Policy Specialist

Job Description

Under the supervision of the Chief of the Peace, Security and Humanitarian Section of UN Women, the Policy Specialist will reinforce the development of work within the area of support to global, national and regional implementation and monitoring of women, peace and security commitments, including policy development and coordination, in particular the coordination of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, as well as learning and knowledge production and management. She /He will act as an important channel between the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, Member States, and UN and civil society partners. The Policy Specialist will also contribute to the broader work of the Peace, Security and Humanitarian Section in the area of WPS National Action Plans and will be a focal point on women, peace and security for the Generation Equality Forum. Duties and Responsibilities Manage policy development around the national implementation of the women, peace and security agenda:

Manage the global-level coordination, monitoring, and catalytic programming efforts to advance the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda with Member States and regional organizations commitments and initiatives;
Lead technical support to the development and monitoring of the implementation of National Action Plans on women, peace and security, including through technical support to the development of action plans and strategies;
Coordinate the production of studies, reports, background papers on national and regional implementation and monitoring of women, peace and security commitments, in accordance with mandates provided by relevant intergovernmental bodies, highlighting progress and challenges in critical areas and emerging issues as well as preparing options and recommendations for action;
Provide inputs to intergovernmental processes and other international fora to help shape the development of global and regional policies, norms and standards, and strategies to enhance planning, implementation and monitoring of the women, peace and security agenda;
Conceptualize and execute action-oriented policy research on national planning and implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 and subsequent WPS resolutions;
Assess implementation bottlenecks and gaps in advancing the women, peace and security agenda and take appropriate responses whether in terms of policy development and negotiation with relevant stakeholders, or pilot programming interventions;
Represent the Peace, Security and Humanitarian Section at internal and external meetings.

Serve as head of the Secretariat of the WPS Focal Points Network:

Maintain a database of director level and support level members of the network; Coordinate a listserv for the network;
Provide technical and logistical support to the chair in organizing bi-annual meetings of the network; ensure follow up to meetings and decisions of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network;
Facilitate communication, organize expert meetings, panels and other interactive events between the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, UN Women HQ and Country and Regional Offices, and civil society partners, on lessons learned, promising approaches, and good practices in the implementation of the WPS agenda;
Identify and promote opportunities for predictable and sustained funding for WPS efforts;
Facilitate partnerships and linkages between Women, Peace and Security Focal Points and the UN for greater capacity support as well as with key stakeholders, including governments, academic institutions, and civil society organizations;
Identify and disseminate opportunities for building and strengthening the capacity of actors working on women, peace and security.

Coordinate Women, Peace and Security engagement in the Generation Equality Forum and follow up mechanisms:

Facilitate broad multi-stakeholder engagement at global, national and local levels on women, peace and security priorities for the Generation Equality Forum;
Support the design and operationalization of accountability and monitoring modalities for women, peace and security in the Generation Equality Forum;
Strengthen partnerships with Member States, UN entities, regional bodies and civil society actors to highlight and reinforce the implementation of global policy commitments on women, peace and security; and subsequent WPS resolutions;
Contribute to mandated reports, publications and donor reporting;
Represent the Peace, Security and Humanitarian Section at internal and external meetings.
Key Performance Indicators:
Quality support to the development and implementation of national and regional action plans and strategies;
Quality support to the Focal Points Network which leads to the constant flow and exchange of information;
Strong partnerships which ensure the Focal Points Network is a vibrant community;
Quality support to the Generation Equality Forum to promote meaningful WPS integration;
Knowledge-generating initiatives , which lead to improved implementation of the WPS agenda.

Required Skills and Experience Education:

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in development related disciplines, gender issues, economics, public policy, law or other social science fields;
A first degree with extensive experience in gender and women issues may also be considered;
Education in Peace and Security is an advantage.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years of experience in policy analysis and advocacy on women, peace and security, including in planning and coordination;
Specific experience promoting national and regional implementation of women, peace and security is highly desired;
Work experience from international organizations and the United Nations system is an asset;
Field experience in peace and security contexts is an asset.

Languages: