Programme Specialist, Strategic Planning and Gender Coordination

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance gender equality and women's empowerment. It consolidates the efforts of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender issues. UN Women operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men in various sectors including development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. The organization has a significant presence in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, which comprises 22 countries, and works closely with UN Country Teams in 13 countries while providing support to an additional 12 countries without a physical presence. UN Women aims to address deeply embedded discriminatory social norms and practices through its various programs and initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Programme Specialist, Strategic Planning and Gender Coordination will play a crucial role in supporting the Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) and the UN Country Team (UNCT) in Eritrea. This position is designed to ensure that women's rights and gender equality are integrated into Eritrea's development strategies and institutional frameworks. The specialist will provide strategic advisory support, focusing on the integration of Women's Rights and Equality (WRE) into national development priorities and financing strategies. This role involves informing decision-making processes, shaping system-level approaches, and ensuring that gender equality is a core component of development initiatives. The specialist will also engage with national and international partners, including government institutions and civil society, to promote gender equality outcomes and support the operationalization of key normative frameworks such as CEDAW and the SDGs within the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead gender analysis in Eritrea to inform decision-making and engagement with the government.
• Identify structural constraints affecting women's participation and translate these into actionable strategies.
• Advise on the integration of WRE into development priorities, including human capital and service delivery.
• Coordinate UNCT contributions to key normative processes, such as CEDAW reporting and SDGs reviews.
• Provide technical support for Common Country Assessments (CCA) and UNSDCF processes, ensuring rigorous gender analysis.
• Strengthen accountability systems within the UNCT to track commitments on women's rights and equality.
• Lead the Gender Working Group to drive implementation and address gaps in delivering results for women and girls.
• Advise on strategic engagement with national counterparts and translate global frameworks into local policy.
• Support the integration of WRE into development financing discussions and resource allocation. 1
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in International Development, Gender, Human Rights, Applied Anthropology, or related Social Sciences.
• A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• Project/programme management certification (PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) is an advantage.
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in development project design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• In-depth understanding of gender issues and experience in the UN System is preferred.
• Proven experience in partnership building with development stakeholders, including national governments and international organizations.
• Experience in leading teams effectively is an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in fields related to International Development, Gender, Human Rights, Applied Anthropology, or other relevant Social Sciences. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience in procurement management may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, having a project/programme management certification such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP® would be considered an added advantage.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects. Candidates should have a strong contextual understanding and technical expertise in gender issues, along with the ability to build relationships with stakeholders to advance gender-related outcomes in Eritrea. Experience in setting priorities, managing budgets, and developing work plans is essential. Technical experience in gender and/or human rights is preferred, and prior experience within the UN System and in UN coordination is desirable. Leadership experience in team settings is also beneficial.

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 a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The position is embedded within the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Eritrea, indicating a close collaboration with national and international partners. The role is expected to contribute to resource mobilization efforts and partnership development to advance gender equality outcomes. The position may involve travel within the region and requires a commitment to UN Women’s values and policies, including a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct. Candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. It is essential for applicants to complete all sections of the application form to avoid disqualification from the recruitment process.