Gender and Climate Resilience Associate

Update

This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of UNFPA’s programmes in the English and Dutch-Speaking Caribbean.

UNFPA’s work in the Caribbean is situated at the intersection of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality, population dynamics, and climate resilience—critical priorities for accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Guided by its Sub-Regional Programme 2022–2026, UNFPA supports governments and partners in building inclusive systems that can withstand and adapt to complex challenges, from environmental shocks to demographic shifts.

As SIDS contend with intensifying climate risks, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and resource stress, the gendered dimensions of these crises are increasingly evident. Women, girls, and marginalized populations face disproportionate barriers to accessing SRHR services, higher exposure to Gender Based Violence (GBV), and reduced participation in decision-making processes. These challenges are further compounded by data gaps and systemic inequalities. UNFPA’s Climate Change Strategy (2023) and its global SRHR in emergencies guidance affirm the imperative of integrating climate action with rights-based, gender-responsive, and data-informed development approaches.

In the Caribbean, UNFPA provides strategic and technical support to governments and institutions to ensure that national development plans, climate adaptation frameworks, and humanitarian systems reflect the specific needs and rights of women and girls. Through regional partnerships with organizations such as CARICOM, ECLAC, OECS, and the Caribbean Development Bank, UNFPA advances coordinated action on population data for resilience, gender-responsive climate policy, and the localization of global commitments like the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).

Within this context, UNFPA’s collaboration with national statistical systems - particularly around population census - aims to integrate climate vulnerability, gender inequality, and sexual and reproductive health indicators into population and development planning. This reflects a broader institutional commitment to Leaving No One Behind (LNOB), ensuring that all people, especially those most at risk, are visible in policy and protected in practice.

In Trinidad and Tobago, UNFPA will support the National Statistical Office on the upcoming population census to be conducted in 2026. Strategic funding has been obtained by the Government of India to support knowledge exchange through a south-south cooperation modality, which is providing a unique opportunity for scaling up UNFPA’s role as a convener and provider of technical assistance on census in the sub-region, working in close collaboration with CARICOM.

This assignment will be embedded within UNFPA’s gender and climate resilience portfolio, contributing to cross-cutting initiatives that bridge population data, SRHR, GBV, youth empowerment, and demographic resilience in service of resilient, inclusive development in the Caribbean.

As the UN Youth Volunteer on Gender and Climate Resilience, hosted by UNFPA within the Caribbean Sub-Regional Office (SRO), your primary responsibility will be to support the integration of gender-responsive, rights-based climate resilience strategies into UNFPA’s programming across Caribbean SIDS. This includes a programme support role and contributions to ongoing and planned initiatives that address the intersection of climate change, SRHR, GBV, youth empowerment, and gender equality, while drawing on demographic evidence and supporting cross-sectoral partnerships for resilience-building.

Under the direct supervision of the Sub-Regional Gender and GBV Focal Point who is also the Liaison Specialist for Trinidad and Tobago Liaison Office, and in close coordination with the Deputy Director and colleagues working on population and development, SRHR in emergencies, and data systems, the UNV Gender and Climate Resilience Associate will support programmatic, knowledge, and advocacy initiatives that operationalize the gender-climate nexus in line with UNFPA’s Climate Change Strategy, the Caribbean Sub-Regional Programme (2022–2026), and key regional frameworks such as the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).

He/She/They will provide coordination support to the strategic cooperation with the Government of India in support of the preparatory work for the 2026 Trinidad and Tobago Census, ensuring gender and LNOB considerations are integrated into the technical assistance provided.

Under the overall guidance of the Director and the Deputy Director of the Sub-Regional Office of the Caribbean, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Support to enhance Gender and Climate Programming as part of the planning of the 8th Sub-regional programme for UNFPA in the Caribbean

-Assist the programme team in the evidence gathering for the design, coordination, and implementation of programmatic initiatives addressing gender, GBV, SRHR, and climate resilience, particularly those focused on women, girls, and marginalized groups in the context of the new sub-regional programme

-Contribute to the mainstreaming of climate considerations into UNFPA’s gender equality, youth engagement, and humanitarian preparedness work, including through the review and adaptation of global tools and guidance.

-Support integration of gender-responsive climate resilience components into inter-agency planning and frameworks (e.g. National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies, UNCT planning exercises).

2. Programme support to new initiative on South-South Cooperation with the Government of India in the area of Population and Data

-Provide coordination support to the gender dimensions of population and development initiatives, particularly those connected to the 2026 Trinidad and Tobago Census and the India-funded regional data project.

-Contribute to the review of sex- and age-disaggregated data and support the identification of gender and climate indicators relevant to SIDS-specific vulnerabilities.

-Participate in meetings and technical exchanges with statistical offices, civil society partners, and regional institutions, and contribute to the production of knowledge products that link population dynamics to gendered climate risk.


3. Youth Engagement and Partnerships

-Facilitate youth involvement in gender and climate justice initiatives across the Caribbean, supporting the design of community-based engagement models, storytelling platforms, and intergenerational dialogue processes.

-Identify and support youth-driven innovations and advocacy efforts aligned with ABAS.


4. Advocacy, Communications, and Knowledge Generation

-Support the preparation of briefs, case studies, policy notes, and digital content amplifying women’s and youth voices on climate resilience and gender equality.

-Assist with the documentation and dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned on integrating gender and climate across UNFPA programming in the region.

-Collaborate with UNFPA’s communications team to increase visibility of UNFPA’s mandate in the Caribbean SIDS related fora.


5. Monitoring, Reporting and Coordination

-Support the development of progress reports, technical inputs to donor updates, and contributions to corporate reporting processes (e.g. CPD, UN Info, SRP reporting).

-Participate in coordination meetings with UN partners (e.g. UN Women, ECLAC, UNEP) and regional bodies (e.g. CARICOM, OECS) on resilience, climate, and gender agendas.

-Contribute to mapping exercises, partner coordination notes, and the identification of synergies between ongoing climate-related programming and UNFPA’s thematic priorities.


6. Cross-Cutting and Institutional Responsibilities

-Stay current with evolving UNFPA and interagency technical guidance, particularly related to the gender–climate nexus.

-Support knowledge sharing across UNFPA teams and contribute to the enhancement of UNFPA’s internal knowledge management platforms for gender and climate integration.