Gender Expert

UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) derives its mandate from the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 33/147 of 20 December 1978. Called upon by United Nations Member States in that year, UNDP was requested “to improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people by identifying their social and economic needs and by establishing concrete projects to that end”. UNDP/PAPP is a responsive development agency that works together with the Palestinian people to fulfil their aspiration for sustainable human development based on self-determination, equality and freedom.

UNDP’s Palestinian Programmatic Framework (PPF) 2023-2025 sets out a vision of “a world in which all Palestinians can enjoy a dignified life and fulfil their own vision of a unified, peaceful and free society”. The PPF is centred around the concept of “Transformative Resilience” and its three elements: a cohesive Palestinian identity, self-reliance, and ownership and leadership. Over the next three years, UNDP/PAPP will build on its experiences and achievements to make critical contributions to the priorities defined by the Palestinian national development plans and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), through interventions in three programmatic priority areas: i) democratic governance and quality services; ii) inclusive economic opportunities; iii) sustainable natural resources management. This UNV Expert will report directly to Deputy Special Representative and work in close collaboration with the Assistant Special Representatives, RBM team, Communications, and Business Solutions & Services Centre in support of the PAPP programme teams. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has developed a 10-Point Action Agenda for Advancing Gender Equality in Crisis Settings (10PAA), a roadmap to guide its development programming towards results that will help transform and advance gender equality in crisis contexts and achieve the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. The 10PAA is central to UNDP’s new Crisis Offer, as well as its new Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025. The Plan is grounded in the understanding that deep-rooted, intersectional discrimination sits at the heart of the multiple challenges humanity faces and reinforces models of dominance that exclude and leave women behind, especially in crisis settings. UNDP’s gender empowerment and women’s empowerment interventions also align with the UNDP Strategic Plan 2026- 2029 and UNDP Signature Solutions. It also represents UNDP’s commitment in the State of Palestine to the principle of leaving no one behind. SDG 5 and the achievement of gender equality are placed at the center of efforts (alongside Goal 16) with the aim of providing an enabling environment for the implementation of all goals. Recognizing that gender equality is a precondition and accelerator for achieving the SDGs, UNDP is committed to promoting and mainstreaming gender equality and women’s empowerment in all its activities. This effort includes advocating for women’s and girls’ equal rights, combating discriminatory practices and challenging the roles and stereotypes that affect inequalities and exclusion. UNDP’s approach to gender mainstreaming is a dual one: UNDP supports the empowerment of women and girls through gender-specific targeted interventions and addresses gender concerns in developing, planning, implementing, and evaluating all policies and programmes.

Ensure PAPP’s active participation and external representation in Gender and PSEAH meetings through: o Participate in quarterly meetings co-chaired by UN Women and UNFPA o Providing timely and quality inputs for both as needed (including ad-hoc meetings). o Actively participate and contribute to all UNCT-SWAP assessments and reporting (e.g. the UNCT Gender-Equality Scorecard. o Ensure continuity and sustainability in UNDP/PAPP’s overall efforts to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE), as well as the Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEAH) agenda. o Participate in oPt PSEA Network/SANAD bi-weekly meetings. o Contribute to the PSEA’s Network efforts. o Keep UNDP/PAPP’s senior management informed of any relevant issues that might emerge. Review concept notes, proposals, and ProDocs from both a gender perspective and a PSEA perspective: o Review Evaluation ToRs and Reports from a gender perspective. o Providing technical inputs and support to enhance gender mainstreaming and integrate SEA risks in risk logs. o Engage in project design/development, to support Programme staff in enhancing gender mainstreaming – with a view to ensure that new projects/programmes are at least gender-responsive and, to the extent possible, integrate gender transformative approaches that seek to address the root cause on gender equality (e.g., patriarchal social norms and gender role, inequal power dynamics, harmful notions of masculinity and related behaviors). o Support Programmes colleagues in integrating PSEA in terms of SEA-related risks and mitigation measures for Gaza crisis response and early recovery, as well as West Bank and East Jerusalem programming, already in the concept note stage. o Providing technical inputs and advice to enhance gender mainstreaming in evaluations. Promote gender awareness amongst staff for a safe and inclusive organizational culture and work environment: o Support and enhance capacities of Programme staff for gender mainstreaming throughout project design and implementation. o Continue the roll out of the series of Gender Transformative Workshops for all staff, especially new staff after 2023. o Continue carrying out the Training of Trainers (TOT) to train staff to co-facilitate Gender Transformative Workshops, for staff as well as for Implementing Partners. o Contribute to regional knowledge sharing and capacity development on gender transformative approaches. o Carry out capacity development activities on gender mainstreaming in programming (including Gender Mainstreaming in Programming workshops, Gender Analysis training, and Portfolio Review from a Gender Perspective) to ensure gender-responsive programming. o Systematically carry out one-on-one Gender & PSEAH Onboarding Briefings for newcomers – providing an overview of UNDP/PAPP’s commitment and efforts to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment, and PSEAH (including briefing overview of the reporting channels/mechanisms for both SEA and SH). Coordinate, consolidate and submit PAPP’s inputs to annual reporting and certifications through close collaboration with RBAS: o Submit UNDP/PAPP’s inputs to the annual UN SG Report on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), consolidating inputs from relevant Programme colleagues and liaise with SR / DSR’s for final clearance. o Ensure timely preparation and submission of the “Annual End of Year Certification from Special Representative to Bureau Director regarding Sexual Harassment and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse” o Prepare the annual End of Year Certification, review and update the PSEAH Action Plan, for final clearance and signature by SR, prior to submitting to HQ. o Participate in RBAS Gender Focal Points Community of Practice (COP) meetings and respond to GEWE-related information sharing and/or reporting requests. o Ensure regular coordination and collaboration with UNDP RBAS Gender Team. Coordinate, consolidate and submit PAPP’s response to Surveys: o Ensure timely submission of UNDP/PAPP’s response to the UNDP Annual Survey on PSEAH – consolidating inputs from relevant colleagues (e.g., HR, Programmer) and following review and clearance by UNDP/PAPP’s SR and/or DSR, survey response to be submitted online for HQ. o Lead on coordination, consolidation and submission of UNDP/PAPP’s to the bi-annual PSEA Network survey in collaboration with relevant colleagues (e.g., HR, Programme) and following clearance by UNDP/PAPP’s SR and/or DSR, online survey is shared by PSEA Network Coordinator twice a year Coordinate UNDP/PAPP PSEAH Taskforce & Awareness sessions o Coordinate UNDP/PAPP PSEAH Taskforce, incl. organizing and chairing bi-weekly meetings, monitoring implementation of PSEAH Action Plan, following up with all other PSEAH-SH Focal Points to advance/accelerate PSEA-SH activities, and keeping senior management updated on progress and challenges/bottlenecks. o Carry out PSEAH Staff Awareness/Refresher sessions, develop PSEAH Awareness material (posters/flyers) for internal distribution (i.e., staff awareness), and raise external awareness (i.e., with IPs, targeted communities/beneficiaries), support systematic integration of PSEAH Capacity Assessment for IPs as part of project design and implementation.