Antecedentes

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.

Within the Regional Office, under the supervision of the Regional Director, and in general consultation with the Programme/Policy Divisions in HQ,  the incumbent analyzes overall trends in development and in policy making, together with constraints, opportunities, potential and challenges relevant to gender equality in programme countries and at the regional/country levels.  In close collaboration with UN Women’s field-based presences and relevant HQ units, the Programme Specialist facilitates (a) the formulation process of projects/programmes through a highly participatory process with UN Women field-based presences, policy advisors, and increased synergies with the UNCT and partners, (b) supports the day-to-day functioning of the field-based presences in, as required; and (c) supports the Regional Office d) contribute to the creation and dissemination of knowledge products through capturing of best practices,  in support of UN Women  advocacy.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Summary of Key Functions:

• Support to UN Women Country Office to effectively undertake and realize its UN system coordination role on Gender and Women’s Empowerment;  
• Support to Government, UN System, Development Partners  and Civil Society to bring coherence in the implementation and delivering on SDG 5 (Gender Equality) at policy and programme implementation and reporting at country and regional levels;
• Focal Point and Liaison with UN Women Regional Offices for west and central Africa in all programme related activities;
• Facilitate the effective tracking of the implementation of and reporting on UN Women CO Annual Work Plan commitments and UNDAF Results;
• Provide technical and logistical support to the UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG)  in order to generate coherence in UN Women partnerships/coalitions at country and regional level on SDGs with particular attention to SDG5;
• Facilitate the effective channeling of adequate technical support, coordination and donor reporting functions of UN Women and its implementing partners programmes and results.

Support to UN Women CO Advocacy Programming and Coordination at country-level:

• Support UN Women Country Office in related technical coordination, partnership collaboration bodies  and Mechanisms;
• Support UN Women country presence in the development of gender-specific country programming processes and products, including the preparation of UNDAF and other UN system joint programming documents, in close collaboration, with UNCT members, and other development partners to ensure that a gender perspective is mainstreamed;
• Ensure effective knowledge management and capacity development of UN Women in the region in rolling out and support system-wide tools on gender equality;
• Provision of guidance to UN Women in the country on joint programming modalities and strategies;
• Prepare briefing materials for the CO on issues to be discussed in the UN and other events and meetings. Follow up on required action/outstanding issues and report on outcome/result. Alert the Country Rep/CO on critical issues for action to be addressed;
• According to the results envisioned in the Management Results Framework in UN Women’s Strategic Plan, periodically review and assess UN Women’s engagement in inter-agency processes and joint programmes in the field k to devise improved strategies for ensuring that UN Women‘s investment in coordination processes is yielding results in support of gender equality and women’s human rights. Additionally, in coordination with regional evaluation specialists, promote UN Women’s engagement in joint evaluations on gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Assists in resource mobilization efforts. 

Support UN system partnership and alliances at the Regional and Country level:

• Support work within the UN System at the Country level in managing activities and other promotional events to engage bilateral and multilateral institutions/donors, private sector and civil society to expand and/or sustain interest and resources for UNW programs and joint UN system programs;
• Participate in country regional, global practice network on coordination, sharing and learning best practices to keep abreast of and/or to contribute to ongoing debates and strategic thinking and to exchange experience and/or seek support on coordination issues affecting UN Women and UN system programs and operations. 

Support enhanced results-based management practices at the country level to ensure more coherent and coordinated UN Women commitments within the UNDAFs:

• Technical support to country office in the development and monitoring of work planning processes;
• Provide capacity development support to country office on results based programme planning and management;
• Ensure quality of regional and country level planning instruments, promoting application of good practice in the development, design, monitoring and reporting of results;
  Collaborate with Regional Evaluation Specialists and country M&E focal points to ensure that findings and lessons from evaluations are reflected in strategic planning processes and RBM and training on results based management.

Enhance sustained coalition and sustained coordinated of partners in country for improved GEWE interventions and results:

• Support the Country Office in establishing and maintaining effective consultations with governments, and implementing partners, development partners to achieve coordinated collaboration, cooperation and alliances on program development and implementation, resource mobilization and sustained partnerships;
• Undertake advocacy work and establish and maintain supportive networks on targeted programme initiatives;
• Support network of partners in GEWE in achieving required results on Intergovernmental processes at regional and global levels (CSW, Beijing +20, Post-2015 Development Agenda, etc.) including to update the current UNW data base of contacts/partners that can be leveraged to deliver on key objectives of the AWP as necessary;
• Establish and maintain effective liaison through effective communication mechanism of the UN Women Sierra Leone office with partners in implement commitments.

Technical Support and Coordination of the WPE/EVAW Programmes:

• Support the planning, implementation, management, monitoring, coordination and reporting aspects of Women’s Political Empowerment programme impact area;
• Build a comprehensive assessment and knowledge of the opportunities and challenges facing women who aspire for political leadership and advise UN WOMEN CO on recommended strategies to tackle the dwindling nationwide leadership of women in decision making;
• Track efforts to support women’s increased political participation as voters, candidates and elected officials and influence at national and local levels;
• Develop guidance notes, Fact-Sheets and other knowledge products that analyze women’s experiences and synthesize lessons therein for programming to address systemic obstacles to women’s sustained effective political participation;
• Evolve and propose plans of action for immediate, medium and long term work on women’s political participation;
• Work in collaboration with the UN Women country office team and UN Women partners to identify promising practices, technical expertise, and strategic opportunities for enhancing women’s political participation as well as the effectiveness of women political actors in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Provide technical and coordination support to in particular, the UN WMEN EVAW programme impact area;
• Provide technical and logistical support to CO and implementing partners in relation to the Strategic Note and the AWP 2016.

Competencias

Core Values / Guiding Principle:

Integrity:

• Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism:

• Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:

• Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff;
• Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies:

Ethics and Values:

• Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.

Organizational Awareness:

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.

Development and Innovation:

• Take charge of self-development and take initiative.

Work in teams:

• Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communicating and Information Sharing:

• Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication

Self-management and Emotional Intelligence:

• Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.

Conflict Management:

• Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

• Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.

Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:

• Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies:

• In-depth knowledge of development issues;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Ability in strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
• Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit;
• Strong IT skills;
• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education: 

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Gender, Social Sciences, Political Science, Development, Law.

 Experience:

• 7 years of experience in programme/ project management and design essential;
• Significant progressively responsible experience in gender related programme management and gender mainstreaming required

Language:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Working knowledge of another UN official language especially French is an asset.