UN Women: Individual Contract – National Consultant - Humanitarian Specialist (Suva, Fiji), Suva, Fiji

## UN Women: Individual Contract – National Consultant - Humanitarian Specialist (Suva, Fiji), Suva, Fiji - Organization:UN Women - United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women - Office:UN Women Suva, Fiji UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. The UN Women Pacific Multi-Country Office is based in Suva, Fiji and works alongside over 20 other UN agencies in the region and in 14 countries across the Pacific: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Under its Strategic Note (SN) 2023 - 2027, UN Women Fiji MCO focuses on delivering on four interlinked programme areas underpinned by support for intergovernmental and normative processes: - Women's Governance, Political Participation and Leadership - Women's Economic Empowerment - Ending Violence against Women and Girls - Climate Action/Humanitarian Action and Resilience In 2022, over 300 million people needed humanitarian assistance and protection in places struck by conflict, climate change, disasters. For women and girls, crisis and related displacements result in loss of property, assets and livelihoods, reduction in access to health care, education, and other services. At the same time, it raises the risks of violence, abuse, and exploitation. Yet, gender responsive humanitarian action remains affected by limited coordination, understanding of risks and funding at the country and regional level. However, the critical importance of building resilience and safeguarding the long-term prospects of crisis affected women and girls are emphasized by development actors requiring a collective and coordinated approach. Through its IASC membership and ongoing programmes in humanitarian crisis, UN Women takes an approach to tackle the root causes of inequality while pushing for changes in the global humanitarian system. The Pacific is considered one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world and faces unique challenges. It is highly exposed to hydro-meteorological hazards as well as geophysical and human-made hazards. The small size, remoteness, socio-economic status, and fragile biodiversity of the Pacific Islands make them extremely vulnerable to these hazards. As a result, Pacific Island States, including Vanuatu, Fiji, and Kiribati - the WRD programme countries, occupy the top categories in the 2019 World Risk Index. A principal regional constraint to gender-responsive humanitarian preparedness, response and disaster risk reduction remains the capacity to plan and implement gender-inclusive strategies, and to deliver pre-and post-disaster services to those hit hardest by emergencies. All steps to reduce gender inequalities across the region are likely also to reduce gender disparities in the impact of disaster. The UN Women MCO covers 14 of the PICTs in the region. Widespread discriminatory attitudes towards women and girls in all their diversity create deep-rooted obstacles to sustainable development in the Pacific.[1]Some Pacific societies are matrilineal, with women in some cases holding positions of authority within the family/community. However, this does not usually translate into equal socio-economic indicators, with the exception of secondary school enrolment, where girls typically outstrip boys, with an average net enrolment ratio of 69.7 percent for girls and 62.3 percent for boys.[2]The majority of societies are deeply patriarchal, with entrenched norms that lead to gender inequality in almost all spheres. Women and girls of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics, women, and girls with disabilities and in rural/maritime areas experience intersectional discrimination. Through the recent Humanitarian Strategy (2022-2025) of UN Women, the Agency focuses on: - Strengthening accountability towards gender commitments in coordination and implementation of UN-led humanitarian and refugee responses. - Strengthening Comprehensive Protection and Livelihood support to Crisis Affected Women and Girls. - Amplifying women's voices and leadership during the crisis. The UN Women MCO is in an advantageous position in the region with regard to its coordination role as lead of the Pacific Humanitarian and Protection Cluster (PHPC) which provides ample opportunity for consolidating its envisaged role of triple mandate (normative, operation and coordination) as per the Strategic Note (2023-2027). Reporting to the Deputy Representative, the Humanitarian Specialist will manage the development of Humanitarian programmes, provide capacity building to Country Offices (CO) and Multi Country Offices (MCO), establish, and strengthen partnerships, and develop relevant knowledge products on gender, protection, and humanitarian response. Description of Responsibilities / Scope of Work Under the direct supervision of the UN Women Deputy Representative, the National Consultant will be performing the following work responsibilities: Manage the programme on humanitarian action: - Lead development of project/programme proposals ; - Coordinate implementation of the humanitarian action work plan activities for 2026; - Coordinate proper monitoring and reporting for humanitarian action in collaboration with programme teams. Provide capacity building support to the Country Office Programme Presence teams and partners: - Provide technical and policy support to the multi-country office in Fiji and country office programme presence teams in developing and strengthening projects/ programmes; - Implement and monitor capacity building initiatives; - Provide technical support to partners on implementation of gender-responsive humanitarian action. Strengthen strategic partnerships with stakeholders, regional/ international actors and development partners: - Maintain and enhance alliances and strategic partnerships for the advancement, disaster preparedness and humanitarian action; - Maintain close liaisons with relevant donors and other actors supporting efforts towards humanitarian action, as delegated; - Contribute inputs to updates and briefs on regional/country development situation to be used by stakeholders, CO, RO and HQ; - Maintain close contact with relevant staff in UN Women RO and HQ. Contribute to the resource mobilization strategy for humanitarian action in the region: - Participate in the implementation, monitoring and periodic updating of the resource mobilization strategy on humanitarian action in the region; - Provide technical support to field-based presences in the region in mobilizing resources for the implementation of humanitarian action; - Research and analyze information on donors. Manage the advocacy of humanitarian action through inter-agency coordination: - Work closely with PHPC partners and provide advice to regional/ national bodies and interagency groups that influence national policies related to humanitarian action; - Participate and contribute inputs to the regional Humanitarian Protection Cluster and Pacific Humanitarian Team meetings when required; - Coordinate specific efforts in mainstreaming gender and protection in disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts of other clusters and relevant working groups; - Advocate for the engagement and participation of local organizations and civil society networks in humanitarian coordination mechanisms. Manage advocacy and communication efforts of humanitarian action: - During emergency response, develop and implement communication and advocacy messages and contribute inputs to strategies on key gender and protection concerns; - Develop information, education and communic