Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Gender Advisory Unit in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) Headquarters in Kabul. The Gender Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of the Gender Advisory Unit/Senior Gender Advisor. Kabul is classified as an “E” hardship non-family duty station.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Gender Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Supports and guides mission implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). • Suppors SGA to establish and oversee mechanisms for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on gender mainstreaming in mission activities. • Supports SGA in her liaison and coordination with partners, internal and external, as related to gender equality and women, peace, and security • Support SGA in providing technical inputs to the development of the joint strategic framework, joint programs, and coordination related to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls – priorities highlighted in the Mission’s mandate and their implementation, working in close coordination with the UN country team whose member agencies’ gender-related mandates focus on women’s economic empowerment. • Supports and guides mission level implementation of the UN system wide Gender Parity strategy. • Assisted by designated gender focal points, supports all mission components with the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes promoting gender sensitive approaches and combating gender- based violence. • Drafts, edits, and provides substantive inputs for periodic reports, briefings, and speeches on women, peace, and security issues. • Supports the delivery of gender training for all levels of mission personnel •The Gender Affairs Officer would coordinate, in collaboration with relevant UN agencies (UN Women and the International Organization for Migration), at the technical level, the preparation, administration, and reporting on the outcomes of the regular consultations of Afghan women on issues affecting their lives. • Collaborates with UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes, as with relevant institutions and NGOs, and regularly participates in inter-agency coordination forums. • The Gender Affairs Officer would conduct gender analysis to inform the Unit’s strategic frameworks supporting the engagement between UNAMA and de facto authorities on women, peace, and security at sub-national and national levels. • At the sub-national level, the Officer would strengthen the integration of gender perspectives in UNAMA outreach initiatives by supporting the engagement of key interlocutors, including women’s organizations/groups and other civil society organizations, women religious scholars and de facto authorities. • Represents the Mission on gender-related issues when needed. • Establishes working relationships with all mission pillars and sections. • Provides inputs to planning processes, including results-based budgeting (RBB) and reporting. • Provides day-to-day supervision of four staff, two international and two national officers • Provides substantive guidance to, and coordinates the substantive work of the designated mission gender focal points. • Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of the work of the United Nations, expertise in the field of Women’s Rights, International Human Rights Law, Human Rights, and International Relations, together with a thorough understanding of the concepts and practices related to gender equality, particularly gender mainstreaming and programming in conflict settings. Knowledge of UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace, and Security; Demonstrated drafting, monitoring, and reporting skills; ability to adapt to hardship missions and remote locations. Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, formulate options, draw conclusions, and make effective recommendations, particularly concerning addressing the rights and needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations; ability to formulate policy advice, position papers, and reports for the attention of senior managers. Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment. Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies, and guidelines related to gender issues. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others, and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style, and format to match audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; Adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently. Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in development studies, social studies in International Relations, Human Rights Law, Gender Studies, or a related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted instead of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least seven years of progressively responsible policy advice and program management experience related to the promotion of gender equality particularly with UN or international organizations in conflict or post-conflict settings is required. Proven expertise in integrating gender perspectives into mainstream policies or programs is required. Experience working in or in support of a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is required. Experience working with civil society organizations, research institutions or non-governmental organizations is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.

Assessment

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers by established rules and procedures. Qualified women who meet the requirements of this job opening are particularly encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration by the United Nations’ efforts to increase women’s participation in its workforce

United Nations Considerations

According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offense or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offenses may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations under staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position-specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the Inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information on their profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision, or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.