The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a global public/private partnership dedicated to raising and disbursing large amounts of additional finance to prevent and treat the three pandemics.  The Global Fund has so far
committed more than US$10 billion to over 520 programs in 136 countries.

The vacancy is in the Secretariat of the Global Fund. The Secretariat manages the grant portfolio, including executing Board policies, disbursing money to grant recipients and implementing performance-based funding of grants. The Secretariat is also tasked with resource mobilization; providing strategic, policy, financial, legal and administrative support and overseeing monitoring and evaluation. It is based in Geneva and has no staff located outside its headquarters. 

Under the supervision of the Director, Strategy, Policy and Performance Cluster,  the role of the Senior Gender Advisor includes the following:

• Taking the lead as champion on gender equality issues within the Global Fund, with direct access to the Secretariat and Board leadership;
• Leading the process to develop a Gender Strategy for the Global Fund, and oversighting the process to develop the Strategy on Sexual Minorities for the Global Fund, based on the draft Framework for the Strategy on the Scaling Up of a Gender-Sensitive Response to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by the Global Fund and ensuring a broad consultation with stakeholders on this strategy. This would include identifying key intervention points in the Global Fund architecture and processes, and within the Global Fund’s mandate, to make the Global Fund responsive on gender issues;
• Planning for and ensuring the establishment of an oversight and accountability system to ensure and monitor the implementation of the Gender Strategy, once approved;
• Using the mechanisms of the Global Fund business model to construct and integrate a gender sensitive approach across the Global Fund working closely with the Board, TRP, TERG, Secretariat and partners to ensure complementarity, with a focus on facilitating grant proposals which are based on comprehensive gender analysis and appropriately designed responses to that gender analysis; 
• Representing the Global Fund and conducting high level advocacy at international meetings related to gender and health, HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, health systems strengthening, community systems, sexual and reproductive health and rights or other issues related to Global Fund priorities;

Strategy development and implementation

• Develop a Gender Strategy for the Global Fund ensuring close consultation and collaboration with partners including all Board constituencies, technical partners, relevant UN and  bilateral agencies, country level actors, civil society and community groups;
• Establish an overall plan of action for the Global Fund’s Secretariat to implement the Strategy;
• Establish an oversight and accountability system and a communication plan to ensure Strategy implementation;
• Oversight of the development of a Strategy on Sexual Minorities for the Global Fund;

Capacity and competence building within the Fund

• Support work to integrate gender aspects in all Global Fund policies including Human Resource policies;
• Ensure staff development and general sensitization on gender issues;
• Provide advice on issues regarding gender balance and inclusion of gender expertise in Global Fund structures and mechanisms;

Knowledge  and capacity building in countries

• Commission reviews of the current portfolio and of forthcoming grant proposals to establish how gender issues are included;
• Establish an in-house knowledge base on what is currently being funded that has gender best practise elements;
• Ensure intensified work on sex and age disaggregated data and gender sensitive programme indicators for monitoring and evaluation;

Partnerships and networking

• Maintain links with technical and development partners to harmonize and strengthen approaches to gender equality in technical assistance;
• Represent the Global Fund at international technical and advocacy meetings with key partners and stakeholders as appropriate;

Technical advice and information

• Coordinate the gender work with relevant staff positions, including the Policy officer (Sexual minorities and vulnerable groups) and the Data analyst (Gender epidemiology and data) towards a unified technical approach;
• Provide information on scientific and programmatic developments that have relevance for gender equality;
• Respond to technical queries from within the Secretariat and refer to published information and other sources;
• Contribute to regular Global fund reports, publications and website.

Qualifications and Membership

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in a public health related field or in gender, women and development or social sciences or in health science (medical or nursing) with advanced training in any of the above fields

Essential:

• Extensive professional experience of which 10 years working in the field of gender and health or women’s health;  

• At least five years working in an international environment or working at the international level;

• Extensive relevant work within development cooperation with different constituencies and of networking with key partners, and in several developing countries, resulting in recognition as an expert in gender issues from a range of stakeholders;

• Documented experience in communicating  and negotiating complex issues to a variety of audiences; 

Desirable:

• Work at the country level within programmes for HIV, TB or malaria;

• Work at the country level, including with governments, on policy-making, program design, and implementation in health, or in international health policy-making; preferably including work on HIV, TB or malaria.

Skills:

• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English, other languages an advantage;

• Proven negotiation and diplomatic skills;

• Good computer skills using Microsoft Office suite;

Competencies:

• Knowledge of gender inequalities as related to health and health services in implementing countries and in different cultures, including gender issues as they pertain to women and girls, and sexual minority groups;

• Knowledge and understanding of international consensus documents and conventions of relevance for gender and health;

• Knowledge of the new aid architecture and aid modalities in health;

• Social competence, integrity, tact, discretion and sensitivity to cultural differences;

• Excellent strategic, analytical and evaluation skills;

• Track record of work in a team environment;

• Adaptability and flexibility in working in a complex and dynamic environment;
  • Ability to work well under pressure, manage multiple demands and meet deadlines.

Core Competencies:

• Gathering Information
• Solution-Oriented Analysis
• Building Relationships
• Demonstrating Accountability and Commitment
• Communicating Effectively
• Understanding Others
• Results-Oriented

• Fluency in English, and working knowledge of French, Spanish or other languages would be an asset

A covering letter not exceeding one and one half pages must accompany all applications. The letter should describe your ability to meet the essential requirements set out in the vacancy notice.

APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY VIA THE GLOBAL FUND WEBSITE www.theglobalfund.org/en/jobs

CLOSING DATE FOR THE RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS:  07 May 2008

Your online application will be acknowledged and a confirmation sent to the e-mail address that you have provided. Due to the sheer quantity of applicants, we will only contact candidates whose applications are of interest for this position and who are to and who are to be invited to participate further in the selection process.

THE POSITION will have a competitive compensation package net of tax. The position would correspond to P.6 in the UN system. The person selected for this position will be appointed for a period of two years.