National Consultant for Gender, Climate Risk and Early Warning Capacity Building

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda and promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system. 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 operates globally, providing capacity building and technical support to governments to enhance their policy and implementation capacity, helping them access finance to align with the Paris Agreement, and facilitating efforts to decarbonize and adapt to climate impacts. The organization is guided by ambition, innovation, credible science, and the needs of individual countries, and it aims to deliver transformative impacts through its various programs, including the USD 21.7 million GCF programme aimed at enhancing early warning systems in Timor-Leste.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to enhance the capacity of women and fishing communities in Timor-Leste to understand early warning systems and climate-related disaster risks. The consultant will lead a targeted disaster risk awareness and education campaign tailored specifically for women and men in rural and vulnerable communities, particularly those reliant on fishing for their livelihoods. The consultant will work closely with UNEP, the PMU Gender Expert, and project teams to deliver key deliverables, including a desk review, development of a concept note for the awareness campaign, and the creation of gender-responsive communication materials. The consultant will also facilitate training sessions and run awareness campaigns in multiple locations, ensuring that the content is relevant and accessible to the target communities. The role requires a strong focus on community engagement and collaboration with local stakeholders to foster resilience in disaster risk management (DRM) activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting a desk review and developing a workplan, creating a concept note for the awareness and education campaign, reviewing and updating gender-responsive information and education communication (IEC) materials, and running awareness campaigns in various locations. Specific duties include facilitating training sessions, strengthening community-level networks, reporting on campaign outcomes, and conducting evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the initiatives. The consultant will also be tasked with submitting comprehensive reports detailing the awareness campaign activities, including pre-test and post-test evaluations and lessons learned from the campaigns targeting fisher communities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Disaster Risk Management, Environmental Science, Public Health Management, Social Science, Climate Change, Community Development, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. A minimum of five years of experience in gender-related work, particularly in developing and facilitating training programs and community awareness campaigns focused on early warning systems, is required. Strong knowledge of gender equality and inclusive participation, along with experience working with women's groups, local NGOs, and community leaders in Timor-Leste, is highly desirable. Familiarity with local customs and practices is essential to ensure culturally appropriate training and engagement.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in a relevant field such as Disaster Risk Management, Environmental Science, Public Health Management, Social Science, Climate Change, or Community Development is required. Candidates with a first-level university degree and additional qualifying experience may also be considered.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant experience, particularly in gender-related work and in developing and facilitating training programs and community awareness campaigns focused on early warning systems. Experience in the environmental, climate change, or marine sectors is particularly valuable, as is a strong understanding of gender equality and inclusive participation.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English and Tetun is mandatory for this consultancy. Knowledge of other UN languages is considered an advantage, enhancing the consultant's ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is part-time and expected to last for five months. The position is home-based with specific activities taking place in Dili and other municipalities in Timor-Leste. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring a transparent and equitable hiring process.