Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:ย
- Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as โinternalโ candidates)ย
- Tier 2: Staff holding UNDP temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts and Expert and Specialist UNVs with host entity UNDP
- Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates.
Background
Over the past decade, UNDPโs Hub on LGBTI+ and Key Populations has led implementation of several important multi-country and regional initiatives in Africa, involving a combination of key populations, LGBTI issues, human rights, law, and inclusive governance. The Hub manages these various Africa-focused projects under the umbrella brand, #WeBelongAfrica.ย
#WeBelongAfrica currently consolidates five distinct projects: (1) the Gates Foundation funded โPower of Preventionโ project (PoP); (2) the Sweden-funded โInclusive Governance Initiativeโ (IGI); (3) the Netherlands funded โSouthern Africa Young Key Population Initiativeโ (YKP); (4) the African component of the German-funded โLGBTI Inclusion Indexโ; and (5) the Africa components of the global โDrug Policy Projectโ funded by the Open Societies Foundation. The PoP project focuses on partnerships with key population led community groups to engage in advocacy and policy dialogue around prevention strategies and financing, including in relation to long-acting pre-exposure HIV prophylaxis (PrEP); the YKP project focuses on strengthening the capacity of young key population groups in southern Africa to engage in policy dialogue and advocacy related to their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) with their national governments; sub-regional bodies such as the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC); regional institutions including the African Union (AU) and theย African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR); and relevant national human rights institutions.ย IGI includes a similar emphasis on capacity development of civil society groups and facilitation of engagement of such groups with these institutions, although IGI focuses only on LGBTI groups.ย The current phase of the Inclusion Index focuses on strengthening the collection, analysis, and use of LGBTI-related data in seven countries globally, including South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Cote dโIvoire in Africa.ย Theย โDrug Policy Projectโ supports implementation of the UN System Common Position on Drugs, recognizing that people who use drugs are an important key population in the HIV response. UNDPโs role is to advance evidence-informed, rights-based, and health-oriented reforms to drug policy, with Ghana and South Africa identified as priority countries in Africa.ย
This ToR outlines the roles of a Senior Policy Advisor to play a technical leadership role in the PoP, IGI and YKP projects, with particular attention to multi-country work on key populations and human rights, in Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Senior Policy Advisor will be responsible for overall technical leadership to the IGI and YKP projects within #WeBelongAfrica for issues related to LGBTI+ and key populations ย human rights in Kenya, Namibia, Zambiaย and Zimbabwe.ย
1.Provide strategic technical direction and leadership related to ย LGBTI + key populations and human rights:ย
- Lead the design and implementation of multisectoral action on the promotion and protection of LGBTI+ and key popualtions rights by state actors at national and regional levels in Africa;
2. Provide technical oversight and quality assurance for implementation of the IGI and YKP projects and support resource mobilization: responsibilities related to IGI and YKP in Kenya, Namibia, Zambia Zimbabwe include:
Working closely with UNDP country offices in Kenya, Namibia, Zambia Zimbabwe, provide technical leadership in the design and monitoring of country-level plans related to the IGI and YKP projects, with their respective emphases on LGBTI+ and young key population inclusion;ย Provide regular technical leadership, support and feedback to the IGI and YKP focal points in Kenya, Namibia, Zambia Zimbabwe; Strengthen south-southย learning by dentifing tools, resources and lessons from IGI and YKP work in Kenya, Namibia, Zambia Zimbabweย for ย to other countries in the region, and vice versa; Support donor liaison and fundraising to sustain country level IGI and YKP work.ย3. Lead knowledge management and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy support on LGBTI+ and key populations and human rights in UNDP and the wider UN system:
Provide substantive advice and technical support to the development and implementation of a capacity development/ learning plan on thematic area of the project for Country Offices and participate in global/regional learning initiatives;ย Lead the process of knowledge generation of national and international know-how in LGBTI+ and Key populations contentย and document lessons, experiences, and best practices that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects for organizational and external sharing and learning. Produce materials with lessons learned and best practices and other knowledge-based tools:ย Keep abreast of the developments in the area of key populations and human rights and provide guidance on how to incorporate them into UNDPโs and the UN systemโs current and future programming. Provide technical guidance and quality assurance to content development for knowledge products;ย Lead advocacy for and strengthening of national capacity for planning and coordination of development programmes in the sector.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.ย
Institutional Arrangement
Primary supervision of the Senior Policy Advisor will be provided by the Manager: Hub on LGBTI+ and Key Populations (P6), a post based at the UNDP South Africa country office in Pretoria, with a secondary reporting line to the Director: HIV & Health (D1), based in BPPS, New York.
Competencies
CORE
Achieve Results: LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impactย Think Innovatively: LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresightย Learn Continuously:ย LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for allย Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processesย Act with Determination: ย LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence Engage and Partner:ย LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creationย Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture,ย identify/address barriers to inclusionยCross Functional & Technical Competencies
Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinkingย
Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDPโs mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.Business Direction and Strategy: System Thinking ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the systemBusiness Management: Project Managementย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Business Management: Partnerships Managementย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies2030 Agenda- People: Healthย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Inclusion and rights of Key Populations at risk of HIV and other excluded groups2030 Agenda-Peace: Rule of Law, Security and Human Rightsย ย ย ย
Human rights and Leaving No One Behind (LNOB)ยย 2030 Agenda: People: Governance
LGBTIQ rightsRequired Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (masterโs degreeย or equivalent) in Law or Public Healthย or related field is required. Orย A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree; PhD inย Law and/or human rightsย or related fieldย will be an asset.ยMin. years of relevant Work Experience:
Minimum of 15 years (with masters degree) or 17 years (with bachelorโs degree) of relevant experience in Africa related LGBTI+,ย and/or key populations.ยRequired Experience:ย
At least 10 years of strong experience of facilitation with senior government officials in Africa is required;ย Experience working with civil society organizations led by LGBTI+ and/or key populations in Africa is required;ย Experience with the United Nations system is required;ย Proven record ofย strong writing skills, demonstrated by multiple relevant publications is required.Desired skills and competencies:
Direct work experience with National AIDS Councils, Ministries of Health and Justice, and National Human Rights Commissions in Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe;ย Direct work experience with key population and LGBTI+ organizations and leaders in Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe;ย Proven track record in research and publication on LGBTI+ human rights related topics in Africa;ย Proven skills in designing and delivering training programs and facilitating multi-sectoral policy and law reform processes; PhD in law and human rights.ย ยLanguage Requirement:
Fluency in English is required.ยEqual opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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