Policy Specialist, LGBTI Inclusion, Africa

• Strengthening the commitment and capacity of African decision makers to include and respond to sexual and gender diversity issues (including parliamentarians, judges, human rights officials, religious leaders and others).
• Strengthening the capacity of LGBTI activists and allies from other SDG-focused social movements (gender equality, poverty alleviation, health for all, etc.) to understand and work with each other and to influence decision makers.
• Including sexual and gender diversity issues and LGBTI communities in the development and implementation of laws, policies and programmes.
• Stimulating demand for and use of relevant ideas, evidence, and innovations.
• Sustaining and expanding international donor funding for evidence- and community-informed LGBTI and key population regional work in Africa.

• Oversee the relationship between UNDP and its four core CSO implementation partners in the Inclusive Governance Initiative;
• Ensure that activities managed by the four core CSO implementation partners are executed according to agreed action plans and within established budgets, in accordance with the UNDP-CSO Agreements;
• Promote knowledge sharing and coaching among the four core CSO implementation partners;
• Ensure timely submission of programmatic and financial reports by the four core CSO implementation partners as well as providing timely feedback on reports to the partners;
• Lead the development and implementation of the overall project monitoring system, encompassing the work of UNDP and its partners in the Inclusive Governance Initiative;
• Manage the relationship with UNDP’s external evaluation contractor(s), ensuring timely delivery of quality evaluation reports;
• Ensure that results and lessons from monitoring and evaluation are integrated into strategies and workplans of UNDP and its partners;
• Prepare periodic reports to Inclusive Governance Initiative donors.

• Develop and manage an overall communications strategy for the Inclusive Governance Initiative, including attention to communications inside and beyond UNDP;
• Develop and manage specific processes for risk monitoring and for crisis and controversy communication and response;
• Access and share relevant good practices from and with a broad range of stakeholders and ensure their incorporation into project implementation;
• Institutionalize best practices and knowledge sharing among Country Offices, core CSO partners, and other stakeholders, including active participation in UNDP and other relevant networks (e.g., communities of practice) and social media;
• Contribute to briefings as needed for Country Offices; the HIV, Health and Development team (at regional and global levels); the Regional Bureau for Africa; and development partners.

• Provide timely and quality technical advisory support, guidance and facilitation support to relevant UNDP Country Offices, and UN Country teams more broadly, in their activities related to the Inclusive Governance Initiative, including relevant support to government and national entities; 
• In relevant countries and in response to country office demand, support the mainstreaming of LGBTI inclusion into other UNDP work on HIV/health, governance, sustainable development and poverty reduction, human rights, and gender equality, in collaboration with technical partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector.

• Coordinate and build effective partnerships & synergies with other relevant UNDP initiatives and projects, including those focused on HIV key populations, gender, inclusion and human rights. 
• Identify, build relationships with, and seek to achieve synergies with relevant projects and initiatives outside UNDP; 
• Support resource mobilization efforts, resulting in concrete contributions to results and enhanced financing for the Initiative, other UNDP projects, and wider efforts to support LGBTI rights and inclusion in the region.

• Ability to persuade others to follow

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

• Advanced university degree in relevant field such as public/business administration, gender/sexuality studies, public health, law, or international development studies, or an undergraduate degree with an additional 2 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience, including at least 5 years in Africa. 
• Demonstrated experience of working with African civil society groups involved in LGBTI inclusion and rights or closely related fields, such as HIV among key populations.
• Demonstrated experience in working on programmes that interact with government officials at national, sub-regional and/or regional levels.
• Knowledge and experience of collaborating with (or working within) UNDP and/or UN agency is an advantage.
• Relevant publications are an advantage.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese an asset. 

• Willingness to travel to UNDP Country Offices.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)
• Non-Smoking environment 

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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