Background

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.

UN Women is dedicated to advancing gender equality and women's empowerment in Afghanistan. Staff and consultants of the Afghanistan Country Office (ACO) 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.

Under the direct supervision of the Country Representative, the Partnerships and Reporting Specialist will be responsible and accountable for the effective and efficient provision of donor-related support services to senior management, programmes and operations units within the Afghanistan Country Office (ACO). The donor related support services include external relations and resource mobilization coordination, coordinating the preparation of proposals and donor reports and maintaining a working relationship between UN Women and donors.

Duties and Responsibilities

Build and maintain effective external relations, strategic partnerships and support resource mobilization:

  • Develop the resource mobilization strategy/plan for the Afghanistan Country Office (ACO) and coordinate implementation;
  • Undertake ad-hoc donor studies, research, and other activities to identify funding opportunities; update the resources mobilization strategy as needs emerge;
  • Develop a prospective donor profile database that includes prospective donor funding areas, geographical and sectoral preferences, criteria, and policies with a view to identifying funding opportunities;
  • Monitor calls for proposals related to UN Women ACO mandate;
  • Initiate Resource Mobilization meetings and presentations to prospective donors in Afghanistan and outside, including preparation of briefing notes;
  • Design and implement effective advocacy strategies and methods for proactive and strategic targeting of partners and donors.
  • Convene and facilitate donor working group on gender to
  • Manage and coordinate relationships with key partners; provide technical inputs to senior management’s efforts to develop new and innovative partnerships;
  • Develop and implements strategies for maximizing potential for existing trust funds and regional projects and other sources;
  • Provide technical support the drafting and review of partner-specific Framework Arrangements and Cost Sharing Agreements.

Lead the donor reporting and quality assurance of results external (including Executive Board, Donors) audiences:

  • Maintain Donor Agreement Management System and LEADS for the country and ensure that correct data and documentation is uploaded; and timely action on extension/closure of agreements is taken;
  • Coordinate and provide technical guidance to the country office in meeting external reporting requirements and deadlines, including annual reporting process;
  • Provide technical support to and ensure quality and timeliness of results oriented narrative and financial reports to donors;
  • Ensure the availability (including collecting and maintaining) of data for donor reports, and contribute to the mid-term reviews, and final programmes evaluations.

Manage knowledge building and sharing and advocacy efforts:

  • Support the process of developing and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned that are directly linked to the implementation of the programme including with donor partners;
  • Advise and support Afghanistan Country Office on resource mobilization procedures and guidelines as well as funding modalities;
  • Facilitate partnership and resource mobilization training to programme staff and managers including the development of tools and products, as needed;
  • In close corroboration with the M&E Specialist, contribute to capacity building of staff in the country office to have a common understanding of Human Rights Based approach and Results Based Management (RBM) concepts, techniques to achieving UN Women Outcomes and meeting donor requirement.

Key Performance Indicators:

  • Effective and strategic partnerships developed and sustained including with non-traditional partners; 
  • Timely preparation of reports and submission to donors;
  • Effective and facilitation of donor gender working group
  • Resource mobilization strategy developed, and contribution to the development and submission of sound proposals;
  • Timely monitoring of resource mobilization strategy;
  • Understanding of staff on results-based management and planning in line with UN Women guidelines and donor requirements
  • Donor contract management system and LEADS well maintained and up to date.

Competencies

Core Values:

  • Respect for Diversity;
  • Integrity;
  • Professionalism.

Core Competencies:

  • Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
  • Accountability;
  • Creative Problem Solving;
  • Effective Communication;
  • Inclusive Collaboration;
  • Stakeholder Engagement;
  • Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf?la=en&vs=637

Functional Competencies:

  • Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them;
  • Ability to synthesize programme performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making;
  • Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions;
  • Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change;
  • Ability to lead resource mobilization;
  • Strong analytical skills;
  • Strong knowledge of Results Based Management and reporting;
  • Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
  • A proven ability to liaise with a myriad of stakeholders and partners, including government, civil society, international organizations and grassroots organizations;
  • Knowledge and understanding of the social, cultural and political context of Afghanistan and its relation to gender.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master's degree in Public Administration, Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences, Development Studies or related field.
  • A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 5 years of progressive relevant professional work experience in management methodologies along the areas of business development and management;
  • Experience in external relations, partnerships and resource mobilization, administration and human resource development and management;
  • Experience in country and/or region is an asset;
  • Experience working in the UN System is an asset.

Languages:

  • Fluency in English is required.

Application:

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.