UN Women: Inter-Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment (IMC Secretariat and Government Coordination National Consultant /Local Post Open to Nationals of Jordan

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.

UN Women Jordan Country Office (JCO) supports the Government of Jordan in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment and in strengthening national systems and institutional mechanisms to implement Jordan's national and international commitments. This work is undertaken in support of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan's modernization agenda, including the Political Modernization, Economic Modernization and Public Sector Modernization tracks, as well as relevant national strategies, plans and commitments concerning gender equality and women's empowerment.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment (IMC) was established by the Government of Jordan in 2015 to provide leadership, coordination and accountability for government action on gender equality and women's empowerment. The IMC brings together relevant government institutions and provides an important platform for ensuring coherence across government policies, programmes and initiatives affecting women and girls.

Since its establishment, and in close partnership with the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), which chairs the IMC Technical Working Group, the IMC has supported cross-government efforts to advance women's empowerment, gender mainstreaming and gender equality, including through policy and legislative reform. 

The effectiveness of the IMC depends on a strong Secretariat capable of facilitating coordination among its members and maintaining a clear overview of government action on women's empowerment. As government ministries advance sectoral reforms under the national modernization agenda, there is a need to strengthen the IMC's ability to understand and coordinate the different initiatives on women’s empowerment being undertaken across government which, in turn, can support the government with its international reporting requirements and with its communication efforts.

In particular, the Secretariat should be able to maintain a consolidated picture of relevant ministry-level priorities, initiatives and commitments, identify areas requiring greater coordination, and support the IMC in following up on progress and addressing gaps or overlaps.

Against this background, UN Women, in partnership with the IMC, seeks to recruit an IMC Secretariat and Government Coordination Consultant to support the effective functioning of the IMC, strengthen intra-government coordination, and work with the IMC Technical Working Group to establish a systematic approach to mapping and following up on government efforts to advance women's empowerment.

The Consultant will work primarily with the IMC Chair and Advisor, IMC members, the IMC Technical Working Group, JNCW and gender focal points in line ministries and relevant government institutions.

The consultant will be placed at the office of the IMC Chair and will report on a day-to-day basis to the IMC Advisor. The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the UN Women Deputy Country Representative, with the relevant UN Women programme specialist serving as the point of contact for contract management

Objective of the Assignment 

The overall objective of the assignment is to strengthen the Secretariat and coordination function of the IMC.

The position will have three principal functions:

• Provide day-to-day Secretariat support to the IMC;
• Facilitate coordination and follow-up among IMC members and relevant government institutions; and
• Develop and maintain a systematic mapping of ministry-level efforts, priorities and initiatives related to women's empowerment to support the IMC's coordination role.

The position will also provide any other support to the IMC as may be needed in the context of the work of the IMC.

Scope of Work and Responsibilities

Task 1: Secretariat support to the IMC

The Consultant will serve as the Secretariat to the IMC, ensuring efficient preparation and management of all necessary documentation and communications and provide comprehensive support to ensure the effective functioning of the IMC.

In particular the consultant will:

• Prepare and coordinate IMC meeting agendas in consultation with the IMC Chair and Advisor;
• Compile background materials, presentations, briefing materials and other documentation required for meetings;
• Coordinate circulation of meeting materials to IMC members;
• Translate documents as required to ensure all IMC members and stakeholders have access to materials in their preferred language;
• Attend IMC meetings and prepare minutes and records of decisions;
• Maintain an updated tracker of decisions, commitments and follow-up actions;
• Follow up with relevant ministries and institutions on actions agreed by the IMC;
• Prepare periodic updates for the IMC Chair and Advisor on outstanding decisions and follow-up actions;
• Maintain organized records and archives of IMC documentation and correspondence;
• Support preparation and updating of the IMC's workplan;
• Support logistical arrangements for IMC meetings, consultations and other activities;
• Draft and coordinate official correspondence related to the work of the IMC.

