Intergovernmental Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance the impact of gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives. The organization is dedicated to eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between women and men. UN Women operates globally, providing support to various UN Women offices at Headquarters and in field locations to implement its Strategic Plan for 2022-2025 and to meet internationally agreed goals on gender equality, including the Beijing Declaration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The organization employs a diverse workforce and engages in innovative practices to support its mission.

Job Overview:
The Intergovernmental Specialist position is pivotal in leading UN Women’s engagement with Member States and stakeholders to promote gender perspectives in intergovernmental processes. The role focuses on sustainable development, climate change, biodiversity, and other environmental issues, particularly concerning small island developing states. The incumbent will develop strategies and provide technical support to ensure that gender equality is integrated into intergovernmental discussions and outcomes. This position requires a strong understanding of policy analysis and the ability to navigate complex intergovernmental negotiations while advocating for gender-responsive policies. The specialist will also be responsible for conducting research, drafting policy papers, and strengthening partnerships with various stakeholders to advance UN Women’s objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide substantive and technical support to the Intergovernmental Support Section’s engagement with intergovernmental processes, focusing on sustainable development, climate change, biodiversity, and small island developing states. This includes developing engagement strategies, participating in intergovernmental meetings, and ensuring gender equality issues are mainstreamed in negotiations.
• Lead research and analysis on gender perspectives in relation to sustainable development and environmental issues, monitoring policy approaches and intergovernmental debates, and drafting substantive papers and policy inputs for relevant reports.
• Strengthen partnerships with Member States, international organizations, and civil society, building relationships and networks to promote gender equality. Organize inter-agency meetings and stakeholder events to foster collaboration.
• Contribute to the strategic coherence and operational effectiveness of the Intergovernmental Support Section by advising field offices on integrating intergovernmental outcomes into programming and providing inputs for internal monitoring processes.
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in international relations, environmental studies, public policy, or related fields. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in policy analysis and guidance related to sustainable development and gender equality, with a strong background in intergovernmental negotiations and processes.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position is a Master's degree or equivalent in fields such as international relations, environmental studies, climate change, public policy, development studies, gender studies, or social sciences. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with additional qualifying experience may be considered.

Experience:
The role requires at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in providing analysis and policy guidance on sustainable development, climate change, and gender equality. Experience with UN organizations is highly desirable, as is experience in intergovernmental negotiations and integrating gender perspectives into policy analysis. Candidates should have a proven track record in drafting policy documents and managing partnerships in a multilateral setting.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Fluency in French is desirable, and knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and may involve international recruitment. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications and organizational needs. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct and expects all personnel to adhere to its standards of conduct. Background checks will be conducted on selected candidates, including verification of academic credentials and employment history.