Requisition ID: 4929
Grade: SB5 - Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior)
Country: Pakistan
Duty Station: Karachi
Category: National Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 17-Dec-2024, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)
Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.
Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.
Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.
The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.
The Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of MSMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among MSMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of MSME manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade-related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and of conformity assessment service institutions (testing, certification, inspection and calibration) and the strengthening of their capacities.
The Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit (TCS/SME/CQC) builds national and regional production and quality infrastructure systems, with an emphasis on providing internationally recognized services, facilitating MSME participation in regional and global value chains; strengthening institutional quality infrastructure capacities; building conformity assessment capacities; and supporting market access and quality awareness with the public sector, economic operators and consumers, placing a special emphasis on capacitating MSMEs.
PROJECT CONTEXT
One of the projects implemented by UNIDO “Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development across Rural Sindh (PAIDAR)” is a five-year programme funded by the European Union to support the Government of Sindh (GoS) in implementation of its Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). The long-term objective of PAIDAR is to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction and improvement of livelihoods of poor women, men and young people across Sindh province. The PRS has three pillars: 1) Community Driven Local Development 2) Addressing Urban Poverty including Urban Economic Clusters and 3) Rural Growth Centres.
PAIDAR has been conceived to mainly focus on fostering the economic development dimension of the PRS, and targeting the most vulnerable, in particular through support to enterprise development, focusing on the development of Rural Growth Centres and Urban Economic Clusters under PRS implementation. To this end, the programme will:
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Expert will guide PAIDAR’s efforts to empower women and youth in Sindh through tailored support in economic participation, social cohesion, and sustainable development. The role entails designing, implementing, and monitoring gender- and youth-centred approaches to economic opportunities vis-à-vis PAIDAR’s grant windows, technical support for women and youth-led SMEs, and entrepreneurship while promoting social cohesion, aligning with SDGs, public sector priorities, and proven global best practices.
The expert will deliver the following:
The expert will regularly review and propose improvements when necessary in PAIDAR’s Gender and Youth Development Framework aiming to promote equitable economic participation and social empowerment for women and youth in programme’s target districts. The key ingredients of the framework will be aligned with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 UNSCR 2050, and national gender and youth policies, it addresses barriers to resources and business opportunities, particularly for marginalized groups. The framework also incorporates partnerships with public and private sectors, fostering local champions and integrating SDG 5, 8, and 10 for long-term impact.
The expert together with the technical team of the programme will design and implement tailored entrepreneurship and technical support programs for women and youth, focusing on business planning, digital skills, financial literacy, and sustainable business practices. He/she will facilitate partnerships with local incubators, accelerators, and training providers to offer ongoing support, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The expert in consultation with social sector expert will foster community-based approaches to social cohesion, ensuring the active participation of women and youth in PAIDAR’s initiatives to promote access to social services including infrastructure and utilities. He/she will identify and support local champions, especially women and youth leaders, to drive social cohesion, conflict resolution, and community solidarity initiatives. This includes working with local councils, youth groups, and women’s networks to promote inclusive dialogue on shared development goals and address social issues impacting gender and youth.
The expert will guide PAIDAR’s gender and youth strategies to support SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). This will involve integrating environmental sustainability into gender and youth initiatives, promoting green practices in business support and vocational training for long-term resilience.
The expert will liaise with government departments, local authorities, and stakeholders to align gender and youth activities with Sindh’s development plans, policies, and public sector priorities. Additionally, the expert will provide technical inputs to build government capacity in implementing gender and youth-centric policies, especially in economic development and employment sectors.
The expert will collaborate with the MEL expert to develop gender and youth-sensitive indicators and tracking mechanisms to measure impact and adapt strategies. He/she will regularly assess the effectiveness of gender and youth-focused interventions, using data to refine approaches and ensure alignment with PAIDAR’s goals. The expert will prepare detailed reports, case studies, and presentations highlighting successes, challenges, and impacts of gender and youth initiatives within PAIDAR’s program framework.
Under the overall guidance of PAIDAR Programme Manager and direct supervision of National Programme Coordinator and National Technical Advisor, the expert will be responsible for the performance of the following main duties:
MAIN DUTIES
- Conduct needs assessments to identify specific barriers faced by women and youth in Sindh’s priority districts.
- Collect sex-aggregated baseline data that could be used to monitor potential gender impacts.
- Develop a comprehensive framework to advance gender and youth equity, aligning with international and national standards.
- Integrate sustainable practices and align gender and youth initiatives with SDGs 5, 8, and 10, Sindh’s public sector priorities and policies, UN gender and youth principles, and proven practices into programmatic frameworks.
- Create tailored outreach and communication strategies to increase participation by gender and youth in the programme’s initiatives.
- Develop reform recommendations/policy papers that increase women’s and youth’s access to economic resources and representation.
- Based on gender analysis, support in developing a plan of action that identifies opportunities and entry points for mainstreaming gender into the projects.