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Senior Programme Officer, Gender
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BACKGROUND
With a comprehensive rights-based framework underpinning its conservation and sustainable development efforts, IUCN recognises that protecting and promoting women’s rights and advancing gender equality, including through women’s empowerment, are not only globally agreed imperatives in their own right, but fundamental to meeting its mission. The Global Programme on Governance and Rights (GPGR), (which will be known in 2022 as the Human Rights in Conservation team,) spearheads efforts to drive and support gender-responsive action across the Union, with members, and through a wide array of projects and partnerships, including a 15-year programme with USAID called AGENT—Advancing Gender in the Environment.
Recognizing women as agents of change, and the value of diverse knowledge, experiences and capacities of women and men alike, AGENT envisions a world that approaches environmental work at all levels with gender-responsive policy and action. AGENT drives transformation toward a more sustainable and equitable future for all. One key area of work under AGENT is understanding and addressing Gender-based Violence and Environment linkages (GBV-ENV) and facilitating the GBV-ENV Center. In 2022, IUCN through AGENT and the GBV-ENV Center will relaunch the RISE Grants Challenge, which supports projects focused on addressing GBV-ENV. RISE grantees and other key partners and stakeholders, including from IUCN’s membership, participate in a community of mutual learning and enhanced capacity. The Center leverages learning to influence broader policy, programming and institutional strategies and goals: for example, GBV-ENV research and learning infuses rights-based, gender-responsive, socially inclusive positions, guidance and advancements in key environmental decision-making processes (i.e., UNFCCC and CBD), while the Center also collaborates with varied members and partners to improve institutional tools and capacities in environmental organizations and networks to mitigate, prevent and respond to GBV. In the period ahead, significant focus will also be on building leadership and investment from donors and other partners to address this topic.
While providing gender technical advice and advocacy across other programmes and projects as necessary and opportune, the Senior Programme Officer will be chiefly responsible for RISE re-launch and implementation, including building and facilitating the GBV-ENV community of learning and practice, fostering mutual learning as well as technical support when needed. Liaising strategically in institutional and policy spheres, the position will spearhead infusion of GBV-ENV learning in key decision-making and national implementation processes, for example in national climate change gender action planning. This position will work hand-in-hand with AGENT managers, programme officers, expert consultant advisors, and other key colleagues, including administrative, operations, procurement, Monitoring & Evaluation, legal, communications and other units as well as Regional and Country Offices, especially in relation to grant-making. The position requires bilingual capacity, either English and Spanish or English and French, with most work conducted in English. Exceptional project and budget management, donor relations, and writing and editing skills are required. Demonstrated track record in gender integration strategies, including specific work to mitigate risk of, prevent and respond to GBV, in environment-related sectors and spheres is fundamental.
Recognizing women as agents of change, and the value of diverse knowledge, experiences and capacities of women and men alike, AGENT envisions a world that approaches environmental work at all levels with gender-responsive policy and action. AGENT drives transformation toward a more sustainable and equitable future for all. One key area of work under AGENT is understanding and addressing Gender-based Violence and Environment linkages (GBV-ENV) and facilitating the GBV-ENV Center. In 2022, IUCN through AGENT and the GBV-ENV Center will relaunch the RISE Grants Challenge, which supports projects focused on addressing GBV-ENV. RISE grantees and other key partners and stakeholders, including from IUCN’s membership, participate in a community of mutual learning and enhanced capacity. The Center leverages learning to influence broader policy, programming and institutional strategies and goals: for example, GBV-ENV research and learning infuses rights-based, gender-responsive, socially inclusive positions, guidance and advancements in key environmental decision-making processes (i.e., UNFCCC and CBD), while the Center also collaborates with varied members and partners to improve institutional tools and capacities in environmental organizations and networks to mitigate, prevent and respond to GBV. In the period ahead, significant focus will also be on building leadership and investment from donors and other partners to address this topic.
