Background

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women will work 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 will lead and coordinate United Nations System efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

Within the Programme Division, and under the supervision of the Section Chief, the Programme Specialist covering South Asia analyzes overall trends in development and in policy making, together with constraints, opportunities, potential and challenges relevant to gender equality in programme countries and at the sub-regional/regional levels. In close collaboration with UN Women’s field-based presences and relevant HQ units, the Programme Specialist facilitates (a) the formulation process of projects/programmes through a highly participatory process with UN Women field-based presences, policy advisors, and increased synergies with the UNCT and partners, presentation (b) supports day-to-day needs  of field-based presences in South Asia, as required; and (c) supports the Programme Division and Regional Office in Bangkok  in the roll out of the  UN Women’s new regional architecture, including continuation of the strengthening of UN Women’s presence in South Asia, and the Asia-Pacific Regional Centre in Bangkok.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Functions:
  • Facilitate analysis and policy making in programme countries; Facilitate processing, implementation and monitoring of projects and programmes with UN Women’s field-based presences in South Asia as required and in close consultation  with the Asia-Pacific Regional Office  (Bangkok).
  • Supports the Programme Division and Regional Office in Bangkok in the revision and roll out of UN Women’s regional architecture.
Within the Programme Division and under the supervision of the Section Chief,  the Programme Specialist supports the oversight function of the Programme Director by:
  • Monitoring programme performance, including delivery and impact, ensuring compliance with UN Women programme goals and results-based indicators through systematic monitoring, consultations with counterparts and providing relevant and timely feedback to Senior Management in Programme Division.
  • Supports regional office in Bangkok and field presence in the roll-out of UN Women’s Strategic Plan (2012-2013), and in ensuring timely delivery of commitments and funds under endorsed planning documents and programmes.
  • Supports the design and development of programmes/projects with policy advisors, multi/bilateral partners' technical units, governments and civil society, provides substantive tech. inputs for global initiatives on gender issues in the policy areas, ensuring Programme Support Division’s perspectives are reflected.
  • Advises field presences on UN Women’s policies and management strategies; the roll out of the new Regional Architecture in Asia-Pacific; and on relevant rules and regulations for achieving programme delivery and for increasing accountability.
  • Undertakes advocacy work and develops supportive networks.  Assists in resource mobilization efforts.  Monitors/maintains overview of gender issues in line with UN Women’s mandate, Strategy and Business Plan, and corporate/regional and programme directions, and disseminates analysis and findings.
  • Facilitates portfolio implementation by the the Regional Office in Bangkok  and support them in ensuring compliance to standards, rules and procedures, by assisting executing agents, particularly NGOs and governments, to ensure adequate delivery, increased accountability and achievement of substantive objectives.
  • Supports Programme Directorate in the provision of programme briefs, as required.
  • Supports field-based presences and Programme Directorate in the recruitment of posts and experts in the Asia-Pacific Region.
  • Undertakes substantive research and provides operational inputs in corporate exercises, including for Consult. Com, Executive Board and General Assembly; promotes team/networking, knowledge sharing; creates a synergy and fosters a learning environment.
  • Represents Asia-Pacific region as required in inter internal corporate programme/policy development.

Competencies

Core Values and Guiding Principles:
  • Integrity: Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
  • Cultural Sensitivity/Valuing diversity: Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity.
 
Core Competencies:
  • Ethics and Values: Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity
  • Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
  • Developing and Empowering People / Coaching and Mentoring: Self-development, initiative-taking.
  • Working in Teams: Acting as a team player and facilitating team work.
  • Communicating Information and Ideas: Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively.
  • Self-management and Emotional intelligence: Creating synergies through self-control.
  • Knowledge Sharing / Continuous Learning: Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others.
  • Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Informed and transparent decision making
Functional:
  • In-depth knowledge of development issue.
  • Ability to advocate and provide policy advice.
  • Ability in strategic planning and or change management process, results-based management and reportin.
  • Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resource.
  • Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolki.
  • Strong IT skill
  • Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.
 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Masters Degree in Social Sciences, Political Science, Development.

Experience:

  • At least seven years experience in programme/ project management and design.
  • Prior experience in gender analysis and gender mainstreaming will be an added asset.
Language:
  • Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
  • Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

All applications must include (as an attachment) the 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. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.