International Gender Expert

OVERVIEW
**Parent Sector**: Natural Sciences Sector (SC)
**Duty Station**: Perugia
**Job Family**: Natural Sciences
**Type of contract**: Non Staff
**Duration of contract**: From 7 to 11 months
**Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time)**: 07-AUG-2025
**UNESCO Core Values**: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
Background
Since 2014, UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) has developed a comprehensive Water and Gender Component. With the goal of advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in water, WWAP´s main areas of activity related to water and gender include methodological approaches and evidence-based technical backstopping; wide-scale advocacy actions; capacity development, and on-the-ground project support. WWAP’s Water and Gender activities target government leaders and decision-makers, water practitioners, academia, and the general audience.
As part of these activities, UNESCO WWAP is implementing a gender integration and equality approach for the GEF - FAO project “Enhancing sustainability of the Transboundary Cambodia - Mekong River Delta Aquifer”. Other key activities include the development of methodologies for the collection of sex-disaggregated water data and gender analyses, complemented with a comprehensive capacity development programme. Dedicated events and global advocacy actions are also key activities regularly organized by UNESCO WWAP Water and Gender Team.
UNESCO WWAP coordinates the production of the UN World Water Development Report (WWDR), which is the flagship publication of UN-Water. The 2026 edition of the Report will be dedicated to water and gender. The WWAP Water and Gender Team will have an important role in the content discussions and development of this edition.
UNESCO WWAP also participates in inter-agency discussions and collaborations for the SDG 6 gender contextualization. Long Description
Tasks and activities
Within the framework of the UNESCO and the Italian Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the UNESCO “World Water Assessment Programme - WWAP”, under the overall supervision of the WWAP Coordinator and direct supervision of the Senior Water and Gender Programme Specialist, the International Senior Gender Expert is requested to develop activities with outputs related to the WWAP Water and Gender component. The consultant will carry out tasks in the following categories:
WWAP publications
Support the editorial process of WWAP gender and water documents and publications including content-editing of selected text. Support the WWAP Water and Gender Team in the content-related discussions and preparation of selected 2026 WWDR key messages with emphasis on examples from GEF project results.
Water and gender project implementation
Under the coordination of the Water and Gender Programme Specialist, support the execution of project activities related to WWAP water and gender component including the GEF/FAO project CMDA Mekong River Basin between Cambodia and Vietnam, Med Programme and IW: Learn. Activities may include assistance in the development of inception project documents and workplans; support in the execution of project activities such as gender and livelihood analyses; development and implementation of WWAP training activities, and development of publications and project reports for donor and colleagues. Support the organization of project-related outreach and delivery or presentations when needed.
Water and gender advocacy and inter-agency collaboration
Support the organisation of water and gender events. Tasks may include revision of submitted abstracts as required, support in agenda development and participation as speaker/moderator as required. COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Accountability (C) Communication (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) Professionalism (C) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Academic Qualifications
Advanced university degree in a relevant field e.g. environment, natural sciences, or social sciences; MSc or above.
Technical Competencies and Experience Requirements
At least 10 years of professional experience, preferably in the fields of development in its intersection with natural resources, social sciences, gender.
Field experience in implementing gender, education, capacity development and/or natural resources projects in contexts of diverse complexity.
Proven experience interacting with diverse stakeholders, especially ministerial/governmental partners.
Experience with community selection and community mobilization.
Experience in design and execution of qualitative and/or quantitative social studies, including gender analyses.
Experience in design and implementation of training programmes and skill development.
Excellent command of English in written and oral communication