Gender Policy and Advocacy Specialist

Advertised on behalf of :
Location : Home-based

Application Deadline : 31-May-21 (Midnight New York, USA)

Time left : 12d 7h 53m

Type of Contract : IPSA (Regular)

Post Level : IPSA-10

Languages Required :
English

Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Jul-2021

Duration of Initial Contract : One year

Expected Duration of Assignment : One year with possibility of extension

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the “Apply now” button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit “submit application” tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Travel:
This is a home-based position. UNCDF will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as the return to the home upon completion of the services in case of travel to the duty station.

The individual is expected to travel sporadically in performing their functions. All travel costs will be covered directly by UNCDF, following UNCDF/UN’s rules and regulations.

Office/Unit/Project Description

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. UNCDF’s financing models work through two channels: financial inclusion that expands the opportunities for individuals, households, and small businesses to participate in the local economy, providing them with the tools they need to climb out of poverty and manage their financial lives; and by showing how localized investments—through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance—can drive public and private funding that underpins local economic expansion and sustainable development.

By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access, UNCDF contributes to a number of different SDGs.

Digital economies:
UNCDF manages initiatives to develop inclusive digital finance ecosystems which offer a wide range of financial services specially for low income vulnerable communities. Specifically, UNCDF provides a mix of policy, technical and financial support to a range of government and private sector actors in each country, as well as invests in research and other public goods to benefit all market actors. By supporting the development of digital finance ecosystem in these countries, UNCDF aims to increase the financial security of low income and rural households through access to appropriate, affordable and secure means to receive, manage and save money.

Recently, UNCDF has formulated its strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’ based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. UNCDF recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies that leave no one behind. The vision of UNCDF is to empower millions of people by 2024 to use services daily that leverage innovation and technology and contribute to the SDGs. UNCDF will apply a market development approach and continuously seek to address underlying market dysfunctions. For more information, please see: https://www.uncdf.org/article/4567/uncdf-launches-digital-economy-strategy-leaving-no-one-behind-in-the-digital-era

Enabling policy and regulation:
UNCDF has been working with national governments to improve access to financial services for over 25 years. In the last decade, we have focused specifically on the role that digital technologies play in accelerating usage of financial services by low-income people. In our role as a technical assistance provider and neutral broker, UNCDF works closely with global and national partners to build capacity and support governments to engage with industry to facilitate solutions to key market constraints at the local and regional level.

UNCDF’s Policy Accelerator believes that sustained improvements are highly dependent on strong government institutions, transparent policymaking processes, and enabling environments for financial innovation. With these elements in place, financial service providers can have more certainty and confidence to invest in infrastructure and market expansion, and consumers can have better access to useful and affordable financial services which meet their needsFor more information, please see: https://policyaccelerator.uncdf.org/.

UNCDF is exploring two avenues to work with governments to develop enabling policies and regulations and boost women’s digital financial inclusion:

Gathering evidence on women’s experiences with financial services including running inclusive public consultation processes, collecting and analysing sex-disaggregated regulatory reporting data, and applying supervisory tools and techniques such as mystery shopping.

Increasing the representation of women in policymaking including investing in training and leadership opportunities to build a pipeline of high-potential women in government, industry and consumer groups.

More information on UNCDF and on APA can be found here:
https://policyaccelerator.uncdf.org/

Institutional Arrangement

The Gender Policy and Advocacy Specialist, IPSA, will join the PA Project team and will contribute to the effective delivery of the programme’s activities, reporting to the Policy Lead, P-4 and in close collaboration with other PA and UNCDF colleagues across the regions.

This position will be initially home-based, and with possibility to work in a PA related country duty station, as programme needs arise.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

UNCDF is looking for a Gender Policy and Advocacy Specialist, IPSA, to contribute to its digital ecosystem policy and regulatory agenda, directly supporting the UNCDF global network with sharp gender analysis, direct guidance, gender mainstreaming training where applicable, and management of critical knowledge resources, which together enable ready technical assistance to policymakers and regulators in emerging markets.

