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.

In accordance with the UN Women Strategic Plan, UN Women UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) works to advance social, economic, and political rights of women and girls, including the right to live free of all forms of violence. Ending violence against women is a priority area in UN Women’s strategic plan.

UN Women’s focus on Ending Violence Against Women

Violence against women (VAW) is one of the most widespread violations of human rights worldwide, globally affecting around one in three women in her lifetime. Regional evidence suggests that a similar rate applies in the Asia-Pacific region, with wide ranging differences in specific contexts and populations. VAW is a human rights violation resulting in immediate and long-term physical, sexual, economic, and mental health consequences for the survivors. The impacts of VAW goes beyond survivors affecting families, communities, and countries. However, research suggests that VAW is preventable. Elimination of VAW requires a holistic approach focusing on both response to and prevention of VAW at different levels from individual, community, institution, societal and governmental levels.

The work of Ending Violence against Women (EVAW) Section within UN Women’s ROAP maintains a comprehensive approach to ending violence against women. This includes gender transformative approaches to building environments and institutions that do not accept violence, that support gender equality, and that hold perpetrators of violence accountable. The approaches of the EVAW section focus on evidence and practice-based knowledge production and dissemination, informing legislation and policies, prevention and social norms change, ensuring quality essential services for survivors, creating safe public spaces in different settings and supporting women’s rights organisations and movements to end violence against women.

Based in the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the Regional Coordination Specialist on Ending Violence against Women will work under the supervision and guidance of the Ending Violence against Women Regional Programme Manager.

The incumbent will work in close coordination with the UN Women EVAW team in ROAP, UN Women personnel at country, regional and global levels, as well as with the Asia-Pacific UNiTE working group. They will be responsible for coordinating with internal and external clients to ensure the effective coordination and implementation of EVAW and UNITE programming and campaign actions in the region; providing technical support to facilitate the monitoring, documentation and reporting on results and lessons learned at national and regional level; developing advocacy strategies, communications materials and strategic partnerships;  maintaining and building relationships with partners to mobilize resources for EVAW; and organizing high-level functions and events to mobilize political will and resources to end VAW. Partners this role will liaise with include thematic units and country presence offices within UN Women, UN agencies, civil society networks and organisations, ASEAN, advocacy organizations, and private sector. 

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Coordinate the regional EVAW Portfolio

  • Coordinate the EVAW Portfolio work plan development and implementation according to ROAP Strategic Note;
  • Liaise with UN agencies, national counterparts, UN Women and partners to ensure the Portfolio results are achieved and resources are managed;
  • Prepare and present work-plans, periodic narrative progress reports to UN Women and key partners, including UNITE and regional Issue-Based Coalition (IBC) partners;
  • Maintain and establish systems for project planning, implementation and monitoring, in collaboration with partners.

2. Guide coordination with UN and national partners and other stakeholders

  • Coordinate relationships with UN, regional partners such as ASEAN, and national partners to support implementation of the regional EVAW Portfolio;
  • Serve as Regional Coordinator for the Asia-Pacific UNiTE Campaign Working Group, currently co-chaired by UN Women and UNFPA, supporting implementation of joint actions on ending violence against women, including joint programming;
  • Schedule regional inter-agency Asia-Pacific UNiTE meetings, following up on agreed action points as required; Coordinate the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the Asia-Pacific UNiTE Working Group Annual Work Plan, and support progress where relevant;
  • Provide inputs to communications plans for the UNiTE initiatives and partnership work; Monitor, analyze and share results, in coordination with relevant colleagues in country offices;
  • Prepare, review and/or coordinate documents/reports, briefs, speeches, presentations and other advocacy materials on UNITE strategies, actions and results as needed;
  • Ensure quality documentation, reporting and monitoring of UNITE advocacy/campaign results, lessons learned and effective approaches in the Asia-Pacific region, including to update the Issue Based Coalition (IBC) group;
  • Effectively engage with various media outlets in the region to ensure media coverage of key campaign and advocacy events, results and messages and to raise public awareness on issues of VAWG;
  • Provide guidance to partners on establishment of performance indicators, and monitoring achievement of results;
  • Identify capacity building needs and support partners through technical assistance, mentoring, training, cross-partner learning, and capacity development initiatives.

