UN WOMEN Jobs - 5509- Country Programme Manager

Country Programme Manager

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE

Type of Contract :

ALD International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

18-Jul-08 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

ALD-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

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

UNIFEM is the women's fund at the United Nations with the objective of providing financial and technical assistance to innovative programs and strategies that promote women's human rights, political participation and economic security. Within the UN system, UNIFEM promotes gender equality and links women's issues and concerns to national, regional and global agendas by fostering collaboration and providing technical expertise on gender mainstreaming and women's empowerment strategies.
UNIFEM established its presence in Sierra Leone in 2002. The main focus of its interventions has been a substantive support and partnership with all key stakeholders to implement a Peace and Security program addressing gender, conflict and HIV/AIDS.
UNIFEM will capitalize on its position and successful experience to support the Government of Sierra Leone and other national stakeholders to ensure gender equality and women empowerment in the context of post conflict.
The goal of UNIFEM presence in Sierra Leone in 2008-2011 is to contribute to addressing gender justice and equity through sustained peace building efforts, the promotion of good governance and women's economic security and rights. As such, the following areas have been identified as strategic areas for UNIFEM's support:

Addressing gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS through an effective implementation of gender laws.
Ensuring effective and efficient participation of women in decision making institutions and processes.
Ensuring women's specific needs are addressed in the National HIV/AIDS response.
Reducing feminized poverty.

In order to strengthen its office in Sierra Leone, UNIFEM seeks to recruit a program manager with proven expertise in program development, project management; human and financial management, partnership building and resource mobilization to oversee UNIFEM's work in Sierra Leone.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Regional Program Director (RPD), the Program Manager will work in close collaboration with the national team in ensuring the effective execution of UNIFEM's mandate and responsibility for the advancement of women's human rights in Sierra Leone. As such the Program Manager will be responsible for the following:

Strategic Policy coordination, Partnerships and Representation:

He/she will monitor trends and issues affecting women in Sierra Leone and develop strategic responses to opportunities and challenges including The formulation and implementation of plans, strategies and activities in line with UNIFEM strategic plan 2008-2011;
He/She will enhance UNIFEM's participation in inter-agency and inter-governmental processes. As such he/she will participate in heads of agency meetings as well as in consultation meetings with donors to ensure that the principles of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment are integrated in the UN and donors' programmes in Sierra Leone and resourced.
He/She will ensure a better coordination and collaboration of UN country Team on Gender Equality.
He/She will support synergies between actors working on same issues at national levels building on each one's comparative advantage.
He/She will position UNIFEM as the leader agency on Gender equality in Sierra Leone.
He/She will provide leadership and quality oversight over the efforts to strengthen Government's institutions, especially the Ministry of women. To implement national development strategies and gender equality priorities.
He/she will also work in developing strong partnerships with a wide range of constituencies, including NGOs and the Women's Movement.

Donor Relations and Communications:

To strengthen donors' confidence in UNIFEM in Sierra Leone, the Program Manager will lead UNIFEM's efforts to ensure ongoing and substantive communication with current and potential donors.
He/She will be working in close partnership with donors agencies based in the Sierra Leone to ensure synergy or efforts in line with the Paris Declaration Principles

Programme Management:

He/she will provide close guidance and direction to ensure strategic focus, result orientation and effectiveness and efficiency in all aspects of UNIFEM's operations and programs;
He/she will monitor ongoing projects both substantively and financially to ensure efficient and timely delivery and realization of results;
Provide guidance and advice to the RPD on UNIFEM priorities in Sierra Leone;
Work closely with government and national partners to ensure ownership and delivery of programs;
Manage , coordinate and provide guidance for reporting to ensure efficient implementation and compliance with UNIFEM and donor requirements;
Develop effective and innovative strategies for resource mobilization , network with other UN agencies, donors and international organizations working in and outside Sierra Leone;
He/ she will support the documentation of UNIFEM's experience in Sierra Leone to inform the organization learning challenges.

Financial and Human Resources Management:

He/She will work closely with the National team in the management of the office operations including financial and Human resources management.
He/She will ensure effective management of programme resources using appropriate financial information system and procedures to track project budgets and expenditures.
He/She will be responsible for oversights of financial resources management and administrative processes in line with UNDP/UNIFEM.
Any other duties that support and strengthen UNIFEM's role in Sierra Leone as assigned by the Regional Program Director.

Competencies

Good inter-personal and diplomacy skills;
Capacity to write clearly and concisely;
Ability to take decisions under pressure and to deal with matters that are politically and cultural sensitive.
Ability to work across multi-cultural context and build partnership to ensure achievement of results in a post conflict environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Advanced university degree in social sciences, political or international affairs with emphasis on gender related issues.
At least 7 years work experience in any of the following fields: Human rights, humanitarian issues, rehabilitation, gender and development, economic security, strategic planning with a specific focus on gender, working in countries in post-conflict contexts.
Technical Expertise: Gender analysis and mainstreaming in programming and implementation, knowledge of legal and policy framework on women's right/roles and analytical skills particularly in post conflict environment and peace building.
Knowledge of Sierra Leone country reality including challenges to gender equality and women empowerment that country.
Experience of having managed an organization dealing with gender equality and women's empowerment is an advantage.
Experience working with UN joint programming frameworks and result-based management systems is a particular advantage.
Experience with international organizations, the UN system and women's organisations is particularly desirable.
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French is highly desirable.