UNICEF Pacific Consultancy: International Consultant to Conduct Gender Programmatic Review of the Pacific Multi Country Office Programme, Suva, Fiji, 85 working days spread over 9 Months

UNICEF Pacific is in search of a dedicated and proactive international consultant. The consultancy is for a period of 85 working days spread over 9 months. The consultant will be based in Suva, Fiji for approximately 60 days of the 85-day assignment, with the remaining 25 days involving travel across the Pacific to conduct fieldwork in selected countries. S/he will lead the Gender Programmatic Review (GPR) of the UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Programme (MCPD 2023–2027). The consultant will ensure forward-looking recommendations that will inform the development of the next MCPD (2028–2032). The GPR will align with the current Gender Action Plan 2022–2025 and proactively prepare for integration with the forthcoming Gender Equality Action Plan 2026–2029 (UGEAP 2026–2029). S/he will work under the general guidance of the Gender Specialist with technical and additional oversight by the Deputy Representative Programme. The consultant will be provided with the GPR toolkit and internal documentation, tools and resources from the Multi Country Office. Further input will be provided based on discussion rounds with UNICEF Pacific staff, implementing partners and counterparts.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to opportunity. 

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work here: UNICEF Pacific Islands.  

How can you make a difference? 

The Gender Programmatic Review process includes four main steps.

1. Analysis of gender inequalities across at least six Pacific CO/FO contexts, situated within the framework of the GAP 2022–25 gender programmatic priorities.

2. Analysis of the gender results in the GAP within the national context (the consultant is expected to identify other elements included in the GAP as applicable to the reality of countries and include in the analysis), in order to identify a subset that can potentially be addressed in the country programme, for further analysis.

3. Identification of the gendered barriers and bottlenecks at the root of the selected gender results for each sectoral areas, and develop programmatic solutions to address those barriers, including in light of opportunities and facilitating factors (including institutional factors e.g. strategic alliances, resources, staff gender capacities, data and evidence, accountability) to meet the unique needs of girls and boys in the national contexts so as to enhance gender transformative programming.

4. Guidance and support to the Multi Country Office to articulate results and specify indicators to track progress, as well as accountability standards to support achievement of those results.

5. Documentation of the findings of the GPR in a way that facilitates integration of key agreements and conclusions into UNICEF multi country programme documents.

Linked to this work, the consultant is also expected to engage with UNICEF Pacific Field Offices, external partners and relevant UN agencies to socialize them on UNICEF’s GAP and the Gender and ADAP Strategy of the Pacific Office, actively seeking their inputs into the GPR. The consultant is also expected to conduct dissemination of the main findings of the assessment through the period of the consultancy.

Please refer to the  ToR - Gender and Programme Consultancy.pdf for further information on the deliverables and the timelines. 

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:  

Please submit a separate financial offer along with your application. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables with a breakdown for the following:

• Monthly/Daily fees based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference
• Travel (economy air ticket where applicable to take up assignment and field mission travel
• Living allowance where travel is required
• Miscellaneous- to cover visa, health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

• Advanced university degree in gender studies or similar.

Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of strong technical skills in gender, research and ability to support multiple countries especially on gender assessments, evaluations and reviews is necessary.
• Substantive and programmatic experience in gender issues, with an understanding of social research methods is needed.
• Demonstrated experience in using evidence based on gender in shaping and implementing programmes, including in the areas of UNICEF work (WASH, Health, Education, etc.)
• Familiarly with Small Island Development (SIDS), preferably the Pacific region is highly desirable.
• Proven experience of rights-based approaches to development.
• Prior experience with UNICEF or UN agency programme planning.

Skills:

• Strong analytical skills in gender programme design and assessment at national levels, ideally some of it in the Asia Pacific region is required.
• Demonstrable expertise in research including data collection, data analysis and reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal and presentation skills.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of a local language would be an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

Remarks:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Individual Consultants s. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.