Gender Officer with UNICEF Jordan At UN Volunteers

Mission and objectives

UNICEF was established in 1946 to supply emergency relief to millions of children suffering in the aftermath of World War II. The organization still functions to ease the suffering of millions of children in emergency situations across the world. UNICEF also focuses on the protection and promotion of child rights, working for the survival, protection, education and healthy development of every child.

UNICEF has worked in Jordan since 1952 to promote and protect the rights of children. In the following decades, significant progress has been achieved for children. Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2013, UNICEF has significantly increased its operation to respond to the challenges faced by both refugee children and those in the communities where they live.

Building on the lessons learned from this emergency response, UNICEF Jordan moved to a vulnerability approach in 2018 – supporting interventions that target the most vulnerable children in the country, regardless of their nationality.

Context

2025 reaffirms that gender equality is an organisational priority, a fundamental value and a cross-cutting principle for all five Goal Areas, as well as across UNICEF’s programs and workplaces. Aligned to the Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan, 2022-2025 | UNICEF (GAP) outlines a programmatic and ‘whole-of institution’ agenda for gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment. Similar to Gender Equality, the vision of the UNICEF Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) 2022-2030 | UNICEF aspires for a more inclusive world, where all children, including those with disabilities, live in barrier-free and inclusive communities. The Jordan Country Office (JCO) is currently implementing its second year of the Country Programme Document (2023–27), having made progress with instituting a Gender Action plan (2023-24) and built internal capacity through the recruitment of a National Specialist and a Knowledge Management Fellow to work alongside the international Gender Programme Specialist, and the appointment of sector-based gender focal points. The Deputy Representative (Programmes) leads the monthly gender focal meetings and provides leadership in ensuring gender is embedded into programme work as well into institutional systems and business processes.

UNICEF JCO is seeking a dedicated national UN Volunteer Gender Officer to join its Gender and Disability Inclusion team. The UN Volunteer will contribute to strengthening UNICEF’s gender strategy and advancing its Gender Transformative approach in Jordan. The UN volunteer will support various Programme sections (Education, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, WASH, Adolescents and Youth, and Social Policy) to ensure programs are both gender-responsive and gender-transformative. Additionally, the UN Volunteer will help implement UNICEF’s policy commitments and technical guidance on gender equity and equality.

National UN Specialist Volunteers in Jordan are entitled to: • Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of JOD 1101.58;

• Annual and learning leaves;

• Free Medical and life insurance; and

• Free access to different learning platforms.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the international Gender Programme Specialist, and the strategic guidance of the Deputy Representative, the UN Volunteer will support the work on a gender transformative agenda in Jordan. The UNV will support the UNICEF Programme sections (Education, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, WASH, Adolescents and Youth and Social Policy/Social Protection) to ensure that their programmes are not only gender responsive, but also gender transformative. The UNV will also ensure that UNICEF’s policy commitments and technical guidance on gender equity and equality are operationalized.

1) Support the strengthening of JCO gender responsive and/ or gender transformative programming aligned to sectoral annual work plan priorities.

– Work closely with the international gender programme specialist in technical and advisory support to sectors (internal) and to implementing partners, as required.

– Support the monitoring and reporting of the gender dashboard and gender and disability outputs and outcomes.

– Contribute to review and technical support in national policy/ strategy documents.

– Co-create the advancement of JCO’s adolescent girl empowerment strategy, together with ADAP team.

– Generate and update evidence-informed, gender and disability-responsive data to monitor existing and future efforts on addressing disability needs in Jordan.

2) Support JCO institutional capacity strengthening on gender equity and equality.

– Support and promote JCO’s capacity on gender equity and equality and disability inclusion among staff by planning quarterly/ bi-annual capacity building sessions.

– Plan Brown Bag sessions for and with JCO staff and coordinate with guest speakers (when relevant) to foster sharing of gender-focused and disability inclusive information and learning on a quarterly basis.

– Co-organize and support in preparation of monthly gender and disability inclusion focal points meetings, prior to each meeting.

3) Strengthen JCO Gender Equality Advocacy work

– Co-create briefs on gender sectoral work with the support of gender and disability inclusion focal points to showcase existing gender responsive/transformative and disability inclusive programmatic accomplishments and sectoral action plans.

– Translate into Arabic key resources produced by the Gender & Disability Inclusion Team.

– Support in the quality assurance of Gender & Disability Inclusion key documents/publications.

– Manage flawless internal and external Gender & Inclusion technical meetings, workshops (e.g. venue, invites, pre-event organization, translations, facilitating contracts and payments).

4) Support and engage in volunteering activities: including engaging in events that mark International Volunteer Day, contribute to articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.

Skills

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 – 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

5 years of experience in gender or gender related areas of work is required.

• Experience with UN or other international development organization, preferably in development and/ or humanitarian programmes preferred.

• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.

• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.

• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.

• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.

• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

• Have affinity with or interest in volunteerism in gender and development work, as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of expertise

Development programmes

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Arabic, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Social Sciences e.g. gender studies, international development, social or other relevant field.

Competencies and values

• Communication

• Development work

• Knowledge Sharing

• Manages ambiguity and complexity.

• Thinks and acts strategically.

• Works collaboratively with others