The Regional Adviser Gender and Human Rights post is located in the East and Southern Regional Office of UNFPA, Johannesburg. S/he is under the overall supervision of the Regional Director and direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director. S/he leads the Gender and Human Rights component of the Regional Programme, and provides and coordinates technical advice and support to Country Offices in the ESA region on Gender-related issues, including GBV prevention and response, FGM, and gender mainstreaming. The Regional Adviser is also a member of the Integrated Sexual Reproductive Health team and ensures mainstreaming of gender transformative and human rights approaches across all components of the regional programme.

S/he will play a leadership role in strengthening regional and national protection systems for advancing human rights and promoting and protecting sexual and reproductive rights as well as advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Job Purpose

The Regional Adviser, Gender and Human Rights provides strategic technical, policy, and programmatic leadership for the East and Southern Africa region in the area of Gender and Human Rights to ensure the Regional (RO) and Country Offices (CO) remain abreast of the Fund’s policies and programme strategies, as well as thought leadership and new frontier issues in the substantive area.

S/he analyses continental, as well as specific regional trends, contributes to strategic action in response to these and ensures that Gender issues are adequately addressed within regional and national development frameworks and programmes, including the achievement of the SDGs, ICPD Plan of Action, and African Union Agenda 2063.

S/he maintains primary responsibility for the provision of technical assistance, advocacy, policy, and programme support to the countries in the region in the substantive area.

Education

Advanced university degree or equivalent in gender development studies, anthropology, sociology, human rights, law, cultural studies, international development, or other field directly related to Gender equality, Human Rights.

Knowledge and Experience

• At least 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of Gender and Human Rights, of which seven years is at the international level;
• Knowledge and understanding of Gender transformative and human rights-based approach and reporting mechanisms is essential;
• Experience in evidence-informed policy advocacy, negotiations and agenda-shaping to advance gender and human rights for women and youth, and development of national actions plans, systems and mechanisms to address gender and social norms change and inequalities is essential, including GBV and harmful practices, as well as social protection systems;
• Demonstrable experience in providing technical leadership and leading capacity building initiatives in gender and human rights across humanitarian, development and peace settings;
• Experience in working with non-state actors, including Civil Society, Academia, Private sector, networks and coalitions is essential.
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize resources and network with bilateral and multilateral institutions, including donors;
• Familiarity with UN systems and procedures, management and monitoring tools.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills in English is essential and working knowledge of other relevant UN languages in the region is desirable;
• Familiarity with management and monitoring tools, M&E and VfM is desirable;
• Field experience is strongly desirable.