UN WOMEN Jobs - 53575- UN Women: Programme and Coordination Specialist, F

UN Women: Programme and Coordination Specialist, Fund for Gender Equality

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Jun-2015

Application Deadline :

23-Feb-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

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

The Fund for Gender Equality (FGE) is a $76 million, multi-donor initiative designed to advance innovative, high-impact programmes that focus on women’s economic and political empowerment at local and national levels, in line with national development plans and priorities. Launched in 2009 with an initial contribution from the Government of Spain, and subsequently joined by the governments of Norway, Mexico, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Japan, the Fund for Gender Equality provides grants on a competitive basis to civil society and governmental partners in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Arab States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and Central Asia (ECA). The Fund is unique in its focus on supporting partners to turn local and national laws and policies into tangible gains for women’s rights.

The FGE initiated its first cycle of grantmaking in 2009-2010, awarding $38.2 million to 40 inaugural programmes implemented by national organizations and government machineries. In the second grantmaking cycle 2011-2012, the Fund awarded $18 million to 56 programmes. In total, FGE has funded 96 programmes, totaling $56 M awarded in 72 countries.

Under the Guidance of the Chief of the Fund for Gender Equality, the Programme and Coordination Specialist will be responsible for supporting the global coordination and oversight of FGE’s portfolio of grant programmes, ensuring smooth implementation and operations of active programmes and the overall Fund’s operation, in alignment with UN Women policies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Programme and Operational Coordination:

Coordinate and support four (4) regionally-based FGE Monitoring & Reporting (M&R) Specialists to ensure high quality planning and programming processes at regional and global level in order to ensure coherence and strong delivery of the overall portfolio;
Design, manage and implement activities to enhance system wide coherence on implementation of FGE programmes at a global level including smooth resolution of programmatic and operational issues involved in results-based management of FGE grants;
Ensure appropriate and mainstreamed financial management of all FGE grants including ensuring due diligence of use of funds by grantees and financial transparency and accountability of FGE in line with UNW regulations;
Advocate and work closely with M&R Specialists on knowledge sharing and development of systems and tools for effective implementation of FGE programmes and capacity development of grantee organizations;
Work closely with M&R Specialists to reflect regional and local experiences and case evidence into formulation of policy and support the definition and communication of FGE’s global policy position in the practice areas; ensure cross-practice and cross-regional collaboration linking to global experiences;
Develop and maintain strong professional relationships with the relevant units within UN Women including DMA (i.e. Finance, Budget, Legal, and Audit), Policy and Programme Units as well as field offices and lead partnership building efforts to support effective programme implementation and oversight;
Organize, participate in and/or represent the Fund in internal and external Committees, meetings, and events on FGE’s work on women’s economic and political empowerment;
Supports the FGE Chief with the overall management of the Fund, including grantmaking, communications and fundraising activities.

Risk Management and Audit Functions:

Under guidance of FGE Chief, oversee all internal and external audit and assessment exercises including coordination with auditors on requested information, participation in meetings, and follow-up as required;
Provide Management Responses on behalf of FGE and ensure appropriate implementation of recommendations;
Coordinate and ensure the effective implementation of corporate-level accountability tools;
Work with FGE’s M&R Specialists and Chief in development of risk-management tools and strategies to ensure effective internal controls are in place;
Promote and work closely with the FGE Regional Monitoring & Reporting Specialists to clarify and streamline UN Women and FGE policies and procedures as well as risk management strategies, in order to facilitate the efficient implementation of FGE programmes;
In charge of yearly update of the FGE Focal Point guide to ensure clarity and strong alignment of FGE procedures with UN Women’s norms and procedures, and ensure the Fund’s proper inclusion in the UN Women Programme and Operation’s Manual (POM).

Programme Oversight and Monitoring:

Oversee Europe and Central Asia (ECA) portfolio of FGE grant programmes and ensure effective and efficient programme implementation through regular monitoring, technical assistance, and communications in coordination with UN Women Focal Points based in the Country and Regional Offices - this includes mission visits as required;
Coordinate efficient financial management of ECA grant programmes with grantees and UN Women Focal Points ensuring due diligence, financial transparency, and accountability of financial processes in line with UN Women rules and regulations;
Provide guidance and technical support in Evaluation and Audit processes of ECA grantee programmes;
Promote visibility and knowledge exchange between grantees, UN Women platforms (Knowledge Gateway, Civil Society Advisory Groups), and external stakeholders on ECA grantee initiatives including dissemination of key findings, good practices, lessons learned from programmes.

Competencies

Core values and Guiding principles:

Integrity:

Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Cultural Sensitivity/Valuing diversity:

Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies:

Ethics and Values:

Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity.

Organizational Awareness:

Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.

Developing and Empowering People/Coaching and Mentoring:

Self-development, initiative-taking.

Working in Teams:

Acting as a team player and facilitating team work.

Communicating Information and Ideas:

Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively.

Self-management and Emotional intelligence:

Creating synergies through self-control.

Conflict Management / Negotiating and Resolving Disagreements:

Managing conflict.

Knowledge Sharing/Continuous Learning:

Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of other.

Appropriate and Transparent Decision-Making:

Informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies:

Reporting and Project Management:

Strong experience in grantmaking, especially in the areas of women’s rights and empowerment and gender equality;
Knowledge of women’s organizations and governmental agencies working on women’s empowerment and gender equality globally;
Experience in programmes related to women’s economic and/or political empowerment is desirable;
Experience in project management;
Experience in supporting capacity development;
Experience in results-based management (RBM).

Management and Leadership:

Ability to manage for results: translate strategy into achievable plans, with established priorities, monitor them, making periodic adjustments as required;
Ability to process and systematize large amounts of information;
Outstanding organizational and communication skills;
Capacity to work with diverse partners including governments, civil society and women's groups; high-level experts;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.

Communication:

Good interpersonal and diplomacy skills;
Ability to liaise with a diverse and remotely located team;
Ability to use critical thinking, conceptualize ideas, and articulate relevant subject matter in a clear and concise way;
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
Working knowledge in other UN official languages is highly desirable;
Ability to communicate effectively with and relate to people of different cultures, demonstrating an ability to see issues from other perspectives.

Computer Skills:

Proficiency in Microsoft Office software;
Proficiency in translating programmatic into technological requirements;
Proficiency with online communication, including Skype, etc.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University degree or equivalent in Political Science, International Development Studies, Gender/Women’s Studies, Economics or Sociology.

Experience:

At least 5 years of relevant national/international working experience in international development, in gender equality and women’s empowerment issues. Knowledge and experience working on women’s economic and political empowerment highly desirable;
In-depth knowledge of programming on women’s human rights and gender equality;
Substantive experience in programmatic work;
Prior Project management experience – managing the deliverables, organizing implementation timelines, managing for deadlines, issues management, and conducting quality assurance;
Research and Strategic Communications experience – supporting the strategic analysis, drafting, and dissemination of programmatic content to a diverse audience of stakeholders;
Experience in the United Nations, a governmental, other multilateral or civil society organization in a developed or developing country highly desirable.

Languages:

Proficiency in oral and written English;
Knowledge of other UN Language will be an asset.

Application:

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;
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.

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.