Closing Date: Sunday, 15 May 2011

UNDP Caicoli Street Dili, Timor-Leste Background The Government of Timor-Leste is currently engaged in the process of honoring the country’s constitutional commitment towards decentralization and the establishment of a system of democratic local government. While the state remains highly centralized to date, the Government of Timor Leste under the leadership of the Ministry of State Administration has proceeded with the development of a policy framework for decentralization since 2003. This development reached a peak in 2009, when a set of three Local Government Laws was submitted to the National Parliament. The first of this set of laws, the Law on Administrative and Territorial Division, was approved by the National Parliament. Assuming that the remaining two laws are approved by the National Parliament, the Government will proceed with the implementation of local government reforms across the country. While municipal elections have been re-scheduled to 2013/14, preparations for decentralization reforms continue to strengthen district capacities for assuming a broader and expanded set of responsibilities in the context of decentralization. The joint UNCDF-UNDP Local Governance Support Programme (LGSP) and its predecessor programmes(LGOS and LDP) have been at the core of supporting this process since 2003. The overarching goal of the LGSP is to contribute towards poverty reduction in Timor-Leste. The programme’s objective is to support the establishment of accountable and effective local government and decentralization, by endowing accountable local government bodies with greater responsibilities for planning, budgeting, and implementation of infrastructure and service delivery, which is expected to result in an improved focus on the rural poor, greater allocation efficiency, better implementation arrangements, and enhanced responsiveness. The LGSP is housed in the Ministry of State Administration and currently has around 20 project staff. While mainstreaming of gender equality has been a concern and element of LGSP’s work throughout its three project components ((i) local level piloting, (ii) policy advisory work on decentralization and local governance, and (iii) communications and civic education), the project now seeks to recruit a full-time Gender Equality Specialist to strengthen its in-house capacities for providing technical and capacity development support on gender mainstreaming for local governance. This support responds to the Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL)‘s goal to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women” as stipulated in the 2002 National Development Plan (NDP), reflecting the Constitutional provision on gender equality. Articles 16 and 17 of the Constitution stipulate equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men. The Secretariat of State for the Promotion of Equality (SEPI) was established to support initiatives aimed at gender main-streaming in the design, analysis, implementation and monitoring of Government policies, as well as through other measures to be implemented in civil society organizations (CSOs) and with national and international organizations. A resolution on the establishment of Gender Focal Points (GFP) was adopted, a mechanism that is to be implemented in all ministries and secretariats of State under the Prime Minister, as well as in their respective regional offices, with a view to ensuring gender mainstreaming of Government strategies, policies and legislation by means of gender-based analyses. The mechanism is to operate through designated civil servants in each Government department involved, who are assigned specific gender-related tasks . SEPI has been sensitizing other government bodies on gender concepts and tools, set up gender focal points in line ministries and has developed sectoral gender equality check lists to ensure a gender perspective is integrated into line ministries’ policies and programmes. SEPI’s capacity to respond to all these tasks, however, is still limited. Position Status: Non-rotational, Development Project Funded Duties and Responsibilities FUNCTIONS/KEY RESULTS EXPECTED: The Gender Equality Specialist will have a dual role in (i) providing technical support and advice to gender mainstreaming throughout local planning, budgeting, local service delivery and gender-disaggregated monitoring as well as decentral-ization and local governance legislation, and (ii) strengthen national and local level government staff and project staff capacities in this area.The Gender Equality Specialist will work under the guidance and supervision of the LGSP Chief Technical Advisorand in close collaboration with the Secretary of State for Promotion of Equality (SEPI) to ensure consistency with theGovernment’s approach on gender mainstreaming. His/her key functions will include the following: Revise the draft Gender Strategy for decentralization and local governance and support its implementation in close cooperation with the MSATM Establish a base-line for gender mainstreaming for decentralization and local governance; Identify gender needs and priorities with regard to decentralization and local governance; Review the draft Gender Strategy and recommend possible changes, in close cooperation and discussion with the MSATM; Ensure consistency with GoTL’s gender documents (RDTL Gender Focal Point Resolution 2008, SEPI’s Strategic ; Plan 2010-2015,OPE Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines and SEFOPE’s Gender Mainstreaming Strategy 2009) Ensure that Lessons Learned and best practices for gender mainstreaming are being taken into account for LGSP’s support throughout local planning, budgeting, local service delivery, monitoring and evaluation, policy advisory work on decentralization and local governance and communications and civic education work. Review LGSP’s approach towards local level piloting throughout the Local Development Programme (LDP), policy and legislation advice and communications and civic educations support and make practical recommendations for ensuring gender-mainstreaming throughout LGSP’s support; Work closely with the MSATM Gender Focal Point in ensuring that gender equality concerns are incorporated into all work of the Ministry of State Administration; Liaise with UNIFEM, UNDP Senior Gender Advisor and the Chief Technical Advisor for the UNCDF Gender Equitable Local Development Project (GELD), as required, to ensure that Good Practices and Lessons Learned from other countries are being taken into account. Strengthen national and local level government and project staff capacities for gender-mainstreaming, in particular Work closely with the MSATM Gender Focal Point and District level Gender Focal Points, providing training-on-the-job, in close coordination with the Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality (SEPI); Conduct trainings for MSATM staff, Local Assembly members, District Administration staff and Suco Council members to strengthen local authorities’ institutional capacities for gender responsive action in planning, budgeting, local service-delivery and monitoring. IMPACT OF RESULTS: The key results have an impact on the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Local Governance Support Programme (LGSP) relating to program quality, and program responsiveness to the needs of men and women in the districts through effective gender-mainstreaming in program activities, and gender-based capacity development for programme beneficiaries.The advancement of gender mainstreaming in local governance will be demonstrated by an increased understanding of gender equality and gender responsive action of MSATM and District Administrations staff, the approved Gender Strategy for decentralization and local governance and the commencement of its implementation. Competencies Technical Competencies In-depth substantive experience in gender equality issues, ideally related to decentralization and local development; Ability to design and support implementation of gender responsive interventions and strategies; Ability to document lessons learned and transfer knowledge and skills to colleagues and partners; Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to gain assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavor; Demonstrated ability to coordinate and multi-task; Demonstrated ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor tasks and achieve results. Corporate Competencies: Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; Treats all people fairly without favoritism; High level of interpersonal and communication skills; Commitment to learning and to team work and working in partnership with other stakeholders; Approaches challenges creatively and effectively, and resolves conflicts; Functional Competencies: Operational Effectiveness: Ability to coordinate gender strategies and new systems to effect staff behavioral/attitudinal change; Willingness to undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders. Required Skills and Experience Education: Master’s Degree or equivalent in Gender, Social Sciences, or other related to the field of assignment Experience: Minimum of five years experience with increasing level of responsibility, in issues related to the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment; Experience in decentralization and local development issues desired, especially gender-sensitive local planning, budgeting, public service-delivery and gender-disaggregated monitoring; WorK experience in developing countries required; Experience in working with public institutions and civil society and strengthening national staff capacities would be an asset . Language Requirements: Excellent knowledge of English, written and spoken required; Portuguese, Tetunor Bahasa language skills would desirable. UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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