Job Description

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), the IMC has supported cross-government efforts to advance women's empowerment, gender mainstreaming and gender equality, including through policy and legislative reform.

The IMC works closely with the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), which is a member of the IMC and chairs its Technical Working Group. JNCW's legal mandate includes contributing to the development of policies, strategies and legislation concerning women, conducting research and studies, generating and disseminating knowledge and evidence, and providing technical support to government institutions.

As the IMC supports the Government of Jordan in advancing reforms related to women's empowerment, it increasingly requires timely and focused analysis of specific legislative and policy questions arising from government priorities and reform processes. Such analysis may concern proposed or existing legislation, policies, regulations, institutional arrangements, implementation challenges or other concrete reform questions.

Against this background, UN Women, in partnership with the IMC, seeks to recruit a Junior Policy and Legislative Research Consultant to provide focused research and analytical support on issues arising from the work of the Government and the IMC, and to facilitate access to relevant research, evidence and technical analysis available through JNCW.

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 IMC's capacity to access, use and draw upon timely and relevant evidence and analysis in support of policy and legislative discussions and reforms under consideration by the Government.

The Consultant will provide front-line research and analytical support to the IMC on specific and immediate questions arising from its work, while also serving as a technical-level focal point for facilitating the IMC's access to relevant research, evidence, analysis and technical inputs available through the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW).

Scope of Work and Responsibilities

Task 1: Front-line research and analysis for the IMC

The Consultant will undertake focused research and analysis on issues arising out of the work of the IMC.

Responsibilities will include:

• Conduct targeted desk research on specific policy, legislative and reform questions identified through the work of the IMC as instructed by the IMC Chair, or the IMC Advisor;
• Review relevant Jordanian legislation, policies, strategies, regulations, government documents and other relevant sources;
• Conduct focused comparative research on relevant regional and international approaches where useful to inform a specific reform question;
• Review available evidence, research and data relevant to issues under consideration;
• Prepare concise research briefs, background notes, comparative summaries and other analytical materials for consideration by the IMC;
• Provide timely research inputs on emerging policy or legislative questions requiring consideration by the IMC;
• Identify issues requiring more substantial analysis, additional evidence or specialized technical expertise; and
• Support the preparation of briefing materials for the IMC Chair, members and relevant working groups.

Task 2: Facilitate analytical coordination and engagement with JNCW

The Consultant will serve as a technical-level focal point to facilitate coordination between the work of the IMC Chair and the research, analytical and technical capacities available through the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), including through the IMC Technical Working Group.

The Consultant will support the identification, communication and sharing of relevant research, evidence, analysis and technical inputs to inform the work of the IMC. This may include facilitating analytical inputs in response to issues identified by the IMC, as well as supporting the consideration by the IMC of relevant research and analysis emerging from the work of JNCW.

Responsibilities will include:

• Maintain regular technical communication with relevant JNCW counterparts on policy, legislative, research and analytical issues relevant to the work of the IMC;
• Liaise with JNCW to identify relevant existing research, studies, data, evidence and technical analysis that may inform issues under consideration by the IMC;
• Facilitate the timely sharing with the IMC of relevant research, evidence, analysis and technical materials available through JNCW, including relevant work emerging from JNCW's research and analytical activities;
• Facilitate, as appropriate, technical exchanges between JNCW, the IMC Chair, Advisor, Technical Working Group, IMC members and relevant government counterparts;
• Support the organization of technical briefings, consultations and discussions on relevant research and analytical findings for consideration by the IMC and its Technical Working Group;
• Review and synthesize relevant JNCW research and analytical material, where appropriate, and highlight key findings, evidence and implications for consideration by the IMC;
• Keep abreast of relevant research, studies and analytical work undertaken through JNCW that may inform the IMC's policy and legislative priorities; and
• Maintain an organized record of relevant analytical issues, evidence needs and research inputs considered or shared through the IMC's engagement with JNCW.

Expected Responsibility to the IMC

1. Targeted research and analytical products

As requested through the work of the IMC:

• Short research briefs;
• Policy and legislative issue notes;
• Background papers;
• Comparative analyses;
• Evidence summaries; and
• Presentations and briefing materials.

Products should respond to specific policy, legislative or reform questions arising from Government and IMC priorities and should provide concise, evidence-based analysis to inform policy discussion and decision-making.

1. Analytical coordination and engagement with JNCW

• Facilitation of communication between the IMC Chair's Office and JNCW on policy, legislative, research and analytical issues of relevance to the IMC;
• Facilitation of access to relevant JNCW research, studies, data, evidence and analytical products, including relevant material identified through the work of JNCW;
• Facilitation of relevant analytical inputs from JNCW in relation to policy and legislative issues under consideration by the IMC;
• Support to technical exchanges, briefings and consultations involving relevant JNCW experts and IMC counterparts, including through the IMC Technical Working Group, as appropriate;
• Periodic overview of relevant research, evidence and analytical inputs shared through the IMC's engagement with JNCW; and
• An updated catalogue of relevant JNCW research and analytical products of potential relevance to the work of the IMC.

1. Knowledge management

• Updated repository of research and analytical products prepared for or relevant to the work of the IMC;
• Organized record of key research questions, evidence needs, analytical products and relevant supporting materials; and
• Consolidated record of relevant research and analytical materials made available through engagement with JNCW and other relevant sources.

Expected Deliverables to UN Women

• Monthly report summarizing research assignments completed, analytical support provided, relevant research and analytical inputs facilitated through engagement with JNCW, and outstanding research or evidence needs;
• Final report summarizing the assignment, key research and analytical outputs, lessons learned and recommendations for maintaining and strengthening the IMC's research and analytical capacity.

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 research and analytical skills.
• Ability to conduct focused desk research within defined terms of reference.
• Ability to synthesize complex legislative, policy and technical information.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Ability to produce concise, evidence-based policy and research briefs.
• Ability to conduct comparative policy and legislative research.
• Understanding of gender equality and women's empowerment.
• Ability to understand and analyze government policy and reform processes.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work with government officials and technical experts.
• Strong interpersonal and liaison skills, particularly with research and policy institutions.
• Ability to work independently within clearly defined assignments and deadlines.
• Familiarity with Jordan's policy, legislative and institutional context is highly desirable.

Required Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Master's degree or equivalent in public policy, public administration, law, political science, economics, social sciences, gender studies, international development 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 year of relevant professional experience in policy research, legislative research, public policy, development, gender equality or a related field is required.
• Demonstrated experience conducting desk research and policy analysisisd is required.
• Experience preparing analytical briefs, research papers, policy notes or similar products is required.
• Experience reviewing legislation, policies, government strategies or reform proposals is desirable.
• Knowledge of gender equality and women's empowerment issues is required
• Experience working with government institutions or national institutions is desirable.
• Experience working with research institutions or policy-oriented organizations is desirable.
• Familiarity with the Jordanian policy and legislative environment is highly desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in Arabic and English 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.