Antecedentes

UNIFEM launched its programme in Afghanistan in early 2002 following a series of consultations with Afghan women which enabled UNIFEM to identify a number of sectors and issues as priority programmes for the next four years. These included strengthening institutions within government and civil society to support gender equality and women's rights, engendering the legal and judicial reform processes, supporting women's leadership, initiatives on women's economic empowerment at the national and community levels and promoting women's human rights and protection against violence.  In addition to the above, UNIFEM also actively participates and contributes to various U.N. inter-agency processes and collaborates with U.N. organizations around specific programme areas. 

UNIFEM's goal in Afghanistan is to promote the rights of women and ensure inclusion of women in peace and reconstruction processes in Afghanistan. UNIFEM currently has four core areas of focus to its programme, including support to

• Mainstreaming gender across government institutions, systems, policies and programs, with special emphasis on the Ministry of Women's Affairs, 
• Support to  capacity development of  sub-national governance for ensuring gender concerns are addressed at provincial levels,
• Developing an economic security and rights strategy building on UNIFEM's past experience in supporting such initiatives.
• Gender justice including promotion of women's political participation, elimination of violence against women and women's access to justice.  

Deberes y responsabilidades

The UNIFEM Country Director for Afghanistan is responsible for ensuring effective execution of UNIFEM's mandate and responsibility with respect to the advancement of women in Afghanistan. S/he is the first line of contact between UNIFEM and its partners and clients, and will represent UNIFEM in key events and meetings.

The Country Director will report to the Chief, Asia Pacific and Arab States Section, New York. S/he will also be a part of the UNIFEM South Asia team and in that capacity maintain close links with the Regional Programme Director in Delhi, draw support and resources, utilize learning resources and seek guidance and coordinate with the RPD on sub-regional opportunities for advocacy (including engagement with the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) and networking. The Country Director is an integral part of the UN Team and will work in close partnership with other UN agencies especially UNDP, UNAMA, UNFPA, UNESCO and UNHCR.

The Country Director's responsibilities will have the following main domains:

1. Strategic Policy Coordination and Partnerships

• The Country Director will monitor trends and issues affecting women in Afghanistan for a strategic response to opportunities and challenges, particularly in UNIFEM's core focus areas in Afghanistan in line with UNIFEM Strategic Plan 2008-2011 including the Afghanistan Country Office Strategy 2008-2011.
• As the representative of UNIFEM in the field, in close consultation with the UNIFEM team in the Kabul Office, the incumbent will proactively interact with  all stakeholders to effectively represent UNIFEM and to champion gender equality and women's human rights in Afghanistan. 
• The incumbent will participate in the UN Heads of Agencies meetings as well as donor consultation processes to ensure strategic partnerships. The Country Director will also actively seek opportunities to strengthen collaboration with sister UN organizations.
• The Country Director will provide leadership and quality oversight of  efforts to support  capacity strengthening of government institutions, especially MoWA  to implement national development strategies, including a National Action Plan for Women and focus on mainstreaming gender and developing implementation capacity in Ministries for gender responsive programs. S/he will work on developing strong partnerships with wide ranging constituencies, including NGOs, donors and the UN system.  

2. Donor Relations and Resource Mobilisation

• In order to strengthen donor confidence in UNIFEM and raise resources, the incumbent will lead UNIFEM's efforts to ensure ongoing and substantive communications with current and potential donors to gender equality initiatives.
• The incumbent is responsible for ensuring an open line of communication with donor representatives based in Afghanistan, as well as ensuring that high quality reports for those contributing to UNIFEM's programmes are prepared and disseminated in a timely fashion.
• The incumbent will identify and build partnerships and mobilize resources for programme implementation including new programme development to respond to the evolving situation and  critical areas of concern.
• Lead negotiations on cost-sharing agreements with donors.

3. Programme Management

• The incumbent will provide close guidance and direction to ensure a strategic focus, results orientation and effectiveness and efficiency in all aspects of UNIFEM's programmes and operations in keeping with organizational policies for development effectiveness.
• S/he will monitor programme implementation ensuring results orientation and drawing from lessons learnt.
• S/he will promote a positive and accurate image of UNIFEM and its work in the country through effective communication and media strategies.
• Special attention will be needed to ensure that the evaluation framework and plans for distinct programme elements are implemented and support ongoing learning and mid-course corrections within UNIFEM and with partners responding to opportunities and challenges.

