UN WOMEN Jobs - 105988- Programme Specialist: Women’s Entrepreneurship and

Programme Specialist: Women’s Entrepreneurship and Gender-Responsive Procurement

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Abuja, NIGERIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

26-Apr-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-5

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

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. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates the efforts of the United Nations System to ensure that commitments on gender equality translate into action. To accomplish this mandate, UN Women partners with government, the private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations in furtherance of gender equality.

UN Women’s Regional Office for West and Central Africa will implement the project: Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement Reform in West and Central Africa between 2021-2024. The regional project seeks to support women’s economic empowerment through enhanced opportunities of women-led businesses to access public procurement and corporate supply chains in four countries of West Africa: Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, and Cote d’Ivoire. The project will also integrate affirmative procurement initiatives in the context of COVID 19 response and recovery strategies. COVID19 hit West and Central Africa at the beginning of the second quarter of 2020.

The implementation of the project will be led by project coordinator at the country and regional level. The project coordinator will be responsible for the implementation and monitoring of project activities. They will also serve as subject matter expert on procurement and gender. She/he will guide and facilitate the delivery of the project by monitoring results achieved during implementation and ensuring appropriate application of systems and procedures. She/he will work in close collaboration with the programme and operations team, UN Women HQ staff, Government officials, donor and civil society ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Project Management and Coordination

Act as project manager for the national component of the project Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement Reform in West and Central Africa and lead implementation of national activities
Manage, supervise, and coordinate consultants and other contractors for the implementation of project activities
Manage financial resources of the programme including budgeting and budget revisions, and expenditure tracking
Oversee regular monitoring visits to project implementation sites
Monitor project progress according to the work plan, and draft monitoring and donor reports
Gather and compile all information necessary for monitoring and timely donor reporting;·
Finalize annual and quarterly reports; finalize the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports; ·
Coordinate relationships with key partners to support implementation, raise potential problems and suggest solutions
Act as country focal person for the regional evaluation of the project

2. Partnerships

Manage relationships with government stakeholders, including procurement agencies at the federal and state level, to strengthen implementation of project activities.
Build and strengthen partnerships with women-owned businesses, women-owned business networks and development partners (civil society organisations, donors) including through facilitating partner learning, and identifying opportunities for collaboration

3. Technical assistance and advice on Affirmative Procurement Reform

Advice CO senior management and project partners on integration of affirmative procurement principles in national/regional policies.
Identify capacity building needs and support the development of strategies to build capacity in the area of gender- responsive procurement policies and practices
Support and oversee technical experts in the provision of technical assistance to institutional partners and Women-led SMEs to access public procurement/corporate supply chains

4. Knowledge Management

Support the CO in the formulation and implementation of national learning strategies to build capacity of UN Women’s and its strategic partners in the area of affirmative procurement
Lead the development of advocacy, knowledge building and communications activities at the national/country level
Contribute to the exchange of information and lead/supervise technical experts in the development of knowledge products
Actively participate in UN Women’s Community of Practice on Gender responsive procurement to share results, information and lessons from the project

Key Performance Indicators

Timely and quality substantive inputs programme strategies and activities;
Timely and quality substantive inputs to workplans and budgets;
Adherence to UN Women standards and rules;
Timely monitoring and tracking of programme results and finances;
Relationship with partners and stakeholders;
Timely organization of events;
Quality of knowledge and advocacy products.

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

Functional Competencies

Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
Good budget and finance skills
Good knowledge of Results Based Management
Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations
Good analytical skills
Good knowledge of technical area of gender responsive procurement
Good knowledge of women business associations
Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

Master's degree in the following areas: Economics, Finance, Gender, International Development, Procurement or any other relevant area
Certification in Procurement, Gender, Financial Management, Project Management, Public - Private Partnerships would be considered an added advantage

Experience:

At least 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in development programme/project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building.
Experience in public policy and strategy to support women's entrepreneurship.
In-depth knowledge of gender/public procurement procedures and regulations in West and Central Africa;
Knowledge of and experience working with private sector affirmative sourcing and supply chain practices;
Experience working in programs and projects funded by international institutions (World Bank, African Development Bank; United Nations System) is an asset.
Experience designing and delivering training for women entrepreneurs is an asset

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English
Knowledge of local languages is an asset.

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.)