Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Myanmar continues to face a complex operating environment characterized by conflict, economic contraction, disrupted essential services, and heightened vulnerability across communities.  In this context, UNDP’s current programming prioritizes direct support to communities, with a focus on inclusion and equitable access.

Protracted conflict, displacement, economic shocks, and limited service access disproportionately affect women and girls. Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) is a UNDP corporate priority applied across all relevant programmes and projects. The Gender Equality Seal (GES) is UNDP’s corporate certification mechanism that assesses Country Offices on the systematic integration of gender equality across leadership, programming, operations, and partnerships, and drives continuous improvement through structured action planning and independent assessment. Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (PSEAH) is a core UNDP accountability commitment, requiring all personnel and partners to prevent, mitigate, and respond to risks of sexual misconduct through clear standards, capacity building, partner compliance, and survivor-centred approaches.
Against this backdrop, the Gender Specialist    supports the systematic integration of GEWE across programme design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting, ensuring measurable results for women and compliance with UNDP corporate standards, including the Gender Equality Seal. The role provides technical advice and quality assurance to programme and operations teams, contributes to donor proposals and reporting on gender results. The role also support the Myanmar Country Office to proactively design, resource, and deliver strategic gender equality initiatives.
The Specialist co-leads implementation of the Gender Equality Seal Action Plan 2026–2027, strengthens partnerships with civil society—particularly women-led and women’s rights organisations—and builds the capacity of UNDP personnel and partners to deliver gender-responsive programming.

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR), the Gender Specialist is accountable for the day-to-day technical delivery, coordination, and quality assurance of all gender-related results across the UNDP Myanmar programme portfolio.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Personnel are therefore expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams.
 

Duties and Responsibilities


The Gender Specialist works under the direct supervision, performance management, and strategic guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR) and serves as the primary technical focal point for gender equality at the Country Office level. The role works in close coordination with all Programme Units, Operations teams, and project staff to ensure day-to-day implementation, follow-up, and quality assurance of gender results across the portfolio. The role also coordinates technically with UN agencies on gender equality, UN-SWAP implementation, donor-funded gender initiatives, and PSEA implementation.  
 

Drives gender inclusion across all UNDP programmes and projects, from design through implementation, ensuring accountability for results and compliance with corporate standards, by:

  • Leading comprehensive gender analysis of the country context and contributing to policy and thematic research to inform strategic programming and UNDP positioning. 
  • Developing strategic guidance for formulation, implementation, and periodic review of the CO’s gender equality strategy;
  • Ensuring systematic gender mainstreaming in project documents, AWPs, logframes, and budgets, including correct application of the UNDP Gender Marker and support to teams on gender-responsive indicators, targets, and actions;
  • Providing gender quality assurance for knowledge and research products by reviewing data collection tools, surveys, assessments and reports to ensure sound gender analysis, correct use of sex-disaggregated data, and alignment with UNDP gender standards;
  • Driving implementation and tracking of the CO Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Annual Work Plan by supporting programme teams to translate commitments into funded outputs (GEN3) and activities (GEN2), measurable results, and corrective actions, and by advising senior management on progress, gaps, and priorities;
  • Leading effort on gender-responsive budgeting and monitoring gender budget allocations and expenditures in coordination with programme and finance teams;
  • Monitoring implementation of gender results, identifying gaps and risks, and follow-up with programme and project teams to ensure corrective action and reporting;
  • Advising programme and project teams on integrating gender risk mitigation, and safeguarding measures (including SES, GBV, exclusion, and backlash risks) into project design, implementation, and monitoring;
  • Consolidating gender inputs for donor and corporate reporting, including tracking delivery against gender commitments;
  • Coordinating with programme, project, and operations teams on procurement, contracting, and partnership processes relevant to gender delivery; and
  • Leading engagement with UN agencies, partners, and civil society organisations, delivering capacity development, and supporting communication and visibility of gender equality results.

