Background

Duties and Responsibilities

• The Country Programme Director will monitor trends and issues affecting women in Bangladesh for a strategic response to opportunities and challenges, particularly in UNIFEM's core focus areas in Bangladesh in line with UNIFEM Strategic Plan 2008-2011 including the Bangladesh Office Strategy 2011-2015.
• As the representative of UNIFEM in the field, in close consultation with the UNIFEM team in the Bangladesh Office, the incumbent will proactively interact with all stakeholders to effectively represent UNIFEM and to champion gender equality and women's human rights in Bangladesh.
• The incumbent will participate in the UN Heads of Agencies meetings as well as donor consultation processes to ensure strategic partnerships. The Country Programme Manager will also actively seek opportunities to strengthen collaboration with sister UN organizations.
• The Country Programme Manager will provide leadership and quality oversight of efforts to support capacity strengthening of government institutions, to implement national development strategies and focus on mainstreaming gender and developing implementation capacity in Ministries for gender responsive programs. S/he will work on developing strong partnerships with wide ranging constituencies, including NGOs, donors and the UN system.
• Ensure UNIFEM's strategic and technical support to government counterparts, the civil society and UN agencies in Bangladesh through direct involvement as well as procurement of required services as might be needed.
• Identify strategic programme opportunities; broaden the scope of work; and develop further programmes that include UN joint programming on specific gender equality and women's empowerment issues.
• S/he will identify strategic programme opportunities which include better implementation of CEDAW, programmes on safe migration, anti-trafficking, gender and HIV/AIDS, gender responsive budgeting, economical security and other emerging issues such as gender and trade.

• In order to strengthen donor confidence in UNIFEM and raise resources, the incumbent will lead UNIFEM's efforts to ensure ongoing and substantive communications with current and potential donors to gender equality initiatives.
• The incumbent is responsible for ensuring an open line of communication with donor representatives based in Bangladesh, as well as ensuring that high quality reports for those contributing to UNIFEM's programmes are prepared and disseminated in a timely fashion.
• The incumbent will identify and build partnerships and mobilize resources for programme implementation including new programme development to respond to the evolving situation and critical areas of concern.
• Lead negotiations on cost-sharing agreements with donors.

• The incumbent will provide close guidance and direction to ensure a strategic focus, results orientation and effectiveness and efficiency in all aspects of UNIFEM's programmes and operations in keeping with organizational policies for development effectiveness.
• S/he will lead ongoing programme activities in Bangladesh which include migration, eliminating violence against women, HIV/AIDS, Institutional Capacity building for the national machineries and engendering the national planning, programming and programme implementation processes
• S/he will monitor programme implementation ensuring results orientation and drawing from lessons learnt.
• S/he will promote a positive and accurate image of UNIFEM and its work in the country through effective communication and media strategies.
• Special attention will be needed to ensure that the evaluation framework and plans for distinct programme elements are implemented and support ongoing learning and mid-course corrections within UNIFEM and with partners responding to opportunities and challenges.
• S/he will lead knowledge management and ensure documentation and dissemination of lessons learned in promoting gender equality.

• Manage office operations including financial and human resources management as well as organization of logistical support including procurement of office space and equipment, as is necessary and in compliance with UNIFEM's policies, rules and regulations on financial and human resources.
• HR Management through UN recruitment process, performance and career management of professional and support staff; learning management, establishing Learning Plans and ensuring staff supervised meet their development needs while meeting the needs of UN. Include harmonization of the existing UNIFEM staff position in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• S/he will need to ensure effective management of programme resources using appropriate financial information systems to closely monitor programming of resources and to closely track project budgets and expenditures.
• The incumbent will provide clear direction and monitor performance of the teams working on UNIFEM initiatives based on specific benchmarks.
• S/he will lead a process of increased team building and internal communication so that synergy is maximized between programme areas. S/he will manage human resources in the office ensuring optimal performance and incorporating the principles of a transparent, learning organization. S/he will also help in developing short term as well as long term perspectives on staffing issues including succession planning where relevant, increased possibilities of transition to national staffing and staff capacity development. 
• S/he will ensure oversight of financial resource management and administrative processes in line with UNDP/UNIFEM policies.
• Matrix Management by ensuring products and results, handovers and consultations are prepared; effective and efficient management of partnerships with government and NGO partners
• Providing strategic and data inputs into UNIFEM programme activities, and the eventual gender component of the UN programme, including budget preparation exercises and management of sub-allotment to the gender programme and UNIFEM.
• Content Management by ensuring (1) prescriptive content on gender equality is continuously updated and available through the UN web site; (2) Good Practices are continuously identified, documented and made available to clients and peers through the web site; and (3) appropriate and up-to-date information and learning tools are available.
• Reporting to the Regional Programme Director of South Asia, at least once a month.

