UN WOMEN Jobs - 51570- UN Women: Project Specialist

UN Women: Project Specialist

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Jerusalem, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

03-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women has played an innovative and catalytic role in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) since 1997. UN Women oPt focuses its activities on one overarching goal, namely to support the implementation at the national level of existing international commitments to advance gender equality in line with national priorities. In support of this goal and thoroughly taking into consideration the specificities of the oPt context, UN Women concentrates its efforts and interventions toward the realisation of the following strategic goals: engendering governance, peace and security; supporting women's economic security and rights; and promoting women’s rights and protection against violence.

The Women’s Human Rights Programme (WHRP) within the UN Women Palestine office coordinates and cooperates extensively with national stakeholders, civil society, UN sister agencies and international donors, and participates in coordination mechanisms in related fields. UN Women’s Women Human Rights Programme, as part of its approach and methodology within the unique political and social context and situation of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), and in order to advance the recognition and enjoyment of women's rights, developed and implemented a programme aimed at creating and institutionalizing systems, policies, procedures and mechanisms related to the protection and empowerment of women victims of violence, as well as to women’s access to equitable justice. Building on that programme, UN Women’s joint programme with UNDP "Strengthening the Rule of Law in the oPt: Justice and Security for the Palestinian People" (2014-2017) supports the process of institutionalization and capacity development of the justice and security sectors in the oPt.

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator and in direct liaison with the UNDP/UN Women Joint Programme Manager, the Project Specialist (a) manages the UN Women joint programme with UNDP "Strengthening the Rule of Law in the oPt: Justice and Security for the Palestinian People"; (b) ensures that the Joint Programme is intrinsically linked to other Women’s Human Rights programming and projects in Palestine and (c) ensures tht there are linkages between the Joint Programme and the realization of the UN Women Strategic Note and Annual Work Plan across all programme areas.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Management of UN Women’s Women’s Human Rights (WHR) Programme activities in Palestine, focusing on the management of activities within and related to the Joint Programme with UNDP "Strengthening the Rule of Law in the oPt: Justice and Security for the Palestinian People";
Management of the financial and human resources of UN Women’s WHR programmes and projects;
Determining the direction of UN Women’s WHR programming in Palestine;
Building partnerships and supporting resource mobilization for UN Women, the Joint Programme and WHR interventions in Palestine.

Management of UN Women’s Women’s Human Rights (WHR) programme activities in Palestine, especially the Joint Programme with UNDP:

Supervise and lead the development of project workplans, budget plans, procurement plans and operational plans with related detailed budget allocations for project implementation;
Lead and supervise the development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks and other activities related to the implementation and sustainability of the projects;
Manage project resources and administration to ensure proper accountability for and utilization of allocated funds;
Report regularly to the Joint Programme Manager and liaise and collaborate closely with the UNDP Joint Programme Team;
Report regularly to the Programme Coordinator to ensure linkages and synergies between all UN Women programming activities;
Ensure that staff under his/her supervision communicate and share information with each other and with UNDP team members;
Continuously monitor the implementation of activities and budget expenditures and ensure that project implementation is in line with agreed work plans and related time frames;
Ensure proper data collection and prepare narrative reports on project progress, oversee project reviews and ensure UN Women’s visibility across project implementation is compliant with UN Women rules and regulations;
Work closely with governmental and local partners to ensure ownership of delivery of project results;
Ensure that close cooperation and coordination is maintained with donors and project partners, including by providing regular technical briefings for project donors, as agreed with the Joint Programme Manager;
Oversee procurement actions under projects.

Management of the financial and human resources of UN Women’s WHRP programmes and projects:

Supervise UN Women staff and personnel assigned to the Joint Programme and related WHR programmes and projects;
Manage project resources and administration to ensure proper accountability for and utilization of allocated funds;
Facilitate and monitor the timely allocation of funds. Monitor and support the appropriate utilization of approved resources;
Review and evaluate proposals and oversee the preparation of donor proposals and reports;
Lead WHR monthly planning of work and regularly follow up on developments and challenges;
Conduct regular staff meetings;
Coordinate staff participation in external coordination meetings and other activities and events related to the WHR work;
Provide clear direction and monitor performance of staff working on projects based on specific benchmarks;
Support knowledge building and knowledge sharing including synthesis and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices;
Ensure linkages are established and maintained with other UN Women programmes and projects;
Provide regular briefings/debriefings of senior management, staff and project teams.

