Project Manager for Gender Equality in Disaster Resilience for Latin America and the Caribbean

Duty station: Panama City, Panama (Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment)

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Deadline to receive applications: 14 august, 2023

Tasks

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Programme Manager Officer of UNDRR Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean or his/her designated mandated representative(s), and closely coordination with UNDRR regional counterparts of UN Women and GNDR, as well as others as relevant, the UNV Volunteer Project Manager for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Disaster Resilience will be in charge of coordinating and overseeing project planning, implementation and reporting, providing the regional office’s technical team with the necessary documents, guidance, explanation and contacts to deliver the expected products and outputs. 

Together with UNDRR and other partners, the UNV Volunteer Project Manager for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Disaster Resilience will ensure the achievement of specific project activities, including: 

• Providing guidance to government and civil society representatives to strengthen the evidence base and case for women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation through the increased use of sex-disaggregated data and tracking of hazardous events and disaster losses; 
• Supporting civil society networks in strengthening linkages and sharing best practices related to gender-responsive climate and risk governance; 
• Developing information products on women’s differential and intersectional role in transformative climate and disaster risk resilience solutions; 
• Providing support to government representatives on integrating gender responsive considerations in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies, programmes and plans; 
• Developing a Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Annex to the Making Cities Resilient (MCR) 2030 Scorecard (self-assessment tool for local governments); and 
• Organizing capacity-building activities for public and private sector actors on developing resilient infrastructure and securing financing for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. 

Key project management tasks

1. Develop a project implementation plan based on the approved project proposal and subject to approval by UNDRR and Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Substantive progress in the technical and financial planning, implementation and reporting of the project activities as per the respective regional office and project workplans. 
2. National, regional and global partners including governments, IGOs and other stakeholders at the global, regional, national and local levels are well informed about relevant activities undertaken by UNDRR and collaborating partners of this project. 
3. Ensure that project activities and outcomes, including relevant events, effectively integrate a gender and human rights perspective and elements of meaningful participation, active engagement and inclusion of all persons with a particular focus on women and persons with disabilities. 
4. Project reporting delivered as requested by UNDRR and by the donor. 

Additional project management tasks include supporting UNDRR to: 

• Plan, manage, implement and monitor the Project using a results-based approach that integrates Gender Equality, Environmental Sustainability and Human Rights; 
• Achieve and complete all Project outcomes, outputs, activities, components, and milestones described in the Project description; 
• Inform, in writing and as soon as possible, of any significant circumstances, problems or risk events which may affect in the implementation of the Project, including the details of such circumstance, problem or risk event as requested; 
• Implement budgetary procedures and financial controls. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. 

As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: 

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking an active part in UNV activities (for instance, in events that mark International Volunteer Day); 
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; 
• Provide annual and end-of-assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities. 
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; 
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; 
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. 

Results/expected outputs: 

• Project implementation plan based on the approved project proposal and subject to approval by UNDRR and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) that will include at least: 
  • Theory of change − Outcome-based schedule of activities per year 
  • a Gender Analysis and Gender Equality Strategy as defined in the project document 
  • Relevant environment analyses and definition of reporting requirements on environmental considerations in the context of the annual reporting 
  • Fully completed Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) that includes relevant environmental indicators and targets; 
  • Project-specific procurement plan and procedures; 
• Bimonthly progress reports, annual reports, intermediary report and final report, all subject to revision and approval by UNDRR; 
• Others as per mutual agreement. 

Intermediate Outcomes 

• Accelerated Sendai Framework implementation by governments in LAC that incorporates a climate smart gender-responsive approach benefiting from women’s leadership to foster greener, more sustainable and equitable communities. 
• Improved climate-smart disaster prevention in LAC, including the reduction of existing climate and disaster risk, the avoidance of generating new and emerging risk. 

Immediate outcomes 

• Improved understanding of disaster risk and climate change by LAC government representatives through gender responsive and more comprehensive data and information on vulnerabiility, exposure, and coping & adaptive capacities. 
• Improved capacity of State and non-State actors to develop climate smart, inclusive and gender responsive CCA& DRR governance mechanisms. 
• Enhanced capacity among State and non-State actors to enhance investment in climate smart DRR for multisectoral resilience building. 
• Improved understanding of State and non-State actors on response, recovery, rehabilitation and BBB in DRR-related planning to reflect biodiversity protection, climate action and women's autonomy.

Required experience

15 years of experience in project or programme management, administration, or related area is required. 

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in gender, disaster risk reduction, climate change and environmental fields, or human rights is desirable. 
• Experience in partnerships building, policy development, and facilitation of interagency work is desirable. 
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, and reporting skills; 
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; 
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; 
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; 
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; 
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Sound security awareness; 
• Have affinity with or interest in Disaster Risk Reduction, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Languages

Spanish, Level: Fluent, Required 

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in business administration, management, economics or a related field is required. A Master´s degree is an asset.

Competencies and values

Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNDRR ROAC technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNDRR ROAC procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; 

Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNDRR ROAC in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; 

Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; 

Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. 

Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; 

Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; 

Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; 

Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNDRR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.