Background:

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.

Since 2015, the UN Security Council has called for stronger integration of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS), counter-terrorism (CT), and preventing and countering violent extremism (PVE) agendas, notably through resolutions 2242 (2015) and 2467 (2019). The WPS agenda is firmly grounded in international human rights law and constitutes an extension of women’s rights in peace and security contexts, as articulated in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and CEDAW General Recommendation No. 30, which affirms the applicability of women’s rights obligations in conflict and post-conflict settings.

Building on this mandate, UN Women began its systematic engagement with the UN counter-terrorism architecture in 2017, following the establishment of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). Its engagement focuses on accelerating the implementation of WPS commitments in contexts affected by terrorism. This support is particularly urgent given the disproportionate impact of terrorism on women and girls, including the strategic targeting of their bodies and rights by designated terrorist organizations. In this context, UN Women places strong emphasis on advancing women’s agency and meaningful participation at all levels of policymaking, including within the UN CT agenda, in light of the well-documented adverse impacts of counter-terrorism laws and practices on women’s rights and their ability to engage in public life. Accordingly, UN Women prioritizes strengthening women’s meaningful participation in CT and PVE processes, ensuring that women’s needs and experiences inform prevention, recovery, and peacebuilding efforts, and supporting protection measures for women in terrorism-affected contexts. UN Women also works to prevent the securitization and instrumentalization of women’s rights and gender institutions. 

Recent iterations of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, as well as the Pact for the Future under the peace and security pillar, further reaffirmed the importance of gender analysis and the role of women and civil society in counter-terrorism, further reinforcing UN Women’s normative and operational engagement in this area. Accordingly, UN Women partners with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) to ensure gender mainstreaming and gendered approaches to analysis and programmatic assistance provided to national governments and other key stakeholders. UN Women also chairs the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact Working Group on Gender Sensitive Approach to Preventing and Countering Terrorism. UN Women Strategic Plan (2026 – 2029)[1] commit to supporting women increased participation, influence and leadership in counter terrorism as part of its overall offer in women, peace and security, and humanitarian action.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Counter-Terrorism Specialist, the Programme Analyst contributes to the effective management of UN Women programmes in the HQ by providing inputs to programme design, formulation, implementation and evaluation. The Programme Analyst supports the delivery of UN Women mandate on the thematic area and contributes to the UN engagement in supporting the implementation of the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy. The Programme Analyst works in close collaboration with the programme and operations team, UN Women HQ personnel, UN partners, Government officials, multi and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation under the assigned portfolio. 
 

[1]Para. 62, UN Women Strategic Plan 2026 – 2029, available at: Brochure-UN-Women-Strategic-Plan-2026-2029-two-page-spreads-en.pdf 

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

1.     Support Global Policy Dialogue and Advocacy: 

• Support the work of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Compact Working Group on Gender Sensitive Approach to Preventing and Countering Terrorism, and UN Women in its role as Chair of the Working Group.
• Support coordination efforts to implement the annual work plan of the Gender Working Group. 
• Support liaison with Global Compact respective focal points leading on different UN mandates. 
• Support expanding the knowledge base on gender responsive approaches to counter terrorism and prevention of violent extremism, through desk review of research, review of relevant policies and conducting comparative analysis. 
• Support  the drafting of relevant policies emanating from the peace and security unit on gender, counter terrorism and violent extremism. 
• Support joint initiatives with UN Women partners in delivering on common strategic priorities through advocacy.
• Support advocacy meetings and events as relevant. 

2.     Provide Programme and Coordination Support: 

• Support the implementation of UN Women Counter-Terrorism Strategic Framework aligned to UN Women’s Women, Peace and Security Programmatic Framework. 
• Provide timely and effective technical support to UN Women regional and country offices upon request on CT and PVE engagement as part of the UN Country Team.
• Support M&E and quality assurance processes.
• Support development of project documents and proposals as relevant. 
• Support engagement and liaison with UN partners on programmatic activities as required. 

3.     Support partnerships and triangular cooperation

• Support partnership and engagement with civil society in facilitating their engagement in different policy platforms related to prevention of violent extremism conducive to terrorism. 
• Provide timely inputs and support to national partners engaging with UN Women at the global level to further reflect best practices at the policy level and in coordination with UN Women in country presence. 
• Support UN Women’s knowledge sharing efforts and activities to link civil society and women’s movement across different regions where UN Women operates. 

4.     The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Good knowledge of Women, Peace and Security Agenda, Security Sector Development and Governance;
• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills;
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management;
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations;
• Good analytical skills;
• Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising.

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 2 years of progressively responsible work experience in development programme/project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building is required.
• Experience in the UN Counter Terrorism agenda is desirable.
• Experience working for the UN at the global level is desirable.
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.