3. Coordinate the monitoring and reporting on the regional EVAW Portfolio

  • Compile, analyze and present information necessary for monitoring and reporting on programmes and projects from the planning to the evaluation stages;
  • Monitor the implementation of activities and the expenditure of funds by partners;
  • Write annual and quarterly reports; review and coordinate the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports as relevant;
  • Ensure adequate documentation, monitoring and reporting of programme implementation, results, lessons learned and promising approaches in preventing and responding to VAW in the Asia-Pacific Region;
  • Provide inputs from EVAW programme activities and results to Regional Office reporting.

4. Manage financial resources and supervise staff

  • Supervise and manage relevant administrative personnel, consultants, interns and volunteers; review performance and mentor personnel;
  • Provide inputs to expenditure tracking and reporting;
  • Monitor the allocation and disbursement of funds to partners.

5. Build partnerships and support resource mobilization

  • Prepare partnerships and resource mobilization strategies, concepts and proposals;
  • Build and maintain close relationships with current and potential strategic partners, to coordinate action on key priorities needed to advance EVAW in line with UNITE;
  • Support building and maintaining strong relationships with UN agencies, partners, and regional stakeholders such as ASEAN, including in supporting the design and/or implementation of initiatives;
  • Identify and follow-up on strategic opportunities for resource mobilization for EVAW programming and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region through concept note/proposal development;
  • Identify potential programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UN Women related to EVAW, country needs and opportunities to advance partnerships.

6. Advocate and facilitate knowledge building, management and communication

  • Prepare, review and/or coordinate substantive documents/reports, briefs, speeches, presentations, web and social media content, and other advocacy and communications plans and materials;
  • Support implementation of the regional EVAW communications and advocacy strategy;
  • Ensure documentation of the programme implementation process and products produced are in accordance with UN Women guidelines;
  • Contribute to the exchange of information and knowledge products internally and externally of the programme;
  • Organize major advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products.

7. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

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/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values 

Functional Competencies:

  • Technical credibility on ending violence against women and girls;
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
  • Strong writing skills in English;
  • Strong coordination and networking skills;
  • Ability to work independently to deliver agreed results and meet strict deadlines;
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively;
  • Ability to supervise and coach personnel;
  • Ability to foster good relations with counterparts, UN agencies, donors, and private partners;
  • Ability to command trust and authority from external and internal stakeholders.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Social Work, Social Sciences Law, International Development, Public Health, Gender and Development, or a 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:

  • At least 5 years of progressive professional work experience at national or international level in ending violence against women and/or gender based violence, and transformative approaches to building gender equality;
  • Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, monitoring and reporting on development programmes focused on ending violence against women and girls is required;
  • Demonstrated experience in coordination and partnership building is required;
  • Proven track record in raising the visibility and influence of an organization through effective advocacy strategies is an asset;
  • Demonstrated experience in organizing advocacy, public outreach and/or strategic partnerships initiatives and high-visibility events, preferably within a development or social change marketing context is required;
  • Demonstrated experience in coordinating campaigns to achieve short- and long-term impact, including through the use of social media is an asset;
  • Experience leading and coaching staff in international settings is an asset;
  • Experience working in humanitarian contexts will be an asset;
  • Demonstrated experience in the use of computers and office/audiovisual software packages is required;
  • Experience with developing content for communication through social media/web/audiovisual production is an asset;
  • Understanding of the role of the private sector in promoting gender equality is an asset;
  • Work experience in the Asia and the Pacific is an asset;
  • Familiarity with the UN system’s rules and procedures will be an advantage.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Knowledge of the other UN official working language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or an Asian language is an asset..

Application:

Inclusion Statement:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits employ, 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.)