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. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women has played an innovative and catalytic role in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) since its inception in 1997. UN Women Palestine focuses its activities on one overarching goal, namely to support the implementation at the national level of existing international commitments to advance gender equality in line with the national priorities. In support of this goal, and thoroughly taking into consideration the specificities of the Palestinian context, UN Women concentrates its efforts and interventions toward the realisation of following strategic goals: Engendering governance, peace and security; Supporting women's economic security and rights; and Promoting women’s rights and protection against violence.

UN Women, as part of its approach and methodology within the unique political and social context and situation of Palestine and in order to advance the recognition and enjoyment of women's rights, developed and implemented a programme aimed at creating and institutionalizing systems, policies, procedures and mechanisms related to the protection and empowerment of women victims of violence, as well as to women’s access to equitable justice. Building on that programme and through the UN Women/UNDP programme "Strengthening the Rule of Law in the oPt: Justice and Security for the Palestinian People" (2014-2017)”, UN Women is currently supporting the process of institutionalization and capacity development of the justice and security sectors in Palestine.  Within this framework, the Women’s Human Rights Programme (WHRP) would like to recruit a highly-qualified Project Associate for the Security and Justice Sectors, based in Gaza to the substitute the current project associate in her maternity leave.

Under the overall guidance of UN Women Special Representative and the direct supervision of the UN Women Project Specialist and UN Women Programme Officer in Gaza, the Project Associate (maternity replacement) will support the implementation of the UNDP/ UN Women joint programme "Strengthening the Rule of Law in the oPt: Justice and Security for the Palestinian People" (Sawasya Programme) in Gaza besides supporting other UN Women Gaza sub-office programmes’ activities.

Objectives of the Assignment:

UN Women is seeking to hire an experienced consultant to achieve the following:

• To cover the absence of the current project associate within the duration of her maternity leave;
• To ensure smooth implementation of the activities implemented under Sawasya Programme;
• To ensure providing proper administrative and financial support to Sawasya Programme; and
• To ensure providing proper support to other UN Women Gaza sub-office programmes, events and initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Associate (maternity replacement) based in Gaza will undertake the following tasks, duties and responsibilities:

• Support partners with the implementation of programme activities in an efficient and timely manner;
• Establishing and maintaining the project follow-up system for actions and deadlines;
• Compiling data and preparing draft reports, briefings, success stories and press releases, as requested;
• Direct monitoring of the work of partner organizations, consultants contracted under the project by arranging and/or attending meetings, workshops and activities and keeping open channels of communication and cooperation with them;
• Arranging and coordinating appointments and meetings for in-coming and outgoing official missions;
• Organizing workshops, activities and events as well as regular project-site visits;
• Assisting in the development of project work plans (including procurement and financial plans) and provide support for monitoring Implementing Partners‘ budgets in terms of expenditures according to the work plan;
• Drafting formal correspondence, in both Arabic and English;
• Maintaining proper filing, both soft and hard versions, of programme documents;
• Support the joint programme communication and visibility efforts in Gaza;
• Support other UN Women Gaza sub-office programmes, events and initiatives as deemed needed;
• Submit weekly and bi-weekly progress reports covering the programmatic developments/stalls in development and the activities implemented by the partner CSOs;
• Submit quarterly progress and financial report covering the activities implemented by the partner CSOs; and
• Perform site visits to monitor the implementation of project activities and reports accordingly.

Key Deliverables

• A work plan which details activities to be undertaken in the considered period; and
• Monthly progress report on the implementation of the approved monthly work plan.

Timeframe

• The assignment is expected to start on November 2017 and to be finalized by February 2018.

Competencies

Core values / 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.

Professionalism:

•             Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

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.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement; and
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Ability to share knowledge and experience; and
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to perform a wide range of varied, inter-related administrative services;
• Ability to interpret and analyze data and resolve operational problems, propose solutions;
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, and to plan and organize work;
• Ability to supervise and train support staff;
• Ability to provide inputs to business process re-engineering and development and implementation of new systems;
• Ability to demonstrate strong coordination and facilitation skills;
• Ability to demonstrate excellent communication skills (oral and written);
• Ability to demonstrate excellent computer skills (strong knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint and Word;
• Ability to demonstrate strong analytical ability; and
• Ability to demonstrate good interpersonal and communication skills; ability  to collaborate within a small team.

Leadership and Self-Management:

• Ability to focus on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Ability to organizes and prioritize work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
• Ability to approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; and
• Ability to remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelor Degree in Management, Law, Human Rights or International Relations or any other related fields.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years’ professional experience in project support; preferably in the security and justice sectors;
• Experience in women’s rights issues; knowledge of relevant gender issues in the context of Palestine is an asset; and
• Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization is an added advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Arabic (comprehension, written and spoken). 

Evaluation of applicants:

This SSA modality is governed by UN Women General Terms and Conditions. UN Women will only be able to respond to applicants who meet the minimum requirements.

Candidates should clearly indicate how they meet the above-mentioned criteria in their applications.

The following documents should be submitted as part of the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials:

P11 Or CV including past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted

Candidates should have the ability to quickly submit degree certificates, and medical certification (of good health) should they be short-listed in consideration of this consultancy.

Evaluation of applicants:

• Longlisted Candidates will be called for technical test (Passing Score is 70/100);
• Selection will be based on interviews with those who pass the technical tests; and
• UN Women will be offering the selected candidate a pre-determined monthly lump-sum payment.