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Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD)(www.unccd.int

 Under direct supervision of the Chief of the Global Policy, Advocacy and Regional Cooperation unit (GPARC) the Senior Gender Consultant will perform the following responsibilities and tasks: 
- Provides substantive support to the implementation of donor-funded projects for integrating gender equality in the UNCCD, including adequate use of resources and reporting. 
- Supports and guides the implementation of the UNCCD Gender Action Plan and its corresponding roadmap, including by leading the organization of periodic Gender Caucus meetings and training for women delegates.  
- Ensure the effective implementation including follow up of ongoing and planned gender-related activities in 2026 internally and externally, as well as to provide substantive advice and support to strengthen gender mainstreaming across the Convention. 
- Provides inputs and support the resource mobilization and partnership efforts of the Secretariat to support the implementation of the gender equality workstream and its related actions. 
- Drafts, edits and provides substantive results-based inputs for briefings and speeches on women & DLDD at the strategic and operational levels if requested. 
- After COP17, conducts substantive research and analysis of gender and DLDD issues that are relevant for the implementation of mandates contained in the relevant COP17 decisions, in particular, leads the preparation of policy on gender perspectives and relative workplan.  
- Ensures compliance with relevant UN gender equality frameworks especially the United Nations system-wide policy on gender equality and the empowerment of women and the corresponding UN System-wide Action Plan on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-SWAP) and lead the annual UN SWAP reporting;
 - Performs any other job-related activities required to achieve the goals and objectives of the team, the GPARC Unit, the Programme or the secretariat.

Qualifications/special skills

- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in gender and women’s rights, development studies, social science or related fields, international relations, human rights, law, gender studies, or in related areas is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 
- A minimum of seven years of relevant experience in analyzing and integrating gender dimensions into policy and programme formulation and implementation, particularly in the context of land/natural resource use and management, agriculture, food and water security including capacity development programmes and tools is required. 
- Proven experience developing and implementing Gender Action Plans (GAPs), gender strategies, or gender assessments is required. 
- Experience in developing gender related capacity building programmes and knowledge sharing products is required. 

- Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.