Oversees and coordinates implementation and monitoring of the Gender Equality Seal across programme and operations units, by:

  • Overseeing and Coordinating implementation of the Gender Equality Seal Action Plan in close collaboration with programme, operations, and the Gender Champion Team;
  • Leading evidence collection, documentation, and tracking of progress against GES benchmarks, including consolidation of inputs for internal and corporate reporting;
  • Strengthening coordination, capacity, and structured engagement of the Gender Champion Team, and documenting practical results and lessons learned;
  • Leading internal reviews, mid-year check-ins, and preparation for the final Seal assessment; and 
  •  Ensuring systematic following up on agreed corrective actions with relevant units and monitoring their completion


Leads UNDP Myanmar’s strategic partnerships and mobilizing resources for gender equality results, by:

  • Participating in UNDP’s engagement gender-related working groups and coordination mechanisms;
  • Driving high-level policy dialogue on gender equality with donors, civil society, and the private sector, and providing inputs to relevant policy processes;
  • Supporting strategic direction and implementation of the Country Office partnerships and resource mobilization strategy to advance integration of gender equality perspectives;
  • Managing the development and maintenance of working relationships and programmatic linkages with UN agencies, IFIs, bilateral and multilateral donors, the private sector, and civil society; and
  • Leading the identification and pursuit of funding opportunities for ongoing and new programmes and projects.

Supports strategic leadership to UNDP Myanmar in designing and advancing strategic gender equality initiatives, by:

  • Leading the conceptualization and design of strategic gender-focused programmes and flagship initiatives aligned with the Country Programme and corporate priorities;
  • Overseeing the development of concept notes, project documents, and theory of change frameworks for gender equality initiatives, including those funded through Calls for Proposals and thematic funding windows;
  • Providing technical inputs to ensure gender-transformative approaches are embedded across area-based projects and integrated portfolios;
  • Identifying and driving strategic entry points for advancing women’s leadership, economic empowerment, climate linkages, and protection priorities within ongoing and new programming;
  • Translating analytical insights into actionable gender-responsive programme design; and
  • Facilitating internal coordination across programme, operations, and partnerships teams to ensure coherent and scalable delivery of strategic gender initiatives.

Supports and guides strategic oversight implementation and monitoring of PSEA commitments across UNDP Myanmar programmes, by:

  • Supporting implementation of the PSEA Action Plan in close coordination with Country Office PSEA focal points;
  • Ensuring follow-up on PSEA awareness-raising and training activities with implementing partners and civil society organisations;
  • Tracking partner PSEA compliance during project implementation, identifying risks, and flagging issues for management action; and
  • Leading preparation of internal PSEA progress updates and structured inputs for senior management.

Strengthens gender-responsive capacities and ensures knowledge management across UNDP Myanmar and its partners, by:

  • Building the capacity of UNDP personnel, implementing partners, and civil society organisations on gender equality, gender mainstreaming, and application of corporate tools and standards;
  • Providing practical, on-the-job technical support and guidance to programme and project teams to strengthen gender-responsive design, implementation, and reporting; and
  • Supporting development and delivery of targeted learning activities, guidance materials, and knowledge products tailored to the Myanmar context.


The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
 

Competencies

Core competencies:

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

 2030 Agenda: People 

  • Gender. Communication and Advocacy for Gender Equality
  • Gender Equality Seal for Development
  • Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Business Direction & Strategy    

  • Systems Thinking. Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Development 

  • Knowledge Facilitation. Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

Business Management    

  • Partnerships Management. Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
  • Communication. Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. .Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Development Studies or a related field is required, or
  •  A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the fields mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of a Master’s degree.
     

Experience:

  • Minimum 5 years (with master´s degree) 7 years (with bachelor´s degree) of experience integrating gender into project design and implementation (logframes, indicators, budgets), demonstrated across more than one programme or project.

Required skills:

  • Experience in gender strategies, action plans, gender markers, Seal processes, or similar internal work.
  • Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

  • Experience of engagement with CSOs and women-led organizations, hands-on coordination, implementation, or capacity support.
  •  Experience in monitoring gender-related outputs, identifying gaps, and following up with teams to improve delivery.
  • Experience in areas such as social protection, livelihoods, community recovery, GBV, safeguarding, or inclusion of vulnerable groups within development or humanitarian programming.
  • Experience in coordination, implementation, or capacity support in development projects.

Required Language(s):

  • Fluency in English and Myanmar (Burmese) is required. 

Professional Certificates:

  • Relevant short courses in gender equality, protection, PSEA, or project management are desired.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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