Specialist on Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination

Introduction

The position is located in the ILO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RO-Lima), based in Lima, Peru. RO-Lima has overall political and management responsibilities for the promotion of ILO principles and policies in the region and provides strategic guidance and support to all Country Offices and Decent Work Technical Support Teams (DWTs) in the region.

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 coordinating work across the Latin America and Caribbean region; providing policy advice and technical support on gender equality and non-discrimination in the countries in the region; ensuring knowledge-sharing on the subject matter throughout the 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 her/his responsibility, including overall coordination with activities in other technical areas implemented in the region under the Office-wide work plan on the Programme and Budget outcome on gender equality and equal opportunities in the world of work. The position will work in close cooperation with other technical specialists in the region.

The position will report to the Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean and will receive technical guidance and advice from the Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Branch (GEDI) of the Conditions of Work and Equality Department (WORKQUALITY) at ILO headquarters. The incumbent will be part of the ILO Gender Network, and a member of the WORKQUALITY Global Technical Team. 

Specific Duties

1.    Lead and coordinate across the region the promotion and  inclusion of gender equality and non-discrimination issues in the world of work in Decent Work Country Programmes, UN Frameworks and outcome-based work plans, and collaborate with specialists of the concerned DWTs on the integration of gender and non-discrimination into their respective work programmes, including on undertaking gender analysis, on responding to the needs of constituents, and on the development of the ILO’s knowledge base on gender equality and non-discrimination. 
2.    Conceptualize and formulate policy advice and recommendations to Member States in  the region on all gender equality and non-discrimination related issues, 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. 
3.    Assess needs and provide technical advice to ILO constituents, in collaboration with GEDI, other ILO technical departments and other UN agencies and development partners, 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, and other discriminated populations, in line with relevant international labour standards. This includes equal remuneration for work of equal value, violence and harassment in the world of work, promoting women´s employment and entrepreneurship, and investment in the care economy including care leave policies. 
4.    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. Contribute towards planning and overseeing the implementation of the Programme and Budget outcome on gender equality and equal opportunities in the world of work.   
5.    Design, supervise and conduct relevant analytical and policy-oriented research, in cooperation with GEDI, other technical departments and UN agencies and development partners on gender and non-discrimination issues, including regarding major trends, policy options and the root causes and manifestations of inequality and discrimination in the world of work.  Analyse and synthesize this information in order to identify entry points for ILO actions at the regional, sub-regional, national and sectoral levels, and to contribute to major ILO-wide gender equality initiatives.  
6.    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.
7.    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 sub-regional and regional levels.

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8.    Coordinate with the specialists in the region 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 or country programme outcomes (CPOs), and on the development of ILO’s knowledge base on gender and non-discrimination issues, including data collection, analysis and processing in the region. 
9.    Coordinate and provide guidance to the gender focal points in the region. 
10.    Participate in gender networks and those addressing non-discrimination (inter-agency, UN Country Teams, donors, academia, etc) in order to enhance the ILO’s contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and country development frameworks.
11.    Monitor and report on the implementation of ILO operational objectives and the gender-equality and non-discrimination marker.
12.    Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

These specific duties are aligned with the relevant ILO generic job description, which includes the following generic duties:

Generic Duties

1. Lead, organize, plan, supervise and control the work of a technical unit (including managerial functions).
2. Design and promote a wide range of special subject-matter-related programmes, This involves analysis of complex or conflicting data, statistics, information or policy guidelines in a manner requiring the advanced application of principles of a recognized technical specialization. 
3. Develop and review an institutional framework, in which social partners can best improve, implement and evaluate efficient and equitable ILO action programmes.
4. Assume full responsibility for policy formulation and providing policy advice to ILO’s constituents on institutional strengthening, the application of ILO standards and the promotion of development cooperation activities.
5. Develop project design, review proposals, formulate, revise and submit project proposals and negotiate funding.
6. Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities.
7. Lead technical advisory missions.
8. Conduct seminars, workshops and technical meetings.
9. Prepare recommendations and guidelines for discussion and adoption as ILO recommendations on related technical fields.
10. Write manuals and training guides on related topics.
11. Disseminate information on action programmes through publications and press releases as well as ensuring representation at donors’ meetings, international, regional and national fora and advocacy campaigns.
12. Monitor and coordinate research carried out by junior technical officers and external collaborators.
13. Provide technical inputs to office documents (sectoral meetings, technical committees, conference reports, Director General’s report to ILC).

Required qualifications

Education

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

Experience

Ten to fifteen years’ experience of which seven 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, research studies and assessments, training and human resource management. Work experience in Americas is an advantage.  Previous experience involving coordination with other UN agencies will be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of Spanish and a working knowledge of English. Knowledge of Portuguese and French will be an advantage. 

Competencies

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

Demonstrated and recognized technical and /or managerial leadership in carrying out the objectives and policies of the related work unit, demonstrated technical expertise to devise new methods, concepts, approaches and techniques, leading to development of ILO standards and technical guidelines and ability to prepare ILO strategy reports in the related field for programme development, the ability to provide policy advice and the ability to manage large projects and to coordinate activities among projects.  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 interpersonal skills and ability to cooperate and liaise with other members of the team and other programmes at ILO headquarters and in the field offices. The ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.