Summary of key functions:
Develop approaches for training and support for policymakers and regulators and other stakeholders on gender intentional approaches;

Support the integration of a gender lens into all Policy Accelerator activities;

Conduct research, develop content, and share knowledge with internal and external stakeholders;

Advocate for gender intentional policies and regulations.

1. Develop approaches for training and support for policymakers and regulators and other stakeholders on gender intentional approaches:

Provide technical advice and support to central banks, regulators, and line ministries, on use of tools that drive gender intentional policy and regulatory design;

Design scalable systems, guides, and methods (e.g. toolkits) for building capacity of national and regional level stakeholders to advocate for gender intentional policy reforms;

Develop approaches for technical advice to private sector and civil society partners on advocacy for policies and regulations that enable development and/or integration of innovative products, services and tools with a focus on improving outcomes for women;

Assist UNCDF teams and partners in identifying opportunities for new collaborations, including recommending or fostering strategic partnerships and local level coalitions that foster female customer empowerment.

2. Support the integration of a gender lens into all Policy Accelerator activities:

Support technical specialists in activity planning by helping to identify priorities, strategies and key milestones to promote gender inclusive digital financial services;

Support the Results Measurement and Evaluation Team to develop an impact framework for tracking the success of Policy Accelerator projects from a gender impact perspective;

Support in the review of annual workplans to ensure alignment with programme goals and key performance indicators;

Support planning, organization and oversight of the necessary administrative and other logistical support to deliver project activities.

3. Conduct research, develop content, and share knowledge with internal and external stakeholders:

Support training and learning activities through desk research, field research as required and the dissemination of research findings through a variety of communication channels and workshops;

Collaborate with government counterparts to conduct research to identify gender gaps in access to, usage of, and benefits from digital financial services, including relevant policies, laws and regulations across countries of interest, identification of key actors, and market aspects;

Support the development of a market research strategy, leveraging human-centered design techniques, to identify needs of women;

Stay informed of latest developments on gender inclusion in digital finance to inform the programme’s activities and help team members keep abreast of the topic;

Work with the communications team to draft evidence-based articles, memos, blogs, presentations, social media posts, talking points, speeches and others as required;

Help produce quarterly, semi-annual and annual progress and donor reports.

4. Advocate for gender intentional policies and regulations:
Support in identifying, building and managing key partnerships with external stakeholders across the gender inclusion and DFS sectors in government, private sector, non-profit and academia;

Participate in workshops, trainings, and conferences as needed to share on digital inclusion from a gender perspective;

Serve a gender resource for all technical specialists and programme managers;

Support the development of an advocacy strategy that supports open discussion to secure financial and political support by leveraging existing and new relationships with governments, policymakers, foundations and multilaterals, and other partners to identify and advance programme activities.

Competencies

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

A Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, gender studies, development economics, international development, public policy, finance, or related discipline.

Min. years of relevant work experience

A minimum of five (5) years of experience in gender mainstreaming and gender integration with large government or nonprofit entities is mandatory;

Proven experience in government and/or financial services and/or international development is mandatory.

Required skills and experience

Experience working with the mass market, including rural communities;

Experience working with large government/policymaking public sector bodies on gender mainstreaming implementation, such as strategy development and organizational change;

Expertise in advocacy for women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion or related gender intentional development outcomes, including crafting messaging and influencing campaigns for decision makers;

Familiarity with impact of financial service policy and regulations on women’s economic and social empowerment;

Expertise in drafting internal and external communication and knowledge outputs, and proposing appropriate dissemination channels;

Project management experience, including multi-tasking to lead and execute multiple time-sensitive projects in parallel;

Experience engaging diverse set of public and private sector stakeholders, government departments, industry associations, particularly in the retail financial services context;

Experience managing or conducting research, particularly related to product development or client demand;

Desired additional skills and experience

Prior experience in Africa is preferred;

Strong ability to communicate and function effectively in an international and multicultural environment;

Strong writing and editing skills;

Strong understanding of the principles of accessible and human-centred content;

Ability to translate complex technical ideas to a non-technical audience;

Excellent interpersonal, teamwork and organisational skills.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

Excellent speaking and writing skills in English is mandatory;

Communication skills in Arabic, French and other languages spoken in Africa will be considered a distinct advantage.