Gender in Humanitarian Action and Disaster Risk Reduction (GiHA/DRR) Officer

Mission and objectivesUN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide. It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on four strategic priorities: Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy All women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence Women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality, and in all deliberations and agreements linked to the 2030 Agenda. The entity works to position gender equality as fundamental to the Sustainable Development Goals, and a more inclusive world.

ContextUN 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. UN Women Malawi Country Office was set up in October 2012, following a request from the Government of Malawi and the UN in Malawi to help address key areas around gender inequalities and discriminatory provisions. The work of UN Women in Malawi in the upcoming four-year period will be guided by its new Country Strategic Note (SN) for 2024 -2028. The SN is aligned with the Global Strategic Plan of UN Women for 2022-2025 and aims to contribute to the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To this effect, UN Women in Malawi is supporting the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) in promoting gender equality and empowerment of women in humanitarian action and in disaster risk reduction. This UNV assignment is part of UN Women Malawi Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction team to deliver this mandate. The Gender in Humanitarian Action/Disaster Risk Reduction (GiHA/DRR) officer will be based in DoDMA. She/He will provide technical support to DoDMA in mainstreaming gender and advancing women’s empowerment across all DoDMA’s workstreams.

Task DescriptionReporting to the Director of Response and Recovery at DODMA and working under the guidance of the UN Women Head of Programmes, the UNV GiHA/DRR Officer will: 1. Design and develop programme strategies on Gender in Humanitarian Action/DRR: • Design and formulate concept notes, programme/project proposals and initiatives on Gender in Humanitarian Action / DRR and humanitarian – relief – development nexus programming • Draft inputs to strategic documents, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), briefs, policy dialogue and other documents related to Humanitarian Action / DRR and humanitarian – relief – development nexus programming • Draft and provide technical inputs to concept notes and programme proposals on humanitarian response, ensuring gender is mainstreamed • Facilitate gender assessments, gender analysis, and ensure gender is mainstreamed in humanitarian and emergency plans and activities across all clusters • Review documents such as the Standards Operating Procedures, plans, monitoring and evaluation plans etc to ensure gender issues are fully addressed 2. Provide capacity building support to government, UN teams and partners: • Provide technical and policy support to government and country office teams in developing and strengthening gender issues in humanitarian and DRR projects/ programmes • Implement and monitor capacity building initiatives • Provide technical support to partners and GIHA on integration of gender in humanitarian action and DRR • Support partners to incorporate PSEA related issues in capacity building sessions/initiatives of DODMA and across inter-cluster disaster responses 3. Support partnerships with government, stakeholders, regional/ international actors and development partners: • Maintain alliances and strategic partnerships for the advancement of gender in humanitarian action/DRR • Provide inputs to information updates and briefs on country development situation to be used by government, stakeholders, UN Women Country Office and HQ 4. Manage the advocacy of humanitarian action/DRR through inter-agency coordination: • Provide technical support to the Director of Gender Affairs, DoDMA Director and UN Women Representative on inter-agency coordination on humanitarian gender actions including through the Humanitarian Country Team • Work closely with, and provide advice to DoDMA, Inter-cluster Committee, national bodies and interagency groups that influence national policies related to Gender in humanitarian action/DRR • Coordinate specific efforts in mainstreaming gender interagency clusters of disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts • Foster the engagement and participation of gender focused local organizations and civil society networks in humanitarian coordination mechanisms 5. Manage advocacy and communication efforts of humanitarian action: • During emergency response, develop and implement communication and advocacy messages and contribute inputs to strategies on key gender and protection concerns • Represent UN Women in meetings and policy dialogues on issues related to humanitarian action and DRR as necessary • In collaboration with the relevant Communications focal points develop information, education and communication (IEC) materials, press releases, situation reports, alerts and contribute to documents prepared by DoDMA and other stakeholders 6. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing: • Develop and review background documents, briefs and presentations in humanitarian action and DRR and ensure gender is mainstreamed • Identify best practices and lessons learned to guide programme improvement and strategy planning that integrated gender • Develop knowledge management strategies, products and methodologies on gender in humanitarian action/DRR Results/expected outputs: • Technical support provided to DoDMA to mainstream Gender into Disaster preparedness, including assessment, response, and recovery policy framework, systems, processes and tools e.g. National Emergency preparedness and response plans; Cluster level plans and District level plans as applicable • Technical support provided to DoDMA and the Ministry of Gender on stakeholder review of Rapid Gender Analysis, gender assessments and other relevant data collection tools • Quality reports and other strategic documents drafted and submitted in a timely manner • Timely and quality knowledge products and IEC materials • Effective collaboration and communication between relevant stakeholders- DoDMA, Ministry of Gender, UN Women and other stakeholders • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

Competencies and valuesCore Values: • Respect for Diversity • Integrity • Professionalism Core Competencies: • Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues • Accountability • Creative Problem Solving • Effective Communication • Inclusive Collaboration • Stakeholder Engagement • Leading by Example Functional Competencies • Strong knowledge and experience related to current policies and practices in the fields of gender equality, protection and humanitarian action, including humanitarian coordination and Disaster Risk Reduction • Strong knowledge of the GiHA and GiDRR programming in the country and region • Strong networking skills • Ability to perform qualitative and quantitative policy research • Ability to advocate and provide policy advice • Strong analytical skills • Ability to write policy papers, speeches, briefings • Strong knowledge of programme development, implementation, results-based management and reporting

Living conditions and remarksMalawi is a unique country and operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.