Gender Specialist to support the EU funded SEMPA Project

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Result of Service

The objective of this assignment is to :

• Prepare a comprehensive desk-review on gender, MPAs, monitoring and coastal livelihoods for the participating countries;
• Identify gender-responsive entry points towards MPAs, pollution, monitoring, coastal livelihoods and access, and effective communication of gender sensitive information;
• Assess policy environment of the participating countries and potential list of stakeholders;
• Gather gender related data, included sex-disaggregated data from MPA managers and Implementing Partners;
• Regularly populating and updating the SEMPA gender monitoring framework with data gathered from the Project;
• Enhancing the capacity of all beneficiary countries and implementing partners on gender mainstreaming, through capacity-building/training activities and provision of gender inputs and technical advice, based on the defined SEMPA Gender Action Plan.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. United Nation's Environment Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The assignment is for the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), Athens, Greece, to support the EU-funded project entitled "Bolstering Mediterranean biodiversity and MCPAs for nature " (SEMPA Project), started on 23rd August 2023. The overall objective of the EU-funded SEMPA Project is to enhance and support the implementation of the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme for the Mediterranean Sea and Coast (IMAP) in line with the Decision IG.22/7 of COP19 of the Barcelona Convention (Athens, Greece, February 2016), as well as to support the beneficiary countries' efforts in further strengthening and better managing the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), as per Decisions IG.25/11 and IG.25/12 of the COP22 of the Barcelona Convention (Antalya, Türkiye, December In addition, in line with UNEP and UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention Gender Strategies, the Project design recognizes that gender-mainstreamed integrated monitoring and MPA policies, which include both genders and different social groups in planning and execution, can simultaneously maximize resource protection (through compliance and low resistance) and provide an opportunity for empowerment (through alternative livelihood options and devolved authority). Accordingly, and in line with the approved activities and budget of the SEMPA Project, the Project Management Unit requires the services of a Gender Specialist. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the SEMPA Project Manager, and under the overall supervision of the QSR/EcAp Head of Unit. Under the direct supervision of the SEMPA Project Manager, and under the overall guidance of the QSR/EcAp Head of Unit, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: 1) Prepare a detailed work plan and timetable of the assignment; 2) Prepare a comprehensive desk-review on gender, MPAs, monitoring and coastal livelihoods for the participating countries. 3) Collect and gather additional data and information on gender aspects at national and local level in areas targeted by the SEMPA project and especially its MPA component, including sex-disaggregated data. This includes field visits to 3 beneficiary countries, where possible, organization and participation to meetings about gender mainstreaming and monitoring, questionnaires and bilateral discussions with implementing partners. 4) Identify, through the desk review, data/information collection and field visits, gender-responsive entry points towards MPAs, monitoring, coastal livelihoods and access, and effective communication of gender sensitive information. 5) Prepare an assessment of the policy environment of the participating countries and potential list of stakeholders, through the desk review, data/information collection and field visits. 6) Provide technical inputs and lead capacity building events on Gender for MPA Managers of Beneficiary countries at national (at least one capacity building event in each of the following countries: Algeria, Egypt and Lebanon) and regional level (technical support on gender aspects to SPA/RAC led Regional workshop on effective management of MPAs), based on the recommendations from the Gender Assessment, MPA Forum and MPA RoadMap, and in synergy with any on-going initiative in the areas. 7) Provide gender mainstreaming technical inputs to the SEMPA Project Manager for inclusion in the project progress reports and other administrative/reporting processes provided on a regular basis as needed; as well as MAP and UNEP events and platforms as appropriate. 8) Provide technical inputs for the maintenance of the UNEP/MAP database of key partners and stakeholders involved in Gender related activities, in coordination with relevant colleagues of the GEF-funded MedProgramme ensuring synergies between the two projects. 9) Provide technical support to the preparation, and execution of SEMPA Project Steering Committee Meeting with regards to gender component. 10) Provide technical inputs for the preparation of material regarding gender mainstreaming for the purposes of SEMPA project communication activities, and of UNEP/MAP in general.

Qualifications/special Skills
Advanced university degree in the field of environment, law, social sciences, or communication is required A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in environmental or international development aid projects, including the execution of technical capacity projects linked to the environment and gender mainstreaming, ideally in the Mediterranean, is required in particular at least in two of the aspects listed below: - Execution of tasks including the collection and analysis of sex-disaggregated data (quantitative and qualitative) at national and local scale; - Definition, monitoring and reporting on gender mainstreaming activities and projects in the field of the environment; - Capacity building exercises toward local communities on Gender aspects and Women empowerment. Strong analytical skills, ability to effectively articulate and present findings in writing are required. Good knowledge of the UNEP/MAP system and context in the Mediterranean region is desirable. Ability to use data analysis software (SPSS, MAXQDA, Atlas etc.) is desirable.

Languages

• Fluency (oral and written) in English is required;
• Working knowledge of French and/or Arabic is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.