Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. 

Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women Ethiopia Country is implementing a Five-year Strategic Note 2026-2030 focusing on two programmatic outcomes and one coordination result area and all the 3 outcomes results areas cut across both humanitarian, Development and Peace nexus . Specifically, both STRATEGIC NOTE (SN) OUTCOME 1: All women and young people including adolescent girls in Ethiopia, particularly those left behind, enjoy equitable opportunities and are empowered to participate fully in all aspects of society, leading to their full potential being realized. (UNSDCF Outcome #5]   and STRATEGIC NOTE (SN) OUTCOME 2: All people in Ethiopia, more specifically the people who are left behind, benefit from inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economic development that prioritizes decent job opportunities and access to nutritious food and affordable green energy. (UNSDCF Outcome #2]   are the driving force behind implementation of UN Women’s operational mandate in humanitarian emergency response through the provision of life saving commodities and services to women and girls affected by humanitarian crisis as well as resilience building to mitigate all forms of shocks that tend to put women and girls at the most severe brunt of impact of crisis. Additionally, the STRATEGIC NOTE OUTCOME 3 : ‘’The UN Country Team and Humanitarian Country Team effectively respond to the needs and priorities of women and girls in Ethiopia across the humanitarian, development, peace nexus ‘’ is instrumental on UN Women’s coordination mandate in both development and humanitarian spaces. Particularly, the outcome is poised to effectively and strategically place Gender In Humanitarian Action at the centre of Humanitarian Programming Cycle . UN Women will continue to provide technical expertise to the Ethiopia Humanitarian Country Team (HCT)to promote compliance with global IASC gender commitments. It will regularly convene and sustain the national and 5 sub-national inter-cluster and inter-sector GiHA working groups that are chaired by the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs and the Ethiopia Disaster Risk Management Commission. UN Women will also promote the meaningful participation and leadership of women’s organizations in humanitarian decision-making, planning, and programming, thereby amplifying the voices of those most affected and ensuring that humanitarian interventions are inclusive and responsive to gendered needs. UN Women will continuously strengthen the capacity of UN-led humanitarian clusters and actors, equipping them with the skills and tools needed to apply gender-responsive approaches and standards as well as  conducting annual  gender analysis, producing sex-, age-, and disability-disaggregated data (SADDD) to inform sectoral and inter-sectoral response planning as part of the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) process. It will also support inter-agency coordination and reporting, with a focus on Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), reinforcing the humanitarian system’s commitment to uphold the rights and dignity of women and girls in crisis settings. UN Women facilitates its partners’ participation in relevant clusters, especially local WLOs/WROs. 

Insert a paragraph on the organizational unit’s work and key priorities. Include which priorities govern or provide direction for the work of the position to demonstrate link between the Unit priorities and position priorities/expected outcomes of incumbent.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of Deputy Country Representative and overall guidance of the Country Representative, the Gender In Humanitarian Action Specialist is responsible for the provision of regular gender-focused technical assistance, to lead the coordination mandate, and the humanitarian programming in close collaboration with various clusters and sub clusters.

The Gender in Humanitarian Action Specialist works in a team comprising with Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action I as one team and his/her performance indicators include among others the extent to which there is an integrative approach of humanitarian action across all UN Women Ethiopia Strategic Note 2026-2030 thematic pillars. 

Provide leadership to GiHA Working Group 

  • Lead the monthly the GiHA Working Group (WG) alongside OCHA. 
  • Participate in meetings of the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG), and other relevant cluster and working groups as required.
  • Represent UN Women in the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) forums.
  • Provide GiHA WG members including women led organizations, clusters, donor representatives, HCT members with relevant information on gender issues in humanitarian action. 
  • Ensure regular coordination on cluster engagement of programme teams to identify priorities and gaps, to inform decision making at the ICCG and HCT. 
  • Provide technical support on gender mainstreaming to the humanitarian coordination clusters/working groups members to ensure the content of their response plans highlight and address gender concerns and priorities- and that members have increased capacity to respond to emerging gender priorities.
  • Contribute technically to the development of programme and policy strategies in GiHA to enable UN Women’s strategic positioning on GIHA;
  • Develop and contribute to concept notes, proposals and project briefs;
  • Manage and technically support implementation of ongoing humanitarian projects interventions to ensure their timely and effective completion.
  • Provide hands-on support and guidance to scale up humanitarian programme interventions. 
  • Provide technical assistance, mentoring and capacity development to project partners.
  • Identify and advise on strategic opportunities to advocate with the HCT on critical gender issues, including gender financing within humanitarian funding mechanisms.
  • organizations and networks in humanitarian planning, decision-making, and accountability processes;
  • Support the review, implementation, and monitoring of the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) accountability framework, ensuring full coordination with humanitarian actors and gender focal points (GFPs);
  • Provide technical and advisory support in the humanitarian response planning frameworks e.g. HNO, HRP, Flash Appeal;  
  • Offer technical assistance to cluster members to ensure their response plans effectively address gender priorities.

