UN WOMEN Jobs - 3217- Knowledge Management Specialist

Knowledge Management Specialist

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

ALD International

Starting Date :

01-Feb-2008

Application Deadline :

25-Dec-07 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

ALD-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

The Ending Violence Against Women section of UNIFEM Headquarters is at a critical juncture of growth and transition. The global context in which programming to address gender-based violence in general, and the UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women in particular, has been operating has swiftly changed over the past two years. Political commitment, resource mobilization opportunities, UN Member State and inter-agency efforts have culminated to position the issue of violence against women at the highest levels of national, regional and global agendas. At the same time, there is global consensus on the urgency of supporting national capacity development and the evolution of an ongoing global knowledge-base to effectively and efficiently guide expanding work and resource investments to address violence against women and girls.

In order to meet both the major challenges and opportunities resulting from this juncture of intensified action to eliminate violence against women and UN reform, UNIFEM needs to institute a growth strategy which is ultimately intended to provide evidence-based technical guidance and support to national governmental and civil society partners and counterparts, including UN Trust Fund grantees, UN sister agencies and UNCTs, and the international community of practitioners at large. This effort is in line with UNIFEM's new Strategic Plan 2008-2011; and its mandate to both foster catalytic initiatives on women's empowerment as well as support the UN System to strengthen their work in gender equality. UNIFEM desires to hire a specialist to support work in the area of knowledge management and research for better evidence-based technical guidance.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision and guidance of the Ending Violence Against Women Advisor, the Specialist will be responsible for the following main tasks:

I. Global knowledge management and sharing on Programming on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAW)

Global mapping of gender-based violence policies, programmes, and initiatives to compile resources and state-of-the-art guidance for country programming. This requires ongoing research and capturing of new tools, guidelines, evaluations, good practices, campaigns, data analyses and reports, relevant to country programming as well as to UNIFEM-supported programming.
Technical screening of the material captured for preliminary assessment of its value-added, quality and relevance.
Development and management of a compendium of recommended 'how to' technical tools for country programming (for eventual posting of an on-line 'global tookit').
Oversight for the updating and upkeep of the website housing the knowledge-sharing products (working in coordination with web-related staff/consultant).
Facilitate consultations with technical experts and institutions, including from other UN agencies, to validate recommendations on selected tools and products.
Development of a state-of-the-art lessons learned `package' (by area of intervention, sector) based on extensive and ongoing literature review for dissemination and regular updating in user-friendly formats and language conducive to learning for programmers.
Preparation of evaluation modalities for user feedback on the global knowledge-management piloting for continuous improvements.
Provide research support and technical backstopping to other UN Trust Fund staff as needed and requested by the Advisor.
Serve as an initial 'help desk' to UNIFEM staff and other UN agency colleagues or external partners in accessing key on-line tools and supports for programming.
Liaise closely with the consultant responsible for oversight of UN Trust Fund HIV/AIDS window grantees and with the Trust Fund manager, in order to capture lessons learned, good practices and tools for knowledge-management emerging from the pool of grantees.
Assist the Advisor in developing a multi-year strategy on global knowledge-management, including as regards budgeting and fundraising plans and proposal development.

II. Environmental Scanning

Scanning for identification and follow up on strategic opportunities for positioning violence against women issues in key events, development initiatives, research agendas, or media venues.
Contribute to the identification and follow up of opportunities to position and profile the UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women.

III. Backstopping Support to Advisor

Respond to research requests as necessary for the Advisor's preparation of presentations, written products, advocacy messages, etc.
On-line research on request regarding official and inter-governmental policies, agreements, laws, documents.
* Assistance in preparing contents and drafting of fundraising and outreach strategies and proposals for UNIFEM on Violence Against Women.
Provide backstopping for the Advisor in managing UNIFEM participation and inputs into inter-agency consultations, drafts and products, as needed.

IV. Mapping of UNIFEM programming on VAW

Lead focal point within the Ending VAW Section to capture, synthesize, maintain, document and disseminate UNIFEM-supported programmes on VAW at global, regional and national levels (outside the scope of the UN Trust Fund).
Initiate content development for the launch of a UNIFEM web portal on violence against women and girls.

Competencies

Corporate:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness;
Displays cultural sensitivity and adaptability;
Shows strong corporate commitment;
Demonstrated commitment to UNIFEM's mission, vision and values.

Functional

Has substantive knowledge of gender equality and gender-based violence issues, including leading global, regional and country developments
Demonstrated ability to use knowledge management strategies
Knowledge of 'state-of-the-art' approaches, good practices, monitoring and evaluation standards.
Excellent research and analytical skills, including experience and knowledge about leading academic, data, research and gender-related resources
Strong communication skills; written and oral
Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavor; ability to build trust through operating with transparency and creating and open, positive and enabling environment; ability to in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity
Strong client orientation: Ability to identify clients needs and appropriate solutions; ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships. Fosters linkages with key internal clients and with other UN agencies, research organizations and other key external stakeholders.
Sound judgement and decision-making skills
Demonstrateded ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor tasks to achieve result.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate and multi-task

Required Skills and Experience

Masters Degree in international relations, social sciences or related field
A minimum of 5 years relevant experience.
Experience within the United Nations is highly desirable, especially knowledge of leading policy frameworks and new directions; as well as of country programming operations, in relation to gender equality and gender-based violence.
Experience using technology as a medium for capacity-building and knowledge-sharing; high level of comfort using Microsoft Office programmes
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of Spanish and French is desirable.