CONSULTANT – National Senior Gender and Water Integration Expert for Viet Nam (NGWE-V) (Perugia, Italy) contract

Parent Sector : Natural Sciences Sector (SC)

Duty Station: Perugia

Classification of duty station: [[filter12]]

Standard Duration of Assignement : [[filter13]]

Job Family: Natural Sciences

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 9 October 2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Only candidates who are entitled to work in Vietnam may apply to this position.

In the framework of the bilateral GEF IW project between Cambodia and Viet Nam focused on the improved transboundary management of the shared Cambodia-Mekong Delta Aquifer (CMDA), UNESCO World Water Assessment Program (WWAP) has been selected to coordinate and implement the gender and inclusion focused activities.

The CMDA project objective is “to strengthen environmental sustainability and water security in the Lower Mekong Basin by investing, for the first time, on improved governance and sustainable utilization of the Cambodia-Mekong River Delta Transboundary Aquifer”. An important aspect in the CMDA is the full integration of gender equality and ethnic minority considerations across all project components. The accomplish this important task, the CMDA will adopt a “Gender integration and Equality Approach for Transboundary Aquifers” (TBA-GiEA), developed by UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme.

This gender integration and equality approach for the CMDA has the overall goal of ensuring a more complete understanding, and balanced and meaningful participation of different social groups at all stages of management and governance of the transboundary aquifer. Particular focus will be in fostering the empowerment of women in the Mekong Delta Transboundary Aquifer.

The TBA- GiEA will be implemented by a “Gender Integration Team” composed by international and national Water and Gender specialists and designated national staff members from the project executing Ministries from Cambodia and Viet Nam. The UNESCO WWAP Water and Gender Unit will provide overall coordination and technical support.

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 water and gender expertise 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.

Overview of the position

Within the framework of the UNESCO and the Italian Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the UNESCO “World Water Assessment Programme – WWAP”, under the direct supervision of the WWAP Senior Water and Gender Programme Specialist, and with the collaboration of the Lead International Senior Gender Expert, the NGWE-V will support the implementation of the TBA-GiEA in Viet Nam, with special focus on coordination with national partners and relevant national stakeholders, and implementation of gender analyses, capacity development, gender monitoring and evaluation, and development of the GPAs.

Specific TBA-GiEA tasks and activities

Through close coordination with the Lead International Senior Gender Expert and the NGWE for Cambodia, support the execution of the TBA-GiEA Detailed Technical Work Plan (DTWP) in all activities related to Viet Nam, including:

• Liaise with national CMDA counterparts in relevant activities related to the TBA-GiEA implementation;
• Support the development and implementation of gender and livelihood analyses;
• Support the adaptation of water and gender equality training materials to the context of Viet Nam, including overall revision of translations;
• Facilitate water and gender workshop and trainings with project staff and project stakeholders;
• Provide assistance to CMDA component to ensure a gender-inclusive recruitment of short- and long-term job opportunities with the project, including appropriate advertisement;
• Support the development of water and gender knowledge materials;
• Support gender monitoring and gender and evaluation activities;
• Maintain active relationships with Ministerial Gender Focal Points, gender specialists and others relevant national experts in the project areas;
• Perform selected administrative tasks related to the TBA-GiEA if required;
• Support the development of project reports for donor and colleagues;
• Support the organization of project-related outreach and delivering presentations when needed;
• Perform other relevant duties as requested by supervisor.

• Only candidates entitled to work in Vietnam may apply to this position. 
• Excellent knowledge of English and Vietnamese.
• Advanced university degree in a relevant field, e.g, natural resources management, hydrology, agriculture, social sciences, gender and women studies; MSc degree preferred.
• 10+ years of working experience, in Viet Nam, in project management plus working experience integrating gender at institutional and project level. Experience in gender mainstreaming as it relates to agriculture, irrigation, watershed management, and/or aquifer management preferred.
• Proven experience interacting with diverse stakeholders, especially ministerial/governmental parties.
• Experience in education and training methods.
• Experience in project monitoring and evaluation preferred.

• Proficient in Office package (Word, Excel, Power Point)
• Strong organizational and analytical skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Self-motivated to learn new concepts and participate in new projects.
• Capable of working both independently and as part of a team, create networks and deal with participatory processes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including patience, diplomacy, willingness to listen and learn new tasks and respect for male and female colleagues.
• Ability to travel and perform field work.