Regional Coordination Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women merges and builds on the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality: DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM. The organization operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women is committed to advancing women's rights and gender equality in various areas, including leadership, economic empowerment, freedom from violence, and humanitarian action. The organization collaborates with UN Country Teams across 24 countries and has presences in 16 of these countries, focusing on enhancing gender equality and women's empowerment through coordinated approaches and capacity building.

Job Overview:
The Regional Coordination Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting UN Women and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) in operationalizing commitments to gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE). This position involves implementing activities that enhance coherence across the UN system regarding gender equality and the empowerment of women. The specialist will support the UN Asia-Pacific Regional Collaborative Platform and co-lead the Issue-Based Coalition on Promoting Human Rights, GEWE, and Disability Inclusion. The role requires engagement in normative processes and coordination of regional efforts related to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the Beijing Platform for Action. The specialist will work closely with UN Women country presences, Resident Coordinators, and interagency mechanisms to ensure that gender equality considerations are integrated into UN strategies and frameworks, including the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs).

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Regional Coordination Specialist is responsible for providing technical support to the Regional Director and Country Offices on inter-agency coordination. This includes offering analysis and advice on engaging UNCTs and Resident Coordinators regarding accountability frameworks for gender equality, providing substantive support at UN conferences, and ensuring guidance to UNCTs related to GEWE processes. The specialist will also support the development of gender analyses in Country Analyses and UNSDCFs, ensuring strong integration of GEWE considerations. Additionally, the role involves coordinating the implementation of the UN Gender Equality Acceleration Plan (GEAP) at the country level, providing quality assurance for UNCT-SWAP reports, and supporting capacity-building initiatives. The specialist will also engage in intergovernmental and normative efforts, monitor the implementation of the UN System-wide Strategy on Gender Parity, and facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity development on gender mainstreaming.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree or equivalent in international development, public administration, public policy, or a relevant social science field. 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 at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in inter-agency coordination, with 5 years specifically in support of normative intergovernmental processes. Technical and capacity-building experience in gender and/or women's human rights is essential, along with experience in supporting or developing UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard and other system-wide processes on gender equality. Experience working in developing countries within the UN system is desirable, as is experience leading and coaching staff in international settings.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree or equivalent in fields such as international development, public administration, public policy, or other relevant social science disciplines. A first-level university degree may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree if accompanied by additional qualifying experience. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of gender equality and women's empowerment within the context of international development and UN operations.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in inter-agency coordination, with a focus on gender equality and women's empowerment. Candidates should have at least 5 years of experience supporting normative intergovernmental processes and technical capacity building in gender and women's rights. Experience in developing countries within the UN system is desirable, as is experience leading and coaching staff in international settings. Familiarity with UN accountability frameworks and gender equality initiatives is essential for success in this role.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish, is desirable and would enhance the candidate's ability to engage in diverse international contexts and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and involves leading a team of two personnel and technical consultants as required. The incumbent will be responsible for managing performance, providing guidance, and ensuring adherence to UN Women’s workplace relations policies. The role requires a commitment to UN Women’s values and competencies, including integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity. Candidates should be prepared for rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. UN Women promotes a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages applications from all qualified individuals.