Task 2: Intra-government coordination

• Maintain regular communication with IMC members, the Prime Ministry, relevant government focal points and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate the flow of information between the IMC and relevant ministries and government institutions.
• Support coordination among ministries on issues falling within the IMC's mandate.
• Identify areas where coordination between ministries is required and bring these to the attention of the IMC Chair and Advisor.
• Support inter-ministerial consultations and meetings convened under the IMC.
• Follow up with ministries on commitments and inputs requested by the IMC.
• Support the IMC in monitoring government implementation of relevant commitments, strategies and reform priorities concerning women's empowerment.
• Maintain an updated contact and stakeholder matrix for relevant government institutions and focal points.

Task 3: Mapping and monitoring government efforts on gender equality and the empowerment of women

• Develop a simple and practical framework for mapping government initiatives related to women's empowerment and gender mainstreaming.
• Collect information from relevant ministries and government institutions on ongoing and planned initiatives, policies, programmes and commitments.
• Maintain a consolidated mapping of ministry-level activities and priorities.
• Organize the mapping according to relevant national priorities, reform areas and/or IMC priorities.
• Identify areas of overlap, complementarity and potential collaboration among ministries.
• Identify areas where coordination or follow-up by the IMC may be required.
• Regularly update the mapping based on information received from ministries.
• Prepare concise periodic summaries for the IMC Chair and members highlighting significant developments, gaps and opportunities for coordination.
• Use information from the mapping to support preparation of IMC contributions to international reporting requirements and to national communication efforts. 

Task 4: Coordination with relevant national stakeholders

• Facilitate communication between the IMC and relevant national stakeholders where required for the IMC's work.
• Support information exchange and coordination with relevant government gender focal points.
• Support joint consultations or activities involving the IMC and other relevant institutional stakeholders, as requested.

Task 5: Knowledge management and reporting

• Maintain effective systems for filing and retrieving IMC documentation.
• Maintain decision, action, stakeholder and government mapping databases.
• Prepare periodic Secretariat and coordination updates.
• Document lessons learned and coordination challenges.
• Prepare quarterly progress reports.
• Support the institutionalization of Secretariat procedures and tools.

Responsibilities to the IMC

1. IMC Secretariat

• Agendas and background materials for IMC meetings.
• Minutes and records of decisions.
• Updated decision and action tracker.
• Regular follow-up updates on implementation of IMC decisions.

2. Government mapping

• Government mapping framework.
• Initial consolidated mapping of relevant ministry initiatives and priorities.
• Regularly updated government initiatives mapping.
• Periodic analytical summaries highlighting coordination needs, gaps and opportunities.

3. Government coordination

• Records of inter-ministerial consultations and coordination activities.
• Updated government focal-point and stakeholder matrix.
• Periodic coordination updates.

4. Expected Deliverables to UN Women

• Monthly report summarizing research assignments completed, analytical support provided by JNCW and outstanding research requests.
• Final report summarizing the assignment and recommendations for maintaining the IMC's research capacity and analytical relationship with JNCW.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is an office-based consultancy with full-time presence at the IMC Chair's Office, with regular engagement with relevant government ministries and institutions.

No international travel is anticipated. Local travel within Jordan may be required for meetings, consultations or activities related to the assignment

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 understanding of gender equality and women's empowerment.
• Good understanding of government institutions and public-sector processes in Jordan.
• Demonstrated experience in coordination, preferably within or in support of government structures.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with senior government officials.
• Strong writing, synthesis and presentation skills.
• Ability to collect, organize and analyze information from multiple sources.
• Ability to develop and maintain databases, trackers, mapping tools and coordination systems.
• Ability to translate complex information into concise, accessible briefing materials.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining close coordination with supervisors and partners.
• Good understanding of gender mainstreaming and public-sector gender equality mechanisms is an asset.

Required Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in public administration, public policy, political science, international development, gender studies, social sciences, law, management or another relevant 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.

Experience:

• At least 1 years of progressively responsible professional experience in coordination, programme support, public policy, gender equality, women's empowerment, public administration or a related field.
• Experience working with government institutions and/or public-sector stakeholders is required
• Experience supporting committees, working groups, inter-institutional mechanisms or similar coordination structures is required.
• Experience in gender equality and women's empowerment is required.
• Experience in information management, stakeholder mapping, monitoring or coordination systems is highly desirable.
• Experience working with senior government officials and/or multi-stakeholder structures is desirable.
• Experience with the Jordanian public-sector institutional context is highly desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

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.