Regional Gender and HIV Project Officer (Open to Only CARICOM NATIONALS)

Location :	Kingston, JAMAICA
Application Deadline :	14-Sep-15
Type of Contract :	Service Contract
Post Level :	SB-4
Languages Required :	English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)	01-Oct-2015
Duration of Initial Contract :	1 Year

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. UN Women believes that one of the most important strategies in responding to the HIV epidemic is empowering women and guaranteeing their rights – so that they can protect themselves from infection, overcome stigma, and gain greater access to treatment and care. Priority areas of support include: Promoting and supporting the leadership and participation of women living with HIV and those affected (including unpaid care givers), and their networks, in key decision-making processes at local, national, regional, and global levels; Integrating gender equality and women’s rights into governance of the HIV responses, including HIV strategies, policies, budgets, institutions, and accountability frameworks; Addressing the intersection of HIV and violence against women, in particular violence against women living with HIV; Promoting access to justice of women living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, including their access to property and inheritance rights. As the newest UNAIDS cosponsor, UN Women commits to supporting the implementation of the UNAIDS Strategic Framework – “Getting to Zero” – which advances three strategic directions:  a) Revolutionizing HIV prevention; b) catalyzing the next phase of treatment, care and support; and c) advancing human rights and gender equality. In Jamaica, UN Women’s work under the Strategic Framework will focus on supporting national stakeholders, in close collaboration with the UN Joint Team on HIV and AIDS, ensuring that stakeholders have the tools and partnerships necessary to analyze, formulate and execute gender-responsive HIV plans and budgets; as well as ensuring women living with HIV are actively engaged in national and regional policy and standard setting processes. In the Caribbean, UN Women’s regional level work has prioritized supporting the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS in integrating gender equality and women’s empowerment concepts into its work. Additionally, UN Women has supported the creation and functioning of the Caribbean Coalition on Women and AIDS (CCWA), and which prioritizes ensuring the voice and needs of women living with HIV are reflected in the regional and national standards and policies adopted. UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) – Caribbean covers all of the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean. Having recently opened a programme presence in Jamaica, the MCO will continue to strengthen its country support to Jamaica and to the Caribbean Region on Gender Equality and HIV&AIDS through the recruitment of a Regional Gender and HIV Project Officer, to be based in Jamaica.

Duties and Responsibilities

Working under the supervision of the UN Women Representative – Caribbean, the Regional Gender and HIV Project Officer will be responsible for delivery of the following functions: Provision of advisory and project support services to the MCO’s work in the Caribbean in the area of HIV&AIDS; Support the coordination of the implementation of the UN Women Gender and HIV projects in Jamaica; Partnership development and coordination at the MCO and Jamaica level; Advocacy support and knowledge building and management  at the MCO and Jamaica level. Provision of advisory and project support services to the MCO’s work in the Caribbean in the area of HIV&AIDS: Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean related to Gender Equality and HIV&AIDS; In close consultation and participation of regional partners, with guidance from the UN Women MCO, provide technical advisory support to UN Women’s work on HIV&AIDS, including support to the six UN Country Teams covered by the MCO; Support all programme monitoring at the Caribbean level on UN Women MCO’s work on Gender Equality and HIV&AIDS; Ensure UN Women’s work compliments on-going investments and strategies targeting gender equality and HIV&AIDS; Support review and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme interventions, after consultation with UN agencies and Regional and National partners; Provision of programme advisory support to the UN Country Teams for Belize, the Eastern Caribbean, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago on gender equality and HIV&AIDS. Support the coordination of the implementation of the UN Women Gender and HIV projects in Jamaica: Support the MCO in tracking the overall implementation and impact of UN Women’s work on HIV&AIDS, including ensuring strong results-based monitoring and evaluation frameworks; Support the day to day backstopping of UN Women’s work on HIV&AIDS in  Jamaica, including the coordinated identification and contracting of programme partners under UN Women’s work on HIV&AIDS; Provide technical support and/or identify national/international experts to support UN Women in its work on HIV&AIDS; Compile progress reports in coordination with participating agencies on the implementation of the UNCT’s work on Gender Equality and HIV&AIDS, and as per UN Women’s own Corporate Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. Partnership development and coordination at the MCO and Jamaica level: Support the UN Country Teams and UN Women in consulting with key stakeholders and national partners when integrating gender equality into national plans of action and joint work plans on HIV&AIDS; Support Regional partners  and UN Women in strengthening and building partnerships with government,  non-governmental and international organisations in support of leadership of women living with HIV; Ensure sharing of information, tools and best practices with national, regional and international partners working in support of Gender Equality and HIV&AIDS; Support and contribute to the implementation of resource mobilization strategies to achieve programme outcomes within the areas assigned; Support the coordination of UN Women’s partnership development in Jamaica, and at the Caribbean level, in close consultation with the UN Women MCO – Caribbean; Prepare analytical and regular progress reports on UN Women´s programme experiences in the area of HIV&AIDS. Advocacy support and facilitation of knowledge building and management at the MCO and Jamaica level: Support the coordination of joint advocacy and joint activities around Gender Equality and HIV&AIDS in Jamaica and in the five other UNCTs covered by the MCO; Support the establishment of advocacy networks at national, regional and international levels related to the sectorial/thematic areas assigned; Proactively and substantively support and implement relevant, high-impact advocacy activities and campaigns with key partners; Support the development of strengthened knowledge on the gender dimensions of HIV&AIDS in the Caribbean both among partners and within UN Women (Caribbean, Latin America and Caribbean; and Globally); Identify and synthesise best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme goals in the sectoral/thematic areas assigned; Proactively contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Core Values/Guiding Principles: Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct. Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work. Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:  Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff; Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity. Core Competencies: Ethics and Values:  Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity. Organizational Awareness:  Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment. Development and Innovation:  Take charge of self-development and take initiative. Work in teams:  Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. Communicating and Information Sharing:  Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication. Self-management and Emotional Intelligence:  Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others. Conflict Management:  Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution. Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing:  Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge. Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:  Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making. Functional Competencies: Ability to facilitate formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, particularly with experience around gender equality and HIV&AIDS; Relevant experience in coordinating the work of multi bodies/organisations and in team building, fostering collegial and open work environment; Ability to contribute to strategic planning, results-based management and reporting; Ability to monitor budgets, and ensure timely delivery of transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery; Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback; Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; Shows conflict resolution skills; Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills; Focuses on impact and result for the partners and responds positively to feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Master’s Degree in International Development, Gender, Human Rights, Public Health, Public Administration or other related Social Sciences. Experience: Minimum 3 years relevant experience at the national or international level working with development projects providing hands-on experience in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects; and supporting relationships among international organization and national governments, preferably in the field of HIV&AIDS, and gender equality; Gender Equality and HIV&AIDS experience and knowledge considered a strong asset; Prior experience in the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, Regional HIV&AIDS mechanisms, UN System and the Caribbean Region will be an asset. Languages: Excellent written and spoken English; Working ability in another UN language is an asset. Application: All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment; Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment; Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment. Note: In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.