Gender and Special Needs Officer – UNDP Ethiopia DDR Programme 2025
Organization: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Location: Ethiopia
Position Title: Gender and Special Needs Officer
Application Deadline: [Insert Deadline if available]
Contract Type: Full-time
Background
The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programme for Ethiopia was launched following the peace agreement signed on 2 November 2022 in South Africa between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The agreement brought an end to prolonged conflict in Northern Ethiopia.
The DDR programme aims to:
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Disarm former combatants from Tigray, Amhara, and Afar
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Facilitate their demobilization and reintegration into civilian life
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Restore peace and reconciliation across Ethiopia
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Promote long-term stability and development
The National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC) leads the DDR programme, with UNDP providing technical and programmatic support in collaboration with national and international partners.
Position Purpose
The Gender and Special Needs Officer ensures that marginalized groups, including women and persons with disabilities (PWDs), are fully included in all phases of the DDR programme. The officer will:
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Mainstream gender equality and disability inclusion
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Develop action plans and tools for implementation
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Strengthen referral pathways for GBV/SEA survivors
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Build partnerships and capacity for inclusive peacebuilding
Reports to: Reintegration Coordination Specialist
Overall supervision by: Director, DDR Programme
Key Duties and Responsibilities
1. Gender, Disability & Action Planning
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Conduct analysis of Ethiopian policies vs. UNDP gender/disability inclusion frameworks
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Draft DDR-specific Gender and Disability Action Plans
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Support consultations with women’s groups, PWD associations, and survivor networks
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Establish referral pathways for GBV/SEA survivors
2. Mainstreaming Tools & Capacity Building
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Carry out gender and disability analysis to guide DDR design
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Develop guidance notes, checklists, and toolkits for DDR staff and partners
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Deliver training sessions and technical support on gender equality and disability inclusion
3. Monitoring, Reporting & Evaluation
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Track and report on gender and disability-sensitive indicators in DDR projects
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Contribute inputs to quarterly and annual reports
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Support field monitoring visits to ensure compliance with inclusion standards
4. Advocacy, Partnerships & Events
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Build partnerships with UN agencies, CSOs, NGOs, government bodies, and PWD/women’s rights organizations
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Support DDR-related workshops, roundtables, and advocacy events
5. Knowledge Management & Communications
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Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories
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Produce briefs, reports, and background materials on gender and disability integration
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
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Advanced University Degree (Master’s) in Gender Studies, International Development, Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution, Social Sciences, or related fields
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OR Bachelor’s Degree with an additional 2 years of relevant experience
Experience
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Minimum 2 years (Master’s) or 4 years (Bachelor’s) in gender equality, disability inclusion, GBV/SEA response, or related fields
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Experience in DDR, post-conflict recovery, community mobilization, or development programs
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Knowledge of gender/disability analysis for project design
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Experience working with international organizations, UN agencies, or donor-funded programs (preferred)
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Familiarity with Ethiopia and Horn of Africa socio-economic and cultural dynamics is an asset
Skills & Competencies
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Strong project management, monitoring, and reporting skills
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Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities
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Knowledge of result-based reporting on gender and inclusion
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Fluency in English and a local Ethiopian language
Core UNDP Competencies
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Achieve Results – Balances speed and quality
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Think Innovatively – Open to new approaches
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Adapt with Agility – Adjust to new challenges
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Act with Determination – Persevere under pressure
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Enable Diversity and Inclusion – Promote inclusive decision-making
Equal Opportunity
UNDP is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, including women and persons with disabilities. Employment decisions are based solely on merit and suitability.
⚠️ Important: UNDP does not charge any fees during the recruitment process. Beware of scams. Learn more at www.undp.org/scam-alert.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the requirements are invited to apply via the UNDP recruitment portal: UNDP Careers Website
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