Specialist on Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination

Introduction

This position is located in the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (DWT/CO-Moscow), based in Moscow, Russian Federation.  DWT/CO-Moscow provides high-quality, timely and integrated technical support to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Decent Work Country Programmes within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and outcome-based work plans.
 

The position will contribute to ensuring that the ILO is a lead reference in the area of gender equality and non-discrimination in the world of work by providing policy advice and technical support on gender equality and non-discrimination in the countries covered by DWT/CO-Moscow; ensuring knowledge-sharing on the subject-matter throughout the Europe region; and developing knowledge products and tools, and substantive policy content of inter-agency cooperation within the UN system.  The incumbent will be accountable for the timely delivery of all outputs under their responsibility, including overall coordination with activities in other technical areas implemented under the DWT/CO-Moscow’s outcome-based work plan.
 

The position will report to the Director of DWT/CO-Moscow and will receive technical guidance and advice from the Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Branch (GEDI) at ILO headquarters. The position will work in close cooperation with other technical specialists in the DWT/CO-Moscow, as well as with development cooperation staff where necessary.

Specific Duties

1.    Conceptualize and formulate policy advice and recommendations to Member States in the sub-region on all gender equality and non-discrimination related issues, including those related to HIV/AIDS; advise on integrating gender equality and non-discrimination in Decent Work Country Programmes and development cooperation programmes with Member States; promote and mainstream ILO gender equality and non-discrimination standards and tools into the national development context. 

2.    Assess needs and provide technical advice to ILO constituents, in collaboration with GEDI and other ILO technical departments, on how to enhance the effectiveness of national laws, policies and institutions regarding gender equality and non-discrimination, including multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination in line with relevant international labour standards. This includes equal remuneration for work of equal value,  violence and harassment in the world of work,  and the care economy including care leave policies. .

3.    Contribute to major ILO-wide gender equality and non-discrimination initiatives, including the transformative agenda for gender equality outlined in the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work and the Global Call to Action for a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Contribute to enabling  environments that are effective in overcoming the structural nature of discrimination. 
4.    Design, supervise and conduct relevant analytical and policy oriented research, in cooperation with GEDI, on gender and non-discrimination issues, including regarding major trends, policy options and the root causes and manifestations of inequality and discrimination.  Analyse and synthesize this information in order to identify entry points for ILO actions at the national, sectoral and sub-regional levels, and to contribute to major ILO-wide gender equality initiatives.  

5.    Contribute to the preparation of reports and publications, and easily accessible documents, such as policy briefs, tools and other resource materials, on the legal, policy and technical aspects of various dimensions of gender equality and non-discrimination, including multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, for ILO constituents and other stakeholders.

6.    Develop diversified capacity-building strategies for different audiences, especially governments, employers' and workers' organizations, labour inspectors, and other relevant stakeholders, in the field of equality and diversity. Special attention will be paid to the promotion of the most recent Violence and Harassment Convention (No.190) and Recommendation (No. 206), 2019, and the Equal Pay International Coalition initiative. Develop and adapt training materials and other tools, as well as facilitate and support conferences and workshops at national and sub-regional levels.

7.    Collaborate with the specialists of DWT/CO-Moscow on the integration of gender and non-discrimination into their respective work programmes, including providing advice on undertaking gender analysis, on responding to the needs of the constituents, as expressed in the Decent Work Country Programmes, and on the development of ILO’s knowledge base on gender and non-discrimination issues, including data collection, analysis and processing in the region.  Support, monitor and report on the implementation of ILO operational objectives and the cross-cutting driver on gender equality and non-discrimination.

Generic Duties

1. Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves: re-analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics and information or policy guidelines, in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognised technical specialisation. 
2. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
3. Provide policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
4. Formulate and submit project proposals and seek funding.
5. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
6. Undertake technical advisory missions independently or in collaboration with other specialists.
7. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings and training courses.
8. Prepare draft recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO Recommendations or Conventions on related technical fields.
9. Write manuals and/or training guides on related topics.
10. Disseminate information on programmes through publications and, press releases, as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
11. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
12. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, regional meetings and conference reports).
13. Participate in tripartite reviews on development cooperation activities and international meetings and conferences.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree in law, feminist economics, social sciences, gender studies, or related areas.

Experience

Eight years of relevant professional experience at the national level or five years at international level working on labour issues with a focus on gender equality and non-discrimination in the world of work.

This includes advocacy, programme and policy design and management, legislation review, training and human resource management. Work experience in Eastern Europe and Central Asia would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of English. Working knowledge of Russian is an asset.

Competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies, this position requires:

Technical

Ability to:  synthesize research and reach empirically based conclusions on relevant subjects; provide seasoned advice on best practices, to address broader issues outside the field of specialization; formulate new concepts and methodologies; develop training materials, alternative courses of action, project proposals, policy, procedural matters and present them at high-level meetings; design and synthesize strategies for programme development in Member States; produce reports (e.g. reports for regional conferences and the International Labour Conference, technical publications, training manuals and draft resolutions) and evaluate and monitor development cooperation activities and projects.

Behavioural

Ability to communicate with diverse actors such as governments, employers' and workers’ organizations, partner non-governmental organizations, UN and other inter-governmental organizations and the private sector.  Ability to engage in capacity-building and provide policy advice.  Good inter-personal skills and ability to cooperate and liaise with other members of the team and other programmes at ILO headquarters and in the field offices.  Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.