ASSOCIATE GENDER AFFAIRS OFFICER [Temporary]

Notes:

* The duration of this temporary job opening is three months (extension subject to availability of post)

• A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further “stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013…” Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.

• Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.

• The expression “Internal candidates”, shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.

• Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

• For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.

• The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.

• Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

This position is located within the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Gender Advisory Unit. The Associate Gender Affairs Officer reports to the UNAMID Senior Gender Adviser.

Within delegated authority, and under the overall supervision of the UNAMID Senior Gender Adviser, the Associate Gender Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

-Supports and guides the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security; Supports the UNAMID Gender Affairs Unit with respect to gender mainstreaming, gender equality practices and sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, in the mission area;
-Assists the Senior Gender Adviser in the design and implementation of mission and sector-wide plans that translate existing policies and mandates on the promotion of gender equality in all activities of UNAMID;
-Participates in the design and delivery of appropriate training for all levels of uniformed and civilian UNAMID personnel;
-Undertakes ongoing research and analysis on gender issues in Darfur and Sudan to inform UNAMID policy decisions;
-Provides ongoing technical advice to various Mission components in order to build and expand capacity for gender analysis and the design of gender-sensitive policies and programmes;
-Assists the Senior Gender Adviser in setting up mechanisms, processes and structures in the mission that will facilitate gender mainstreaming;
-Provides technical advice to state and Darfur government institutions, particularly those created under the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA);
-Ensures partnership with and provides technical advice to state government, civil society organizations and women's groups with regard to women's political representation, women's participation in the peace process and the protection needs of women and children;
-Participates and makes substantive contributions to the work of inter-agency coordination mechanisms that address the protection needs of women and children;
-Liaises with UN agencies that have complementary mandates for the promotion of women and girls' rights;
-Contributes to the implementation of reporting obligations, documentation of good practices, the preparation of policy papers, and related submissions for sector management, senior mission leaders and DPKO;
-Serves as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of Head of Unit as necessary;
-Performs other related duties as required.

PROFESSIONALISM - Recognized expert in the field of gender affairs; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of peace operations; ability to provide technical expertise and advice on strategies and approaches to guide gender mainstreaming in post-conflict processes; ability to analyze and evaluate critical matters pertaining to a broad spectrum of gender-related issues.

COMMUNICATION - Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

TEAMWORK - Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; Is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts responsibility for team shortcomings.

COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS LEARNING - Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; Actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; Contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; Shows willingness to learn from others; Seeks feedback to learn and improve.

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, women’s studies, development studies, social studies or a related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of international relations, law, gender and/or peacekeeping issues at policy and operational levels is required. Experience in the promotion of gender equality in a post-conflict setting outside the candidate’s country of nationality and/or birth is required. At least one year’s field experience in sub-Saharan Africa is required; prior experience in Sudan is desirable. Prior experience with the United Nations, UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes or other international aid agencies is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. A working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The screening and evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: no amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.