• In co-operation with UNDSS and the UN Security Officer scan the environment on a regular basis for assessing external and internal risks to staff and implementation of programmes.
• S/he will provide written reports to SARO on a regular basis on the security situation and consult on responses and preparedness to any emerging situation.
• Establish and lead a good management system for staff security and safety to promote inter-unit co-operation and UNIFEM's effectiveness on the ground.
• Ensure that all staff are aware of safety and security procedures and policies and that these are monitored for compliance with UNDSS rules and regulations on safety and security.

• Work closely with the Gender Adviser to the RC/UNCT to promote and sustain inter-agency cooperation and harmonization of gender-related activities in the UN initiative.
• This includes
• (a) ensuring that gender perspectives are well mainstreamed and resourced under the UNDAF; that agencies that are part of the UNDAF , harmonise activities and results on gender; that the results framework for the UNDAF has gender perspectives at its core;
• (b) that gender equality and women's empowerment perspectives are mainstreamed into and well resourced under the joint programmes of different UN Theme Groups; that there are synergies on gender equality interventions under the UNDAF and Theme Groups;
• (c) lead knowledge management on gender issues for UN organisations participating in the Joint UN Programme, ensuring documentation and dissemination of lessons learnt for UN coordination; draw on UN/UNIFEM good practises and experiences on gender equality, including from the One UN pilots
• (d) support RC in monitoring and reporting on UN work focused on gender; ensure that UN policies and any new guidance on gender equality work are widely disseminated and supported at country level;
• (e) Support the RC in identifying and negotiating agreements with donors/funding mechanisms and
• (f) be a member and actively participate in the UNCT/SMT and clusters.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNIFEM (Part of UN Women).
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

• Substantive knowledge and understanding specifically on gender equality issues as well as more broadly, human rights and development cooperation, with an emphasis on the provision of coordinated support and management of strategic programmes to advance gender equality.
• Substantive knowledge and experience with the development of fund mobilization and management for the UN's work in support of gender equality.
• Demonstrates the ability to identify research priorities to contribute to the formulation of policies, procedures and guidelines, implementation strategies, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Has knowledge of UNIFEM and the UN system.
• Has proven ability to advocate and provide policy advice.
• Has a successful track record in developing strong partnerships with donors and mobilizing significant resources for development assistance programmes.
• Has ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting.
• Has ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes.
• Knowledge Management: Demonstrates ability to use knowledge management strategies to promote effective decision-making, and a coherent approach to policy making, and intra/inter-organizational collaboration, applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNIFEM.

• Leadership and Management Skills: Has strong management skills with a proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling work environment, including the ability to effectively lead, develop, mentor, coach and evaluate staff ; Manages projects effectively - consistently ensures timeliness and quality of project implementation, monitoring and timely reporting.
• Managing Relationships: Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback; Cultivates productive relationships with donors, partners and other key institutions and individuals; Displays a high level of respect, diplomacy and tact when dealing with government officials, donors and other stakeholders; Excellent interpersonal skills, able to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment.
• Managing Complexity: Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities; Outstanding coordination skills, with ability to manage multiple activities concurrently, works under pressure, and to tight deadlines. 
• Communication Skills: Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills, including ability to convey complex concepts to different stakeholders in a clear and concise style. Good listener and responsive to the views of others. Speaks confidently and exercises diplomacy in dealing with governments, UN system and national partners; demonstrates determination and tact in negotiations.
• Displays cultural sensitivity and adaptability - communicates effectively with and relates to people of different cultures, demonstrating an ability to see issues from other perspectives.

Required Skills and Experience

• 7 years of relevant professional experience with a strong focus on women's empowerment and gender equality at national, regional and international levels, of which a minimum of 5 years experience is in the field with an international organization.
• Knowledge of and experience in working in the region with similar context is desirable.
• Strong familiarity with UN inter-agency cooperation and the UN reform.
• Experience of working in conflict/post conflict is desirable.

• Advanced University degree in Development studies, International Affairs, Human Rights, Economic and Political Development, gender equality or a related discipline.
• Strong familiarity with current theories and issues in gender, development studies and human rights is an important prerequisite for the position.

• Excellent written and spoken English
• All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UNIFEM Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unifem.org/attachments/about/employment/UNIFEM_personal_history_form_P11.doc. Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UNIFEM P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.