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 scope of work of the Programme Specialist (Humanitarian, Peace and Security/HPS) requires experience and in-depth understanding of gender equality and humanitarian action, to translate UN Women's strategic plans into effective programmes and results. It also requires developing mutually reinforcing partnerships with relevant government counterparts, UN organizations, donors, Civil Society Organizations, and the international and Pacific humanitarian system to enhance awareness and commitment as well as visibility and resources to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The UN Women Pacific Multi-Country Office is based in Suva, Fiji and works alongside the 19 other UN agencies (FAO, ILO, OHCHR, UNDP Fiji Multi-County Office, UNDP Pacific Centre, UNDP Samoa Multi-County Office, UNAIDS, UNDSS, UNEP, UNESCAP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UN-Habitat, UNICEF, UNISDR, UNOCHA, UNV, WHO, WMO) in the region and in 14 countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The MCO has field presence in Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and program presence in Tonga.  Each field presence is led by a national Country Programme Coordinator. UN Women, in partnership with Pacific Islands Governments, regional organizations, CSOs, donors and UN agencies, focuses on delivering within four interlinked programme areas: 

  • Ending Violence against Women (EVAW);
  • Improving Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE);
  • Gender and Protection in Humanitarian Action;
  • Women’s Political Empowerment and Leadership.

Reporting to Gender and Protection Specialist, the Programme Specialist exercises overall responsibility for planning, implementing, and managing UN Women interventions under his/her portfolio.  She/he works in close collaboration with the programme and operations team, UN Women HQ staff, Government officials, multi and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation under portfolio.  

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide support on Design and develop Steering Committee of the Global Acceleration Instrument (GAI):-

  • Design and formulate programme/ project proposals and initiatives;
  • Draft inputs to country strategy documents, briefs, policy dialogue and other documents related to GAI
  • Liaise with members of the National Steering Committee
  • Support socilaisation of GAI with national Stakeholders.

Manage the implementation and management of the GAI Projects:-

  • Finalize the annual workplan and budget and manage their implementation;
  • Manage the technical implementation of the programme/project; ensure synergies with other teams;
  • Manage the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports;
  • Provide guidance to staff and partners on Results Based Management tools and performance indicators;
  • Organize Project Steering Committee, project review and/or evaluation meetings, as needed.

Provide support to program implementation and coordination of the Gender and Protection in Humanitarian Action Program:-

  • Provide substantive inputs to the overall delivery of women, peace and security and humanitarian actions and programmes and activities, work closely with relevant UN Women staff in the Pacific region, UN agencies and entities, and donors’/development partners and other actors as appropriate;
  • Provide substantive technical inputs to the Pacific Humanitarian Team and Humanitarian Clusters; the Protection Cluster within the Pacific Humanitarian Team and at the national level during emergencies and for disaster preparedness
  • Provide substantive support to national disaster management offices (NDMOs) and Departments of Women Affairs/women’s ministries in mainstreaming gender equality and women’s empowerment in disaster preparedness, response and recovery structures;
  • Travel to disaster areas to support national disaster management offices (NDMOs) and Departments of Women Affairs/women’s ministries in mainstreaming gender equality and women’s empowerment through the Protection Cluster or alternate mechanisms as appropriate;
  • Monitor women, peace and security and humanitarian regional and country programme performance and track progress to assess impact and compliance with sustainable development goals and results-based performance indicators and to help assess future programme orientation;
  • Closely monitor the delivery status and prepare periodic written progress updates, both narrative and financial in relation to the agreed work plan and implementation strategy;
  • Provide support in advancing thematic coordination by identifying programmatic entry points and ensuring consistency and complementarity in relation to other UN Women programmes.

Provide substantive inputs to advocacy and knowledge building:-

  • Promote the use and improvement of knowledge management mechanisms to share information about gender, protection and humanitarian action related initiatives;
  • Share technical and strategic position papers, presentations, advisory and briefing notes, as needed;
  • Identify relevant lessons learnt and participate in their dissemination between countries in the region, as appropriate;
  • Provide substantive inputs to the development of relevant advocacy and communication/information materials at the regional and national level to address gender (in) equality issues, including support to HC/RC advocacy efforts;
  • Provide substantive inputs to research and studies on women, peace and security &/ gender, protection and humanitarian action;
  • Contribute to the development of the UN Women regional and global knowledge hub. 

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.

Functional Competencies:-

  • Strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills;
  • Strong knowledge of Results Based Management;
  • Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making;
  • Strong knowledge of gender equality; women, peace and security and/or humanitarian programming;
  • Strong analytical skills;
  • Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising and develop strategies.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:-

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field is required.

Experience:-

  • At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
  • Technical experience in gender equality; women, peace and security and/or humanitarian programming;
  • Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset;
  • Experience working in the UN System is an asset;
  • Experience in leading/managing a team is an asset.

Language:-

  • Fluency in English and is required;
  • Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.