• Previous involvement with and/or experience working with government, UN, international Non-Governmental Organizations and Local Civil Society Organizations is desired.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.

• Fluency in Ukrainian is an advantage.

• 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 

• 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.

1. Contract type: ICA (Individual Contractor Agreement)
2. Contract level: International ICA Specialist, IICA-2 (ICS-10)
3. Contract duration: One calendar year. Possibility of extension subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.