Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the African Centre for Gender and Social Development Division (ACGSD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The Social Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of Gender, Women in Development Section.
Responsibilities
Under the overall direction of the Director, African Centre for Gender and Social Development, and the direct supervision of the Chief, Gender and Women in Development Section, the incumbent will carry out the following functions: Reviews, monitors and evaluates activities relating to the implementation of international human rights instruments; Ensures up-to-date information regarding substantive matters in the field of human rights and makes recommendations on actions to take; Makes contact with other sectors of the UN, other international organizations and governments on coordination and policy matters; brief representatives and provides, as appropriate suggestions and recommendations. Promotes and oversees the management of the African Women’s Rights Observatory, including tracking progress on developments, collating and consolidating information and data on the human rights of women in Africa; Creates a sound information and knowledge base on substantive issues relating to women’s human rights, and provides technical advice and backstopping on strategic actions; Develop data collection strategies, and statistical techniques to measure African women’s rights; Proposes, designs and manages substantive research projects analysing key trends in women’s human rights issues at global, regional and national levels; assess implications and related policies and programmatic interventions; Identifies and develops new and emerging areas of theoretical and conceptual analysis, as well as innovative research methodologies for promoting and protecting women’s human rights; Provides technical support to Member States to facilitate their adoption/ratification, domestication and implementation of global and regional human rights instruments and policies related to women’s human rights; Engages and networks with other sectors of the UN, international organisations and governments on coordination and policy matters; undertakes periodic briefings to relevant representatives, and provides, as appropriate, suggestions and recommendations; Undertakes empirical research and analysis of contemporary women’s human rights issues, including trends analysis and policy issues relevant to ACGSD mandate, projects and initiatives; Recommend and make proposals on current and emerging issues for inclusion in reports to intergovernmental bodies, Member States e.t.c; Contributes to the preparation of various written reports, technical documents, concept notes, and policy briefs; Provides support to intergovernmental processes, especially those dealing with women’s human rights issues, and more widely, related to gender, women and development; Plan, organise and service technical and ad hoc expert group and high level levels meetings; and Contributes to the work of the ACGSD in the area of gender, women and development as required by the Director.
Competencies
• Professionalism: Recognized expert in the field of gender, human and women’s rights; ability to advise senior management and other senior officials; conceptual and strategic ability to analyze and evaluate critical matters pertaining to a broad spectrum of gender-related issues and specifically on women’s human rights; Sound analytical skills and good problem solving ability; ability to apply gender analysis and concepts to issues of concern as they relate to women’s human rights; good understanding of commitments and declarations on gender equality, women’s empowerment and human rights ; Ability to draw policy implications and propose options is required. Demonstrated in-depth technical knowledge and proven analytical skills in women’s human rights in the African context. Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human
rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in (both oral and written) English or French is required. Knowledge of the other is highly desirable.
Assessment Method
A written assessment and competency-based interview will be conducted as part of the recruitment process for this position.
Special Notice
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, Article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non smoking environment.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS
Apply Now
This position is located in the African Centre for Gender and Social Development Division (ACGSD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The Social Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of Gender, Women in Development Section.
Responsibilities
Under the overall direction of the Director, African Centre for Gender and Social Development, and the direct supervision of the Chief, Gender and Women in Development Section, the incumbent will carry out the following functions: Reviews, monitors and evaluates activities relating to the implementation of international human rights instruments; Ensures up-to-date information regarding substantive matters in the field of human rights and makes recommendations on actions to take; Makes contact with other sectors of the UN, other international organizations and governments on coordination and policy matters; brief representatives and provides, as appropriate suggestions and recommendations. Promotes and oversees the management of the African Women’s Rights Observatory, including tracking progress on developments, collating and consolidating information and data on the human rights of women in Africa; Creates a sound information and knowledge base on substantive issues relating to women’s human rights, and provides technical advice and backstopping on strategic actions; Develop data collection strategies, and statistical techniques to measure African women’s rights; Proposes, designs and manages substantive research projects analysing key trends in women’s human rights issues at global, regional and national levels; assess implications and related policies and programmatic interventions; Identifies and develops new and emerging areas of theoretical and conceptual analysis, as well as innovative research methodologies for promoting and protecting women’s human rights; Provides technical support to Member States to facilitate their adoption/ratification, domestication and implementation of global and regional human rights instruments and policies related to women’s human rights; Engages and networks with other sectors of the UN, international organisations and governments on coordination and policy matters; undertakes periodic briefings to relevant representatives, and provides, as appropriate, suggestions and recommendations; Undertakes empirical research and analysis of contemporary women’s human rights issues, including trends analysis and policy issues relevant to ACGSD mandate, projects and initiatives; Recommend and make proposals on current and emerging issues for inclusion in reports to intergovernmental bodies, Member States e.t.c; Contributes to the preparation of various written reports, technical documents, concept notes, and policy briefs; Provides support to intergovernmental processes, especially those dealing with women’s human rights issues, and more widely, related to gender, women and development; Plan, organise and service technical and ad hoc expert group and high level levels meetings; and Contributes to the work of the ACGSD in the area of gender, women and development as required by the Director.
Competencies
• Professionalism: Recognized expert in the field of gender, human and women’s rights; ability to advise senior management and other senior officials; conceptual and strategic ability to analyze and evaluate critical matters pertaining to a broad spectrum of gender-related issues and specifically on women’s human rights; Sound analytical skills and good problem solving ability; ability to apply gender analysis and concepts to issues of concern as they relate to women’s human rights; good understanding of commitments and declarations on gender equality, women’s empowerment and human rights ; Ability to draw policy implications and propose options is required. Demonstrated in-depth technical knowledge and proven analytical skills in women’s human rights in the African context. Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human
rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in (both oral and written) English or French is required. Knowledge of the other is highly desirable.
Assessment Method
A written assessment and competency-based interview will be conducted as part of the recruitment process for this position.
Special Notice
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, Article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non smoking environment.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS
Apply Now