Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination and violence 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.

The Spotlight Initiative is a partnership between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) launched in 2017, to eliminate all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), including harmful practices. The Africa investment is at the heart of the Spotlight Initiative, which has thus far been implemented in 8 African Union (AU) Member States (Liberia, Nigeria, Niger, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Uganda) and through an African regional programme that will complement the country programmes. Stream I of the regional programme for Africa – which has a continental scope – will focus on three pillars: (1) Legislations and policies, (5) Quality and reliable data and (6) Strengthening the women’s movement in its relations with the African Union and other regional players.

The four-year programme is implemented in two streams whereby UN Women leads the overall coordination of Stream I that aims to promote regional response to addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Harmful Practices (HP), and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights (SRH&RR) in Africa. UN Women is also leading the implementation of activities under Pillar 6 of Stream I in close collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Under stream I, UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, and UNICEF are recipient UN organizations (RUNOs) that will jointly implement resources and provide technical assistance and guidance to the AU, regional Civil Society Organization (CSOs) and other stakeholders for the implementation of the regional joint programme.

Under Pillar 6, the Africa Regional Programme focuses on regional, continent-wide women’s movement building of regional women’s rights organisations, pan-African networks and CSOs, to collectively advocate and work towards the ending sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices on the continent. A key and distinct objective of the work aims to enlarge space in key regional processes with the African Union (AU), which is a regional inter-governmental organization that has a major influence on agenda-setting and policymaking across Africa.

 

To this end, UN Women Ethiopia is seeking to engage the services of an international consultant to coordinate and lead the implemenation of the activity" Support regional CSOs to enable knowledge sharing on the best practices and lessons learned on VAWG/HP and SRH and RR, including on engaging the key AU processes". The consultant will be responsible for the development of thematic papers focusing on CSO’s efforts in elimination VAWG, HP and promotion of SRH and RR in Africa. The consultant will work from home and is expected to be physically present to coordinate the two learning platforms planned to be organized in West and Central Africa and East and Southern Africa regions.

Duties and Responsibilities

With guidance and overall supervision of the Program Coordinator of SIARP, the consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks.

1. Coordinate the development of the 4 thematic papers to enable knowledge sharing on best practices and lessons learned on VAWG/HP and SRHR, including on engaging key AU processes (2 from East and South Africa Region and 2 from West and Central Africa) with CSOs supported by Spotlight Initiative in Africa.

Specific tasks include

  • Identify criteria for selection of CSO partners and timeframe and methodology for working with CSOs to develop papers/ case studies on their programmes/interventions on EVAWG/ HP and SRHR (include quality assurances, ethical standards, and participatory processes.
  • Manage process for CSOs to express interest in process and selection of organizations.
  • Support CSOs to design and develop papers, including facilitating process for peer review, validation of papers and preparation of presentations.

2. Coordinate two regional knowledge-sharing forums to be organized in West and Central Africa and East and Southern Africa regions for 2 days each

4. Work with the selected host of  the media/communication platform for CSOs under the spotlight initiative to share resources and strengthen connections with other CSOs working on related issues.

Deliverables:

  • A detailed work plan outlining the timeframe for task completion for development of the thematic papers and/or case studies and coordination of the two forums  
  • Four thematic papers and/or case studies developed in collaboration with and participation of CSOs under the spotlight initiative program in Africa
  • Organize the two forums in ESAR and WCAR (Develop TORs, Agenda, facilitate sessions, list of participants and other logistical issues in close collaboration with the SIARP team) 
  • Develop a comprehensive report which includes the process, the outcome of the forums, and lessons learned
  •  

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
  • 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.

Competencies

  • Excellent analytical, oral, and written communication skills in English and French.
  • Experience in report writing.
  • Experience in organizing learning forums/events  
  • Experience in working with AUC or UN
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision and to meet deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education 

  • Advanced university degree from an accredited academic institution preferably in Gender Studies, Public Policy, International Affairs, Law, International Development, or another related technical field.

Experience

  • At least 5-8 years’ international and regional experience in working with CSOs in areas of ending violence against women and girls, preferably in conducting research and programmatic assessment.
  • Proven experience in leading practice-based knowledge and participatory research methods
  • Experience collecting and managing statistical data and analysis.
  • Demonstrated experience in supporting organizational capacities to collate and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data in a succinct and comprehensible manner.
  • Familiarity with evidence based EVAWG/HP and SRHR programme interventions.
  • Experience working with civil society, rural communities.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English (written and spoken) with excellent communication skills.
  • Working knowledge of the French language is an asset

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.)