The Position:

The Gender Program Specialist provides strategic, technical, and programmatic support to UNFPA's work in Latin America and the Caribbean in addressing gender-based violence and harmful practices and mainstreaming gender, intersectional, and intercultural approaches.

They will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Gender Advisor and in close collaboration with country offices, Headquarters, and regional partners to ensure the effective implementation of the actions and strategies promoted by LACRO.
 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

UNFPA is seeking a dynamic Program Specialist with strong technical knowledge to contribute to regional initiatives aimed at reducing gender-based violence and harmful practices, particularly child marriage and early and forced unions. The Program Specialist will also contribute to mainstreaming gender and intersectional approaches.

The Program Specialist will provide technical and programmatic support to country offices in Latin America and the Caribbean, contributing to program management. The Program Specialist will also help supervise the work of consultants, implementing partners, and experts.

You would be responsible for:

Ensure Fund Accountability

• Coordinates and monitors the implementation of the gender area's work plan to accelerate the reduction of gender-based violence and harmful practices, particularly early and forced marriages and child unions.
• Supports country offices with technical assistance within the framework of the work plan, as well as any needs and requirements they may have.
• Ensures fund accountability. Review the timely execution and implementation of the work plan, projects, and cooperation or other funds allocated to the gender area.
• Provides detailed reports and updates on the progress of the work plan, projects, and the use of funds.
• Participates with other members of the technical team in the development of strategic frameworks for assistance/support to CO initiatives.

Participate in Inter-agency Groups:

• Participate in inter-agency working groups with civil society organizations or others as assigned to align strategies and interventions and achieve results that contribute to accelerating Transformative Results.
• Represent UNFPA at regional and international meetings and events assigned by the Regional Gender Advisor.

Knowledge Management:

• Promotes an open exchange of good practices and lessons learned in partnership with COs, the RO and headquarters.
• Contributes to making technical and programming knowledge, as well as lessons learned and best practices, available for use in countries to improve the effectiveness of UNFPA programs.

Support Advocacy and Resource Mobilization

• Support advocacy and resource mobilization: Prepare documentation (project summaries, speeches, proposals) and participate in related meetings and events.
• Perform any other tasks that may be required.

Key Results:

• Promote regional efforts to accelerate the elimination of gender-based violence and harmful practices, particularly early and forced marriages and child unions.
• Contribute to the adequate mainstreaming of the gender, intersectional, and intercultural approach within the framework of the principle of leaving no one behind.
• Contribute with specialized technical assistance to country offices within the framework of the third transformative outcome, considering capacity building and team strengthening.
• Oversee and support the development and implementation of projects aimed at addressing GBV and harmful practices aligned with regional and global strategic frameworks.
• Monitor the execution and implementation of the work plan and projects led by the gender area to ensure financial efficiency and compliance with the RO's programmatic objectives.
• Prepare high-quality reports on the progress of the actions promoted, financial use, and programmatic achievements, ensuring full accountability.
• Identify and address any financial obstacles or implementation challenges to optimize resource allocation and maximize the impact of planned actions.
• Support coordination and strengthen collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, including CSOs, IPs, and other strategic partner institutions, to align strategies and interventions to achieve the "3 transformative results"
• Actively participates in the development of regional and global strategies and policies on GBV, harmful practices, and others as assigned.
• Contributes significantly to advocacy and resource mobilization initiatives, including the preparation of essential documentation (e.g., project briefs, conference papers, donor profiles) and participation in related events.
• Performs any other functions as assigned by the Regional Gender Adviser and UNFPA management.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Master's degree in gender, human rights, gender-based violence, harmful practices, particularly early and forced marriage and child unions, social sciences, humanities, or related fields.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum of 5 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in management and development related to gender-based violence, harmful practices, particularly early and forced marriages and child unions, and mainstreaming gender, human rights, intercultural, and intersectional approaches.
• A minimum of 3 years experience working in the LAC region on issues related to the UNFPA mandate.
• Substantive knowledge and practical experience in GBV and harmful practices in particular CMEU
• Experience in programs and/or technical assistance with the United Nations System.
• Field experience in countries in the region and related to the UNFPA mandate is a plus.

Languages: 

Fluency in written and spoken Spanish and English is required. Working knowledge of French and Portuguese will be an advantage.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results-based program
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging with internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing, and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment 

Compensation and Benefits:

 This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.