Gender Advisor

Peace and Security Centre

The UNOPS Peace and Security Cluster (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. The Head of Cluster is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations.
It is headed by the Head of Cluster who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the Peace and Security Cluster on behalf of its clients.

Background: UNMAS Syria Response

Operating under the mandate of Security Council resolution 2165 (renewed in 2017 with SCR 2393) allowing cross-border assistance in Syria, UNMAS deployed the Syria Response programme at the request of the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator in August 2015 and subsequently activated the Mine Action Sub Cluster under the Protection Cluster to address the impact of explosive hazards within Syria. UNMAS is the lead agency for the Mine Action Sub Cluster for the Syria Response, working in support of the mine action response within Syria.

UNMAS provides leadership for the humanitarian mine action sector, working to reach affected civilian populations through the expansion and provision of humanitarian mine action services inside Syria, strengthening participatory approaches to programming, and mainstreaming mine action into wider humanitarian activities.

In Syria, 8.2 million people live in communities reporting explosive hazard contamination; men, women, and children, are exposed to the threat of debilitating injuries and death on a daily basis. According to the 2018 HNO, 2.9 million people inside Syria live with a permanent disability and there are 30,000 new conflict-related trauma cases per month leading to thousands of permanent disabilities requiring long-term and multi-dimensional support. Protracted conflict has eroded and overburdened the health system in Syria, so that large gaps remain in the provision of post-operative rehabilitation care. The conflict in Syria has been characterized by the extensive use of explosive weapons. Between January 2015 and May 2018, an average of 165 explosive hazard incidents were reported per day across the country.

The role and responsibilities of the Gender Advisor (under the supervision of the Senior Programme Manager will include the following:

Map, Assess and Analyse:

• Ensure the UN Gender Guidelines for mine action programmes are applied across the full programme management cycle in order to ensure gender objectives, as set out in the Guidelines, are translated to analysis, initiatives and operations, as well as decision-making processes and the development of good practices;
• Introduce gender mainstreaming into operational practice in the field by producing a single, coordinated plan incorporating initiatives undertaken and planned among stakeholders working on gender mainstreaming and Mine Action activities;
• Collect information pertaining to how gender is considered in mine action training, survey/clearance and risk education using mine action coordination forums as a source;
• Review planned Syria Response Programme capacity enhancement initiatives with relevant civil society organizations for comment/input regarding barriers to women’s empowerment and gender equality; and
• Collect, supervise and analyses sex and disability disaggregated data and measure progress against gender indicators.

Provide Technical Guidance and Support:

• Propose revisions, introduction of best practices and adoption of gender guidelines within the local/international mine action partners’ policies/SOP/manuals and practices to mainstream gender equality and improve prioritization and planning processes. Processes must take into consideration the specific needs of women in order to overcome social barriers, perceptions and challenges impeding women’s participation and influence in forums to prioritize areas for survey and clearance of explosive hazards, as well as priority areas for risk education;
• Facilitate multiple training/workshops for the Syria Response Programme and mine action partners managers and technical staff on gender mainstreaming in MA response. Examples include: information management, protection mainstreaming, prioritization setting, planning, and costing of mine action activities, ensuring meaningful engagement of women and men in prioritization and planning process, community liaison, and risk education activities;
• Propose a data collection system so that MA operators and authorities collect gender, disability, and age disaggregated data on beneficiaries;
• Facilitate multiple training/workshops for UNMAS partner staff to endorse the changes in SOPs and practices in gender mainstreaming in mine action (i.e. on topics of management of gender mainstreaming, quality assurance of gender mainstreaming activities in mine action and community liaison);
• Deliver limited target training for international and national mine action stakeholders as required in the short term;
• Provide Syria Response Programme management team with advice on how to strengthen and improve Syria Response Programme engagement and activities concerning gender as well as support with gender mainstreaming in Syria Response Programme proposals and other documentation;
• Proactively make recommendations on gender sensitive approaches, and support on specific initiatives as requested by MA partners;
• Advise gender mainstreaming to existing contractors and grantees to further improve and monitor its progress;
• Include specific gender indicators and describing strong and critical aspects related to the implementation of the planned activities quarterly internal reports for Syria Response Programme;
• Provide, on Syria Response Programme request, technical support to ensure that gender is further mainstreamed into all areas of the Syria Response Programme strategy;
• Supports the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security;
• Coordinates, as needed, with other UN agencies, Funds and Programmes that have complementary mandates on gender related issues through participating in working level mechanisms, as well as coordinates with relevant institutions; and
• Supports the provision of technical expertise as required to relevant partners on strategies for gender mainstreaming, including expanding the capacity for gender analysis and designing gender-sensitive policies and programmes.
• Perform any other duties as requested and tasked by the Senior Programme Manager.

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in development related disciplines, gender issues, human rights, political science, behavioral science, or other relevant social science fields, with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; OR
• First level University degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in development related disciplines, gender issues, human rights, political science, behavioral science, or other relevant social science fields, with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience.

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in gender and development, gender and security, gender analysis, or gender training
• Experience implementing gender-responsive initiatives is required
• Experience working on gender related issues in conflict / post-conflict environments is required
• Experience in humanitarian affairs and experience in mine action is highly desired
• Experience training on gender responsive mine action desired

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.