Gender Equality Specialist

Details

Mission and objectives

The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) system encompasses all organizations of the United Nations system dealing with operational activities for development, regardless of their formal presence in the country. The RC system aims to bring together the different UN agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities at the country level.

Context

In Mauritania, the United Nations Development System is represented by several Agencies, Funds, and Programmes and entities that carry out their activities according to their specific mandates and in line with the United Nations Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development signed with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The Country Team works under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, whose role is to bring together the various UN entities to strengthen the coherence and effectiveness of the UN support to Mauritania’s vision enshrined in its Stratégie de Croissance Accélérée et de Prospérité Partagée (SCAPP). The UN system support has been focused on supporting Mauritania efforts to deliver on SDGs 1 to 8, 10, and 13 to 17. Support has focused, inter alia, on improving basic social services, enhancing food security and nutrition, tackling environment and climate change related issues, and strengthening governance. In line with national priorities, the United Nations system has started its joint programming process toward its next UNSDCF (2023-2027), building on the Common Country Assessment for the year 2021 and the current cooperation framework (2018-2022). Meanwhile, the country has been recipient of PBF funds since 2018. PBF investments will continue to place emphasis on advancing the role of women and gender equality in the country. Mauritania has made progress in the field of gender equality and women's political participation. On 26 April 2021, Mauritania adopted its National Action Plan (NAP) 2020-2024 for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. However, challenges remain. Meanwhile, legislative, regional and municipal elections are scheduled for May 2023. In this context, it will be essential for the UN to assist the country in its efforts to implement the women's peace and security agenda and, in particular, to encourage the political participation of women. Against that background, the UN Volunteer will support the efforts of the Resident Coordinator Office, the Agencies, Funds and Programs and the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) to advance gender equality, women empowerment, and the women, peace and security agenda in the country

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Head of Office/Strategic Planner and Team Leader, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Provide overall strategic guidance and support to the UNCT on gender equality and mainstreaming • Support the implementation of the National Action Plan of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 "Women, Peace and Security" • Conduct research and analysis to guide policy advocacy and programming to promote the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Mauritania • Contribute to the implementation of the CEDAW observations; Participate in the human rights and gender task force; prepare the UNCT score card • Working closely with the Secretariat of the Peace Building Fund (PBF) and UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes (AFPs), contribute technical input to all project proposals and reports to ensure gender mainstreaming • Support gender analysis and assessment to identify needs, constraints and opportunities to mainstream gender equality • Provide technical inputs and guidance to strengthen the gender dimension in all programme documents, concept notes and strategy documents, including PBF projects and the cooperation framework (UNSDCF) and the annual Common country analysis (CCA) • Strengthen capacity development through knowledge sharing, training, awareness, and meetings with UN Agencies and National stakeholders to support gender mainstreaming • Support the implementation of the PDA sponsored catalytic project on "Promoting youth and women's participation and role in hate speech prevention and conflict prevention and furthering climate security". • Provide technical support to the PSEA Task Force to implement the 2023 workplan and to build capacities of the task force members • Perform other tasks as required