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 East & Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) maintains a large presence in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, covering 13 countries with a Programme Presence in Somalia. In accordance with the UN Women Strategic Note, which is in line with the Africa Strategy, UN Women works to advance social, economic, and political rights and protection of women and girls from violence, including harmful practices. Women and girls in East and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) face significant rates of past year physical and sexual violence, as documented in prevalence surveys across the continent. The WHO 2018 prevalence estimates show that 20% of ever-married/partnered women aged 15–49 in Sub-Saharan Africa have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) in the past 12 months, the highest compared to other regions, while 33% have experienced violence in their lifetime, which is higher than the global estimates of 27%. (see footnote) The ESARO also focuses on those from marginalized, excluded, and under-represented groups, including rural women, women with disabilities, women living with or affected by HIV, women survivors of violence, women migrants, elderly women among others.

 

Given the high levels of violence in the region, UN Women East and Southern Africa will consolidate and deepen its investments in the prevention and response to violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the region. This will build upon and strengthen existing programming in the region, such as the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and other joint UN efforts working to scale up VAWG prevention alongside sustained support to other elements of multi-level and multi-sectoral programming for ending violence against women and girls. 

 

Over its next Strategic Note period from 2022-2025, UN Women ESARO will aim to strengthen regional actor policies, programmes and practices on gender equality so that they challenge gender stereotypes (including patriarchal masculinities) and promote positive social norms; support ESA regional women’s movements, networks and organizations to use their voice, leadership and agency to hold duty-bearers accountable for their commitments to gender equality and empowerment of women and girls; and contribute to a UN system in ESA region which coherently and systematically contributes to progress on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

 

This is in line with the Common Chapter and the UN Development System Reforms, UN Women’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and to support this work, UN Women seeks a national consultant to provide EVAW coordination and research support for the region.

 

 

Footnote: WHO (World Health Organization). 2021. Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates, 2018: Global, Regional and National Prevalence Estimates for Intimate Partner Violence against Women and Global and Regional Prevalence Estimates for Non-partner Sexual Violence against Women. Geneva: WHO, on behalf of the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence Against Women Estimation and Data (United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations Statistics Division and UN Women).

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective: 

The national consultant will provide coordination and research support in the preparation and roll-out of the ESARO EVAW Unit 2022 Annual Work Plan, under guidance from the EVAW Policy Specialist.

 

 

Scope of Work:

The consultant roles will include:

  • Support UN Women Regional Office in its coordination with UN Women country offices in ESAR in their EVAW policy and programming.
  • Contribute to planning, co-facilitating and documenting the EVAW Community of Practice Meetings; EVAW Reference Group Meeting; the ten-session RESPECT Framework Training in four ESA countries; and related EVAW capacity development initiatives. This includes organizing regular meetings and bilateral follow-up with country programme focal points
  • Support monitoring and reporting of EVAW Programme implementation in the region;
  • Contribute research and analysis on EVAW trends and practices within UN Women and sister agency efforts in the ESA region, with a focus on country offices and partners.

 

Deliverables:

  • Quarterly monitoring report as well as EVAW project report inputs drafted;
  • Documentation, analysis and packaged briefs and presentations information on EVAW trends, promising practices and strategies used by UN Women COs in the region;
  • Analysis on EVAW knowledge management across the region, including directory of products and lessons learned on different forms of VAW;
  • Organization and documentation of Community of Practice Meetings; EVAW Reference Group Meeting; and RESPECT Framework Training;
  • Information on support to research, country office requests and EVAW analysis from the region.

Competencies

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:

  • Sharing knowledge and experience
  • Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside UN Women
  • Demonstrates excellent written and oral communication skills. Communicates sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies
  • Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in communications and outreach/advocacy
  • Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource
  • Focuses on results for the client and responds positively to feedback
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
  • Proven networking skills and ability to generate interest in UN Women’s mandate
  • Identifies opportunities and builds strong partnerships with clients and partners
  • Multidisciplinary skills and the ability to communicate effectively.
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
  • Sensitivity to regional political, gender and cultural balance.
  • A high standard of professionalism.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications

  • University degree, preferably advanced level, in Gender Development studies, international development, international relations or directly relevant 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

  • At least 3 years relevant and professional experience, including knowledge of various forms of VAWG, relevant organizations and initiatives in the region.
  • Proven experience in conducting research and analysis on issues of violence against women and packaging information for different audiences.
  • Proven ability and experience in supporting planning, coordination and documentation of programme activities with multi-cultural teams, including through virtual platforms.
  • Experience with the UN system and inter-agency coordination on EVAW would be highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English (written and spoken) with excellent communication skills.

Application:

  • All applications must include (as an attachment) a completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment.
  • Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment and candidates are required to include in the P-11 form, links for their previously published reports and articles completed within the last two years. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

 

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided?on the basis of?qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.? 

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.? 

UN Women?has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.? All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.).