Gender Audit Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them realize their potential from early childhood to adolescence. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child, viewing this not just as a job but as a vocation. UNICEF is a place where careers are built, offering various professional and personal development opportunities to its staff, helping them strengthen their sense of duty while serving children and communities worldwide. The organization values diversity and inclusion, providing attractive compensation and benefits to its employees. For more information about UNICEF's activities, visit their website.

Job Overview:
The primary objective of the participatory gender audit diagnostic for the Ministry of National Education is to promote gender-sensitive management, planning, and monitoring in the education sector at both national and decentralized levels. This gender diagnostic aims to facilitate organizational learning, informing the development of future sectoral interventions to enhance gender-sensitive management, planning, and monitoring. Additionally, it will guide UNICEF and other UN agencies, as well as technical and financial partners in the education sector, to better integrate best practices and effective strategies related to gender-sensitive management, planning, and monitoring into their future funding proposals. The consultant will be responsible for assessing the integration of gender dimensions in the education sector through three main axes: employee knowledge and capacities, vision, policies, and operations, and organizational structure and culture.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assess the level of awareness and knowledge of employees regarding gender equality and the rights of girls and adolescents. Evaluate their skills and organizational support related to gender capacity building.
• Examine the integration of gender in the vision, policies, strategies, programs, budgets, and implementation of activities. Analyze monitoring, reporting, and performance systems concerning gender equality. Evaluate partner selection in relation to promoting gender and the rights of girls and adolescents.
• Analyze staff distribution and parity at different levels of the ministry. Assess HR policies for their sensitivity or transformative nature regarding gender. Identify decision-making bodies and analyze the organizational culture concerning gender equality.
• Utilize a participatory approach involving stakeholders at national and regional levels. Employ a mixed-methods approach using both quantitative (primary and secondary) and qualitative data. Collect data through document reviews, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and questionnaires. Triangulate data to formulate solid findings and conclusions.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master's degree in social sciences (sociology, gender studies, demography, psychology, political science, or economics), public policy, or international development.
• At least 5 years of solid technical expertise in gender, particularly regarding the integration of gender in public policies and gender-sensitive financial planning with an understanding of social change.
• 8 years of experience in conducting analyses and research focused on gender equality and school dynamics.
• At least 3 years of experience collaborating with UN agencies.
• Experience in a country or programming related to gender in East Africa is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in common office tools: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and good internet research and navigation skills.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in social sciences, public policy, or international development is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure the candidate has the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively conduct gender audits and assessments within the education sector.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, with at least 5 years focused on gender integration in public policies and financial planning. Candidates should have substantial experience in conducting gender-focused analyses and research, particularly in educational contexts. Experience working with UN agencies and in East African programming is strongly preferred, indicating a need for familiarity with the regional context and challenges.

Languages:
Fluency in French is mandatory, while knowledge of English is considered an asset. Proficiency in both languages will enhance communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders and partners in the region.

Additional Notes:
This position is expected to last until September 2025, with a focus on full-time engagement. The role may involve international recruitment, and candidates should be aware that UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy regarding any behavior incompatible with the objectives and principles of the United Nations and UNICEF. The organization promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce, encouraging applications from qualified women and individuals with disabilities. UNICEF offers a range of benefits, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. All candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and selected candidates may need to provide additional information for verification purposes. The recruitment process is free of charge, and UNICEF does not request bank details at any stage.