Project Gender and Social Development Specialist - TCAP [Open to internal and external applicants]

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Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. The Fiji multi-country office covers ten countries including Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu as well as provides support to regional initiatives. 

UNDP in the Pacific has developed its multi-country programme document (MCPD, 2023-2027) to guide its interventions in the next five years in full alignment and directly to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2023–27). The Office covers 10 countries in the Pacific with an extensive portfolio which has grown over time. The UNSDCF and UNDP MCPD are designed in full alignment with the 2030 agenda, Samoa Pathway, and 2050 Blue Content Strategy, which is endorsed by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) among others.  The UNDP Pacific Office next five-year plan strategic priorities are encapsulated under three outcome areas: (i) Planet, (ii) Prosperity, and (iii) Peace.

Resilience is one of UNDP’s six signature solutions – alongside poverty and inequality, environment, energy, governance, and gender equality - to support countries towards three directions of change: structural transformation, leaving no one behind and resilience. As per UNDP’s new Strategic Plan 2022-2025, and the new MCPD (2023-2027), UNDP Pacific office aims to supporting countries and communities in building resilience to diverse shocks and crises, including conflict, climate change, disasters and epidemics.

Tuvalu, with a land area of 26km2, is the fourth smallest nation in the world with a population of about 10,000. Due to its geographical remoteness and relatively limited size of the economy, it is one of the least developed countries. It is also one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impact of climate change induced sea-level rise and intensifying storm events. Recent cyclones have already shown large scale population displacement, significant loss and damage of agriculture resources and infrastructure, contamination of water supplies, coastal erosion and scouring, impacting long term sustainable development of the country.

As such, in response to this climate challenge, the Government of Tuvalu has recently received funding confirmation from Government of Australia to fund an estimated 5.5 ha of raised land protecting an additional estimated 370m of densely populated and exposed foreshore. The project will be known as Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, Phase 3 (TCAP1B). The objective of the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, Phase 3 (TCAP 1B), is to focus on reducing the vulnerability of the norther lagoon shoreline of Fogafale Island in Tuvalu to the adverse impacts of wave overtopping, shoreline erosion, and rising sea levels. It follows the successful demonstration of the infrastructure work under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) resourced TCAP Project and TCAP Phase 2, which has built 7.3ha and 8 ha of new raised safe land respectively. TCAP 1 B follows closely TCAP and TCAP Phase 2  designs, approach and established management and safeguards work and requirements. The foreshore that TCAP1B will protect and enhance is a continuation of the dysfunctional shoreline protected by TCAP, TCAP Phase 2 and the Government of Tuvalu’s similar protection work (Queen Elizabeth II Park) and thus, the TCAP 1B site starts only 100m to the north, as contiguous with TCAP and effectively an extension of TCAP and TCAP Phase 2 projects.

The project has the following 3 main outputs.

The project has an established Programme Management Unit (PMU) in Funafuti, Tuvalu with national and international professionals supporting the project and coordination with the relevant stakeholders.

The Project desires to recruit a Project Gender and Social Development Specialist  who will work under the overall guidance of the Team Leader RCC and direct Supervison of International Project Coordiantor and will work closely with  the National Project Manager and other  PMU staff. 

The Project Gender and Social Development Analyst advises on gender and social development policies and trends and relevant linkages to the project for achieving the project outputs, other potential opportunities and capacity building of the stakeholders. He/she advocates for  and represents the project and  UNDP in the area of gender equality and women empowerment as required. He/she is expected to maintain a network with colleagues from UNDP, UN Agencies, Government officials, donors and civil society.

The Project Gender and Social Development Specialist is to provide advice and support to the project on gender equality and women empowerment/leadership (GEWE) and gender based violence (GBV) issues; facilitation of knowledge building on GEWE/GBV issues; creation of strategic partnerships and support in supporting GEWE/GBV in climate change adaptation  and advocacy/promotion of projects mandate and mission in GEWE/GBV in accordance with UNDP’s Gender Equality Strategy guidelines/policy.

Duties and Responsibilities

a)    The successful candidate will work directly under the overall guidance of International Project Coordiantor and National Project Manager 
b)    The candidate will work with PMU staff and stakeholders at local and national levels
 

Update the Gender & Social Analysis

Review Prior TCAP Gender Strategies and Action Plans

Develop/Refine the TCAP 1B Gender Strategy & Action Plan

Ongoing GESI Analysis & Mainstreaming

Implementation & Participatory Monitoring

ESIA/ESMP Leadership & Social Safeguards

Policy Integration & Government Engagement

Participation, Safe Work Environment, and GRM

Capacity Development & Contractor Support

Training, Communications, and Advocacy

M&E, Data Management

Knowledge management & Future Proposals

Competencies

Core competencies:

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management    

Digital     

Partnership Management     

Business Direction & Strategy

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Experience:

Required skills:

Desired Skills:

Required Language(s)    

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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