Background

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women will work 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 will lead and coordinate United Nations System efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN WOMEN is dedicated to advancing gender equality and women's empowerment in Afghanistan. Staff and consultants of UN WOMEN Afghanistan are expected to contribute to a professional working environment in which the strengthening of national capacities and human potential is prioritized.  Respect for diversity and human dignity is required, as is the active pursuit of a collaborative and inclusive approach to both internal and external stakeholders, including colleagues and partners.

UN WOMEN's umbrella programme in Afghanistan has the main objective to build Afghan women's capacity and leadership to enable them to effectively participate in the social, economic and political processes in the country. An extension to this mandate is UN WOMEN's duty to engage in research, advocacy and policy development activities. This not only helps to inform and strengthen the programmes, but also contributes to UN WOMEN's task of mainstreaming gender into government strategies, policies and laws.

For the past four years, UN WOMEN Afghanistan's work on women's economic rights and security has been focused at the provincial level to support the needs of rural women and the growth of the Departments of Women's Affairs (DOWAs). This approach has included providing technical assistance to the DOWAs in identifying the needs of women; supporting the establishment of the Afghan Women's Business Council to provide business development services and market opportunities for women entrepreneurs; providing grants to NGOs for implementing integrated socio-economic projects, and micro finance for promoting secure livelihoods for women and their families. UN WOMEN is currently reviewing and redirecting its strategy for women's economic rights to ensure an increased focus at the policy-making level through targeted advocacy. Interventions will continue to include partnerships with CSOs ensuring a heightened understanding of grass roots realities to inform and guide the advocacy. The Unit Manager will lead in the refinement and realization of this strategy and in the creation of the WERS team.

Under the direct supervision of the UN WOMEN Chief Technical Advisor, and in consultation with the Deputy Country Director (DCD), the WERS Unit Manager serves as a member of the senior management team, with oversight responsibilities for all aspects of WERS Unit programming and operations, including providing strategic direction, fiscal oversight, resource mobilization, policy setting, and promotion of inter-unit collaboration. The post serves as a key advisor to the Country Director and DCD on policy and programming pertaining to the Unit's mandate and on matters of organizational integrity with the aim of ensuring:

• Compliance with UN WOMEN and UNDP policies and regulations.
• Effective systems to support programme delivery and growth.
• Accountability to organizational values and principles.
• Enabling workplace environment in which staff potential is maximized.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Direction:

• The Unit Manager will establish policy and practices to ensure the sound management and staff oversight of the Unit; to effectively meet programme obligations and client expectations, and to facilitate a workplace environment of mutual accountability, recognition and respect.
• The Manager will set priorities and determine the strategic direction of the Unit, identifying opportunities for productive interventions in order for the Unit to meet its mandate.   

Resource Mobilization:

• The Unit Manager will, in consultation and coordination with senior management, proactively seek and respond to opportunities for resource mobilization for the WERS Unit.   

Management and Supervision:

• The Unit Manager will directly supervise and appropriately delegate areas of responsibility to the Unit's Deputy and Unit operations staff, and provide general guidance to the Unit management team, including international consultants.   

Economic Policy Development:

• The Unit Manager will advise senior management on the socio-economic and political development of rural women and the implications for achieving the government's and UN WOMEN's gender commitments.
• S/he participates in various national economic policy dialogue groups on facilitating the integration of women's socio-economic and political interests in post conflict and recovery, and the integration of women's economic interests in public policy. 

• The Unit Manager will provide strategic direction and substantive leadership to the Unit staff on socio-economic and political related issues as it impacts the development of women's socio-economic and political empowerment.
• S/he will take the lead in providing substantive technical inputs into programme development, through vision, conceptualization and design, and oversees the Unit's annual planning process.   

Leadership:

• The Unit Manager is responsible for providing leadership and direction within the Unit.
• S/he will create an organizational culture of accountability, responsibility, capacity building and quality of services through leadership, encouraging a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation.
• S/he will also ensure that there exists a clearly understood and implemented chain of authority and accountability within the Unit.  

Capacity Building:

• The Unit Manager will provide technical and managerial support to the Unit in the day to day running of the WERS Unit. It is expected that the Unit Manager will build the technical and managerial capacity of his/her Deputy through delegating responsibilities in the implementation and scaling up of programme activities, supervision of Unit staff, and financial management.

• The Unit Manager will provide financial oversight for the Unit's expenditures, including ensuring a steady and adequate supply of funds for programme activities.
• S/he will follow up with the Unit Deputy to ensure all programme funds are spent in accordance with donor agreements and financial reporting requirements.   

Partnership and Networking:

• The Unit Manager will serve as UN WOMEN's key advocate in the field of women's socio-economic and political development, articulating its messages through proactive public advocacy and practical policy solutions and linking women's grass roots advocacy work to the national policy level.
• S/he is responsible for developing strategic partnerships and strengthening linkages with NGOs, donors, UN agencies, government institutions, private sector, civil society and community grass roots organizations for the implementation of the Unit's strategic plan.
• S/he will ensure UN WOMEN's contribution to the UN's strategic planning processes in relation to women's socio-economic and political development and will foster knowledge networks in this field.

Competencies

• Integrity: Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
• Cultural Sensitivity/Valuing diversity: Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity. 

• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and able to work in a multi-national environment.
• Support the Organization's corporate goal.
• Comply with UN WOMEN rules, regulations and code of conduct.
• Demonstrate integrity.
• Demonstrate sensitivity, discretion, tact and courtesy in relation to gender equality and women's rights, development principles, implementing partners, and national and international personnel of varied nationalities and backgrounds.
• Commitment to upholding the organizational values and principles of UN Women.

• Build effective client relationships and partnerships.
• Interact with all levels of staff in the organization.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Build and share knowledge.
• Provide guidance and support to others.
• Apply existing knowledge to work.
• Make valuable practice contributions.

• Excellent oral and written skills, especially in professional English.
• Listen actively and respond effectively.

• Plan, prioritize and deliver a variety of tasks on time.
• Exercise sound judgment/analysis.
• Develop creative solutions.

• Promote learning environment in the office.
• Provide constructive coaching and feedback for others.

• In-depth knowledge of program management and implementation.
• Knowledge of UN WOMEN business, operations and programming cycle (preferred).

Required Skills and Experience

• Masters degree (or equivalent) in international development, public policy, development economics or other relevant social sciences, with focus on gender and socio-economic issues.  

• Minimum 7 years progressively relevant professional work experience in programme design and management in the areas of women's socio-economic and political development with proven technical expertise, with two years at managerial level.
• Technical experience with gender analysis community-based and participatory approaches. 
• A proven ability to liaise with a myriad of stakeholders and partners, including government, civil society, international organizations and grassroots organizations.
• A proven history of leadership, management, and staff supervision through a style of mutual accountability and professional development.
• Experience in the area of advocacy and policy as it impacts women's socio-economic development, ideally in a post conflict setting.
• Sound knowledge of international standards on human rights, women's rights and related instruments.
• Knowledge and understanding of the social, cultural and political context of Afghanistan and its relation to gender is preferable. 

• Excellent command of English, including analytical writing skills and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of local language, Dari and/or Pashtu will be considered an asset.