Regional Project Coordination Specialist, Ending Violence Against Women at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

• Under the guidance of the Policy and Programme Management Specialist, (EVAW HQ) and the direct supervision of the ESARO Regional Policy Specialist (EVAW), the Regional Project Coordination Specialist is responsible for the coordination and implementation of all regional components of the new EU programme that UN Women is implementing with the UN Trust Fund. This includes, establishing, nurturing and managing partnerships with regional women’s rights and feminist coalitions, other development actors and multistakeholder partners to advance a shared advocacy agenda on ending violence against women and girls. They will provide technical guidance and support to civil society organizations (CSOs) and women’s rights organizations (WROs) on advocacy strategies, coordinating and convening advocacy spaces and coalition building at the regional level and leverage opportunities to elevate and amplify advocacy priorities at the global level. The Regional Project Coordination Specialist will also oversee all knowledge generation and research that is undertaken in the region as part of this initiative, ensuring the technical quality of all regional advocacy and knowledge products. The Regional Project Coordination Specialist will also be responsible for ensuring progress against the results framework, performance indicators and the monitoring and reporting of the financial situation and personnel of the programme to ensure delivery rates, targets and results are on track.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions:

Coordinate the EVAW Programme focused on strengthening women’s rights movements, coalition building and advocacy to end violence against women and girls:

• Coordinate the ESARO Programme work plan development and implementation according to programme document;
• Liaise with the Regional Policy Specialist for EVAW, global and regional counterparts, donors, UN Women and partners to ensure the Programme results are achieved and resources are managed;
• Prepare regional presentation of work-plans, periodic narrative progress reports and expenditures status reports to the Programme Board and UN Women;
• Establish systems for project planning, implementation and monitoring, in collaboration with partners;
• Record and maintain documents on relevant Programme activities, issues, and risks.
• Guide coordination with regional partners and other stakeholders:

Coordinate relationships with regional partners and country-level stakeholders in the region to support implementation and expansion of the Programme, raise potential problems and provide solutions;

• Provide guidance to partners on establishment of performance indicators, and monitoring achievement of results;
• Identify capacity development needs and support partners through technical assistance, mentoring, training, cross-partner learning, and capacity development initiatives.
• Coordinate the monitoring and reporting on the Programme/Portfolios:

Gather and compile all information necessary for monitoring and reporting on programmes and projects from the planning to the evaluation stages;

• Monitor the implementation of activities and the expenditure of funds by partners; conduct regular monitoring visits;
• Write annual and quarterly reports for the region; review and coordinate the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports;
• Provide inputs from programme activities and results to ESARO reporting.
• Manage financial resources and supervise staff:

Supervise and manage a team of administrative staff, review performance and mentor/ coach staff;

• Coordinate development and preparation of financial resources of the Programme including budgeting and budget revisions, and expenditure tracking and reporting;
• Oversee and monitor the allocation and disbursement of funds to participating partners.
• Build partnerships and support in developing resource mobilization strategies:

Provide technical support to the development of partnerships and resource mobilization strategies;

• Identify potential programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UN Women, regional needs and donors’ priorities and develop the relevant partnerships.
• Advocate and facilitate knowledge building and management and communication:

Ensure documentation of the programme implementation process and products produced are in accordance with UN Women guidelines;

• Contribute to the exchange of information and knowledge products internally and externally of the programme;
• Organize major advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products.
• Oversee the design of research, policy advocacy and campaigning initiatives and the development of relevant knowledge products under the programme:

Oversee any regional research initiatives in line with the programme document to advance advocacy priorities of women’s rights and feminist organizations;

• Research, develop and present analytical reports, research papers, briefing notes, background papers, summaries, correspondence, and knowledge products on ending violence against women and girls in their diversity;
• Work with women’s rights and feminist organizations, other partners, HQ and communications team to develop, design and implement advocacy actions and campaigns to advance the priorities of the programme;
• Work closely with and provide advice to global/regional/ national bodies and interagency groups to influence policies, resolutions and other outcomes related to EVAW and women’s rights movements and where necessary represent UN Women;
• Identify promising practices, technical expertise, and strategic opportunities in ending violence against women and strengthening women’s rights and feminist movements in the region.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Timely and quality implementation of Programme activities against set workplans, timelines and budgets, in line with the Strategic Note and Programme Document;
• Quality and timely reporting;
• Strong relations with partners and stakeholders;
• Regular and timely monitoring of activities;
• Timely and quality implementation of advocacy events in line with work plan;
• Enhanced best practices and lessons learned documented and circulated.

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:

• Strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills;
• Strong budget and finance skills;
• Strong knowledge of Results Based Management;
• Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports in order to inform management and strategic decision-making;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Good knowledge of UN programme management systems.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in public administration, law, human rights, gender equality, management, social sciences or other related areas 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 (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in managing complex and multi-component programme interventions with national and/or regional partners, preferably related to ending violence against women and girls;
• Experience the field of ending violence against women and girls is required, preferably in East and Southern Africa;
• Experience in coordinating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating development programmes and projects is required;
• Strong knowledge of and experience working with women’s rights and feminist organizations in the region is required.
• Previous experience working in the UN system is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of another UN official working language is desirable.