The Position:
Under the overall direction of the UNFPA Representative for Palestine and direct supervision of Head of Gaza Field Office, the Programme Specialist in Gaza will lead the overall programming of the Gender and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) portfolio, including spearheading and contributing to inter-agency coordination for the planning and delivery of programmes. S/He will also actively contribute to the humanitarian coordination architecture, particularly within the Protection Cluster, and collaborate with other clusters and working groups as required. Under the framework of Humanitarian-Development nexus, the Staff member will lead and contribute to efforts toward strengthening preparedness, risk analysis, and risk reduction in programming and provide technical inputs towards the development of guidance and support to emergency response, recovery and development efforts. S/He produces evidence-based analysis for the delivery of integrated technical advisory services on Gender-Based Violence in emergencies and helps establish/ strengthen and institutionalize mechanisms and systems for the prevention and response to address GBV in Gaza as part of women’s empowerment and gender equality. The incumbent advances knowledge management for quality programming standards, tools, and technical briefs, including emerging humanitarian issues. S/He supports the expansion of partnerships with humanitarian and recovery/ development - related networks and technical working groups. S/he works in close collaboration with other work streams in the Country Office, other entities within UNFPA and with external partners.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results
Job Purpose:
The Program Specialist for Gender and GBV will be responsible for providing overall strategic guidance and technical leadership in the planning, conceptualization, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of gender and gender-based violence related initiatives in humanitarian-development-peace nexus. This includes providing technical and programmatic leadership of the Gender and GBV program in Gaza. The Specialist also leads/ contributes to various coordination mechanisms under Humanitarian and Recovery frameworks and works in partnership with a range of actors ascertaining delivery of results, visibility, and accountability for all Gender and GBV prevention and response related activities across all UNFPA programmes in Gaza. The position will report directly to the Head of UNFPA Office in Gaza and maintain technical and functional relationships with National and Regional Gender and GBV Coordinators, Advisors and Programme Team Leads
You would be responsible for:
A. Programme Leadership
- Manage the Gender and GBV Portfolio of Gaza, in close collaboration with the Country Office based GBV Team for the overall programme cycle management.
- Lead/contribute to the development, contextualization and institutionalization of relevant guidelines, protocols, standards, tools and policies for the prevention and response to GBV.
- Support the GBV Programme Analyst in working with implementing partners’ workplans and budgets, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
- Establish/strengthen referral pathway system in accordance with the set standard operating procedures.
- Strengthen GBV case management services including the streamlining and strengthening GBV data management system,
- Lead the designing and implementation of Cash Voucher Assistance (CVA) programme for vulnerable women and girls that includes survivors of GBV and others.
- Ensure close linkages and integration are established in planning and delivery of programmes with other UNFPA streams of work – SRH, AY and MHPSS.
B. Coordination
- Coordinate the Gender and GBV areas of work in Gaza, ensuring the achievement of the agreed products with its members in the AWP.
- Represent Gender and GBV area of work in meetings of the Protection Cluster, OCHA, and in other relevant meetings, including those convened by the HCT and any mechanisms under recovery and development streams.
- Coordinate and collaborate with other Clusters/ Sectors such as health, shelter, food security, education, nutrition and others, to ensure the integration of Gender and GBV-related action in their sector plans and to advocate for joint awareness and implementation.
- Lead the design/ contextualisation/ adaptation of Gaza specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Gender and GBV.
- Develop and implement capacity development strategy for Gender and GBV actors in Gaza.
- Provide technical support and information for the development of advocacy documents and relevant policies to address the GBV in humanitarian - recovery - development context.
- Foster and guide strategic alliances and partnerships for visible and sustainable integration of issues relating to the UNFPA mandate in humanitarian and fragile settings and to leverage maximum mainstreaming effects.
C. Technical support and capacity building
- Lead efforts for identifying and analyzing trends, threats, risks, and emerging needs as well as opportunities and possible partnerships, to timely alert and contribute to preparedness, emergency response and other humanitarian strategies and programming in humanitarian settings that require high level of flexibility.
- Support the institutional capacity-building for Implementing Partners (IPs) in Gaza and relevant stakeholders to ensure the delivery of quality GBV services, including providing orientation on GBV prevention, response, and case management.
- Lead the provision of technical support to programmes in emergencies, recovery and development contexts. This includes coaching and supporting partners for the implementation of MISP, application of GBV standards and guiding principles, and transitioning into recovery and development.
- Provide technical inputs during the development of new or update of policies, positioning frameworks, guidelines, standards, instruments, and tools.
- Establish strong linkages between SRH and GBV regarding the health sector response for survivors of sexual violence.
- Support risk-informed and resilience-driven flexible programming.
D. Operations
- Contribute to the Gender and GBV resource mobilization efforts through development or support in the drafting of concept notes and project proposals.
- Support the implementation of the Gender and GBV projects, including grants management, monitoring, and reporting.
- Support with the review of requests and the monitoring and tracking of allocation and utilization of UNFPA financial resources.
- Support contextualizing kits including Dignity Kits and Menstrual Hygiene Management kits, forecasting the needs and procurement and distribution of GBV supplies and commodities for preparedness and emergency response.
E. Evidence and knowledge development, management, and dissemination
Collect, analyze, and synthesize research, data, and field experiences across humanitarian and recovery phases to inform programme priorities and provide evidence-based analysis to address programme delivery bottlenecks.
Contribute to the development, revision, and dissemination of GBV knowledge products—including humanitarian and recovery-focused briefing notes, guidance, tools, advocacy materials, and short publications capturing field experiences and lessons learned.
Promote evidence-based knowledge-sharing at regional and national levels strengthening initiatives that position GBV as a lifesaving and recovery-enabling intervention, enhancing accountability with humanitarian and development leadership.
Any other duties:
- Perform any other duties as may be directed by the Representative, Deputy Representative and Head of Gaza Field Office.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
- Master university degree in social sciences, gender studies, humanitarian practice, international development, public health or related field.
Knowledge and Experience:
- 5 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in humanitarian programming in the field.
- Minimum 3 years of field experience working in humanitarian or fragile context required.
- Familiarity with IASC and other humanitarian coordination mechanisms, guiding principles and standards, an advantage.
- Experience in programme development and management and reporting in complex emergencies, with a preference for in-person field experience.
Excellent interpersonal skills, creativity, strong project management skills, a positive and outgoing personality, and ability to interact successfully with people of different backgrounds and cultures
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Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other UN languages is an asset. Arabic language would be an added advantage.
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:
- Achieving results,
- Being accountable,
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically,
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
Functional Competencies:
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
