Programme Manager, Women’s Economic Empowerment

Location : Cairo, EGYPT

Application Deadline : 02-Sep-23 (Midnight New York, USA)

Type of Contract : TA International

Post Level : P-5

Languages Required : English

Duration of Initial Contract : 364 days

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

UN Women’s Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS) has recently adopted its new Strategic Note (2022-25). Our vision is to achieve gender equality and 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 region’s largest possible numbers of women and girls, including the most vulnerable, in the next 4 years. 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 women’s economic empowerment (WEE) portfolio builds on critical results achieved between 2020-2022 and capitalizes on existing enablers to advance the number of women in decent employment, and equitable access to employment opportunities and services, while addressing foundational concerns related to unpaid care, negative gender stereotypes, and the implementation of legal reforms.

Reporting to the Deputy Regional Director, the Programme Manager – of Women’s Economic Empowerment, will lead this exciting portfolio, and guide a small team, working in support of 17 countries, UN Women’s country offices (COs), and in collaboration with UN Women’s WEE Network. The objective is to propel and scale WEE results by strengthening and developing mutually reinforcing partnerships with relevant Government counterparts, UN organizations, CSOs, and the Private Sector. The incumbent will oversee the development of women’s economic empowerment programmes, build capacities of UN Women staff and country offices in the Arab States, establish and strengthen partnerships, conduct in-depth trends and organizational analysis, and develop relevant knowledge products on women’s economic empowerment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide programme development advisory services related to Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in the Arab States.

•  Provide substantive inputs into countries’ strategy documents, programme/ project proposals, briefs, policy dialogue, and other documents related to WEE in the region; Prepare substantive inputs to the UN Women country office programme planning;
•  Support the continuous development and implementation of the regional WEE portfolio – towards a coherent regional perspective on WEE. And help define the country’s strategic plans of action for implementation;
•  Organize periodic consultations with key stakeholders, women leaders, human rights experts, and UN partners to gather inputs on programme design and implementation.

Lead the implementation and management of the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) programme in the Arab States.

•  Provide advisory support to the Regional Office Management as well as Multi Country Offices and Country Offices;
•  Manage regional programmes;
•  Lead the technical implementation and conceptualization of the programme/ project regionally; ensure synergies with other COs and HQ teams;
•  Monitor Programme Steering Committee, project review, and/or evaluation meetings.

Provide technical assistance and capacity development to project/programme partners.

•  Lead or oversee the development and implementation of technical guidance to project/programmes;
•  Provide technical advice and guidance to Regional Office and Multi-Country Office programme staff on building and managing partnerships;
•  Provide substantive inputs to capacity-building opportunities and initiatives in each country;
•  Serve as a lead expert to partners on WEE.

Manage the monitoring and reporting of the women’s economic empowerment programme in the region.

•  Ensure that all programming under the regional programme is monitored, reviewed, and evaluated;
•  Oversee the proper application of a monitoring system to track progress on program results and indicators;
•  Review and write quarterly reports and donor reports;
•  Manage the preparation of donor and UN Women reports.

Manage the people and financial resources of the women’s economic empowerment programme.

•  Monitor the programme budget;
•  Review financial reports;
•  Manage regional staff and consultants and provide guidance to programme staff at the CO’s and HQ levels;
•  Oversee the recruitment process, as necessary.

Establish partnerships and support in developing resource mobilization strategies.

•  Identify, develop, and implement resource mobilization opportunities in support of the regional programme;
•  Determine programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UN Women, country needs and donors’ priorities;
•  Establish partnerships, draft agreements and monitor their implementation;
•  Ensure close cooperation with other UN Women teams; develop alliances and working partnerships.

Lead inter-agency coordination to achieve a coherent and aligned presence for women’s economic empowerment in the Arab States.

•  Provide substantive technical support to the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director on inter-agency coordination-related activities by attending meetings, and events, and participating in groups and committees;
•  Coordinate with other UN agencies, government departments, donors, and NGOs to ensure the projects’ capacity development programme is harmonized and aligned with other regional efforts.

Lead advocacy, knowledge-building, and communication efforts.

•  Represent UN Women in meetings and policy dialogues on issues related to women’s economic empowerment;
•  Manage and coordinate across the region advocacy strategies and their implementation;
•  Lead the development of knowledge management strategies and methodologies and products on women’s economic empowerment;
•  Identify best practices and lessons learned to guide programme improvement and strategy planning; disseminate regionally or globally.

Key Performance Indicators

•  Timely and quality programme strategies and activities;
•  Partners and other stakeholders provide positive feedback on advisory services;
•  Quality reports and timely submission;
•  Quality monitoring and reporting;
•  Increased awareness of UN Women’s work;
•  Quality knowledge products;
•  Resources mobilized;
•  UN Women is seen as a leader in women’s economic empowerment;
•  Increased cooperation and communication between country offices;
•  Timely and quality advice and support to Regional Offices and Multi-Country Offices.

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.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

Functional Competencies

•  Excellent programme formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills;
•  Excellent knowledge of results-based management principles and approaches;
•  Ability to develop detailed operational plans, and budgets, and deliver on the development results;
•  Outstanding knowledge of women’s economic empowerment;
•  Ability to lead the formulation of strategies and their implementation;
•  Excellent networking skills;
•  Ability to negotiate and interact with donors, and identify and analyze trends, opportunities, and threats to fundraising.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

•  Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women’s studies, international development, or a related field 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;
•  A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.
•  At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects;
•  Technical experience in women’s economic empowerment;
•  Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset;
•  Experience working in the UN System is an asset;
•  Experience in leading/managing a team.

Language Requirements:

•  Fluency in English is required;
•  Knowledge of Arabic and/or French is an asset;
•  Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset.

Application Information:

•  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;
•  UN Women will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.

Very important note: In accordance with the UN Staff Regulation 4.5 (b) A temporary appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal. A temporary appointment shall not be converted to any other type of appointment. This temporary appointment is budgeted for a maximum term of 364 days.

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.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check).