Gender Programme Specialist (Joint Programme Coordinator)-NO3, Fixed-Term, Kathmandu, Nepal #124165 (Only for Nepalese nationals)

Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

Organization/Office Strategic Context:

SDG goal Area 5 on Gender equality is a key cross-cutting priority for the work of the United Nations globally, including in Nepal. To move the gender transformation agenda forward in Nepal, the UN in Nepal is partnering with the European Union in Nepal on an innovative Joint Programme on Gender Empowerment. The four-year UN-EU Joint Programme (JP) titled Empowered Women, Prosperous Nepal (Shashakta Mahila, Sambridhha Nepal) will be co-convened by the United Nations and the European Union and implemented by four UN agencies (UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, and ILO) in close coordination with the Government of Nepal, with UNICEF serving as the Lead Participating UN Organization (PUNO) for this Joint Programme. The joint programme will run from 2023 to 2026, in three provinces: Madhesh, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim.

The JP aims to address the formal and informal barriers that women and girls face in exercising their human rights. It strives to ensure that target groups are identified not only as action targets, but also as key contributors and empowered change agents. Women and girls, men and boys, people who are non-gender conforming, households, community actors / networks, formal institutions, relevant social, economic, and political actors in project intervention areas will be among the target groups. The programme has three goals:

1. Engage men and boys, families, and communities to exhibit more gender-equitable behaviors, as well as support for good social and gender norms that promote Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE), leading to increased agency and voice of women and girls.
2. Assure equal access to economic, labor, and social rights for women, men, girls, and boys in all their diversity.
3. Assist institutions in achieving gender equality in all spheres, in line with regional and global normative frameworks.

How can you make a difference?

On behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator and UNICEF as the Lead PUNO for the Joint Programme and in close collaboration with the participating UN agencies, the post will coordinate the Joint Programme among participating UN agencies. The position will further be heading the Joint Programme Coordination Unit (JPCU) established under the UN Resident Coordinator’s office to coordinate the Joint Program.

The position will be housed in the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, with dual reporting lines to the Head of the UN Resident Coordinator ‘s Office, P5 and the UNICEF Deputy Representative Programme, P5. In addition, the incumbent will supervise two other positions, Monitoring and Evaluation officer N02 and Communications Officer NO2.

The Gender programme coordinator will provide authoritative leadership and technical guidance and operational support to all PUNOs throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the effective programme implementation and day to day management and delivery of results. S/he also plays a key role in ensuring maximization of synergies of the Joint programme with other ongoing or upcoming programmes, as well as efficiency in utilization of resources and delivery of results. S/He will Support effective review, assessment, planning, capacity building, and knowledge management on the programme. The incumbent will also ensure up to date financial planning and utilization as well as periodic report writing. The JPCU will also provide secretariat services for the programme steering committee and in liaising with the relevant government ministries.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Coordinate programme rollout:

Organize regular meetings with UN Implementing Agencies EU and RC office according to the established schedule. This will include timely distribution of minutes and action point follow-up, and updates of the progress /reporting.

Facilitate coordination for effective functioning of programme governance structures in close collaboration with PUNOs'

Coordination and organization of Joint Field Missions in programme provinces, as well as consultation with government counterparts and stakeholders.

Prepare/review joint work plans, annual work plans, and budgets based on programme activities reviewed during the inception phase in collaboration with PUNOs. The detailed programme work-plans should include all programme activities as well as the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders, as well as the programme document's corresponding milestones.

In collaboration with PUNOs, facilitate programme result framework review meetings to reflect baseline findings and incorporate any changes from the inception phase and intermittent review/assessments during the programme implementation.

Based on the inputs/findings from the inception phase, review and update the communication and visibility plan in collaboration with the implementing agencies.

Lead programme implementation, management, monitoring and delivery of results:

Manage and monitor programme progress, identify risks, and further analysis of programme risks and context to inform programme activities and propose necessary changes and improvements.

Ensure that gender equality is articulated in programme indicators in collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation officer.