While providing gender technical advice and advocacy across other programmes and projects as necessary and opportune, the Senior Programme Officer will be chiefly responsible for RISE re-launch and implementation, including building and facilitating the GBV-ENV community of learning and practice, fostering mutual learning as well as technical support when needed. Liaising strategically in institutional and policy spheres, the position will spearhead infusion of GBV-ENV learning in key decision-making and national implementation processes, for example in national climate change gender action planning. This position will work hand-in-hand with AGENT managers, programme officers, expert consultant advisors, and other key colleagues, including administrative, operations, procurement, Monitoring & Evaluation, legal, communications and other units as well as Regional and Country Offices, especially in relation to grant-making. The position requires bilingual capacity, either English and Spanish or English and French, with most work conducted in English. Exceptional project and budget management, donor relations, and writing and editing skills are required. Demonstrated track record in gender integration strategies, including specific work to mitigate risk of, prevent and respond to GBV, in environment-related sectors and spheres is fundamental.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The primary duties of the Senior Programme Officer, Gender, include the following:
Project coordination and grants management
•In close cooperation with AGENT managers, supporting staff and partners, spearhead delivery of IUCN’s GBV-ENV Center Strategy with RISE as a cornerstone intervention, shepherding activities and impact toward knowledge, advocacy, and technical support goals
•Directly manage the RISE workplan and budget, and support management of the GBV-ENV Center workplan in synergy; this includes ensuring timely delivery and coordination across other relevant workplan activities and budgets, maintaining implementation rates, updating project impact data, and high-quality regular reporting (internally and externally)
•Oversee and shepherd all grant-making procedures in accordance with IUCN policies and requirements, and in alignment with donor requirements and expectations, including to perform all due diligence in close cooperation with finance colleagues and to facilitate and secure regional and country-level approvals
•Support applicants to develop high-quality projects, including through robust Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Communications strategies and plans, as well as clear budgets, in close cooperation with technical and finance expert colleagues
•Oversee grantee contracting processes, serving as the primary focal point between all implementing partners and the donor, as well as IUCN units involved in grants approvals and disbursement
•Receive, review and ensure quality and clarity of all grantee deliverables, not least to approve disbursements of funds
•Identify grantee and other partner knowledge and capacity gaps, tailoring learning opportunities and trainings to enhance project team capacity and delivery, and identifying and securing external expertise to bolster capacities when necessary
•Facilitate RISE mutual learning processes, for example through facilitating regular peer learning calls, tailoring technical trainings and topical learning sessions, and supporting the development and facilitation of a broader GBV-ENV Center community of learning and practice that includes RISE
•Ensure projects’ learning is embedded in AGENT processes, including identifying and spearheading opportunities for new knowledge products, policy and programme guidance, and technical support strategies for rights-based, gender-responsive environmental programming
•Collaborate with AGENT managers and other colleagues to identify and pursue resource and partner mobilization opportunities, with a goal to grow the RISE grant-making resources basket as well as develop new collaborations to support related knowledge, policy and gender integration objectives
Programme support and development
•Including through leveraging learning and knowledge products from RISE and the GBV-ENV Center as above, contribute to Human Rights in Conservation knowledge, policy guidance and mainstreaming support across IUCN and with other existing, new and emerging initiatives
•Develop and/or support capacity building and other efforts to build awareness, skills and strategies for rights-based gender-responsive conservation, climate resilience and sustainable development
•Support identification and development of proposals, collaborations and/or joint projects across the Human Rights in Conservation team and wider IUCN community
•Contribute to regular team communications, reporting, and other efforts as needed
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PACKAGE
•The salary range for this position starts at USD [76,400]
•Comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and long term disability insurance plan
•Retirement benefit of 5% of gross salary from the 4th month of employment
•7.65% of gross salary FICA contribution (applicable to US nationals and green card holders)
•Please note this is a fixed-term, local hire; neither expatriate visa nor relocation costs will be supported for this position
Project coordination and grants management
•In close cooperation with AGENT managers, supporting staff and partners, spearhead delivery of IUCN’s GBV-ENV Center Strategy with RISE as a cornerstone intervention, shepherding activities and impact toward knowledge, advocacy, and technical support goals
