Gender 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 on 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 issues, namely 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 has been active in Syria for many years, focusing on strengthening women's participation in the political process and providing humanitarian support to women and girls in need through cross-border operations from Gaziantep. Following the fall of the Assad regime, UN Women has been operating from Damascus, working closely with Syrian authorities to implement its triple mandate of normative, operational, and coordination functions.

Job Overview:
The Gender Specialist position at UN Women is pivotal in providing strategic guidance on advancing gender equality and women's empowerment across various mandate areas, including women's leadership, protection, economic empowerment, governance, and Women, Peace and Security. The role is guided by UN Women’s Strategic Plan and corporate gender frameworks, ensuring that gender equality commitments translate into tangible results on the ground. The Gender Specialist will report to the Head of Programme and is responsible for delivering high-quality technical support and strategic guidance to enhance gender-responsive programming and policy engagement in Syria. This includes leading the development of gender analysis, contributing to the formulation and review of programme documents, supporting capacity-building initiatives for partners and staff, and producing gender-related knowledge products. The Specialist will also play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships, supporting resource mobilization efforts, and ensuring effective coordination with government entities, UN system partners, and civil society to advance national gender equality priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Gender Specialist will be responsible for designing and developing programme strategies for the Syria Programme, formulating project proposals, and drafting inputs for country strategy documents and policy dialogues. They will manage the implementation of the Syria programme, including finalizing the annual workplan and budget, overseeing technical implementation, and ensuring synergies with other teams. The Specialist will also manage technical assistance and capacity development for project partners, identifying their needs and coordinating training initiatives. Monitoring and reporting on programme/project implementation and finances will be a key responsibility, including writing quarterly and donor reports. Additionally, the Specialist will manage the programme budget, supervise Programme Analysts and Technical Specialists, and develop resource mobilization strategies. They will contribute to inter-agency coordination, ensuring coherence and alignment of UN Women programmes with other partners in the country, and manage advocacy, knowledge building, and communication efforts related to the Syria Programme.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A project/programme management certification is considered an advantage. Candidates should have strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills, along with a solid understanding of Results Based Management. They should be able to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making. Knowledge of gender-responsive programming and strong analytical skills are essential, as well as the ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities, and threats to fundraising.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related area. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage, enhancing the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects. Technical experience in gender-responsive programming is required, along with proficiency in using computers and office software packages such as MS Word and Excel. Experience in coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is desirable, as is experience working within the UN System. Familiarity with modern web-based ERP systems, preferably Oracle Cloud, is also considered a plus.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as French, is desirable and would enhance the candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The position is expected to be full-time, and while the incumbent will not supervise any personnel initially, there may be supervisory responsibilities in the future as the programme expands and additional staff are added. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that recruitment and employment practices are free from discrimination based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, or national origin. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims, including sexual exploitation and abuse, and all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.