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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, health 

Gender equality and equity are core values for the GPEI, and the programme recognizes that gender-responsive approaches further strengthen polio eradication interventions. Gender, along with other factors such as socio-economic background, age, and ethnicity, is an important social determinant of health, and as such, also has an impact on vaccination outcomes, the overall effectiveness of the programme and ultimately polio eradication.  

How can you make a difference? 

The Gender Mainstreaming Consultant will provide expert advice and strategic direction to deliver on the expected results of the GPEI Gender Equality Strategy and gender components of the Eradication Strategy. She/he will report to the GPEI Executive Management Unit (EMU) lead and will be appointed by the UNICEF Polio Eradication Programme Director. She/he will work with the EMU and Strategy Committee members to ensure resources are dedicated to support the Gender Mainstreaming Group. 

Key functions and accountabilities include the following: 

Please see work deliverables as follows:

Deliverable 1: Coordinate implementation of gender-responsive interventions for polio eradication in line with the priorities set out in the GPEI Action Plan (GAP). 

• Direct support to regional face-to-face workshops on gender-responsive interventions for polio eradication in AFRO/WCAR/ESAR and EMRO/MENA to discuss the ways and means to support the GPEI Gender Equality Strategy, working via the Regional Polio Coordinators [annually]
• Gender-Specific activities/Interventions by UNICEF Country Offices in priority countries with a focus on Community engagement, gender training, women’s empowerment in polio, Gender training, advocacy activities, sex-disaggregated data, gender analysis etc, aligned with the GPEI Action Plan (GAP) [ongoing]
• Support in monitoring the quarterly subnational action plans as part of the GAP for 2026 [ongoing] 

Deliverable 2: Coordinate capacity development to identify and address gender-related barriers 

• Conduct webinars on timely and relevant gender topics [quarterly]
• Drafting technical briefs [biannually]
• Individual country visits to extend technical assistance for OBRAs, gender analysis and operationalization of GPEI Gender Equality Strategy [quarterly]
• Feed into quarterly GPEI risk & performance report [quarterly]

Deliverable 3: Support countries to increase the meaningful participation of women at all levels

• Celebration of international days such as International Women’s Day, World Immunisation Week, World Polio Day [quarterly]
• Participate in advocacy events during country visits [quarterly]  

Deliverable 4: Support development of organisational culture for gender equality 

• Advocacy for gender equality in endemic and outbreak countries through the polio gender champion initiative, visits by the Strategy Committee (SC) members and GMG members [ongoing] 

Deliverable 5: Coordinate GMG to effectively support gender mainstreaming within the GPEI structure

• Annual GMG retreat [October 2026]
• GMG collaboration with other GPS groups and SC/POB as appropriate [quarterly]
• Plan and lead the monthly GMG calls [monthly]

Travel estimate:

• 1 mission to Nairobi
• Up to 3 missions to support regional gender related workshops or trainings and / or to support outbreak assessment to provide gender mainstreaming support to the OBRA teams.
• 1-2 missions to endemic countries (Pakistan and/or Afghanistan)
• Up to 3 missions to consequential geography and/or outbreak locations to provide targeted gender mainstreaming support & capacity building 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) preferably in any of the following fields:  Women’s Studies, Social Science, or related fields focused on gender issues.
• *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in gender mainstreaming in health programming, or equivalent experience is required.
• Gender strategy development and implementation related experience at country level preferred, ideally within a public health program.
• Understand and have experience in gender mainstreaming / integration within large program teams and/or operational settings required; including organizational change management and experience in the design and delivery of gender activities (or similar program implementation / behavior change initiatives).
• Knowledge of gender analysis coupled with a capability to communicate clearly to others how to take a gender-intentional approach to address a variety of development-sector challenges and to identify how to rationalize why and when taking a gender-intentional approach can lead to even bigger development-sector outcomes outside of the traditional gender equality sector
• Demonstrated excellence in influence and leadership, with an ability to build trust and motivate others as both a team leader and player.
• Deep understanding of the value of interpersonal relationship building and collaboration
• Innovative and open-minded approach to all aspects of work
• Demonstrated ability to successfully assemble and lead complex inter-group collaborations, guiding them to meet strategic goals.
• Exemplary written and verbal skills, with a solutions-oriented and proactive approach to assigned tasks.
• Strong critical thinking skills are required.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Requirements:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and your CV / Personal History Form (P11)
• A copy of your highest University Degree
• Your earliest availability
• Financial proposal reflecting:
  • Your all-inclusive (lump sum) fees against the deliverables listed in the terms of references (TOR) including all associated administrative and travel costs. The office selects the individual based on best value for money.  
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

 UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles 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. 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.