Background
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges. In the programme countries, UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance, and development priorities in in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners, and other partners to help the country to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock.

UNDP has been a trusted development partner of the Maldives for more than 40 years, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities and exclusion in areas such governance, environment protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation. In each of its thematic areas of work, UNDP at the request of its national partners provides relevant policy advisory support, technical assistance, advocacy, and knowledge to help Maldives achieve its global commitment on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). With Maldives’s transition to Middle Income Country Status, Official Development Assistance from traditional donor sources has been on the continuous decline. UNDP is therefore working with its national partners to identify and tap into alternative and innovative financing mechanisms for development. This process involves broadening outreach and forging wide-ranging partnerships with stakeholders - including other UN agencies, the government, the private sector, philanthropic Foundations, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and International Finance Institutions to advance the country’s development strategies and objectives.

The Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services works for the protection and promotion of the rights of vulnerable groups in the Maldives. The Ministry’s main responsibilities include; Women’s Rights & Empowerment, Gender Equality, Child Rights & Family Well-being, Elderly Rights & Well-being, Disability Rights and Well-being and Social Protection Services. The Ministry works to promote women’s rights and improve the status and wellbeing of women in the Maldives including key focus areas such as women’s empowerment in social, economic & public life, protection from domestic violence and eliminating all forms of discrimination.

The Gender Equality Law (GEL) 18/2016, which was endorsed on 23 August 2016, and which came into effect on 22 February 2017, provides general principles to achieve gender equality in the Maldives. It provides a framework to formulate policies that prohibit discrimination based on gender and outlines the duties and responsibilities of State institutions and other relevant parties to achieve gender equality in  their respective spheres. GEL implementation was initiated with awareness programs conducted to State institutions as well as private sectors. As it is mandatory to establish a complaint mechanism under GEL Article 20 (g), Minimum Standards of the complaint mechanism guideline was published on 12 July 2017. To date 64 institutions have established GEL complaint mechanism.  The law amongst other things, also requires the adoption of a National Policy on Gender Equality and a National Gender Equality Action Plan, to ensure the effective implementation of the Law within set timelines.

UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services (MoGFSS) formulated the National Gender Equality Policy (GEP) which includes a framework of actions for the attainment of the five policy goals in the five emphasized areas of Leadership and Governance, Economic Empowerment, Institutional Gender Mainstreaming, Gender Based Violence and Access to Justice. However, as the policy was endorsed before the ratification of GEL, and with the enactment of GEL, MoGFSS undertook additional work to align GEP with national priorities and was ratified in September 2019.

In 2017, UNDP and MoGFSS also initiated the work on developing the Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) and a subsequent Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the GEAP was also drafted in 2018 along with the Terms of References for a Steering Committee and Technical Committee that would guide the implementation and monitoring of the GEAP with the former largely responsible for providing policy level guidance and direction. Given the recent development of the Government’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP 2019-2023), the GEAP and Monitoring Framework was aligned and updated according to the current national priorities in 2021.

With the endorsement of the National Gender Equality Action Plan on 22 February 2022 and its subsequent launching on 22 March 2022, UNDP together with MoGFSS is seeking the services of a local programme officer to support the roll-out and implementation of the plan across the Government and relevant stakeholders for a period of at least 1 (one) year under the supervision of the Gender Development and Empowerment Department of MoGFSS.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Programme Officer will be based at the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services and will be accountable to the Head of Gender Development and Empowerment Department at the Ministry  and the UNDP Programme Manager assigned to this consultancy. Quarterly meetings will be held with Programme Manager of UNDP Maldives.

Under the guidance of MoGFSS, the programme officer is expected to oversee and manage all the work of the National Gender Equality Action Plan. The tasks to be undertaken by the consultant under the Terms of Reference include the following.

  • Day-to-day management of activities related to the roll-out of GEAP
  • Secretarial support to the Steering and Technical Committees formed under GEAP including coordination with relevant Government partners and stakeholders, creating strategic partnerships, documentation and reporting
  • Managing the functioning of the technical committee formed under GEAP
  • Support implementation of actions by MoGFSS as stipulated in GEAP
  • Manage and support the development and implementation of project proposal and budgets
  • Provide support where required for procurement process and administrative procedure in implementing GEAP activities
  • Create strategic partnerships with government, non-government, and private sector stakeholders and beneficiaries for implementation of GEAP including liaising with local councils and monitoring of any resulting agreements or contracts
  • Actively support the resource mobilization efforts for GEAP and maintain close relationships with development partners
  • Provide support for effective monitoring and evaluation for ensuring implementation of GEAP activities
  • Prepares background analytical papers and reports as required.
  • Performance of other duties as required in support of project implementation
  • Provide project information, monthly progress reports and other documentation requested by the Head of Department for review in a timely manner
Competencies
Core competencies:
  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
  • Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

General Governance

  • Knowledge of governance concepts, principles and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations: Implement & Manage: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content or responsive to a stated need
  • Knowledge of development cooperation which can then be carried forward into inclusive, country-led mechanisms for development cooperation at national and regional level: Implement & Manage: Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Project Management

  • Knowledge of Project Management concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations: Implement & Manage: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Knowledge to monitor and evaluate through independent judgements based on set criteria and benchmarks: Implement & Manage: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results

Innovation

  • Ability to manage organizational resources and deployment in pursuit of innovative approaches and initiatives: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Building Strategic  Partnerships

  • Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and  stakeholders: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to  manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Resource Mobilization

  • Analyzes information,  identifies opportunities for  project proposals for  presentation to donors: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge  independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team  responsibilities, in area of work
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Master’s Degree in Gender and Development Studies, Development Studies, or relevant discipline; or
  • A minimum of a bachelor's degree in Gender and Development Studies, Development Studies, or relevant discipline
Experience:
  • For candidates with a bachelor's degree, a minimum of 2 (two) years of experience working in a similar field
  • Demonstrated ability of timely completion of assignments.
  • Must possess excellent communication, management, and coordination skills
  • Proven ability to produce work independently with limited supervision
  • Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals
  • Takes initiative and calculated risks and follows up regularly to drive successful implementation
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Manages conflict and stress and works effectively as a mediator to resolve problems
  • Anticipates and understands partner needs, formulates clear strategic plans, prioritizes interventions, and allocates resources according to priorities
  • Innovation - Ability to make new and useful ideas work. Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully.
  • Communication - Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
  • Delivery - Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement. Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products and services.
  • Operational Efficiency - Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency
  • Team building - Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals
  • Advance computer skills with experience in using application such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, virtual meeting platforms etc
  • Demonstrate expertise in collating information, analysis and report writing
  • Prior work experience relevant to gender mainstreaming and coordination with government, civil society and other relevant stakeholders.
  • Experience in working the area of development (national) would be an advantage.

Language Requirement:

  • Strong communication skills, verbal and written; and good command of English and Dhivehi (in both written and spoken)
Disclaimer
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
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