Programme Consultant – Governance, Women’s Leadership and Political Participation at UN Women

Duties and Responsibilities

Support in the formulation of Programme Strategies:

• Thorough situational analysis and research on the countries within Eastern and Southern Africa and preparation of substantive inputs to Strategic Plan, Annual Work Plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements;
• Identification of areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned;
• Ensure implementation of components of the programme to align with the Annual/Biannual Work Plan;
• Prepare briefing materials, power-points and talking points to support Policy Specialist for Governance, Women’s Political Participation;
•  Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches, and position papers.

Programme Management Support:

• Support organization and implementation of the programmatic and policy advice; schedule partner meetings, maintain an updated data bank of partners and experts, record minutes of meetings and liaise with relevant UNW country thematic teams;
• Support efforts for resource mobilization, including programme development as well as associated communication material;
• Support donor reporting, monitoring, and reporting;
• Provide guidance to the executing agencies, including country offices on routine implementation of projects, tracking use of financial resources;
• Provide necessary information for the audit of programmes/projects and support implementation of audit recommendations;
• Support the ESARO mid -term review process including compilation of inputs and feedback.

Provide technical assistance and capacity development support to project/programme partners:

• Provide technical support to country offices and other partners in the implementation of programme activities;
• Identify opportunities for capacity building of country offices and partners in the thematic areas and coordinate and facilitate technical/ programming support and trainings as needed;
• Monitor progress on programme activity, results, and indicators;
• Provide inputs to quarterly reports, donor reports and other reports on outputs, results outputs, and outcomes.

Provide inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts:

• Provide technical inputs to background documents, briefs and presentations related to Governance & Women’s Political Participation and Leadership;
• Coordinate and support the organization of advocacy activities and campaigns events, trainings, workshops, and knowledge products;
• Provide inputs to the development of knowledge management products in the thematic area;
• Ensure information and updates are shared with relevant thematic networks, communities of practice and reference groups;
• Provide quality assurance of COs’ knowledge products in line with corporate strategies;
• Support management of the Regional Community or Practice on Women’s Political Participation, including through codifying lessons learned and good practices from the region.

Manage the resource mobilization strategy in the area of women’s political participation in the region:

• Develop a regional strategy/proposal on WPP and undertake targeted resource mobilization in this thematic area;
• Develop tailored concept notes, provide technical support to offices with resource mobilization efforts in this area;
• Prepare and/or deliver presentations to the development partners on this topic.

Results/Expected Outputs:

• Timely and quality inputs to programme development;
• Timely and quality implementation of Programme/Portfolio/ activities against set workplans, timelines, and budgets, in line with the Strategic Note and Bi-Annual Work Plan;
• Timely and quality technical assistance;
• Quality and timely inputs to reporting;
• Strong relations with partners and stakeholders;
• Enhanced best practices and lessons learned documented and circulated;
• ESARO regional strategy and proposal finalized. 

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 resource mobilisation.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Law, Human Rights, International Development, Gender Studies, Political Science, International Relations, or other related fields;
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Experience:
• At least seven years of relevant work experience in the development of programme/project implementation and capacity building; preferably in governance and political participation;
•  Experience and understanding of implementing human rights, gender equality and women's empowerment projects and initiatives;
• Knowledge of and previous experience working on governance and women’s political participation and leadership in East and Southern Africa is desirable;
• Technical experience in Women’s political participation, preferably with field experience in managing and/or overseeing related programmes, including policy development;
• Experience in research and documentation of women’s political participation issues such as violence against women in elections is an asset;
• Experience working in the UN System at regional or national level;
• Experience working with regional economic commissions and networks in ESARO on governance and women’s political participation.

Language requirements: 

• Fluency in English is required; 
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.