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 Spotlight Initiative is a global, multi-year partnership between the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU), focusing on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG). The initiative places SDG 5 at the center of efforts (as well as SDG 16) with the aim to provide an enabling environment for the implementation of all goals. Spotlight provides a model for partnership with donors, civil society, and all UN partners, to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a comprehensive manner leveraging comparative expertise.

The Spotlight initiative in the Pacific focuses on Intimate partner (physical, sexual and emotional) violence (IPV) to address the continuum of gender-based violence in the Pacific region. The Initiative aims at improving access to services, particularly for those most left behind and will build upon existing programmes, both at the country and regional level.

The Spotlight Pacific Regional Initiative builds on existing Pacific Islands Forum commitments as well as country specific commitments in Fiji, Republic of Marshal Islands and Solomon Islands to ending domestic and intimate partner violence The programme will focus on understanding the cost of violence through research, and improved planning and budget allocations to address violence and supporting CSO to advocating to governments to increase funding based on evidence and increasing the quality and availability of administrative data.

The recipient UN organizations are: IOM, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women. UN Women will be the technical lead for the Spotlight Regional and Samoa programmes.

Reporting directly to UN Women EVAWG Technical Specialist and coordinating closely with the UN Women Fiji MCO EVAWG team, Operations team and UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, the Regional Programme Technical Specialist has responsibility for implementing UN Women’s Regional, Multi-Country and Samoa Spotlight programming in close collaboration with the Resident Coordinators office Spotlight staff, through the provision of technical oversight and coherence of the Spotlight Pacific programming through planning, implementing, coordinating and reporting on UN Women’s Spotlight programmes actions. 

The Regional Programme Technical Specialist works within UN Women’s EVAWG team and work closely with the Spotlight Pacific Regional Steering Committee, the Spotlight Regional Coordinator of the Fiji MCO Resident Coordinators Offices and the Samoa Resident Coordinator, UN implementing agencies other stakeholders for the Regional and Samoa Programmes, and the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls.  

The Regional Programme Technical Specialist provides technical guidance and oversight across all Spotlight activities under the Regional and Samoa programmes and manages implementation of the UN Women Spotlight programme including Supervision of the UN Women Spotlight staff (regional and Samoa).

Duties and Responsibilities

1.  Support the technical coherence of the Regional and Samoa Spotlight programmes in close cooperation with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Regional Spotlight Coordinator and Spotlight receiving UN Agencies

  • Provide advice and recommendations to UN implementing agencies and the Resident Coordinator’s offices on the technical coherence and quality of Spotlight activities for the Regional and Samoa programmes;
  • Provide guidance in the overall coherence of the programme across pillars, in line with Country Programme document; Guide the process of delivery of technical assistance and engagement with partners, as per the planned activities within the Country Programmes;
  • Provide programme guidance, updates and information to the Steering Committee, implementing partners and other stakeholders on the technical coherence of Spotlight programmes as required.

2.  Manage implementation of the UN Women Regional and Samoa Spotlight Programmes

  • Facilitate and lead programme management across prevention, response, advocacy and civil society engagement within the UN women portfolio for Spotlight
  • Ensure technical coherence and linkages within UN Women’s EVAWG programme as well as other EVAWG and Gender Equality initiatives in the region, especially Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls
  • Develop and review annual workplans, operational work plans and budgets to ensure compliance with UN Women and Spotlight programme goals and results;
  • Analyze and ensure alignment of project budgets with logical framework matrices and work plans;
  • Build, manage, and expand relationships with partners to support implementation of the Spotlight programme;
  • Provide focused attention and support to the Pacific region’s civil society organizations engaged in ending VAWG and gender equality;
  • Manage programme quality and identification and response to potential challenges;
  • Provide partners with technical assistance, training and capacity development initiatives as needed;
  • Organize periodic consultations with key stakeholders, women leaders, human rights experts and UN partners to gather inputs on programme design, as necessary.

3.  Oversee the monitoring and reporting of the UN Women Spotlight programme (Regional and Samoa)

  • Prepare analytical reviews and systematically capture lessons learnt from the programme implementation
  • Oversee the process of monitoring the programme implementation of activities and finances using results-based management tools;
  • Identify and monitor programme risks and provide support and guidance to mitigate and address them in a timely manner;
  • Provide inputs to the development of Spotlight narrative / annual reports.

4.  Oversee the people and financial resources of the UN Women Spotlight programme (Regional and Samoa)

  • Oversee the programme budget, including regular monitoring for delivery, and finalize financial reports;
  • Oversee Spotlight funded staff; mentor and coach staff and conduct performance assessments;
  • Oversee recruitment processes, as necessary.

5.  Oversee advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts of the UN Women Spotlight programme

  • Represent UN Women’s contributions to the Spotlight Programme in meetings and policy dialogues as necessary;
  • Oversee the development of knowledge management strategies and methodologies and products on the Spotlight Initiative in coordination with UN Women’s EVAWG approach and strategy;
  • Provide targeted support to civil society on their advocacy, knowledge management and strategic communication efforts;
  • Ensure compliance with Spotlight Initiative communications guidelines and ensure that all Spotlight Initiative programming and activities are appropriated managed, branded and communicated.

Key Performance Indicators:

  • Timely and quality programme strategies and contributions
  • Timely and quality of programme delivery in line with budget, workplans and the Programme Document
  • Performance of team
  • Partners and other stakeholders, including government and civil society, provide positive feedback on technical services
  • Quality reports and timely submission
  • Quality of advocacy, communication and knowledge management initiatives
  • Strong relationships with donors, partners and other stakeholders

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 Engagements
  • Leading by Example

Functional Competencies

  • Strong knowledge in thematic area of Ending Violence Against women and Girls
  • Strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
  • Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them
  • Strong knowledge of Results Based Management
  • Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making
  • Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation
  • Strong networking skills
  • Ability to negotiate and interact with donors, identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field is required.
  • A first-level university degree in combination with seven years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
  • A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage

Experience:

  • Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
  • Technical experience in thematic area of EVAWG;
  • Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset;
  • An understanding/experience in the Pacific context in relation to gender issues would be an advantage;
  • Experience working in the UN System is an asset;
  • Experience in leading/managing a team is an asset.

Language requirements:

  • Fluency in English is required
  • Knowledge of Pacific languages is an asset

Application:

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-p11-personal-history-form.doc?la=en&vs=558. 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.