Technical support to management of UN Women’s humanitarian programming, including through adaptations and scale up

  • Contribute technically to the development of programme and policy strategies in GiHA to enable UN Women’s strategic positioning on GIHA;
  • Develop and contribute to concept notes, proposals and project briefs;
  • Manage and technically support implementation of ongoing humanitarian projects interventions to ensure their timely and effective completion.
  • Provide hands-on support and guidance to scale up humanitarian programme interventions. 
  • Provide technical assistance, mentoring and capacity development to project partners.

Policy guidance and technical support for humanitarian actors on GIHA 

  • Identify and advise on strategic opportunities to advocate with the HCT on critical gender issues, including gender financing within humanitarian funding mechanisms.
  • organizations and networks in humanitarian planning, decision-making, and accountability processes;
  • Support the review, implementation, and monitoring of the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) accountability framework, ensuring full coordination with humanitarian actors and gender focal points (GFPs);
  • Provide technical and advisory support in the humanitarian response planning frameworks e.g. HNO, HRP, Flash Appeal;  
  • Offer technical assistance to cluster members to ensure their response plans effectively address gender priorities.
  • Conduct regular reviews of cluster analysis documents (e.g., needs assessments, plans, reports, ICCG briefs) to ensure the systematic inclusion of gender content and Sex and Age Disaggregated Data (SADD).
  • Provide tailored technical support to women-led organizations on GiHA-related processes and humanitarian engagement.

Develop data driven knowledge products and ensure knowledge management: 

  • Develop information, education and communication (IEC) materials, press releases, situation reports, alerts and contribute gender -related inputs to documents prepared by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and other humanitarian partners.
  • Develop data driven knowledge products such as briefs, fact sheets, snapshots, research papers, and policy briefs, to emphasize the gendered dimensions and impacts of the humanitarian crisis on affected populations.
  • Conduct regular context updates and document emerging gender-related trends and challenges, particularly as they pertain to cluster responses.
  • Offer technical expertise to ensure the integration of Sex and Age Disaggregated Data (SADD) and gender considerations in cluster analyses, inter-cluster reports, and advocacy materials.
  • Facilitate the mainstreaming of gender into cluster assessments, Joint Multi-Sector Needs Assessments (MSNA), and rapid inter-agency evaluations.

Capacity Building on Gender in Humanitarian Action

  • Develop practical guidance on using tools such as the Gender with Age Marker (GAM) and integrating Sex and Age Disaggregated Data (SADD) into needs assessments, response plans, and coordination efforts to ensure a gender-sensitive humanitarian approach.
  • Develop and deliver context-specific training programs for local humanitarian actors and WLOs, complemented by mentorship and follow-up support to ensure effective incorporation of gender analysis and advocacy in localized response efforts.
  • Design and disseminate interactive, user-friendly training materials and toolkits tailored to diverse audiences, including WLOs, GFPs, and cluster coordinators

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

Key Performance Indicators

  • Timely and quality technical advice and support 
  • Leadership in area of expertise in the country and regions 
  • Quality reports and other strategic documents drafted and submitted in a timely manner
  • Strong relationships with various partners and stakeholders 
  • UN Women is well represented in important meetings on topics related to expertise
  • Contributions to resource mobilization
  • Timely and quality knowledge products

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities

As the most Senior national Programme Specialist in the combined WPSHA team , The Gender In Humanitarian Action Specialist will provide the WPSHA team leadership role to maintain the collaboration and synergy in the programming , implementation and reporting on Women Peace Security and Humanitarian Action (WPSHA ) . He/she will therefore supervise all WPSHA team members whose supervision and reporting are not assigned to Country Representative or Deputy . The GIHA Specialist reports directly to the Deputy Country Representative and works under overall guidance of the Country Representative with close collaboration with ESARO and HQ Humanitarian teams . 

Competencies :

Core Values:

  • Integrity;
  • Professionalism;
  • Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

  • Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
  • Accountability;
  • Creative Problem Solving;
  • Effective Communication;
  • Inclusive Collaboration;
  • Stakeholder Engagement;
  • Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

  • Sound knowledge of gender and women’s human rights’ national and international frameworks and policies.
  • Strong dialogue and communication skills.
  • Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships with clients, demonstrating understanding of client’s perspective; anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly.
  • Excellent organization and planning skills and high attention to detail.
  • Ability to meet deadlines and respond positively to feedback.
  • Ability to complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities

Education and certification:

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in gender, international relations, international development, Human Rights ,  Humanitarian Law or other social science fields is required.
  • A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;

Experience:

  • At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
  • Technical experience in Women Peace and Security in conflict and  post conflict setting and the nexus between WPS and Humanitarian Action  is required. 
  • Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset;
  • Experience working in the UN System is an asset;
  • Experience in leading/managing a team is an asset
  • The use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English is required; Fluency in Amharic is an added advantage  
  • Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.


 

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