Job Description

Location :  Kathmandu, NEPAL
Application Deadline : 13-Jun-16 (Midnight New York, USA)
Time left : 11d 20h 52m
Type of Contract : Service Contract
Post Level : SB-5
Languages Required : English 
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 11-Jul-2016
Duration of Initial Contract : One year (with possibility of extension)

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the overall guidance of the UN Women Nepal’s Representative, and direct supervision of the Deputy Representative, the Programme Officer will be responsible for planning, implementing, and managing UN Women interventions under his/her portfolio, which covers UN Women’s programming in strengthening governance, national planning and institutionalization of GRB system at national and local level to fully reflect accountability for gender equality. The Programme Officer will manage UN Women initiatives on governance, gender-responsive planning, budgeting and monitoring, CEDAW implementation and Beijing + 20 in line with the Nepal Country Office Strategic Note (SN) and Annual Work Plan (AWP) 2014-17. 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.

Ensures effective implementation of programme strategies:

• Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country related to the thematic/sectoral areas assigned and preparation of substantive inputs to the UN Women country office programme planning in those areas;
• Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme interventions;
• Identification of areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned;
• Identification of programme risks and updating the status of these risks. Develop contingency plans as necessary;
• Strategically position the GRB work in national contexts in line with the reform agenda in public and private sector, budgeting, aid management, and UN reform  at country level;
• Support the application of GRB to address gender gaps within UN WOMEN’s strategic priority areas;
• Design and formulation of programme initiatives within the area of responsibility, translating UN Women’s priorities into local interventions;
• Provision of programme advisory support to the Office Management within the thematic area/portfolio assigned.

Ensures effective management of the CO programme:

• Under the guidance and oversight of the supervisor, exercise responsibility for planning, implementation, management, and coordination aspects of the programmes/projects under his/her responsibility;
• Develop research, monitoring and evaluation (MER) plans and facilitate in effective application of RBM tools and monitoring achievement of results;
• Support the management of the portfolio of on-going programmes/projects through technical monitoring and administrative and financial supervision ensuring the proper application of a monitoring system to track progress on program results and indicators;
• Lead programmes/projects appraisal and evaluation according to results-based management requirements under close guidance by the supervisor;
• Provide support to coordinate and supervise the activities of programme staff, projects staff, experts and consultants working as part of the technical assistance team;
• Responsible for the timely preparation and quality control of all substantive technical reports, briefs and required documents;
• Ensure timely production and submission of all progress reports by all members of the project team, contractors and project partners;
• Conduct field visits to supervise, coordinate and monitor field level activities of portfolio.

Advocacy for and support to UN coordination, joint-programming and reform:

• Provide substantive support to the Representative and Deputy Representative on inter-agency coordination related activities;
• Advocate in the field of governance, gender responsive planning and budgeting and implementation of normative frameworks on gender equality, and provide advice in the identification of national partners and lead the discussions on partnership arrangements;
• Take part in country level Comprehensive Country Assessment (CCA)/UNDAF processes and similar exercises related to the RC system ensuring that gender concerns are clearly reflected and mainstreamed in process;
• Prepare substantive inputs to CCA/ UNDAF and other documents thoroughly analyzing and researching the political, social and economic situation in the region;
• Support the implementation of joint programmes as relevant;
• Participate in relevant working group meetings to provide GEWE inputs and in relevant UNDAF Outcome Steering Groups.

Strategic partnerships building and resource mobilization support:

• Provide support to implement the office partnerships and resources mobilization strategy to achieve programme outcomes within the areas assigned;
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with the relevant UN agencies, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society etc;
• Determine programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UN Women, country needs and donors’ priorities;
• Update the partnership matrix, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing;
• Follow up on resource mobilization activities for fund raising for new projects in coordination with the UN Women Representative and Deputy Representative in the area of governance.

Facilitation of knowledge building and management:

• Identify sources of information related to policy-driven issues, and systhesize best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme policy goals to guide programme improvements and future strategic development planning;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice; stocktaking and mapping of UN Women’s programme experience and lessons learnt relating to gender responsive peace building and budgeting;
• Support partners and stakeholders in capacity development activities to enhance knowledge and skills in results based management, results based reporting and budgeting, and systematic quality assurance;
• Proactively contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Integrity: Demonstrate 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 and valuing diversity: Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.
• Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative.
• Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
• Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.
• Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.
• Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.
• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of developmement programmes and projects;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead resource mobilization;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions;
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal change;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Good planning, goal setting and prioritization skills;
• Ability to lead and inspire team and partners toward shared goals;
• Good inter-personal and diplomacy skills;
• Capacity to write clearly and concisely;
• Ability to take decision under pressure and to deal with matters that are politically and cultural sensitive;
• Ability to work across multi-cultural context and build partnership to ensure achievement of results in a post conflict environment;
• Demonstrates sensitivity, discretion, tact and courtesy in relation to gender equality and women's rights, development principles, implementing partners, and national and international personnel of varied nationalities and backgrounds;
• Commitment to upholding the organizational values and principles of UN Women;
• High level of proficiency in computer systems, internet navigation and various office applications.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree in International Development Studies, Gender/Women’s Studies, Human Rights, or in other related Social Sciences.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years relevant experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects in the field of gender responsive governance and women’s human rights;
• Experience of working with or exposure of government planning, programming and budgeting processes at national and or local level is an added advantage;
• Sound knowledge of international standards on gender equality and women’s empowerment and related instruments;
• Experience of working with I/NGO and/or UN organizations is desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in oral and written Nepali and English essential.