Mission and objectives

UN-HABITAT AFG organization mission TBDContext

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. UN-Habitat is empowering women through the facilitation of gender related projects and activities with a special focus on the areas of equal accessibility, public transport and safety. In order to promote the creation of inclusive cities, UN-Habitat mainstreams gender equality into spatial planning and upgrading/construction of (community) infrastructure, using various activities and tools, including the Gender Equality Marker (GEM). The upcoming Strategic Plan for UN-Habitat (2026-2029) also underlines the importance of the topic for the agency, with one outcome (out of five) including a clear reference to “mainstreaming gender equality and women’s empowerment”. The portfolio currently covers projects ranging from humanitarian responses to supporting recovery and meeting basic human needs. UN-Habitat collaborates closely with the UN country team as well as with technical and financial partners in Afghanistan, in alignment with the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) and the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plans (HNRP). Afghanistan is experiencing a continuous humanitarian crisis, with more than 20 million people in the need of humanitarian assistance. The number of people living in unplanned, underserviced and informal settlements, including in risk prone areas, is increasing and living conditions as well as access to services are inadequate. The unfolding crisis in Afghan cities, which is accelerated by climate change impacts and natural disasters, is occurring in a context of underlying vulnerabilities, including infrastructure deficits, insecure livelihoods and pervasive tenure insecurity. Most at risk are people in informal settlements, with women and girls being particularly vulnerable. Women are most impacted by inadequate housing conditions, the lack of proper sanitation and hygiene and, being responsible for providing water for the family, the absence of basic services in those informal settlements. The current restrictions of the Taliban authorities on women and girls, ranging from their ban from education (above the age of 12), restrictions on employment and mobility and the ban of using public parks (among many others), force many of them to stay at home. UN-Habitat’s projects have focused for many years on improving women’s living conditions: including at household level (supporting housing and shelter solutions, advancing women’s tenure rights), but also vocational training or cash-for-work projects to improve livelihood opportunities. In addition to supporting individual families, based on their vulnerabilities, UN-Habitat has also re-/built transformative community infrastructures at neighborhood level for improved access to basic services, such as water, education and health facilities or community centers or by improving public spaces.Task Description

• Within the delegated authority and the overall supervision of Country Programme Manager and in close collaboration with the national gender focal point, the UNV Gender Specialist will undertake the following tasks: • Provide technical support and advice to programme managers on gender issues by ensuring gender-sensitive approaches in programming and implementing projects; • Support implementation of projects, review technical documents, provide substantive inputs to project documents; • Develop clear guidance and develop concrete solutions for gender mainstreaming for UN-Habitat’s teams on what can be elements to foster gender equality and women empowerment; • Monitor and evaluate gender mainstreaming in programme activities, identify operational problems and provide lessons learnt for improvements to flow into future programming as needed; • Develop a strong advocacy and messaging on gender equality and women empowerment and UN-Habitat’s mandate and work in Afghanistan and support relevant, high-impact advocacy activities and campaigns with or by key partners; • Provide oversight and quality assurance for relevant knowledge products, project reports, research studies, training packages, and communication materials; • Collect evidence and develop a set of best practices (from UN-Habitat’s work in Afghanistan or relevant contexts) on effective ways to foster women empowerment; • Develop partnerships with other UN agencies and key stakeholders on gender related topics and women empowerment; • Produce periodic updates and briefs on the country’s situation in relation to women’s rights and gender equality in relation to UN-Habitat’s mandate and work; • Develop training modules and conduct trainings on gender mainstreaming, gender equality and empowerment of UN-Habitat country office staff; • Participate and contribute to meetings, workshop sand other activities of the UNCT Gender Working Group; and, • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Commitment and Motivation • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Work in TeamsLiving conditions and remarks

Afghanistan is a hardship duty station with volatile security. Living and working conditions for International UN volunteers in UN-Habitat are similar to the living conditions of all other internationally recruited staff members. International UN volunteers are provided with safe accommodation in an extensive compound in Kabul with good infrastructure and amenities. There are number of security measures to be complied with, such as the Areal Security Risk Management Plan before moving into any accommodation. In accordance with UNDSS security guidelines, UN-Habitat provides guidance and information during the initial security briefing upon arrival in the mission area and at the designated duty station.