UN WOMEN Jobs - 87957- Civil Society Capacity Development Consultant (Coo

Civil Society Capacity Development Consultant (Coordinator)

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

11-Nov-2019

Application Deadline :

18-Oct-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 Months

Languages Required :

English French Spanish

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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 United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) was established through the UN General Assembly Resolution 50/166 with UN Women as its Administrator on behalf of the UN system. The UN Trust Fund is a global multi-lateral mechanism supporting national efforts to end violence against women, one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world. The UN Trust Fund awards grants to civil society organizations (CSOs) and provides technical assistance and funding to its partners to advance the development of innovative models and strategic interventions in the area of ending violence against women and girls. To date, the UN Trust Fund has awarded US $140 million to 493 initiatives in 139 countries and territories.

The UN Trust Fund’s grant-giving model includes training for civil society organizations awarded grants on UN Trust Fund project, financial and operational management. Capacity development also forms part of the UN Trust Fund’s vision set out in its Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020 with reference to the objectives of (1) enhancing UN Trust Fund funded organizations’ ability to manage and implement their grant according to donor requirements; and (2) strengthening the capacity of organizations, particularly of small women’s organizations active in the area of ending violence against women. Under this general framework, the UN Trust Fund has delivered in-person and online project management trainings and facilitated thematic knowledge exchange and learning events for grantee organizations. While these activities were generally found to be highly appreciated by grantees and deemed very useful by external stakeholders, a Mid Term Review of the UNTF’s Strategic Plan made some recommendations on how to improve the approach. The UN Trust Fund’s portfolio of grants is also expected to triple over the next six months, due to funding from the (EU funded) Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls, under whose umbrella the UN Trust Fund will be awarding grants to CSOs in an expected value of $25 million in target countries in Africa and Latin in late 2019 to early 2020.

Hence this consultancy is intended to support the UN Trust Fund in the design and implementation of CD activities (in three languages) to support organizations awarded grants in late 2019 to early 2020 and to develop an enhanced approach to CD to inform the UN Trust Fund’s strategy moving forward. Reporting to the UN Trust Fund’s Chief, the postholder will be in a team supported by a CD Assistant Consultant and will work closely with the Grants Manager, Operations Manager and M&E Manager to ensure the CD strategy meets business needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Develop and coordinate the UN Trust Fund’s Capacity Development (CD) Strategy 2019/20:

On the basis of lessons learned from previous CD activities and a learning needs assessment, develop the UN Trust Fund’s overall approach to CD for organizations awarded grants in late 2019 / early 2020 (to include – but not limited to - a package of online training).
Manage and coordinate the implementation of this approach through a CD action plan in close collaboration with other UN Trust Fund staff, subject matter experts and other stakeholders for delivery from late 2019 to early 2020.
Monitor the implementation of the CD action plan, including management of activities against budget, feedback from participants and staff involved, concluding with a lessons learned exercise to inform future CD activities.
Provide concrete recommendations for a future CD strategy by April 2020 to inform the UN Trust Fund’s new Strategic Plan 2021+ including proposals for appropriate CD approaches and tools and recommendations on innovative and strategic partnerships.

Manage the UN Trust Fund’s Capacity Development online training in 2019/20

Lead on the adaptation of UN Trust Fund online project management training into a professional, interactive, online e-learning package (in multiple languages) on a learning management system (LMS) by early 2020.
In preparation for the above, review the current online training materials and make improvements and updates to the package in consultation with key staff to ensure the best transfer of knowledge.
Ensure the package is accessible for people with disabilities through appropriate design and use of accessible, e-learning technologies.
Manage outsourcing and contracting of learning management services to upload the package onto an LMS including coordination with vendors to design and deliver the online package through appropriate technologies.
Coordinate the roll-out of the UN Trust Fund’s online training package, track course completion and monitor feedback from CSOs in order to inform continual improvements to the package and the CD strategy.

Manage the UN Trust Fund’s Grantee Handbook and depository of learning materials in 2019/20:

Ensure the UN Trust Fund’s “Grantee Handbook” (package of programming guidance for organizations funded by the UNTF) is kept up-to-date (in multiple languages) for roll-out with the 2019/20 training.
Coordinate UN Trust Fund team inputs into updates to the Grantee Handbook to improve the package in 2019/20.
Review the utility of the Grantee Handbook and include recommendations on how the UN Trust Fund could improve its programming guidance and procedures alongside the CD Strategy, by early 2020.
Manage and maintain the “Grantees Space”: an Extranet / internal website for organizations funded by the UNTF which houses the Handbook and other learning materials.
Produce recommendations on how the “Grantees Space” could be improved by early 2020.

Deliver technical assistance and capacity development directly to civil society organizations:

Provide direct technical assistance and capacity development (such as online/phone/email coaching, mentoring, training or facilitation) to CSOs funded by the UN Trust Fund that start in late 2019 / early 2020 on project management or other topics identified as a focus in the CD strategy.
Adapt, develop and implement technical tools to supplement the CD package in areas of the postholder’s expertise on project management and/or institutional strengthening of CSOs to support projects starting in late 2019/early 2020.
Support the UN Trust Fund’s Programme Management (PM) Specialists to identify CSOs that may need additional capacity development support or advice and provide one-on-one coaching as necessary.
Support the UN Trust Fund Secretariat as needed in any other areas related to Capacity Development of CSOs.

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 project management skills.
Strong knowledge of Results Based Management (RBM).
Strong knowledge of civil society organizations role in gender equality, women’s empowerment and/or ending violence against women.
Knowledge of capacity development approaches, especially for institutional strengthening of civil society.
Knowledge of adult education and instructional design.
Knowledge of learning management systems and online e-learning tools and technologies.
Knowledge of online e-learning technologies that are accessible for people with disabilities.
Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making.
Strong analytical, facilitation, coaching and training skills.
Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats.
Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow;
Good financial management and budgeting skills.
Good IT skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

Advanced university degree in International Development, Business Administration or in the field of social sciences or other relevant field.
A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and assessment of civil society projects;
Experience in developing or facilitating capacity development activities, learning materials and programs related to project management and/or civil society strengthening, preferably in the areas of gender equality, women’s empowerment and/or ending violence against women highly desirable;
Experience in UN programming/ project management highly desirable;
Experience in directly supporting Civil Society Organizations with institutional strengthening and or project management an asset;
Experience with grant-making or grants-management an asset;
Experience with learning management systems, e-learning, adult learning principles, facilitation skills, and good practices in learning and facilitation of knowledge exchange;
Technical knowledge in ending violence against women highly desirable and gender equality/women’s empowerment highly desirable;
Experience in leading/managing teams is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required
Knowledge of either French or Spanish is required