Determining the direction of UN Women’s WHR programming in Palestine:

Provide inputs into planning, monitoring and evaluation of UN Women’s work in Palestine related to women’s rights and protection, including the identification of strategic programme areas of cooperation;
Contribute to WHR programme strategies and other programming documents, and ensure their effective implementation;
Actively advocate for women’s rights, gender equality and empowerment of women. Contribute to the production of knowledge products, newsletters and other publications produced by UN Women Palestine office;
Report regularly to the UN Women Special Representative and the Programme Coordinator. Create linkages and synergies between WHR programmes and other UN Women programmes and projects to maximize impact for targeted beneficiaries;
Liaise with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to maintain discussions and ensure proper planning for addressing strategic priorities;
Ensure technical support and advice on issue related to women’s rights and protection is provided as needed to governmental counterparts and non-state actors and UN agencies;
Identify and share with the UN Women office, plans relating to women’s rights issues.

Building partnerships and supporting resource mobilization for UN Women, the Joint Programme and WHR interventions in Palestine:

Liaise, within the overall framework of UN Women Palestine’s WHR programming, with implementing bodies, governmental organizations, donors, UN Agencies and NGOs in order to strengthen the network of support to women’s rights and widen the potential of WHR managed projects and interventions;
Liaise with donors, raise and maintain interest in areas of women’s protection and rights relevant to the oPt context, including emerging areas;
Support resource mobilization efforts for ensuring the sustainability of existing WHR projects and funding new ones;
Formulate funding proposals and prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, analyze and research information on relevant donors, and support the identification of opportunities for cost-sharing.

Impact of Results:

The post directly impacts on the development, implementation and results that in turn directly impact on the credibility and image of UN Women as an effective and competent knowledge based organization on gender equity and women's human rights issues. The proper management and successful implementation of the Joint Programme with UNDP as well as projects undertaken in the thematic area of Women’s Human Rights Programme will lead to increased visibility and impact of UN Women’s work in the field of women’s protection and rights in Palestine.

Competencies

Core values and Guiding principles:

Integrity:

Demonstrates the values of United Nations and UN Women, acts without consideration of personal gain, resists undue political pressure in decision-making, does not abuse power or authority, stands by decisions that are in the organization’s interest, and takes action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behavior.

Professionalism:

Shows pride in work and achievements, demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter, is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments and achieving results, is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns, shows persistence when faced with challenges, and remains calm in stressful situations;

Respect for Diversity:

Works effectively with people from all backgrounds, treats all people with dignity and respect, treats men and women equally, shows respect for and understanding of diverse points of view examines own biases and behaviors to avoid stereotypical responses, and does not discriminate against any individual or group.

Core Competencies:

Ethics and Values :

Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.

Organizational Awareness:

Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.

Developing, Coaching and Mentoring:

Be in charge of self-development and initiative-taking.

Working in Teams:

Act as a team player and facilitate team work.

Communicating Information and Ideas:

Facilitate and encourage open communication in the team, and communicate effectively.

Conflict Management, Negotiating and Resolving Disagreements:

Ability to managing conflict.

Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Learning:

Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making;
Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to lead formulation, implementation and monitoring of projects;
Build strong relationships with partners, focusing on impact and result for the partners and responds positively to feedback;
Ability to communicate project goals and results sufficiently both internal and external;
Ability to work under pressure and with multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams and possess excellent inter-personal skills, and ability to monitor progress against milestones and deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, development.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of experience in programme/ project management and design is essential. Significant progressively responsible experience in gender related programme management and gender mainstreaming is required;
Proven analytical ability and excellent communication skills (oral and written);
Experience in women’s rights issues including ending violence against women and/or women’s access to justice; knowledge of other relevant gender issues within the specific context of Palestine is an asset;
Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization is an added advantage.

Languages:

Fluency in English;
Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Application:

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment.
Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.