Gender Programme Officer

Preamble:

The United Nations  Volunteers  (UNV)  programmeis  the UN  organization  that  promotes  volunteerism  to support  peace  and  development  worldwide.  Volunteerism  can transform  the  pace  and  nature  of development and  it benefits both society at  large and  the  individual volunteer. UNV contributes  to peace and development by advocating  for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners  to  integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.

In most  cultures  volunteerism  is deeply embedded  in  long-established, ancient  traditions of  sharing and support within  the communities.  In  this context, UN Volunteers  take part  in various  forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.

In  all  assignments, UN Volunteers  promote  volunteerism  through  their  action  and  conduct. Engaging  in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich  their understanding of  local and social  realities, as well as create a bridge between  themselves and  the people  in  their host community. This will make  the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

1.  UNV Assignment Title:  National UN Volunteer Gender Programme Officer

2.  Type of Assignment:  National UN Volunteer /X/

3.  Project Title:  AusAID-UN Women  Policy  and  Program  Partnership  in  the Mekong  sub-region

4.  Duration:  One year (with possible extension)

5.  Location, Country:  Hanoi, Viet Nam

6.  Expected Starting Date:  As soon as possible

7.  Brief Project Description:  

This project represents a strategic partnership to strengthen technical and analytical support to AusAID in Viet Nam in order  to  inform AusAID policy engagements in  the area of gender equality (GE);  improve the integration of GE issues into program design, implementation and review; and improve capacity in the area of  GE  for  AusAID  staff,  project  staff,  and  staff  of  some  local  institutions.    It  will  also  strengthen  UN Women’s capacity to engage in broader policy and program fora in line with its approved Country Strategy Note and Annual Work Plans.

8.  Host Agency/Host Institute:  United Nations Entity on Gender Equality and  the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) –VietNam Country Office

9.  Organizational Context:  

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.  Placing women’s  rights  at  the  center  of  all  its  efforts, UN Women  leads  and  coordinates  United  Nations  system  efforts  to  ensure  that  commitments  on  gender
equality  and  gender mainstreaming  translate  into  action  throughout  the world.  It  provides  leadership  in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. 

UN Women is an active member of the One UN Country Team in Viet Nam and is convenor of the Gender Joint Programming Group.  The UN Country Team  in Viet Nam  is  strongly  committed  to harmonization, increasing effectiveness and  coherence, and achieving a more  sustainable  impact of UN  support  to  the development  challenges  currently  facing  Viet  Nam.  The  One  UN  Initiative,  which  has  led  to  the development  of  the  One  Plan  2012-2016,  is  an  expression  of  this  common  goal,  enabling  the  UN  to
implement the core goals of the Hanoi Core Statement on Aid Effectiveness.  

The National UN Volunteer will be  responsible  for promoting  information sharing,  including strengthening national  networking  on  gender  issues  and  strengthening  skills  of  national  and  international UN  staff  on gender.

10. Type of Assignment Place: assignment with family 

11.  Description of tasks:

Under  the direct supervision and guidance of  the Senior Programme Officer,  the UN Volunteer Specialist on Gender will be responsible to promote information sharing through supporting the day-to-day activities, as follows:

  • Proactively  work  with  national  organizations  on  gender  issues  such  as  GAP (Gender  Action Partnership),    and  bilateral  organizations  (especially AUSAID),  to  increase  networking  and  sharing information on gender equality in Viet Nam;
  • Be  the  focal  point  regarding  information  on  national  data  and  research  on  gender  equality  to disseminate through established communication channels;
  • Give  technical  input  to  UN/UN  Women  activities,  including  conducting  research/studies  on  the situation of specific groups of men, women, boys and girls in Viet Nam;
  • Be  responsible  for  the classification and maintenance of all gender equality  resource materials and administrative documents;
  • Follow up and keep updated on all issues regarding gender equality in Viet Nam and the region;
  • Work with  the  International UNV  Gender  Specialist  in  providing  technical  capacity  building  to  UN Women/UN staff, including two annual gender analysis training courses; 
  • Participate in national and selected regional forums related to gender equality issues;
  • Promote  the  involvement  of  volunteers  (e.g.  online  volunteers;  university  volunteers)  in  gender activities of the United Nations;
  • Undertake any other task as directed by UN Women Country Representative.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to: 

  • Strengthen  their  knowledge  and  understanding  of  the  concept  of  volunteerism  by  reading  relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);
  • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
  • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
  • Contribute  articles/write-ups  on  field  experiences  and  submit  them  for  UNV  publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
  • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
  • Promote  or  advise  local  groups  in  the  use  of  online  volunteering,  or  encourage  relevant  local individuals  and  organizations  to  use  the  UNV  Online  Volunteering  service  whenever  technically possible.

12.  Results/Expected Output:

  • Coordination  of  research  studies,  briefs,  and  strategies  on  gender  and  areas  of  common  interest between UN Women  and AusAID.  This will  be  done  in  conjunction with  the  International UNV,  the Senior Programme Officer and the Gender Policy Officer
  • Provision of support and advice/training/guidance  to AusAID staff and on key AusAID documents,  in liaison with the international specialist
  • Provision of gender support for Australia scholarship recipients
  • Assistance in preparing for high level gender policy guidelines with donors
  • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

13.  Qualifications/Requirements:

  • University degree in social sciences with specialization in gender issues a strong asset;
  • Sound knowledge of the major development issues regarding gender issues in Viet Nam;
  • Experience in working with gender equality issues; 
  • Full  proficiency  in  English  and  Vietnamese,  including  excellent  written  and  spoken  skills  in  both languages; 
  • Strong interpersonal and networking skills;
  • Highly organized and self-motivated;
  • Personal sensitivity and commitment to issues affecting disadvantaged women;
  • A high level of computer literacy;
  • Basic administration / secretarial skills;
  • Demonstrated  personal  sensitivity  and  commitment  to  the  values  and  principles  of  volunteerism, gender equality and cultural diversity;
  • Prior volunteering experience is an asset;
  • Persons with ethnic minority background are strongly encouraged to apply
  • Proof of Vietnamese Nationality is required.

14.  Living Conditions:

The  incumbent will  live  in Ha Noi which has most of  the economic and social amenities at a  reasonable cost. Depending on living arrangements, housing can be expensive. Security is good. Ha Noi has a humid, tropical climate and monsoons. Summers, between May and September, are very hot with plenty of rain, while winters, from November to March, are cold and relatively dry.

15.  Conditions of Service 

A 12-month contract with possible extension; monthly volunteer  living allowance  (VLA)  intended  to cover  housing,  basic  needs  and  utilities,  equivalent    to  10,029,815VND, Settling-in-grant  (if applicable),  life,  health  and  permanent  disability  insurance,  moving  cost  (if  applicable)  and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service. 

Description of Assignment prepared by the UNV Field Unit/UN Agency:

Date: 25/06/2013 (day/month/year) 

Ms. Shoko Ishikawa
UN Women Viet Nam Country Representative

Description of Assignment approved by UNDP/RR/CD or UNV Field Unit:

Date: 01/07/2013 (day/month/year)

Tran Thi Kim Chung
UNV Programme Assistant

Interested national candidates should include a detailed curriculum vitae (CV) and an application letter (both in English) marked: “National UNV Specialist on Monitoring and Evaluation” to the address below or via email to [email protected] (preferable)

UNV Field Unit
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
72 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi
Deadline:  20 January 2014 

Job Details
Organisation Name: 
UNV
Location: 
Ha Noi
Application Deadline: 
Mon, 2014-01-20