Ending Violence against Women-Response Programme Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most serious, life threatening and widespread violations of human rights worldwide. In Asia and the Pacific, the levels of intimate partner violence remain unacceptably high. Over 37 per cent of women in South Asia, 34 per cent of women in South East Asia and up to 48 per cent of women in the Pacific have experienced violence at the hands of their partners. Violence against women and girls occurs at home, in workplaces, in public spaces and online, and can culminate in femicide, the murder of women and girls.

Violence against women devastates lives, fractures families and communities. Diverse groups of women suffer from multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and inequalities, making them especially vulnerable to violence. Those vulnerability factors include age, ethnicity, poverty, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, indigeneity, nationality, immigration status and other factors. VAWG impedes human development and has serious negative consequences, ranging from multiple immediate to long-term physical, sexual and psychological impacts, which often prevent women and girls from fully participating in society. VAWG significantly undermines women’s educational and employment opportunities, income earning capability and advancement in the workplace, which greatly limits their economic development. It is a major impediment to women’s empowerment, gender equality and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Violence against women is firmly rooted in gender inequality, discrimination and harmful cultural and social norms. It is firmly grounded in unequal power relations between women and men and is reinforced by discriminatory and gender-biased attitudes, norms and practices. Deeply ingrained patriarchal, cultural and religious norms in society and institutions place a lower value on women and girls and contribute to high levels of acceptance of violence by both men and women. The widespread cultural acceptance of violence allows it to continue, often unchallenged.

VAWG is exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic, other emergencies, and periods of conflict. At a time when service providers are less available, violence is worsening for many women and girls in the region.

In order to effectively respond to VAWG, it is critical to ensure the quality, integrated and survivor-centered multi-sectoral essential services to be provided by the health, social services, police and justice sectors. The Essential Services Package was developed by UN Women, UNFPA, WHO, UNDP and UNODC to provide greater access to a coordinated set of essential and quality multi-sectoral services for all women and girls who have experienced VAWG.

The officer will support work focused on responding to VAWG. This will include workstreams related to the Essential Services Package, ICT-facilitated violence, linkages between women’s economic empowerment and VAWG, sexual harassment, VAWG administrative data, VAWG/GBV across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, and ASEAN-UN Women collaboration initiatives on VAWG. In addition, the officer will assist with developing materials related to resource mobilization, communication and partnership development.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of EVAW Regional Programme Manager or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Ending Violence against Women Response Programme Officer will:

The officer will be supervised by the EVAW Regional Programme Manager.

The purpose of this assignment is to support the Ending Violence against Women unit in the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and Pacific through coordinating with partners; research; drafting proposals, concept notes for activities, briefs and presentations; monitoring and reporting on progress; as well as support the implementation of the EVAW programming and technical support to country offices in the region. This assignment is expected to be full-time and based in UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand.

• Research, Knowledge Management and Documentation: • Assist in preparation of knowledge resources, communications and background material for internal and external use, including concept notes and fact sheets on thematic issues • Support planning, coordination and monitoring of research and training materials such as on prevention, response, and monitoring guidance (coordination, planning and technical inputs and review), often in coordination with specialists on contract. • Support, review, contribute to, and edit research and knowledge products such as publications, narrative reports, research reports, evaluation reports etc. on Ending Violence against Women • Collate and organize knowledge resources, including for purposes of project filing and record keeping, and facilitate dissemination of knowledge resources (for instance through the organisation of webinars) • Provide support to resource mobilization efforts with the drafting of concept notes, briefings notes, talking points and other documents as needed

• Project planning, implementation and monitoring: • Support VAWG prevention and response efforts in the region, sharing resources and guidance, coordination, planning and support to countries, with regular coordination with HQ • Support the implementation of EVAW programming, including organisation of meetings and events, support to country offices and coordination with UN Women partners such as ASEAN • Draft presentations, meeting minutes, and briefs for and from workshops, meetings and consultations with stakeholders. • Support monitoring, reporting and evaluation of EVAW programming (regional and direct country programming in select countries)
• Support coordination among countries in the region on EVAW work and organize dialogues based on country interest • Use of project-level monitoring tools to track progress and inform unit reporting throughout the year

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs

As an active UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UN Woman Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: 1. Support and organize a series of webinars for UN Women offices in the Asia-Pacific region 1.1 Documentation of completed webinars such as emails, notes, summaries, webinar recordings, PowerPoint presentations, participants list, agendas 2. Support prevention efforts in the region, through technical assistance coordination and support to countries 2.1 Documentation of coordination, planning and support to partners and countries on prevention such as calls, emails, planning and tracking documents. 2.2 Inputs to VAWG response and prevention related research and project documents such as concept notes, terms of reference, presentations.
3. Support the implementation of EVAW programming, including organisation of meetings, webinars and events, support to country offices and coordination with UN Women partners such as ASEAN Coordination and project management
3.1 - Documentation of support to capacity development for VAWG data, including coordination with countries, partners, officers (calls and emails), concept notes, inputs to training materials (agenda and PowerPoints). 3.2 Drafted briefing notes, presentations, concept notes, talking points, minutes and notes. 3.3 Summary of support provided to countries such as calls, information and knowledge sharing 3.4 Documentation of coordination with partners such as emails, inputs to concept notes, project documents, organisation of calls, minutes 3.5 Drafted briefing notes, presentations, concept notes, talking points, minutes and notes 4. Support planning and implementation of research, guidance and training materials 4.1 Documentation of coordination and planning with researchers and partners such as emails and planning/tracking documents. 4.2 Drafted concept notes, terms of references, presentations, briefs 4.3 Edited technical inputs and reviewed research documents and drafts 5. Provide support to resource mobilization efforts 5.1 Drafted concept notes, briefing notes, talking points, PowerPoints and other documents to demonstrate the support provided for resource mobilization efforts. 6. Support monitoring, reporting and evaluation of EVAW programme (regional component Project planning and monitoring
6.1 Drafted EVAW programming donor annual narrative report 6.2 Documentation of coordination and planning support to the review of EVAW programming 6.3 Drafting and inputs to UN Women quarterly, annual, and donor reporting 6.1 – May 2022, March 2023

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

international development, gender studies, social science, social work or other related area. • Relevant experience in research and program development and implementation on gender equality and violence against women and girls. • Experience working in the field of violence against women/gender-based violence in the development and/or humanitarian setting is an advantage. • Experience with proposal writing, donor reporting and resource mobilization is an asset. • Experience working on or in the Asia-Pacific region is an asset. • Fluency in English.

The officer will be based at the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand and provided with a desk and a computer. This officer may be expected to travel on mission as needed within the Asia-Pacific region. Travel costs and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) will be provided by UN Women if and when needed in line with UN standard rates applied at that time. Travel Authorization will be granted to the officer prior to the travel date and airfare will be provided by UN Women.