Job Description
GENDER AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS ADVISOR
The Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations
The Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates has been an integral part of the United Nations community since the founding of the UAE in 1971. The Mission contributes to many aspects of the UN’s work and represents the UAE in the UN’s NY-based organs.
Job Summary
The Gender and Social Affairs Advisor provides policy, analytical, and strategic support to the Permanent Mission’s engagement with the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) as well as to the Mission’s wider work on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) issues.
Working closely with Mission’s diplomats, relevant capital-based authorities, and external stakeholders, the Advisor contributes to the development of informed positions, negotiation strategies and interventions. The role focuses on behind-the-scenes support, including strategic and policy advice, research, drafting, coordination, and relationship-building, to enable effective and coherent engagement in Third Committee processes.
The Advisor operates in a fast-paced, politically sensitive multilateral environment and plays a key role in strengthening the Mission’s substantive capacity, situational awareness, and strategic outreach on Third Committee agenda items. The Advisor also supports the advancement of the Mission’s GEWE agenda through supporting its engagement with UN Women and its participation in the Commission on the Status of Women, as well as promoting women and girls’ empowerment across all relevant files.
The Advisor supports the Mission’s engagement with the Commission for Social Development, the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD, and the ECOSOC Youth Forum, contributing to advancing inclusive social development, disability rights, and youth empowerment. They support the Mission’s participation in negotiations, resolutions, and side events and promoting the mainstreaming of disability inclusion, youth perspectives, and social equity across Third Committee agenda items and wider UN work.
The Advisor builds partnerships with UN stakeholders, liaises with informal groups at the UN, and seeks out new platforms and avenues to promote the UAE’s priorities.
Key Responsibilities
· Monitor, analyze, and synthesize developments, debates, draft resolutions, and procedural dynamics within the UNGA Third Committee.
· Provide timely policy advice and strategic analysis to Mission diplomats on Third Committee agenda items, emerging issues, and negotiation trends.
· Prepare analytical reports and post-session assessments on Third Committee outcomes, trends, and implications for national policy.
· Advise on the strategic direction on the gender file and work with Mission team members to mainstream gender throughout the Mission’s work.
· Build and maintain expertise on the Women, Peace and Security agenda, as well as on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and gender parity.
· Support the development of national positions, negotiation strategies, and voting guidance through research, comparative analysis, and policy briefs.
· Draft and contribute to background notes, talking points, statements, explanations of vote, and internal briefing materials for Mission leadership and diplomats.
· Track negotiations on resolutions and decisions, identifying key actors, alliances, points of contention, and opportunities for engagement.
· Maintain networks and working-level contacts with counterparts in other Permanent Missions, the UN Secretariat, and civil society organizations to gather information and share perspectives.
· Draft documents for the Ambassador and diplomats on matters of international peace and security related to the gender file, including memos, reports, speeches, interventions, text of resolutions, social media communications, and other written products, as requested, in a clear, well-written manner.
· In partnership with the diplomat in charge of the gender file, participate in formal and informal groups that the UAE is a member of at the UN, related to gender parity, mentorship, and women, peace and security.
· Organize, coordinate, and implement strategic events, such as panel discussions and roundtables, to elevate and promote the UAE’s platform on gender equality, women’s empowerment, gender parity and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
· Support broader Mission work as required, including cross-cutting issues, thematic initiatives, and preparations for high-level UN meetings.
Qualifications and Competencies
This position requires a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast paced environment. He/she should possess:
· Minimum 3-5 years professional experience working on issues relevant to Third Committee and gender equality and women’s empowerment.
· Significant knowledge of the United Nations system and normative framework, and of issues relevant to Third Committee and gender equality and women’s empowerment.
· Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field.
· Perfect written and spoken English.
· Ability to analyze complex legal, political, and policy issues and translate them into clear, actionable advice.
· Excellent research, writing, and editing skills, with the ability to produce concise, high-quality briefing materials under time pressure
· Proven ability to manage multiple files simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet tight deadlines during peak periods.
· Strong awareness of multilateral political dynamics and sensitivity to diplomatic considerations and national positions.
· Strong ability to work with a diverse array of stakeholders.
· Comfortable working in a diverse, cross-cultural setting.
· High standards of discretion, confidentiality, and ethical conduct.
· Willingness to work on an array of issues and topics in line with the continually evolving objectives of the Mission.
· Knowledge of the Middle East and familiarity with the UAE a plus.