Programme Specialist International Consultant

Position description

Background

UN Women’s Regional Office for the Arab States’ (ROAS) vision is to achieve the empowerment of all women and girls and the full enjoyment of their human rights in the Arab States, propelling economic prosperity and sustainable development for all. Our goal is to accelerate achievements for the largest possible numbers of women and girls in the region, including the most vulnerable. To accomplish this, we work with our partners and offices across 17 countries in the region to implement targeted programmes that support women’s economic empowerment, women’s leadership and participation, women, peace and security, and humanitarian issues, as well as ending violence against women. Our growing portfolio capitalizes on existing enablers and works with men and boys, while tackling some of the most challenging issues, including overt and unconscious bias and discrimination against women and girls.

Under the supervision of the Regional Director (RD), with matrix management from the Deputy Regional Director (DRD), the incumbent provides substantive and practical support to the Regional Executive Office. The incumbent provides timely analytical information (both programmatic and political), prepares documentation and talking points for RD and DRD representational events, and coordinates and leads the Secretariat of the Senior Leadership (SLM) and Inter-Team Coordination Meetings (ITCM). He/she has a proven ability to work and act under pressure, with confidentiality and discretion in a sensitive environment.

The incumbent is expected to have excellent communication and organizational skills and strategically support the functions of the Regional Office. The Programme Specialist substantively supports the RD and DRD in the Regional Offices’ oversight, UN Coordination, Normative and programme role and advances partnerships and resource mobilization initiatives. The role is central to coordination with teams in the regional office, with offices across the region, with Headquarters and external partners

Description of Responsibilities/Scope of Work

Support the Regional Office Leadership in taking forward strategic priorities:

• Review and analysis of key management issues, synthesized for quick decision making.
• Support coordination across different UN Women teams and offices to help take forward key strategic priorities for UN Women.
• Support the preparation of internal and external correspondence on issues related to the priorities, as well as provide quarterly socio-political briefs pertaining key regional key developments.
• Support in coordinating follow up of SLM and ITCM decisions and actions.
• Provide coordination support to the Regional Director in his/her interactions and exchanges with UN Women Representatives, Regional Office and HQ staff, keeping record and ensuring action and follow-up when required in a timely and efficient manner.
• Provide support to the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director interactions, representation duties, exchanges and relationship cultivation with other UN agencies, UN regional coordination mechanisms, intergovernmental bodies, national authorities, and public and private partnerships.
• Work with the RDs Executive Associate to ensure appropriate and timely action is taken on incoming requests, correspondence and all matters requiring the RDs attention.
• Guide the Executive Associate as needed in the planning and organization of the Regional Director´s agenda and official travel, including the timely preparation of official travel files, background documents and briefing notes.
• Review/draft talking points and/or design presentation materials for delivery by the Regional Director (or the DRD where delegated) in key events, meetings and other internal and external fora ensuring that UN Women´s corporate and regional perspective, goals, objectives, strategies and/or policies on gender issues and UN Women programmes are appropriately reflected, working closely with thematic leads and relevant staff as required.

Coordinate the Regional Executive Offices inputs to the Regional Offices Work Plan, ROAS Strategic Note and Annual Reporting Processes

• Work closely with the strategic planning unit to revise annual work plans in alignment with priorities of the ROAS Senior Leadership.
• Gather and synthesize information to report in RMS on relevant Outcomes, Outputs and Indicators aligned to priorities of the Regional Executive Office.
• Gather and analyze quarterly information for ROAS leadership related to the quarterly business review, evaluation and management responses to audits and evaluations for ROAS.

Contribute to regional partnerships for financing and resource mobilization strategies and initiatives

• Seek and promote new partnerships and resource mobilization opportunities, working with UN Women colleagues to identify needs and broker or support the realization of resource mobilization and financing agreements to meet those needs.
• Scan and scout external environment within ROAS priority areas for opportunities and risks and share information in a timely manner with the RD and DRD.
• Contribute to oversight of the development and coordination of cooperation agreements, MoUs etc. with partner institutions.
• Draft briefs on possible areas of cooperation and identification of opportunities for resource mobilization.
• Support the determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UN Women, country needs and donors’ priorities and develop the relevant partnerships.
• Provide technical inputs to the development of project proposals in line with the UN Women’s strategy and the interest of donors.
• Develops and maintains deep knowledge and familiarity with current and prospective partners and relevant stakeholders, contributing to a database of key contacts on partnership and resource mobilization.

Manage day-to-day coordination of the regional executive office

• Leads the day-to-day management of the Regional Executive Office, including the direct supervision of specific projects upon request, mission planning and prioritization and calendar coordination under the portfolio of the Executive Associate.
• The incumbent performs other official duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the organization.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

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

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent programme formulation, implementation skills;
• Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them;
• Ability to synthesize programme performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision making;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Excellent knowledge of Results Based Management;
• Strong knowledge of UN programme management systems;
• Strong networking skills;
• Strong inter-personal skills, communicate effectively with staff at all levels of the organization;
• Ability to work in a highly pressured environment;
• Strong sense of responsibility, confidentiality and accountability;
• Knowledge and understanding of gender equality issues as well as more broadly, human rights and development cooperation;
• Experience with development issues in the Arab States region;
• Proficient in IT skills.

Required Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in International Relations, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Business Administration, or other relevant discipline is required;
• 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:

• 5 years of progressively responsible experience in international/ regional organizations, coordination, facilitation and programme development/management is required;
• Experience with UN Women/UN agencies or other international organization working closely with senior management is desirable;
• Experience in international development work focused on, or strongly involving gender equality at national, regional, and international levels is desirable;
• Solid understanding of UN Women’s policies, frameworks and workflows is desirable;
• Prior experience working in the Arab States Region is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on un-jobs.net