Gender Coordination Officer

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an organization grounded in the vision of equality as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Established to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, UN Women works towards the empowerment of women and the achievement of gender equality. The organization leads and coordinates efforts within the United Nations System to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming are translated into actionable results globally. UN Women collaborates with civil society and other relevant actors to build effective partnerships and support Member States' priorities. In Sri Lanka, UN Women co-chairs the UN Gender Theme Group, which is responsible for coordinating and providing policy advice on gender equality issues. The organization is also a principal partner in several outcome results groups and UN joint programmes, contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) for 2018-2022, which outlines the UN's strategic support to national development results in Sri Lanka. UN Women plays a crucial role in enhancing accountability for gender equality and women's empowerment through improved coordination among UN agencies, the government, and development partners.

Job Overview:
The Gender Coordination Officer will be responsible for supporting UN Women’s coordination mandate on gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE). This role involves working closely with the Country Focal Point/Programme Analyst and collaborating with the Head of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and the Chair of the UN Gender Theme Group. The officer will provide technical inputs to assist in the strategic coordination of Sri Lanka's priorities for GEWE, identify joint programming opportunities, and lead the development of joint programmes. The position requires producing policy notes and undertaking gender analysis of joint UN programming. The officer will represent UN Women in various groups and advocate for best practices in gender equality. Additionally, the officer will provide technical support for inter-governmental processes related to GEWE, coordinate the UN Gender Theme Group, and strengthen joint efforts within the UN system and RCO.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical inputs to UN Women on its UN coordination mandate on GEWE, including assisting in strategic coordination, identifying joint programming opportunities, and producing necessary documentation.
• Support UN Women on GEWE-related inter-governmental processes by liaising with stakeholders, drafting reports, and conducting briefings and training.
• Coordinate and strengthen the UN Gender Theme Group by providing secretarial functions, drafting Terms of Reference, and organizing training sessions.
• Coordinate joint efforts of GEWE within the UN system and RCO, ensuring improved coordination and gender mainstreaming in various groups.
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the office and organization.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a strong technical expertise and understanding of gender equality and women's empowerment in Sri Lanka. Candidates should have practical experience in coordination, strategic partnership development, and capacity-building initiatives related to GEWE. Strong analytical, written, and oral communication skills are essential, along with a solid understanding of UN Women’s mandate and work. Familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals and results-based management is also important. Candidates should demonstrate strong planning and organizing skills, problem-solving abilities, and proficiency in IT.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of one year of progressive experience at the national or international level in gender equality, women’s empowerment, and human rights. Experience in capacity building and training on gender mainstreaming is essential, along with familiarity with UN systems and UN Women’s GEWE coordination mandate. Experience in Women, Peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security initiatives and GEWE-related inter-governmental processes is advantageous, as is experience in mobilizing resources and providing substantive technical inputs on GEWE.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Sinhala/Tamil is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position may involve full-time engagement and could require international recruitment. Specific details regarding contract duration, seniority level, compensation, and benefits are not provided in the job description.