4. Financial and Human Resources Management

• Manage office operations including financial and human resources management as well as organization of logistical support including procurement of office space and equipment, as is necessary and in compliance with UNIFEMs policies, rules and regulations on financial and human resources.
• S/he will need to ensure effective management of programme resources using appropriate financial information systems to closely monitor programming of resources and to closely track project budgets and expenditures.
• The incumbent will provide clear direction and monitor performance of the teams working on UNIFEM initiatives based on specific benchmarks.
• S/he will lead a process of increased team building and internal communication so that synergy is maximized between programme areas. S/he will manage human resources in the office ensuring optimal performance and incorporating the principles of a transparent, learning organization. S/he will also help in developing short term as well as long term perspectives on staffing issues including succession planning where relevant, increased possibilities of transition to national staffing and staff capacity development. 
• S/he will ensure oversight of financial resource management and administrative processes in line with UNDP/UNIFEM policies.

5.  Ensuring safety and security of staff and operations

• In co-operation with UNDSS and the UN Security Officer scan the environment on a regular basis for assessing external and internal risks to staff and implementation of programmes.
• S/he will provide written reports to HQ on a regular basis on the security situation and consult on responses and preparedness to any emerging situation
• Establish and lead a good management system for staff security and safety to promote inter-unit co-operation and UNIFEMs effectiveness on the ground
• Ensure that all staff are aware of safety and security procedures and policies and that these are monitored for compliance with UNDSS rules and regulations on safety and security.

6. Lead the integration of gender responsive peace building and conflict management into UNIFEMs programmes

• Support institutional and individual capacity building efforts for strengthened national capacities of government, non-government and UN partners on gender sensitive conflict analysis and gender and conflict sensitive programming
• Lead the integration of critical gender responsive conflict prevention elements within UNIFEM supported programmes, strategies and other planning processes, such as the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers through the strategic use of the UNIFEM policy briefing paper on Gender and Conflict Analysis
• Promote joint UN partnerships for promoting women's effective participation in peace-building and post-conflict recovery by addressing structural constraints e.g. sexual violence to advance the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1820 and 1888.

Competencias

Corporate

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNIFEM
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional

• Has substantive and demonstrated professional experience and accomplishments in the area of gender equality and women's human rights
• Has knowledge of UNIFEM and the UN system
• Has proven ability to advocate and provide policy advice
• Has a successful track record in developing strong partnerships with donors and mobilizing significant resources for development assistance programmes
• Has ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting
•  Has ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes

Behavioral

• Leadership and Management Skills: Has strong management skills with a proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling work environment, including the ability to effectively lead, develop, mentor, coach and evaluate staff 
• Knowledge Management: Demonstrates ability to use knowledge management strategies to promote effective decision-making, and a coherent approach to policy making, and intra/inter-organizational collaboration, applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNIFEM
• Managing Relationships: Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback; Displays a high level of respect, diplomacy and tact when dealing with government officials, donors and other stakeholders; Excellent interpersonal skills, able to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment
• Managing Complexity: Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities; Outstanding coordination skills, with ability to manage multiple activities concurrently, works under pressure, and to tight deadlines 
• Communication Skills: Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills, including ability to convey complex concepts to different stakeholders in a clear and concise style 

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education

• Advanced university degree in development studies, comparative politics and/or related fields.  Strong familiarity with current theories and issues in gender, development studies and human rights is an important prerequisite for the position.

Experience

• The candidate must have at least 10 years of relevant professional experience particularly with strong experience in gender and development issues.
• Knowledge of and experience in working in the region within similar cultural/religious/local context is desirable.
• Previous professional experience working with United Nations agencies and/or bilateral international aid agencies is essential.
• Experience of working in conflict/ post-conflict countries required

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English and ability to analyze and document complex gender issues. Knowledge of Dari or Pashtu would be considered as an asset.

Applications should be submitted on line and must include an up to date CV and the UNIFEM Personal History Form (P11) posted at http://www.unifem.org/attachments/about/employment/UNIFEM_personal_history_form_P11.doc