Social Norms Change Analyst

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency focused on achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH), promoting gender equality, and eliminating harmful practices such as child, early, and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU). Established to address these critical issues, UNFPA operates in numerous countries worldwide, with a mission to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. In the Philippines, UNFPA is currently implementing its 9th Country Programme (2024-2028), which emphasizes the importance of gender-transformative approaches and human rights in its initiatives. The organization is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that reflects diversity and promotes gender equality, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.

Job Overview:
The Social Norms Change Analyst will play a crucial role in advancing UNFPA's mission by integrating gender-transformative and human rights-based approaches into its programming, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This position is designed to address and eliminate discriminatory gender and social norms that hinder women's and girls' rights and access to essential services. The consultant will be responsible for developing and implementing evidence-based policies and programs that tackle gender and social norms as significant barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including government agencies, local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and development partners, to create sustainable strategies that challenge harmful gender norms and promote women's autonomy.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake a variety of tasks, including:

• Providing technical assistance on gender equality and human rights in the context of SRHR in BARMM, ensuring the integration of gender-transformative approaches into policies, programs, and interventions.
• Assisting in the design and implementation of evidence-based interventions aimed at addressing harmful gender norms, ensuring alignment with international best practices in preventing CEFMU and GBV.
• Developing and implementing capacity-building initiatives to enhance the skills of UNFPA personnel, LGUs, and CSOs, promoting community-driven approaches to challenge patriarchal norms.
• Documenting and analyzing changes in gender and social norms in BARMM to inform policies and programming, capturing best practices and lessons learned from UNFPA's interventions.
• Strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders, including government agencies and local women's organizations, and representing UNFPA in inter-agency meetings, workshops, and forums advocating for gender-transformative policies and programs.
• Ensuring that field experiences in BARMM inform national policies and program implementation, supporting quality assurance activities and contextualizing national policies in the region.
• Performing other tasks as assigned by the Head of the Cotabato Sub-Office, Head of Programmes, or Country Representative to support UNFPA's gender-transformative agenda in BARMM.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in a field relevant to UNFPA's mandate, such as sociology, anthropology, social sciences, women's studies, public health, public administration, international relations, international development, law, or other related fields. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor) combined with at least two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates should have work experience in gender, gender-transformative approaches, gender-based violence/harmful practices, public health, or social sciences, with experience providing technical support in the development and/or implementation of gender-transformative approaches at the sub-national level being highly desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as sociology, anthropology, social sciences, women's studies, public health, public administration, international relations, international development, law, or other related disciplines. A first-level university degree (Bachelor) may be accepted if accompanied by at least two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, demonstrating the candidate's capability to fulfill the role effectively.

Experience:
Candidates should have substantial work experience in areas related to gender, gender-transformative approaches, and gender-based violence prevention and response. Experience in both 'normal' and humanitarian settings is advantageous, as is prior experience in developing, implementing, and monitoring work plans. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are essential, and field experience is considered a strong asset for this role.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Filipino is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and communities effectively.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy position is for a duration of 11 months and is classified as full-time, requiring the consultant to work with the team from Monday to Friday. The services are to be delivered at the UNFPA Cotabato Sub-Office in Cotabato City. The consultant will be expected to submit a monthly accomplishment report detailing target deliverables, deliverables achieved, and other comments or remarks. The report will be reviewed and approved by the Head of Sub-Office. The consultant may also be required to travel as needed during the performance of their duties. UNFPA promotes a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance, encouraging applications from women and individuals from underrepresented groups.