Research Specialist on Gender and Climate Change Consultant - Homebased at UN Women

• Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Chief, Research and Data section and in close collaboration with the research specialists in the team, the research specialist on climate change consultant is responsible for leading on the pilot for the gender equality and climate policy scorecard; and for producing an outline and research commissioning strategy for the global report.

Duties And Responsibilities Competencies

• Lead the development of an outline of the global Progress of the World’s Women report.
• Based on the conceptual framework outlined in UN Women’s paper: Feminist Climate Justice: A Framework for Action, and in consultation with the research and data section, other experts in UN Women and external experts on gender and climate change, develop options for the outline of the global Progress of the World’s Women report.
• Once an approach has been agreed, develop initial outlines for the chapters, to include key policy issues covered, and data to include.
• Lead the development of a commissioning strategy for the global Progress of the World’s Women report
• Develop a research commissioning strategy for the chapters identified, based on a scan of existing research and an analysis of where UN Women can add value and contribute to the global knowledge pool on gender equality and climate change.
• Work with data specialists in UN Women (HQ and regional offices) to identify new data analysis that could be commissioned, based both on data that UN Women holds, and on data collected and held by other institutions in and beyond the UN system.
• Draft TORs and identify leading researchers to commission background research papers and data analysis
• Contribute to the pilot of the gender equality and climate policy scorecard.
• Building on the scorecard methodological note developed by UN-Women, with partners at IUCN and Binghamton University, feed into a pilot study of 15-17 countries that aims to test and refine the methodological approach and indicator framework developed for the analysis of National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and for climate funds project data. This will involve working with UNW’s research team to review results, contribute to country coding, analysis and indicator adjustment.
• Provide substantive inputs to adapt the NDC methodology already developed to analyse UNFCCC climate finance mechanisms project data (e.g. the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Fund) to gain insights on the gender-responsive implementation of the NDCs.
• Support the writing of a proof-of-concept for the scorecard in the form of a short brief or presentation that summarizes and validates the scorecard’s unique research approach, which can then be used to facilitate stakeholder engagement in key multilateral forums, for instance at COP29, and with UNFCCC national gender and climate focal points.
• Support liaison with scorecard partners as well as external academic/experts to ensure the scorecard methodology is informed by in-depth technical comments and guidance.
• Identify strategic opportunities to disseminate the scorecard, as a basis for positioning UN Women’s approach to climate policy analysis with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• The outline for the global Progress of the World’s Women report is completed and agreed.
• The commissioning strategy for new research and data analysis is competed, and ready for implementation.
• The gender equality and climate policy scorecard pilot is successfully completed, and recommendations are made to strengthen the methodology and data collection/analysis strategy.
• Expertise and advice is provided to the research team on other aspects of the project to produce Progress of the World’s Women global report and scorecard.

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Expert researcher on gender and climate change policy broadly, and/or with specific expertise on a major aspect of this area, such as agriculture, energy, financing, etc.
• Proven track record of work to develop new research and/or data analysis on gender and climate change, including broad and deep research and policy networks.
• Experience of analysing gender and climate policy data, including on in relation to NDCs.
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to build strong relationships with clients; focus on impact on results for the clients and responds positively to feedback.
• Ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience
Education and certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, International Relations, Political/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline, with a strong gender component is required.
• A PhD in an area relevant to gender and/or climate change/environment would be considered a strong asset.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in research and/or policy work with a strong component on gender equality and climate change/environment.
• Record of peer reviewed publications on gender equality and/or climate change/environment is strongly preferred.
• Experience of and participation in research networks on gender equality and climate change/environment.
• Experience of analyzing climate change policies from a gender perspective is an asset.
• Experience in an international organization, in the UN system and/or in multilateral climate negotiations and fora is an asset;

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.