Advisor on Gender Equality [Open to Tier 0, 1, and 2 candidates]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP's policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP's Strategic Plan. BPPS's staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP's Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP's development programmes.  BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

UNDP has achieved significant progress in making gender equality and women’s empowerment integral to its work on human development. The Gender Team-BPPS is currently leading the development of UNDP’s new Gender Equality Strategy (GES 2026-2029), in line with the new Strategic Plan (SP 2026-2029) that outlines four strategic objectives (Prosperity for all, Effective Governance, Crisis Resilience and Healthy Planet) and three accelerators (Digital and AI, Gender Equality and Sustainable Finance).  Once the strategy is approved, the Gender Team will have the leading role in its implementation, including through the effective implementation of Gender Equality Global Programme.

Position Purpose

Reporting to the Head of Gender in New York, the Senior Advisor on Gender Equality is responsible for providing strategic policy advice and programme support; leading communications and knowledge management initiatives; strengthening partnerships, representation, and advocacy efforts; and contributing to management functions, corporate priorities, and resource mobilization.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provision of High-Level Policy Advice and Programme Support
   1. Coordinate and substantively guide GPN and HQ, regional and COs teams on integration of gender equality and women’s empowerment in policy and programming frameworks, strategies, and programmes.
   2. Develop innovative and effective models of collaboration with other teams to ensure integration of gender equality across their priorities and allocation of budgets. Lead smooth coordination, transfer of expertise and capacities, and promote sustainability of results.
   3. Initiate new innovative global flagships to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment around the world and within UNDP; and oversee ongoing ones, including the Gender Seal (Development, Public Seal and Private Seal).
   4. Provide guidance on corporate alignment of UNDP work to new gender policies and system wide frameworks. 
   5. Deliver quality assurance of relevant UNDPs gender policies, knowledge products and services.
2. Advise on Strategic Communications and Lead Knowledge Management.
   1. Provide strategic advice and oversee the Gender Team’s communication efforts, including visibility of the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2029 and quality assurance of knowledge products.
   2. Liaise with the UNDP communications network to ensure alignment with strategic launches, and international recognition days. 
   3. Drive collaboration across across Bureaus and Teams to deliver high impact campaigns on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
   4. Lead the Global Gender Community of Practice, including by ensuring periodic global sessions and development of knowledge products as needed.
   5. Foster innovation to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment, in partnership with Regional Hubs, Country Offices and Innovation Labs.
3. Partnerships, Representation and Advocacy.
   1. Forge key partnerships with governments, CSOs, think Tanks, academia and the private sector in key priority areas of the Gender Equality Strategy.
   2. Mobilize, foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN Agencies and Funds, the EOSG, MPTFO, the UN Secretariat, and other agencies within the UN.
   3. Represent UNDP in interagency coordination and in other fora to engage partners in advancing the strategic agenda of gender equality.
   4. Represent UNDP at international conferences and seminars and in the relationship with the country hosting HQ2.
4. Management, Corporate Priorities and Resource Mobilization.
   1. Support BPPS Leadership and the Head of Gender to implement the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2029 including intergovernmental and accountability functions link to the Executive Board, UN SWAP, GEAP and CSW.
   2. Develop proposals and establish partnership to mobilize financial resources that benefit regional hubs and country Offices.
   3. Lead and manage the team, including overseeing annual work planning and reporting, supervising staff and personnel and ensuring an enabling environment.
   4. Oversee the Gender Team’s operational support personnel, ensuring timely and quality support for the effective implementation of programme priorities.
   5. Oversee the effective implementation of the Gender Equality Global Programme, including annual reporting, board meetings, and alignment with the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2029 and the Strategic Plan 2026-2029.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

Competencies

Core: Full list of UNDP Core Competencies can be found here.  

• Achieve Results: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion.

Cross-Functional & Technical: UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

• 2030 Agenda: People -
  • Gender Equality Strategy
  • Communication and Advocacy for Gender Equality
  • Knowledge Management and Learning on Gender Equality
• Business Management  - Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management
• Business Development - UNDP Representation: Effectively represent and advocate for UNDP, its values, mission, work, and positions with various constituencies/audiences, shares UNDP knowledge and activities.
• Business Management - Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• Business Direction and Strategy - System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Gender in Development, Economics, Social Sciences, Political Sciences or related Social Sciences. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years (with master’s degree) or 12 years (with bachelor’s degree) of overall relevant professional experience leading teams, providing policy and programme advice and pioneering approaches in the field of gender equality and women’s empowerment in different development contexts is required.
• At least 5 years of working experience in implementing gender equality strategies, programmes or projects in large and complex inter-governmental organizations is required.
• Proven track record of excellent communications skills with public speaking experience are required.
• At least 3 years of experience working in developing countries and/or in crisis contexts is desirable.
• Proven experience in partnerships and resource mobilization is desirable.
• Proven experience in communications and knowledge management and learning is an asset.
• Experience and knowledge of UNDP’s work on gender equality and UN-System interagency coordination mechanisms is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. 
• Working knowledge of Spanish is desired.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.