Background
Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) is one of UN Women’s goals constituted within the development results framework. UN Women strategic plan (2011 – 2013) includes development results framework goal 5: To strengthen the responsiveness of plans and budgets to gender equality at all levels. At an outcome level and in line with the principles embodied in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action anticipated results include more gender responsive national development strategies, strengthened capacity of different branches of government for gender responsive planning and budgeting and increased resources to address the priorities of women and girls at sector level and raise the status for national machineries for women.UN Women has been supporting GRB initiatives through programming, global advocacy and building strategic partnerships with national governments, civil society, UN agencies and other multi-lateral development organizations. In this process, UN Women Zimbabwe is supporting national partners, the government of Zimbabwe and women’s organizations to contribute towards the economic empowerment of women through capacity building of government to mainstream gender in social and economic sector ministry policy, programmes and budgets in line with National Gender Policy to contribute to poverty reduction. The GRB programme is built on Millennium Development Goals (MDGSs) 1, 3 and 6 on poverty reduction, gender equality and HIV and AIDS which are also the national priority goals.
The expected outcomes of the programme are: (i) improved capacity of government officials and policy makers in mainstreaming gender into legislation, policies, strategies and budgets (ii) Increased demand for accountability from government by CSO's on national and international commitments for advancing gender equality (iii) improved access to services and resources for women and girls (iv) increased active participation of women in economic and public finance forums at local and national level.
The GRB Specialist will be based at UN Women Harare reporting to the Country Representative.
Duties and Responsibilities
Programme Management:- Strategically position the GRB work in national contexts in line with the reform agendas in public sector, budgeting, aid management and UN reform at country, sub-regional and global levels.
- Ensure coherence and effective implementation of GRB projects in Zimbabwe at national, sectoral and local levels.
- Identify innovative approaches and opportunities to address gaps in relation to planning and budgeting
- Coordinate timely delivery of high quality programme and financial reporting to donors, inter-governmental processes and other stakeholders
- Oversee budget management, procurement, etc.
- Ensure regular communication and exchange with UN Women regional office, HQ and Regional M&R specialist for the Fund for Gender Equality.
- Set up and maintain a mechanism for tracking progress and data collection on GRB related indicators in programme logframes
- Oversee tracking of annual indicators in relation to budget circulars, changes in budget allocations for gender equality and parliament debates.
- Mobilize resources in support of UN Women’s GRB programming
- Facilitate results based planning and implementation of GRB programme portfolio
- Provide technical advice to programme partners and government institutions in the implementation of GRB programmes within the country
- Conduct capacity assessment and identify expertise to address the capacity needs of programme partners and the government
- Contribute to the development of GRB capacity for staff and partners and maintains a roster of GRB resource persons
- Conduct background research and analysis with regard to strategic entry points for UN Women GRB programming and regularly monitor policy and institutional developments that are relevant to the programme
- Support the application of GRB to address gender gaps within UN Women’s programmatic priority areas: women’s leadership and participation, including within peace, security and humanitarian emergency situations; women’s economic empowerment; combating violence against women and girls; support to the intergovernmental processes of the United Nations.
- Following up the national budgets process closely in order to advocate for mainstreaming a gender perspective in government, planning, budgeting and monitoring.
- Contributes to GRB knowledge building through documentation of approaches and lessons learnt through GRB initiatives and contribute to UN Women’s corporate forums on GRB.
- Raise the profile of the GRB programme and ensure visibility of the programme through the contribution to UN Women reports and publications, intranet and relevant global, regional and sub-regional meetings.
- Ensure that UN Women’s GRB programmes are situated within the relevant joint UN gender and national government programmes.
- Ensure regular communication and exchange with key programme partners, including the national partners, UN agencies, multilateral organizations, women's networks, and others involved in gender budget initiatives
- Host/conduct planning and review meetings on gender responsive budgets
- Represent UN Women at key national, global and regional venues where experiences related to GRB can be highlighted and influential.
- Facilitate south south learning and exchange through facilitating the participation of national partners in national, regional and international conferences, workshops and training opportunities.
- Maintain a database of GRB tools that are tailored for the country / sub-region.
- Participate in UNCT, relevant ZUNDAF technical teams and Government meetings, and joint donor coordination mechanisms to enhance collaboration, coordination and delivery of impact of project results.
- Build strategic partnerships in support of GRB efforts at country and sub regional level with UN country teams, Government of Zimbabwe, national and regional institutions.
Competencies
Managerial:- Manages programmes effectively - consistently ensures timeliness and quality of project work carried out by the office or team.
- Experience in results-based management and rights-based approach to programming.
- Experience in programme monitoring.
- Substantive knowledge and understanding of gender equality issues and more broadly, human rights issues and economic governance
- Technical expertise in GRB approaches and strategies; strong leadership and advocacy skills; knowledge management – support documentation of lessons learnt and development of tools.
- Ability to identify clients' needs and appropriate solutions; ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with donors and other partner agencies;
- Fosters linkages with key internal clients and other UN agencies and strategic partnerships with key external stakeholders.
- Excellent personal and professional communication and presentation skills, with strong representational abilities.
- Builds strong relationships with both internal and external actors - cultivates productive relationships with donors, partners and other important institutions and individuals.
- Displays cultural sensitivity and adaptability - communicates effectively with and relates to people of different cultures, demonstrating an ability to see issues from other perspectives.
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to lead and gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavor;
- Ability to build trust through operating with transparency and creating an open, positive and enabling environment;
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:- Advanced university degree, with a focus on Gender and Economics, Public Finance Management, Public Policy, International Development or related discipline
- A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience for work focused on gender equality, women’s rights and economics in Zimbabwe
- Strong experience in training and capacity building on mainstreaming gender in macroeconomic policies and national budgets;
- Specific expertise on gender responsive budgeting
- Experience in rights based and results- based programming and management on multi-country programmes
- Knowledge of the government system and government procedures, policy frameworks and public sector functions
- Strong familiarity with the UN system
- Proven record in programme management and results based programming
- Proven advocacy, analytical and writing skills
- Fluency in English and any local language is required.