Programme Assistant the Spotlight Initiative in Tajikistan

Contract

This is a SB-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Service Board / Service Contract. It is normally only for nationals. More about SB-3 contracts.

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, 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.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG): violence against women is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in the world today and is a major obstacle to the fulfilment of women’s and girls’ human rights and development and therefore a threat to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Although the Constitution of Tajikistan guarantees equal rights to both men and women and principle of non-discrimination is enshrined in the legislation, Tajikistan has the lowest gender parity index (0.679) in the region and despite progress and evidence of important advancement in the last decade, harmful social norms and practices continue to perpetuate gender inequality. This gender inequality fuels the high levels of VAWG, which remains one of the most widespread human rights abuses in Tajikistan. It is pervasive, and a large proportion of married women throughout Tajikistan report experiencing spousal violence. However, exact figures are not available due to underreporting, the lack of a harmonized system of data collection and reporting. Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is aggravated by a high tolerance to violence, with low levels of help-seeking registered. In addition, despite being illegal, harmful practices are often linked to domestic violence, including polygamy, and unregistered, and forced and child marriages remains unchecked.

In response to this situation, the United Nations (UN) in partnership with the European Union (EU) are embarking on a global, multi-year initiative focused on eliminating all forms of VAWG – the Spotlight Initiative in Tajikistan (SPT). The initiative will deploy targeted, large-scale investments in a focused number of countries, including Tajikistan, aimed at achieving significant impact in the lives of women and girls. The Initiative will ensure that all women and girls benefit from adequate legislation and policies, gender responsive institutions, violence prevention programmes, essential services, comparable and reliable data, and strong women’s movements and civil society organizations.

In Tajikistan, UN WOMEN jointly with UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and local partners have developed a comprehensive Spotlight Initiative Country Programme based on key six programmatic pillars: 1) Laws and Policies; 2) Institutions; 3) Prevention and Social Norms; 4) Services; 5) Data; and 6) Women’s movement. All components envisage close cooperation with Civil Society Organizations.

The Programme aims to effect change at the individual and inter-personal level, while shifting institutional practices and social norms which are more gender equitable and supporting legal and policy improvements and enforcement of existing legislation on VAWG, in line with international human rights standards.

The overall vision of the Spotlight Initiative in Tajikistan is that women and girls enjoy their right to a life free of violence. The Programme is grounded on the core principle of leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first. The interventions have been designed to target women and girls, including most marginalized (rural, poor, with disabilities), at higher-risk of sexual and gender-based violence and groups that face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.

The activities are being implemented in Sogd, Khatlon regions and DRS at regional level and in Dushanbe at national level. UN Women will implement activities under all 6 Pillars (or Components), with special focus on development of new National Action Plan on prevention and response to SGBV, supported by evidence based information and violence costing; capacity building of the institutions on SGBV issues; strengthening prevention activities with local experts and CSOs; contributing to CSOs’ capacity to act as human rights ‘watch-dog’ in monitoring proper case management by related service providers; and strengthening the movement of WROs, supporting women rights organizations’ capacity and networking activity. Substantial focus will be done on engaging with and local Communities in their efforts on eliminating VAWG.

Reporting to National Programme Coordinator on EVAW, the Programme Assistant will make valuable contribution to the effective management of the programme by providing substantive inputs to programme planning, design, formulation, implementation and evaluation, reporting of the Spotlight Initiative’s planned activities under UN Women Tajikistan Annual Work Plan(s)/ SPT, as well as cooperation and coordination with state, civil society and UN partners, as this is a large multi-stakeholder project, and a full-time dedicated team is required to implement the programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide substantive technical support in the planning, implementation and management of the SPT

• Be responsible for the timely and quality implementation of the AWPs/SPT according to indicators for achieving planned results and in line with prevailing UN Women rules, regulations and procedures;
• Contribute to implementation of the SPT work-plan, periodic narrative progress reports and expenditures status reports;
• S/he will participate in the programme events, providing related minutes/ mission reports and observing necessary follow-up;
• When required, support National Programme Coordinator on EVAW to coordinate the implementing partners;
• Record and maintain documents on relevant Programme activities, issues, and risks.

Provide technical inputs to the monitoring and reporting activity of the office on the programmatic work within the assigned area/portfolio

• Contribute to gathering and compiling all information necessary for monitoring and reporting on SPT from the planning to the evaluation stages in compliance with indicators of the SPT’s JotForms Platforms;
• Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of donor and UN Women reports e.g., quarterly reports, annual reports;
• Provide inputs from programme activities and results to Tajikistan PP and Regional Office reporting;
• Support National Programme Coordinator on EVAW in monitoring the implementation of activities and the expenditure of funds under Spotlight Initiative Programme; conduct regular monitoring visits, including in the fields, as required;
• Support monitoring of the achievement of expected results.

Provide substantive technical inputs to the management of finances of Spotlight Initiative programme

• Provide inputs to the programme budget revisions, and expenditure tracking and reporting;
• Provide inputs to budget delivery and the efficient use of financial resources, including budgeting and budget revisions, as well as expenditure tracking and reporting;
• Support the office in coordination of the submission of implementing partners’ financial and narrative reports;
• Monitor the allocation and disbursement of funds to participating partners.

Provide substantive inputs to building partnerships strategies

• Provide substantive inputs to the development of programme partnership mobilization strategies.
• Provide support for effective partnership, networking and coordination between other ongoing UN Women projects and activities in the country for a more holistic and coherent approach to the portfolio implementation;
• Support conducting of meetings, workshops, conferences and related activities relevant to the overall SPT implementation; when requested, act on behalf of UN Women during the meetings and conferences;
• Support activity related to capacity building of partners through technical assistance, mentoring, training, as per Programme Action Plan.

Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts

• Ensure timely and proper documentation of the SPT implementation process and knowledge products produced in accordance with the UN Women guides;
• Contribute to the exchange of information and provide inputs to the development of knowledge products internally and externally and infilling the knowledge management matrix;
• S/he will assist in drafting outreach materials, including fact sheets, infographics, information for webpages;
• Support the organization of major advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops of SPT.

Competencies

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality substantive inputs programme strategies and activities;
• Timely and quality substantive inputs to workplans and budgets;
• Adherence to UN Women standards and rules;
• Timely monitoring and tracking of programme results and finances;
• Good working relationship with partners, stakeholders and the project team;
• Timely organization of events;
• Quality of knowledge and advocacy products.

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication and ability to listen all parties and to facilitate the process for mutual satisfaction and consensus
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and in a team

Functional Competencies

• Strong knowledge of thematic area
• Knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them
• Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making
• Strong analytical skills, ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform on management and strategic decision-making
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view.

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 or a Bachelor’s degree with an additional two years of experience.
• A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 2 years (4 years for candidates with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience in development programme/project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building;
• Knowledge and experience in providing oversight for implementation of GBV response services, including managing implementation of civil society organizations around EVAW
• Experience in similar intervention like the Spotlight Initiative is an asset;
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in oral and written English, Tajik and Russian is required.
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset;

Applications:

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment;

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