NATIONAL POST: Programme Analyst, Gender and Social Policy (NOB), Astana, Kazakhstan

National Professional Officers (NPOs) must be citizens of the country where the office is located.

 

The Position:

The Programme Analyst Gender and Social Policy is located in the UNFPA Kazakhstan Country Office (CO). Under the overall guidance of the Country Representative and the direct supervision of the Assistant Representative, the Programme Analyst coordinates and manages the gender, human rights and social policy related interventions of the UNFPA country programme including legislative and policy actions, GBV prevention and response, and addressing harmful gender and social norms.  

 

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. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender- based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

 

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 who transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. 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:

The Programme Analyst Gender and Social Policy will provide technical guidance and policy advice to advance UNFPA programmes in the areas of Gender, Culture, Human rights, GBV, and related areas in the UNFPA Kazakhstan country programme 2026-2030. S/He analyses trends in the gender and social policy related environment in-country.  S/He is responsible for evidence-based formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting progress towards achievements of measurable results, in line with the principles of results based management.  S/He ensures coherence with agreed national and international planning frameworks, including the UNFPA Strategic Plan, UNSDCF, National Development priorities, and related sectoral strategies.  The Programme Analyst coordinates required knowledge management, including documentation of best practices, learning and new frontiers from the implementation of the interventions and flagship initiatives related to Gender, Human rights, Culture, GBV and other related fields at the policy, system and community levels.

The Programme Analyst supports the Representative in advocating for policy change relating to UNFPA’s mandate in the country. S/he will facilitate the normative work in gender and social policy development and programme strategies to advance human rights-based, integrated, evidence-based, innovative and gender transformative approaches to address harmful social norms, discrimination to ensure programmes Leave No One Behind, including for persons with disabilities.

The Analyst will work with other UNFPA programme colleagues within an integrated team approach, including supervising Programme Associate(s) as well as consultants, and experts under the portfolio. S/He establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral agencies and civil society, by effectively influencing policy action that contribute to achieving the ICPD PoA, SDGs and Kazakhstan 2050.

You would be responsible for: 

A. Policy Advisory and Evidence-based advocacy 

• Review and analyse the political, social, and economic environment in relation to gender, GBV and human Rights, and social policy with the intention of identifying  opportunities and keeping abreast of new developments within the policy environment. This will include analysing policy directives, statements, actions, position papers, strategic documents, national plans, and development frameworks to identify trends, prospects and opportunities.
• Prepares evidence-based policy briefs, reports and position papers using the most to date evidence for policy dialogues and provides inputs into relevant national strategic plans and development frameworks on the linkages between Gender, GBV, Human Rights and the socio-economic development in the country. 
  
  Engages at policy level and provide substantive inputs to social policies and related strategies to ensure positioning of UNFPA mandate within national policies and strategies, UN systems initiatives and frameworks (i.e. CA, UN Cooperation Framework, SWAPs, etc) and development partners’ mechanisms.
• Supports a context-specific programme delivery model with national partners around the integration of the Gender and Human Rights, and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights at policy and systems levels.
  
  Facilitates effective policy and inclusive legislative actions that support the dismantling of negative gender and social norms.
• Contributes to advancing gender-transformative approaches within national mechanisms to ensure Rights and Choices for populations across the life course and to Leave No One Behind.

B. Technical guidance and knowledge management

• Assess implications of new policy development and strategies on programme execution and ensure appropriate programme adjustments that respond to the policy environment.
• Participate in relevant national and sub-national institutional mechanisms that enhance Gender, Human Rights, including prevention and response to GBV and actions that address other discriminatory gender narratives, norms and practices. 
• Provides substantive technical guidance and inputs to facilitate positioning of Gender, Human Rights, and GBV issues within national plans and strategies, UN system initiatives, and development frameworks.
  
  Ensure generation, availability and use of the recent data and evidence from censuses, surveys, studies, assessments, statistical registers, and support analysis from gender, social policy and human right lens. 
• Create substantive knowledge products on Gender, Culture, Human Rights, and GBV issues, required for programmes, flagship initiatives and related interventions. This includes ensuring periodic technical needs assessments that guide actions on new frontiers in gender and social policy related fields.
• Stimulate strategic thinking around Gender, Culture, Human rights, and GBV taking into account the needs of the population across the life course, in particular, women, girls and young people. 
  