•Directly manage the RISE workplan and budget, and support management of the GBV-ENV Center workplan in synergy; this includes ensuring timely delivery and coordination across other relevant workplan activities and budgets, maintaining implementation rates, updating project impact data, and high-quality regular reporting (internally and externally)
•Oversee and shepherd all grant-making procedures in accordance with IUCN policies and requirements, and in alignment with donor requirements and expectations, including to perform all due diligence in close cooperation with finance colleagues and to facilitate and secure regional and country-level approvals
•Support applicants to develop high-quality projects, including through robust Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Communications strategies and plans, as well as clear budgets, in close cooperation with technical and finance expert colleagues
•Oversee grantee contracting processes, serving as the primary focal point between all implementing partners and the donor, as well as IUCN units involved in grants approvals and disbursement
•Receive, review and ensure quality and clarity of all grantee deliverables, not least to approve disbursements of funds
•Identify grantee and other partner knowledge and capacity gaps, tailoring learning opportunities and trainings to enhance project team capacity and delivery, and identifying and securing external expertise to bolster capacities when necessary
•Facilitate RISE mutual learning processes, for example through facilitating regular peer learning calls, tailoring technical trainings and topical learning sessions, and supporting the development and facilitation of a broader GBV-ENV Center community of learning and practice that includes RISE
•Ensure projects’ learning is embedded in AGENT processes, including identifying and spearheading opportunities for new knowledge products, policy and programme guidance, and technical support strategies for rights-based, gender-responsive environmental programming
•Collaborate with AGENT managers and other colleagues to identify and pursue resource and partner mobilization opportunities, with a goal to grow the RISE grant-making resources basket as well as develop new collaborations to support related knowledge, policy and gender integration objectives
Programme support and development
•Including through leveraging learning and knowledge products from RISE and the GBV-ENV Center as above, contribute to Human Rights in Conservation knowledge, policy guidance and mainstreaming support across IUCN and with other existing, new and emerging initiatives
•Develop and/or support capacity building and other efforts to build awareness, skills and strategies for rights-based gender-responsive conservation, climate resilience and sustainable development
•Support identification and development of proposals, collaborations and/or joint projects across the Human Rights in Conservation team and wider IUCN community
•Contribute to regular team communications, reporting, and other efforts as needed
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PACKAGE
•The salary range for this position starts at USD [76,400]
•Comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and long term disability insurance plan
•Retirement benefit of 5% of gross salary from the 4th month of employment
•7.65% of gross salary FICA contribution (applicable to US nationals and green card holders)
•Please note this is a fixed-term, local hire; neither expatriate visa nor relocation costs will be supported for this position
REQUIREMENTS
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• Master’s degree in a related field, such as international development, international law or policy, international relations, women’s rights and gender equality, human rights, or sector-specific environmental fields such as biology, fisheries, agronomy or forestry, with application of expertise in research, programming or policy spheres • Minimum 8 years of experience in programme development and project management, with demonstrated skills and impact, including specific experience developing, implementing or monitoring and evaluating grants mechanisms • At least three years of experience working in diverse country contexts, ideally with women’s networks, conservation implementers, or both • Familiarity with global and/or national environmental policymaking processes (e.g., related to climate change, biodiversity) • Track record as a multi-stakeholder mobilizer, network building and facilitator • Bilingual fluency: exceptional English language skills (i.e., writing, editing, oral communications) as a primary working language, with a second working fluency also required (Spanish and/ or French very highly preferred) • Exceptional cross-cultural sensitivity and ability to work inclusively across communities, language, time zones, and connectivity issues • Outstanding ability to multi-task, juggle priorities, and meet deadlines; ability to digest and organize a lot of information from different sources, planning for efficient and high-quality delivery • Good working knowledge of IUCN, its mission and members; previous working experience with IUCN or IUCN members or commissions an asset • Experience working with USAID a strong advantage, including comfort liaising with Missions, host governments, technical offices, and other advisors, and strong knowledge of grant-making policies and procedures • Ability to work remotely effectively during temporary COVID-era restrictions, then working at least 50% time in the Washington, DC, office; ability to travel (with safety measures in place) • A successful candidate will also offer tenacity, a great sense of humor, and a personal passion for and commitment to gender equality and eradicating GBV along with the vision and mission of IUCN |
APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
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