Ensuring that programme activities adhere to existing financial, procurement, and administrative processes that are in accordance with current UNICEF rules and regulations, while also adhering to programme timelines, and other requirements of the Contribution Agreement signed with the EU.

Provide technical and coordination assistance to technical committee co-chairs in organizing technical committee meetings and follow-up coordination and actions.

Organize and participate in Steering Committee and Technical Committee meetings, prepare meeting minutes, follow up on the meeting decisions and their implementation and distribute to SC members by providing technical and coordination support to the Co-chairs of the Steering Committee and Technical committee Secretariats

Work with PUNOs and Monitoring and evaluation officer to incorporate sound indicators and measures in programme initiatives, including advocacy efforts.

Support the strengthening of data systems and collection, as well as accountability mechanisms to monitor and evaluate progress on programme results

Collaborate closely with the evaluation officer to integrate data collection, tracking, analysis, and reporting on program indicators into program results and performance benchmarks into M&E systems.

Participate in the strengthening of the quality of research and evidence-building on gender-related programming, by supporting the bringing in of the latest learning and insights from the field of gender and development, and supporting the input of a coherent, well-prioritized research agenda

Provide technical support and guidance to PUNOs and other country-level and local-level partners on aspects of gender programming and Support implementing/operational partners to ensure effective, gender-inclusive programming.

Work with the Finance officer to ensure that budgets are disbursed on time and that funds are used in accordance the contribution agreement signed with the EU and additional elaborations/guidelines communicated thereupon and relevant records are maintained justifying the transparency of the funds. Compile periodic financial reports in accordance with the programme agreement.

Advocacy, networking and partnership building:

Maintaining collaborative working relationships with key programme partners and donors via effective communication, consultation, and reporting.

Links were established with other relevant programmes/initiatives, and synergy and complementarity were ensured.

Liaise and consult with other external partners (civil society, NGOs, academia/research organizations, think tanks, private sector) to support convergence, and develop and reinforce partnerships in gender empowerment programming.

Support building and maintenance of internal and external partnerships and networks in the development of harmonized, gender-transformative programme interventions.

Support building and maintenance of strategic alliances for gender transformation with various partners, including institutional links with UN agencies and other relevant entities.

Represent the programme, as necessary, in external discussions about gender transformation, and relevant coordination bodies at the inter-agency level (gender theme group or other networks), and participate as the secretary of programme steering committee and technical committee meetings. Support the integration of gender transformation principles into sectoral and cross-sectoral frameworks, such as UN Country Team meetings and UNSDCF planning sessions.

Support the documentation and sharing of country-level gender transformation experiences, including lessons learned, which will be shared with internal and external partners and used for South-South cooperation.

Assist PUNOs in developing technical and research capacity in order to build an evidence base for programming and ensure continuous capacity in gender transformation at the country level.

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education: Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in the social sciences (i.e. sociology, demography, psychology, political science, social policy or economics), public health, public policy, public administration, international development, or in an area relevant to UNICEF’s sectoral work (e.g. Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection, Social Inclusion, HIV/AIDs, etc.). Academic credentials in gender are a strong asset.

Experience: Minimum five years of progressively responsible professional leadership experience and demonstrated track record of having undertaken and led substantive programming and research on gender and development. Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes/programmes on gender and development or any other cross-cutting programme, especially at the country/field level, experience is an asset.

Language Requirements: Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills are required in both English and Nepali. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

Please visit the given link to view the Job Description of this post: Specific JD - Gender Programme Specialist (Joint Programme Coordinator).pdf

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (CRITA) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Nurtures leads and manages people (1)

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2) Works Collaboratively with others (2) Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2) Innovates and Embraces Change (2) Thinks and Acts Strategically (2) Drive to achieve impactful results (2) Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles 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.

Remarks:

UN/UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to delivering the best programme results. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates, candidates from under-represented ethnic groups/caste and person with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

NB:

This Joint UN-EU project is for a specific period of four years. The contract type will be a fixed-term appointment for an initial period of one year, renewable upon eligibility considerations at that point but not exceeding a total of four years.