Background
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (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.
UN Women provides support to Member States’ efforts and priorities in meeting their gender equality goals and for building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.
The UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO) covering the Pacific sub-region has four main thematic areas:
- Ending Violence against Women (EVAW);
- Improving Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE);
- Women’s Political Empowerment and Leadership; and
- Gender and Protection in Humanitarian Action
The Markets for Change - Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Project (hereinafter referred to as the M4C PROJECT) is a multi-year initiative aimed at ensuring that marketplaces in rural and urban areas in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory environments, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The M4C Project aims to promote the gender, social and economic empowerment of market vendors, with specific attention to the needs and aspirations of women market vendors. Through the creation of representative groups in marketplaces, a focus on economic security, the strengthening of local government institutions, procedures and development approach, and the design and building of gender-responsive infrastructure, market vendors will be able to influence decision-making on market management and resource allocation, supporting the economic and social empowerment of market vendors, and the advancement of women market vendors. In Fiji, there are a total of 12 markets (Nausori, Suva, Sigatoka, Nadi, Namaka, Lautoka, Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki, Labasa, Savusavu and Levuka). Evidence to date underlines support by local government and market management.
Markets for Change (M4C) Project will use a multi-sectoral approach to build on previous work done by UN Women, and other UN agencies and partners, to strengthen the present network of market vendors, empower women market vendors and create an enabling environment for their growth. M4C will also support gender-responsive infrastructure regarding market extensions and refurbishment.
The Markets for Change projects is implemented by UN Women, with UNDP as the Responsible Party for the delivery of Outcome 2.
The National Project Coordinator will support the Project Manager to establish and maintain effective partnerships with national and local Government, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and will assist with the preparation of project related reports and documentations.
Reporting to the Project Manager, M4C Fiji, the National Project Coordinator contributes to the effective management of UN Women programmes in the Fiji MCO for M4C Fiji by providing substantive inputs to programme design, formulation, implementation and evaluation. S/he guides and facilitates the delivery of UN Women M4C Project by monitoring results achieved during implementation and ensuring appropriate application of systems and procedures and develops enhancements if necessary. She/he works in close collaboration with the programme and operations team, UN Women HQ staff, Government officials, multi and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation under portfolio.
Duties and Responsibilities
Contribute technically to the development of programme strategies for Markets for Change Fiji:
- Provide substantive inputs to the design and formulation of programme/ project proposals and initiatives;
- Identify areas for support and interventions related to the programme;
- Participate in M4C regional meetings and learning retreats;
- Work in collaboration with the M4C Regional Team.
Provide substantive technical support to the implementation and management of Markets for Change Fiji project:
- Provide technical inputs to the annual workplan and budget;
- Lead the implementation of programme activities;
- Support the review, coordination and monitoring of the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports;
- Contribute towards the training of partners on Results Based Management and monitor implementation.
Provide technical assistance and capacity development to project/programme partners:
- Coordinate and provide technical support in the implementation of programme activities;
- Maintain relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of Markets for Change Fiji project;
- Provide support to the regional Knowledge Management and Comms specialist in liaison with the M4C Fiji Communications and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer on AKVO data collection and analysis;
- Identify opportunities for capacity building of partners and facilitate technical/ programming support and trainings to partners, as needed;
- Provide training, facilitation and mentoring to partners, as needed.
Provide technical inputs to the monitoring and reporting of the programme/ project:
- Monitor progress of implementation of activities and finances using results-based management tools;
- Draft reports on monitoring missions, programme results, outputs and outcomes;
- Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of donor and UN Women reports;
- Provide support to project management and the Project Management Committee (PMC) and Project Working Committee (PWC) meetings and reports.
Provide substantive technical inputs to the management of people and finances of the Markets for Change Fiji project:
- Contribute to the monitoring of implementation and make budget re-alignments/ revisions, as necessary;
- Provide substantive inputs to all M4C reports, including support to donor reporting;
- Contribute to all monitoring and evaluation activities including routine monitoring, data collection and reporting for all donor reports, six-monthly, annual / as required;
- Contribute to the training of partners on FACE form.
Provide substantive inputs to building partnerships and resource mobilization strategies:
- Provide substantive inputs to resource mobilization strategies; analyze and maintain information and databases;
- Prepare relevant documentation such as project summaries, conference papers, briefing notes, speeches, and donor profiles;
- Participate in donor meetings and public information events, as delegated;
- Assist in the preparation and support to partner organizations for the hosting of high-level delegations.
Contribute to inter-agency coordination to achieve a coherent and aligned presence for Markets for Change Fiji:
- Provide substantive technical support to the M4C Project Manager Fiji on inter-agency coordination related activities by drafting background reports and briefs, initiating coordination meetings and monitoring program activities when required;
- Provide technical support to M4C Outcome Two in-country focal officer, including regional staff.
Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts:
- Develop background documents, briefs and presentations related to Markets for Change Fiji project;
- Coordinate and organize advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products;
- Coordinate the development of knowledge management methodologies, and products on Markets for Change Fiji;
- Provide inputs and technical support to all communications and knowledge product development.
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 programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
- Good knowledge of Results Based Management
- Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations
- Good analytical skills
- Good knowledge of technical area
- Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising
Required Skills and Experience
Education and certification:
- Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in development related discipline/s including gender issues, public policy, social work or other related social science fields is highly required.
- A first-level University Degree (Bachelors’ Degree) in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
Experience:
- Masters’ Degree or Higher + years of experience requirement: A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level in project / programme formulation, implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building;
- Experience in the women’s economic empowerment, informal sector support, women in markets, or any of the Markets for Change technical areas is an asset;
- Experience in facilitating workshops and delivering trainings is an asset;
- Experience in coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset.
And/or:
- Bachelors’ Degree + years of experience requirement: A minimum of 4 years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level in project / programme formulation, implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building;
- Experience in the women’s economic empowerment, informal sector support, women in markets, or any of the Markets for Change technical areas is an asset;
- Experience in facilitating workshops and delivering trainings is an asset;
- Experience in coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
- Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
- An asset but not mandatory would be fluency in the local language(s) of the duty station (Fiji).