Programme Officer (Governance)

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations System efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of National priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with government, civil society and other relevant actors.

In Nepal, UN Women focuses on strengthening women’s voice, agency and leadership across sectors to advance women’s rights, provide space for women’s meaningful participation and to demonstrate tangible differences in their lives. The agency’s programme adopts a holistic and integrated approach across UN Women’s five thematic priorities. It is guided by Nepal’s stated priorities (including those from the Approach Paper to the Three-Year Plan 2013-2016) and its commitments to relevant normative frameworks, the country’s United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2013-2017, the CEDAW Concluding Observations (2011) and UN Women’s Corporate Strategic Plan 2014-2017. The programme promotes national ownership, capacity development and institutionalization, inclusiveness, coordination and partnerships, and knowledge generation and management, and seeks to prioritize engagement with and support to key duty bearers who are responsible for advancing women’s human rights and with rights holders so they can exercise voice and agency.

The Governance and Leadership (G&L) Unit of UN Women is responsible for providing technical support to government, development partners and civil society organizations in the areas of governance, women’s leadership and participation, and gender responsive planning, budgeting and monitoring, women’s access to justice, Convention of the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) implementation and monitoring, Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and Beijing + 20 follow up in line with the Nepal Country Office Strategic Note and Annual Work Plan (AWP) 2014-17.

Under the overall guidance and direction of the Programme Specialist (Governance and Leadership Unit), the Programme Officer provides programme support to the effective management of the governance component of G&L unit in the Country Office by contributing in the programme design, formulation, implementation and evaluation. S/he supports the delivery of the programme by analyzing results achieved during implementation and supporting appropriate application of systems and procedures.  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. The programme officer also provides support for the effective implementation of the UN Women and UNDP Joint-Project entitled “Localizing Women Peace and Security Agenda in Central Terai districts of Nepal” financed under Peacebuilding Funds Immediate Response facility (IRF) in the framework of second Gender Promotion Initiative (GPI II).

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1325 and 1820.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Effective implementation of programme strategies and management of programme;
• Quality assurance of programme and financial management in accordance with UN Women’s Programme and Operation Manual;
• Strategic partnerships with the government, donor and civil society organizations in the area of governance and leadership;
• Technical advisory services to UN Women and facilitation of knowledge building and management.

Ensure effective implementation of programme strategies and management of programme

• Analysis and systhesis of proposals in the areas of governance, gender responsive planning and budgeting, CSW and Beijing + 20, and Women, Peace and Security  agenda including NAP on UNSCRs 1325 and 1820;
• Support in the development of the programme portfolio on Governance;
• Support to prepare detailed annual and quarterly work-plans and ensure timely implementation of the programme activities in accordance with the work plan
• Support implementation of programmes/project under Governance and leadership unit, i.e. preparation of the Gender Equality policy, LGCD Programme;
• Support the effective implementation of the UN Women and UNDP Joint-Project entitled “Localizing Women Peace and Security Agenda in Central Terai districts of Nepal” which focuses on enhancing gender responsive planning and budgeting principles and processess at the local level for better implementation and monitoring of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (UNSCRs 1325 and 1820);
•  Support to develop research, monitoring and evaluation (MER) plans and facilitate in effective application of RBM tools, and regular monitoring and tracking of programme results;
• Assist the supervisor in identifing programme risks and update the status of these risks. Develop contingency plans as necessary;
• Organise joint monitoring field visits and ensure that the recommendations received from the field visits are incorporated by other agencies in their activities;
• Support in timely preparation of progress reports and submission to the donor and government as per their requirements;
• Facilitates collaborative relationships with other UN agencies, experts, government counterparts ensuring timely and efficient delivery of inputs related to assigned portfolio.

Quality assurance of programme and financial management in accordance with UN Women’s Programme and Operation Manual.

• Support effective, timely and qualitative implementation of all programme activities aligning to the programme;
• Support to carry out coordination, management and monitoring of financial, administrative, human resources, procurement and logistical matters according to UN Women’s standard criteria;
• Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions; participation in audit.

Strategic partnerships with the government, donor and civil society organizations in the area of governance, and leadership:

• Contribute to the development of appropriate working relations with key stakeholders on relevant aspects of the programme;
• Coordinate with the respective partners and other relevant government agencies for programme linkages, leverage and synergy;
• Supports strategic partnerships and resource mobilization efforts by researching relevant documentation, and participating in donor meetings and public information events;
• Ensure effective information flow, communication and coordination with and between UN Women office, partner UN agencies, and implementing partners;
• Contribute to CCA/ UNDAF processes and other documents by collecting substantive inputs form the Programme Unit and analyzing and researching the political, social and economic situation in the country;
• Represent UN Women in the UNDAF Outcome Steering Group.

Technical advisory services to UN Women and 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 knolwdge and skills in results based management, results based reporting and budgeting, and systematic quality assurance.

Core values / guiding principles:

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:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Shares knowledge and experience through promotion of participatory learning process;
• Works actively towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas; and acts on learning plans and applies newly acquired skills;
• Demonstrated team management and coordination skills;
• Experience managing the project at the district level will be an asset;
• Result oriented, forward thinking and problem solving skills;
• Ability to deliver in a complex and hardship environment.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to perform a variety of tasks related to programme development and resource mobilization;
• Good knowledge of rights-based approach and result-based management;
• Ability to generate innovative ideas and approaches, and to provide inputs in  developing programme policies and strategies;
• A good understanding of UN’s programme, finance and operational procedures will be an asset.

Self-Management and Leadership:

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Ability to lead program management and implementation;
• 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;
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback.

Other skills:

• 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.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s) in social sciences, political or international affairs (i.e. international development studies, gender/women's studies, and human rights).

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in the field of governance;
• Expertise and experience in gender responsive planning and budgeting principles and processess at the national and local level in the post conflict peace building setting;
• Knowledge and experience of CSW, and Beijing+20, and women peace and security issues  including the implementation of the NAP on UNSCRs 1325 and 1820;
• Sound knowledge of international standards on gender equality and women’s empowerment and related instruments;
• Prior experience of working with UN agencies will be an asset;
• A proven ability to liaise with a myriad of stakeholders and partners, including government, civil society, international organizations and grassroots organizations;
• Good knowledge of rights-based approach and result-based management;
• Excellent knowledge of English and Nepali, both written and spoken;
• Good knowledge of local languages is an asset

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of English and Nepali, both written and spoken.