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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, future

UNICEF is at an important turning point, as a new Sustainable Development framework has been adopted.  Within this context, implementation of UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan 2014-2017 in alignment with the Strategic Plan demonstrates the organization’s strengthened commitment to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as its core mandate.

UNICEF’s work on gender equality is guided by the Gender Action Plan 2014-2017 (GAP), which advances gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in key areas of UNICEF's work. The GAP identifies four targeted gender priorities – ending child marriage, promoting gender-responsive adolescent health, advancing girl's secondary education, and addressing gender-based violence in emergencies – and elucidates the gender dimensions within each of UNICEF’s seven strategic outcome areas – Health, Nutrition, Water Sanitation & Hygiene, Education, Child Protection, HIV/AIDs and Social Inclusion. Additionally, the GAP includes indicators for measuring the success of UNICEF’s gender programming and outlines steps to strengthen UNICEF’s institutional effectiveness in promoting gender equality throughout its programmatic work.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of the job:

Under the guidance of Deputy Representative, the Gender & Development Officer provides authoritative technical guidance/operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results contributing to gender equality in alignment with the Gender Action Plan. S/he supports the development, implementation, and monitoring of high quality gender programming across sectors in alignment with the Gender Action Plan. The Specialist:

1. Supports senior programme colleagues and management of the Country Office to advance one or more of the four Targeted Gender Priorities in the Gender Action Plan with support from the Regional Gender Adviser. S/he also plays a role in working with one or more of the 7 UNICEF sectors to mainstream gender by prioritising key gender results within the sector(s) with a strong gender relevance;
2. Leads cross-sectional collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on gender, ensuring coherence, maximisation of synergies and efficiency in utilisation of resources and delivery of results;
3. Works with programme colleagues and management so that gender results are effectively defined, measured, and reported, and high-quality assessment, research, evidence generation and evaluation on gender programming is undertaken and utilised, including through the application of the MoRES framework and effective theories of change;
4. Supports/leads effective review, assessment, planning, capacity building, and knowledge management on gender;
5. Supports the assessment and identification of gender needs for emergency preparedness and response, and provides gender relevant guidance and technical input on emergency programming.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Management and/or advisory support to Deputy Representative, Senior Gender Programme Specialist or Representative
2. Program development and planning
3. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results
4. Advisory services and technical support
5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Gender Programme Specialist Level 4 JD

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

• Advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in the social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF’s sectoral work (e.g. Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, HIV/AIDs, etc.), or,
• Two years of additional relevant work experience gained after obtaining a bachelor’s degree may be accepted in lieu of advanced degree in social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF’s sectoral work (e.g. Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, HIV/AIDs, etc.).
• Academic credentials in gender are a strong asset.

Work Experience:

• Minimum eight years of progressively responsible professional experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming and research on gender and development in key issue areas that are the focus of UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan.
• Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes on gender and development or any other cross-cutting programme.
• Experience in any other sector in a coordinator role in the past, especially at the country/field level, will be an advantage.
• Experience in emergency response is an asset.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English; Fluency in another UN language is an asset.
• Knowledge of the local working language of the duty station/region is an asset.  

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

· Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)

· Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3)

· Works Collaboratively with others (3)

· Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3)

· Innovates and Embraces Change (3)

· Thinks and Acts Strategically (3)

· Drives to achieve impactful results (3)

· Manages ambiguity and complexity (3)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

• This position is based in New Delhi, India.
• This position is open for all Indian Nationals and for internal candidates possessing a valid work permit for India. 
• This VA is open to internal UNICEF staff only i.e. UNICEF staff holding permanent, continuing, and fixed term appointments. 
• The selected applicant will have an initial two (2) years fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance.
• UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. Eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
• UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.  
• UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited / recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.