Consultant for Gender Equality Action Plan

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the designated entity within the United Nations system for addressing environmental issues at both global and regional levels. Established to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus, UNEP plays a crucial role in keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP leads the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) in collaboration with organizations such as UNIDO, the World Bank, the OECD, and GGGI. As a global knowledge brokerage, GGKP unites a community of policy, business, and finance professionals committed to generating, managing, and sharing knowledge on transitioning to an inclusive green and circular economy. The mission of GGKP is to empower decision-makers with evidence-based knowledge to effectively contribute to this transition. UNEP is currently executing the Communications, Coordination, and Knowledge Management (CCKM) Child Project of the ‘Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in Small Island Developing States’ (ISLANDS) Programme, a five-year initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) aimed at supporting 33 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in their transition to a safe chemical development pathway. The Programme consists of seven child projects across four geographical regions: the Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific, focusing on enhancing SIDS' capacity to manage chemicals and waste sustainably.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to update and support the streamlined execution of the GEF ISLANDS programmatic Gender Equality Action Plan across all regional child projects. The consultant will provide technical guidance and expertise on inclusive planning and implementation, ensuring that gender mainstreaming is effectively integrated from local to global levels within the ISLANDS programme. The Gender Equality Action Plan serves as a foundational element for the CCKM's role in providing cross-cutting support to regional child projects, considering interlinkages with activities executed by all their Executing Partners. The consultant will be responsible for reviewing the existing Gender Equality Action Plan, assessing its effectiveness, and revising it based on progress achieved at both global and regional levels. This includes consultations with regional child projects and teams, particularly their gender focal points or specialists. The consultant will also support the establishment of gender focal points within regional child projects, providing guidance and feedback to ensure that strategies and outputs are based on gender mainstreaming principles. Additionally, the consultant will deliver training sessions to regional teams and stakeholders on gender-responsive approaches in project design and implementation, tailored to regional contexts and needs. The role also involves providing feedback on global activities to ensure a gender mainstreaming approach is adopted, organizing webinars focused on gender themes, and identifying gender-related indicators for monitoring and reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake a comprehensive review of the current ISLANDS Gender Equality Action Plan, assessing its implementation and effectiveness in facilitating gender mainstreaming. They will revise the plan based on progress and gender analyses conducted at the regional level, ensuring alignment with GEF and UNEP policies. The consultant will support the establishment of gender focal points within regional child projects, providing ongoing guidance and feedback to ensure that all project activities are gender-sensitive and responsive. They will also provide technical support for the development and alignment of regional gender action plans, deliver training sessions on gender-responsive approaches, and offer recommendations for global activities to ensure gender integration. The consultant will organize and document a series of webinars on gender themes, serve as a gender expert in global events, and coordinate with community engagement specialists to share insights on gender mainstreaming. Furthermore, they will identify gender-related indicators for the programmatic monitoring framework and synthesize quarterly progress updates to provide strategic insights for the annual report.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in environmental management, social sciences, or gender studies. A minimum of five years of relevant work experience in advancing gender mainstreaming in environmental technical assistance projects, particularly in chemicals and waste management, is required. Strong grounding in gender analysis methodologies and a proven track record of reviewing diverse documents to ensure gender integration are essential. Excellent project management skills, including planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement, are required. Candidates should demonstrate strong analytical skills and the ability to articulate and present findings effectively in writing. Experience in designing and delivering webinars or training on gender-responsive approaches is an asset, along with prior experience in the SIDS context. Knowledge of GEF and UNEP guidelines on gender and safeguards is also beneficial.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in the field of environmental management, social sciences, or gender studies is required for this position. This educational background is crucial as it provides the necessary theoretical framework and understanding of the complexities involved in gender issues, environmental management, and the intersectionality of these fields.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant work experience specifically in advancing gender mainstreaming within the context of environmental technical assistance projects. This experience should include a focus on chemicals and waste management, demonstrating the candidate's ability to navigate the challenges and opportunities present in this area. Candidates should have a strong grounding in gender analysis methodologies and a proven track record of reviewing various types of documents to ensure effective gender integration.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within the organization. Additionally, working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and contribute to the organization's global initiatives.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote and expected to last for six months. There are no fees associated with the recruitment process, as the United Nations does not charge applicants at any stage, including application, interview, or training. The organization emphasizes that it does not concern itself with applicants' bank account information.