  Participate actively in UN and national coordination mechanisms, including contribution to design, implementation and monitoring of joint UN programmes and development partner initiatives.
• Support strengthening of national institutional arrangements and capacity for the implementation of the ICPD agenda, SDGs and post-2030 Agenda in relation to gender, social policy, GBV and other harmful practices. 
• Provide technical guidance to national partners, including Civil society, women and youth groups, and networks in strengthening community actions, social accountability on gender, human rights, social development, reduction of GBV and harmful practices.  

C. Results-based Programme Management 

• In collaboration with Government counterparts, NGOs and other partners support the formulation, design, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of programme, projects, and AWPs in line with Government priorities and according to UNFPA programme policies and procedures. 
• Ensure quality of programme documentation and reporting towards achieving results, using robust monitoring and evaluation tools; identifies constraints and resource deficiencies and recommends corrective actions.
• Support collective actions to incorporate lessons learned, best practices and establishing appropriate feedback mechanisms that allow for timely course correct actions. 
• Facilitate the development of new programmes and flagship initiatives on Gender, Culture, Human Rights, GBV (including other harmful practices) programme, in particular: 
• Assesses priority technical requirements of the programme.
  
  Provide technical and managerial support to the Government and NGO partners in the implementation of the programme.
• Organise and participate in periodic technical reviews as well as programme evaluation exercises.
• Analyse, monitor and report on progress in relevant programme expenditures and disbursements to ensure delivery is in line with approved budgets and towards targeted delivery levels.
• Participate in relevant UN inter-agency and multi-sectoral (health, education, gender, internal affairs, labour, parliamentary, judicial, law enforcement, etc) coordination mechanisms at regional, national and sub-national levels. 
• Support civil society involvement and participation in mechanisms that advance gender, human rights, social development, including prevention and response to GBV and other discriminatory norms, narratives and practices, including in line with humanitarian, development and peace principles.

D. Strategic Partnership and Resource mobilization

• Substantively contribute to existing and new partnerships and resource mobilisation efforts of the Country Office by stakeholder mapping, preparing relevant documentation for strategic partnerships and increased resource mobilization.
• Build strong technical and programme multi-sectoral partnerships for the ICPD agenda through national institutions, networks, alliances and coalitions.  
• Support the country office in leveraging resources for gender, human rights ending GBV and other harmful practices in particular, from domestic and external resources including government, donors, private sector, international financial institutions, multilateral development banks, development partners, to mention a few.
• Facilitate creation of tailored content for factsheets, briefing materials, info graphics, presentations, position papers, statements, speeches to support advocacy and resource mobilisation purposes.
• Lead and/or provide substantive inputs to the resource mobilization proposals, innovative financing instruments that leverage a greater proportion of financing for the ICPD Agenda and ensure timely quality reporting to donors.
• Ensure effective evidence-based communication for the Gender, human rights, social development is readily available for use across all aspects of programme conceptualization, implementation, reporting and evaluation.

E. Carry out any other duties as may be required by supervisor or Representative.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:  

• Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Public Policy, Gender Development Studies, Sociology, and other related social science fields.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in gender and social policy within the public sector, international organizations or non-governmental organizations.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and managerial skills required.
• Experience in programme/ project management including experience in large multi-sector projects, designing and appraising proposals and actively liaising with relevant and potential partners; 
• Proven experience in coordinating/managing multi-disciplinary teams, experts and  consultants;
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective national policies and strategies.
• Experience in advancing legislative agenda, policy reforms, and high impact programme delivery will be an asset
• Knowledge of or Familiarity with the UN system will be an asset .

Languages: 

• Fluency in verbal/oral and written English, Russian and Kazakh is required.
• Required Competencies 

Values:

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

Functional Competencies:

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

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,
• Communicating for impact 

Managerial Competencies: 

• Providing strategic focus
• Engaging 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.