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.
 
Tanzania has held four credible general elections since the reintroduction of multi-party politics in 1992. Citizens and the government are eager to maintain this track record and to further strengthen democratic practice in Tanzania. Looking to the 2015 general election, government has undertaken early and comprehensive preparations for the electoral processes. Since receipt of official requests for UN assistance to the election cycle leading to the 2015 general election from the National Election Commission and Zanzibar Electoral Commission, a UN Needs Assessment Mission recommended the development of a project in support of the national efforts.
 
In addition, in 2014 the United Republic of Tanzania will likely conduct a first national referendum on a new constitution. The national EMBs and other stakeholders in preparing for these critical events have requested the support of UNDP to provide technical support to the preparation and execution of the referendum.
 
To these ends, the Democratic Empowerment Project (DEP) is a four year (2013-2016) UNDP, UN One Fund and other donor-funded project with the overall aim of contributing to Tanzania’s UNDAP’s Outcome 7: i.e. “key institutions of democracy, (i.e. EMBs, etc.) effectively implement their election and political functions”. UN Women and UNESCO are implementing partners in a One UN Country Team context.
Project Objectives: 
 
The DEP seeks to promote democracy and contribute to the realization of the following four objectives:
  • Capacity of key democratic institutions (EMBs, CRC, RPP, etc.) enhanced to support and promote legal and institutional reform in the context of the on-going constitutional reform process and beyond;
  • Capacity of the EMBs to conduct credible elections enhanced through strategic, technical and operational support and improved EMB engagement with stakeholders (i.e. political parties, CSOs, and the media) to foster a democratic environment;
  • Inclusive participation in elections and politics enhanced through the empowerment of women, youth and PWDs; and
  • National peace infrastructure enhanced to mitigate and prevent election-related conflicts, including violence against women in elections.
Project Management:

The DEP will be executed directly by UNDP and implemented under the overall guiding principle of national ownership and leadership in the electoral process. The international assistance provided should be considered as an extension of, and a complement to, national resources and is intended to support national management and coordination structures.
 
UNDP-UN Women cooperation: 

DEP builds on well-established UNDP and UN Women partnerships with the EMBs, police, judiciary, Registrar of Political Parties, civil society and the media in an effort to enhance their capacity to contribute to credible and peaceful elections. UN Women will take the lead in supporting DEP management, the EMBs and other stakeholders to ensure that a gender equality perspective is mainstreamed into all project components, and will in particular support implementation of agreed activities under DEP Component 3: Inclusive participation in elections and politics enhanced through the empowerment of women and youth.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions: 
  • Organization and management in relation to Democratic Empowerment Programme delivery on political participation in electoral processes of women, youth and PWDs;
  • Plan, design and management of specialized activities which reflect a delivery of results perspective;
  • Capacity development for institutional reforms and development in relation to equality and rights of women and youth and PWDs;
  • Analytical national knowledge products in relation to DEP delivery on political participation of women and youth and PWDs;
  • Advocacy, networking and coordination among and between UN Women, DEP Team members, political parties, and other relevant stakeholders in relation to participation of women and youth and PWDs in electoral processes.
Under the supervision of the UN Women Deputy Representative and in close collaboration with the UNDP DEP Project Manager, and working closely with the DEP CTA and  project staff – particularly the  two national Social Inclusion Analysts (for Mainland and Zanzibar) - the Election Specialist - Gender and Social Inclusion will provide high level expert technical assistance to the political parties and other key stakeholders in the design and development  of methods and processes to enlarge the participation of women, youth and specific target groups such as people with disabilities, to become candidates for political party nominations for elected office and support awareness raising and capacity development interventions on inclusive elections.
 
