UN WOMEN Jobs - 68339- Joint Programme Strategist

Joint Programme Strategist

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Harare, Zimbabwe

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

19-Sep-2016

Application Deadline :

13-Sep-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months

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.

The Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF 2016-2020) articulates the strategic orientation and collective assistance provided by the United Nations to Zimbabwe. In order to deliver more effectively on ZUNDAF Results Area 2 on Gender Equality, the UN in Zimbabwe has developed a Joint Programme for Gender Equality (JPGE) which is being jointly implemented by four Participating UN Organisations: ILO, UNDP, and UN Women.

The JPGE brings together government departments, UN Agencies, development partners, CSOs and a number of different gender equality advocates to support the Government of Zimbabwe in attaining its development goals (of which SDG 3 on Gender Equality is one). Throughout its interventions, the JPGE engages in capacity-strengthening at macro, meso and micro levels and in advocacy at the highest levels to lobby for integration and ownership of gender issues into policy and legislative development.

The JPGE is addressing three programme pillars:

Women’s political participation and influence;
Women’s economic empowerment and working conditions; and,
National accountability on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The JPGE is coordinated by UN Women as the Managing Agency and Administrative Agent, through the JPGE Coordination Unit, staffed by a Programme Analyst and a Programme Assistant, under the overall supervision of the UN Women Country Representative. The mandate of the Coordination Unit is to ensure coordination in the planning, implementation and reporting of the Participating UN Organisations. It also includes strategic analysis, external relationship building, resource mobilization and joint communications of the programme results.

As the programme is entering its final year of implementation UN Women is looking to strengthen the strategic function of the JPGE Coordination Unit in order to ensure that the results of the programme are communicated externally and internally effectively, and that the next phase of the programme is designed in a participatory and inclusive manner. The unit will also strengthen its resource mobilization operations in order to secure funding for the next phase.

For this purpose, UN Women, is looking to engage Consultant Joint Programme Strategist, to drive the implementation of these efforts in the Joint Programme Coordination Unit. The Consultant Joint Programme Strategist will be reporting directly to the UN Women Country Representative.

Duties and Responsibilities

Providing strategic advice to the JPGE Coordination Unit and the UN Women Country Representative:

Providing analysis and opinion based on the context and environment both externally and internally to the programme;
Informing the programme of opportunities within the UNCT and other environments that would benefit the programme;
Ensure the programme strategy is in line with the Mid-Term Review recommendations and the programme results as outlined in the Performance Monitoring Framework.

Providing oversight on the external JPGE communications for quality assurance:

Provide general oversight and quality assurance of donor reports;

Ensure high quality standards of communication materials produced by the programme:

Promotional materials;
Media products / interaction;
Any products for external consumption ;

Working with internal specialists on the communication strategy of the programme:

Traditional and social media interface;
Oversight for the development of periodic materials that promote the programme.

Providing leadership in the production of papers for the benefit of promoting the programme as well as attracting funds to the programme:

Production of concept notes / programme documents and proposals for phase II of the JPGE;
Production of programme briefs, updates and results summaries for resource mobilisation purposes;
Ensuring a participatory process in the conceptualisation of the next phase of the JPGE.

Providing leadership in donor interface for the JPGE Coordination Unit:

Liaising with donors, ensuring they remain informed on the progress of the funded programme;
Compiling information on donor trends, expectations and other relevant contemporary information for the program.

Consultancy Deliverables:

Pro-doc for programme continuation (2017-2019);
Participate in a PUNO review of the 2017 Annual Work Plan ensuring alignment to the results as outlined in the Performance Monitoring Framework and the Mid-Term Review recommendations;
At least four (4) formal or informal meetings with donor;

Document on external information on gender funding trends, including information on:

Funding opportunities;
Other planned and ongoing initiatives relevant for the JPGE and for Gender Mainstreaming;
PUNO strategic planning and activities;
UNCT plans, trends and opportunities.

Preparation of donor roundtable meeting;
Provide strategic advice to JPGE Coordination Unit and the Country Representative on positioning of JPGE within UNCT programming;
Participation in the promotion of 16 Days of Activism;
Oversight of Steering Committee meeting preparations;
Review of JPGE promotional and media materials for quality assurance;
Summary report on funding trends (nationally and internationally) for Gender Equality;
Liaison with potential funders of the new Pro-doc;

Review of the JPGE Annual Narrative and Financial Reports for quality assurance and to ensure complete and timely submission of the reports to the UN Women ESARO.

Competencies

Core Values/ 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 behaviour 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:

Job knowledge and technical expertise in the area;
Strong ability to lead strategic planning in development programming;
Results-based programme development and management;
Demonstrated capacity and experience in promoting development programme results to a wide range of stakeholders;
Strong communication skills with various stakeholders and in various media and formats;
Previous experience in working with senior government officials, donor representatives and civil society;
Strong experience in developing and drafting development programmes in a participatory and inclusive manner, preferably in gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Results oriented, flexible and problem-solving skills;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Skills in managing multicultural contexts with sensitivity to differences;
Excellent coordination and facilitation skills;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Fluency in relevant computer applications/MS office applications.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in development related disciplines, international relations, development studies, gender studies, communications or other social science fields.

Experience:

At least 10 years of progressively responsible development experience that combines strategic planning, programme development and resource mobilization in the area of gender equality and women’s rights at the international level;
Experience in donor relations and partnership building;
Strong experience in communication of development programme results, in various media and formats;
Experience of working in developing countries, preferably in Africa.

Languages:

Written and oral proficiency in English is required;
Knowledge of one of the other UN working languages is highly desirable.