Gender Specialist - GEF Building Resilience of Health Systems in Pacific Island LDCs to Climate Change Project

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. With over 7,000 employees in more than 150 countries, WHO works in various areas including disease prevention, health systems strengthening, and emergency response. The organization operates in multiple countries, focusing on improving health outcomes and addressing global health challenges.

Job Overview:
The Gender Specialist will play a crucial role in the WHO-DPS initiative aimed at enhancing the resilience of health systems in Pacific Island Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to climate change. This position involves a comprehensive review of the existing Gender Action Plan to ensure alignment with WHO guidelines on gender analysis. The consultant will work closely with project countries, including Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, to tailor the WHO guidance to their specific contexts. The role requires a deep understanding of gender issues in health, particularly in relation to climate change, and the ability to develop actionable gender analyses and plans that are responsive to the unique needs of each country. The consultant will also be responsible for promoting gender equity and women's empowerment through the implementation of project activities, ensuring that gender considerations are integrated into health adaptation efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The selected consultant will be responsible for several key deliverables, including: conducting a comprehensive gender analysis and reviewing the existing Gender Action Plan to align it with WHO and UNDP standards; developing a revised Gender Action Plan that includes a detailed project-level framework for promoting gender equality; providing tailored technical support to each participating country in developing country-specific Gender Action Plans; and ensuring that all plans are ready for stakeholder validation and endorsement. The consultant will also be expected to identify gaps in the current plans, recommend actionable improvements, and integrate best practices to enhance gender responsiveness across the program. Additionally, the consultant will facilitate stakeholder engagement and ensure that the plans reflect the unique needs and capacities of each country.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a first university degree in gender studies, international development, sociology, community engagement, or a related field. A master's degree in gender studies, gender and development, or a closely related area is desirable. Essential qualifications include a demonstrated understanding of gender issues and sustainable development, with at least five years of practical experience in gender mainstreaming and women's empowerment. Candidates should have experience in participatory gender analysis, developing gender-responsive indicators, and working with national and local governments and civil society organizations. Strong analytical, writing, advocacy, and communication skills are required, along with proficiency in project management and familiarity with international gender equality frameworks.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a first university degree in gender studies, international development, sociology, community engagement, or a relevant field. A master's degree in gender studies, gender and development, environment, sustainable development, sociology, or a closely related area is considered desirable and will enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of practical working experience in gender mainstreaming, women's empowerment, and sustainable development. Experience in conducting participatory gender analysis, formulating gender-responsive indicators, and preparing gender-responsive project analyses is essential. Proven experience in analyzing gender issues and working on policy and programmatic issues with national and local governments and civil society organizations is also required. Familiarity with project development and results-based management methodologies is important, and experience in the Pacific region is a plus.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of spoken and written English is essential for this position. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the Pacific region may be considered an asset, but English is the primary language required for effective communication and documentation.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is remote and offers a remuneration package within the payband level B, ranging from USD 7,000 to USD 9,980 per month or USD 350 to USD 499 per day, depending on qualifications and experience. The expected duration of the contract is 60 days over a period of 4 months. Candidates should be aware that this vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be used as part of the screening process. Candidates must provide scanned copies of their educational qualifications, and WHO only considers higher educational qualifications from accredited institutions. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. WHO has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, and all members of the workforce are expected to adhere to the highest ethical and professional standards.