Substantive support on gender and inclusion to the electoral process:
  • Provide strategic and timely advice to political parties and other stakeholders on steps to ensure more women and specified others seek political party nominations for the 2015 general election;
  • Develop plans to engage women, youth and people with disabilities and others who have been traditionally marginalized to encourage and empower them to seek political party nominations;
  • Undertake research and broad consultations with political parties and others on roadblocks to participation in Tanzania;
  • Develop baselines and targets for enlarged participation (candidates for nominations);
  • Provide technical support to the implementation of the Democratic Empowerment Project;
  • Develop training of trainers strategies, approaches and methodologies focusing on engagement and empowerment of potential women, youth and PWD candidates;
  • Develop TORs for contracted experts/others and assess proposals;
  • Provide periodic updates and briefing notes as required;
  • Perform any other duties the supervisor may assign with respect to the conduct of the elections.
Organization, Management and Reporting:
  • Lead the project team in the design, development and implementation of activities related to promoting political participation and inclusion of women, youth and PWDs as potential candidates and leaders;
  • Ensure the preparation and quality assurance of monthly, quarterly, and annual progress and financial reports and briefings as agreed with donor partners, the diplomatic community, delegations and other stakeholders as directed by the PM and CTA;
  • Coordinate effectively with UN Women CO and the DEP team members and partners supporting the implementation of the project and ensure adequate monitoring and reporting;
  • Ensure that appropriate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are in place and used effectively for the assurance of both quality and delivery.
Capacity Development and Knowledge Building:
  • Provide advice, support and assistance to political parties, potential candidates and others partners;
  • Prepare a capacity development plan, taking into consideration the need of the potential candidates, political parties, and others as appropriate;
  • Recommend and develop strategies to enhance and maintain communication with stakeholders including political parties, the media, civil society and donor partners;
  • Promote and supervise capacity development in consultation with UN Women and DEP management.
  • Monitor and document the experiences and achievements of capacity development initiatives in supporting women, youth and PWD nomination through political parties’ structures and processes as well as through other partnerships;
  • Recommend and ensure the application of national and international best-practice in the subject areas and generate knowledge-based products, drawing on global, regional and thematic policy and advisory support resources within the UN, UN Women and UNDP, iKnow Politics and others;
  • Lead the analytical development work of the team and ensure high quality knowledge products on women’s political participation. Ensure the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensure effective integration and compatibility with other practice areas;
  • Disseminate information on international best practices and be an active member of global and regional networks.

Impact of Results:

The key results of the post will contribute to the UN’s efforts to consolidating democratic structures and systems of good governance in Tanzania by strengthening political, civil society and electoral systems that enhance effective and inclusive participation, representation and greater political tolerance, with a specific reference to the political participation of women and youth.

Competencies

Core values and Guiding principles:
 
Integrity:
  • Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
Professionalism:
  • Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:
  • Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.
Core Competencies:
 
Ethics and values:
  • Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.
Organizational awareness:
  • Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.

Development and innovation:

  • Take charge of self-development and take initiative.
Work in teams:
  • Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
Communicating and information sharing:
  • Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
Self-management and emotional intelligence:
  • Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.
Conflict management:
  • Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.
Continuous learning and knowledge sharing:
  • Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.

Appropriate and transparent decision making:

  • Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.
Functional Competencies:
 
Technical Expertise:
  • Specialist knowledge and high level advisory experience in the area of Political Parties, women’s political participation and elections, preferably in Africa, in a normal (non conflict) development context;
  • Theoretical and practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development and governance issues;
  • Strong understanding of political dynamics in elections, government, civil society and the donor community in developing countries.

Knowledge management and learning:

  • Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to Practice Areas and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development;
  • Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on electoral issues;
  • In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
  • Excellent analytical, writing and presentation skills;
  • Excellent networking and communications skills;
  • Ability to work effectively under pressure, and manage stress well, adapting to evolving situations;
  • Willingness to travel frequently in Tanzania;
  • Training and professional mentoring skills, knowledge Training of Trainers methodology, and capacity-building tools, techniques and strategies.

Development and operational effectiveness:

  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
  • to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of programmes;
  • Ability to apply theory to the specific country context.

Management and leadership:

  • Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
  • Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation;
  • Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates strong writing, facilitation, and presentation skills;
  • Builds strong relationships and networks with clients and external actors;
  • Negotiation skills: capacity to work with diverse partners including government, donors and civil society;
  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree in political science, social science, gender studies or other relevant field, such as international relations, and public administration, or equivalent.

Experience:

  • At least 7 years of substantive international experience in the field of women in elections, political party development, and/or political party management/activism;
  • Prior experience of gender and inclusive election programmes;
  • Prior experience in professional mentoring, training of trainers, and capacity-building;
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and social media applications;
  • Prior experience in the UN and UNDP/UN Women preferable;
  • Prior experience in the Region or Tanzania an asset.

Languages:

  • Fluent written and spoken English essential;
  • Knowledge of Kiswahili an asset.
Application Information:
  • 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.

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.