Background

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development places gender equality at its core to achieve the SDGs, with the elimination of violence against women and girls as a crucial component.  To that end, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) have embarked on a new multi-year programme, called the ‘Spotlight Initiative,’ which is focused on eliminating violence against women and girls (VAWG) and harmful practices (HP). The Spotlight Initiative will model a new way of working on the SDGs, in line with objectives of the United Nations development system reforms to enhance integrated delivery of results at the country level. The Spotlight Initiative also aligns with the EU Gender Action Plan, and the EU has committed an initial contribution of €500 million to the programme. The initiative will deploy targeted, large-scale investments in a focused number of countries aimed at achieving significant impact in the lives of women and girls. It comes with the highest level of commitment globally and the initiative will be governed by the UN Deputy Secretary General and the Vice President of the EU Commission. The Spotlight Initiative is a flagship programme under the UN Reform, showing how the UN will work together towards a common goal, and a targeted investment in a usually underfunded SDG (SDG 5).

For the Caribbean, an initial contribution of €50 million has been committed benefitting five Caribbean Countries as well as a regional programme.  Grenada has been selected as one of the five Caribbean Countries to receive a share of the regional funding envelope.  

The Government of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique and Civil Society have made a number of systematic advances in legislation and policy frameworks and national action plans, as well as programmatic efforts to address gender inequality, and women and girls’ human rights. Despite these advances, however, violence against women and girls continues to be a pervasive problem throughout the country. The Spotlight Initiative (SI) in Grenada is designed to focus attention, coordinate human effort, and strategically apply resources to the implementation of a well-conceived comprehensive national programme to end family violence and all forms of violence against women and girls.

The Grenada Spotlight Initiative was developed in broad consultation with Government and Civil Society, and an integrated Technical Team from UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women and PAHO/WHO.  The programme is built on the six pillars of the SI:  Legislation and Policy Frameworks, Strengthening Institutions, Prevention and Social Norms, Delivery of High-Quality Essential Services, Data Availability and Capacities, and Supporting the Women’s Movement, with special emphasis on Prevention and Essential Services. 

The Spotlight Initiative in Grenada will contribute to the achievement of gender equality, peace, social inclusion and protection of human rights, which are catalytic for sustainable development (particularly SDGs 5 and 16) and inclusive growth, in accordance with Agenda 2030, as well as the priority areas of the UN Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework. The Initiative will contribute to the full implementation of Grenada’s Gender Equality Policy and Action Plan (GEPAP), and Government’s Public Service Delivery Agreement (2019) to strengthen interventions to combat Family Violence, including Intimate Partner Violence and Child Sexual Abuse linked to Enhancing Social Capital and Citizen Wellbeing pillar of Government’s Medium-Term Agenda for 2019-2021. In addition, the outcomes of this initiative will be integrated into the National Sustainable Development Plan 2035, which is being developed, to take effect from 2020 to 2035.  

The Grenada Spotlight Initiative will build on lessons learned from former and existing programmes with its partners, including CSOs, development agencies such as UN agencies, EU and others to address bottlenecks hindering progress and to build on successes to ensure a successful and sustainable country programme achieving visible gains to End Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) in Grenada. 

Under the daily supervision of the Spotlight Programme Coordinator, the Programme Associate works with and provides support to the members of the Technical Team from UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women and PAHO/WHO in the development and implementation of effective programmes consistent with UN rules and regulations.  The Programme Associate provides programme, administrative, and logistical assistance to the team for the smooth programme implementation.  The Programme Associate identifies and helps resolve bottlenecks, clarifies and interprets procedures, and escalates complex programme and administrative issues as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide administrative and logistical support to the formulation, implementation and management of the Spotlight Initiative Programme of Grenada

  • Provide administrative support in the preparation of Spotlight Initiative programme work plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements, including tracking delivery of funds;
  • Provide administrative support to the Recipient United Nations Organizations (RUNOs) [UNICEF, UNDP, UN Women and PAHO/WHO) and Associated Agencies (UNFPA), on routine delivery and reporting on programme supported activities and finances;
  • Prepares information for the audit of the Spotlight Initiative Programme and support implementation of audit recommendations; 
  • Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers. 

Provide administrative support to the financial management of the Joint Programme Management Team for Programme Management Costs and Spotlight Communications funds

  • Create projects in Atlas, prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds and the operational and financial close of joint programme;
  • Provide administrative support in monitoring budget preparation and the finances of joint programmes; including the finalization of FACE forms;
  • Review financial reports; prepare non-PO vouchers for development projects;
  • Process payments for consultants;
  • Maintain internal expenditures control system;
  • Create requisitions in Atlas for development projects; register good receipts in Atlas;
  • Assist in the preparation and follow up of cost-recovery bills in Atlas. 

Provide administrative support to the Spotlight Initiative Grenada Programme Team

  • Undertake all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for organization for meetings, workshops, events, and missions;
  • Make travel arrangements for the Programme Team, including travel requisitions and claims; 
  • Maintain control of travel claims ensuring accuracy and compliance in a timely manner;
  • Obtain quotations for all the processes of acquisition of goods and services (micro purchasing);
  • Draft minutes of meetings as delegated;
  • Prepare public information materials and briefing packets; 
  • Assemble briefing materials and prepare power-point and other presentations;
  • Maintain proper filling system of finance records, project documents – hard and soft copies.

Provide administrative support to Resource Mobilization

  • Prepare cost-sharing and other agreements; follow up on contributions within the Spotlight resource mobilization efforts;
  • Organize, compile and process information from donors, Recipient United Nations Organisations (RUNOs) and Associated Agencies  (AA), and UNST Technical Team, as inputs to various databases and documents.

Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing

  • Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
  • Provide administrative support synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices related to programme management and finance;
  • Provide administrative support to the organization of training for the office staff and partners on programme and operations related issues.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Timely and accurate support to events, workshops, and missions;
  • Full compliance of administrative activities with UN rules, regulations, policies and procedures;
  • Timely recording of overall programme unit finances;
  • Timely and accurate tracking of data for CO management and donor purposes;
  • Quality maintenance of internal systems.

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

  • Good knowledge of programme management;
  • Ability to administer and execute administrative processes and transactions;
  • Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats;
  • Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow;
  • Ability to support a team and team building skills;
  • Strong financial and budgeting skills;
  • Strong IT skills;
  • Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Attention to detail.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification

  • Completion of secondary school education is a requirement
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration or relevant field is an asset.

Experience

  • At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in administration or programme management/support;
  • Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages;
  • Experience in the use of ATLAS is an asset;
  • Experience in supporting a team.
  • Previous experience working in the UN System or NGOs is an asset.
  • Experience working in Grendad would be an asset

Language Requirements:

  • Oral and written fluency in English is required;
  • Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset;

Duty Station:

  • The position will be based in Grenada.

Applications:

  • This position is open to Nationals of Grenada, Residents of Grenada, and CARICOM Nationals who can legally work in Grenada;
  • 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; Please group all documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows the upload of one document.

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.

UN Women 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.