Programme Officer, Women Entrepreneurship

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.

The country office in the Kyrgyz Republic, where WFP has established its presence since 2008, was among the first to complete WFP’s gender transformative programmes (GTP). Having implemented together with IFAD, FAO and UN Women the Rural Women Economic Empowerment Programme, for which the funding support ended in 2021, innovations and the role of women in the economy and female entrepreneurship remains at the core of WFP’s programme, currently developing its 2nd generation Country Strategic Plan: Already highlighted in the Common Country Analysis, for which WFP drafted the LNOB chapter, and exacerbated by first the pandemic and now the geo-political developments, the socio-economic downturn requires a gender transformative and nutrition-sensitive response, for which WFP positions its activities in shock-responsive and promotive social protection, taking into consideration also climate change when supporting the human capital building and employment creation on and off farms, taking into account the governments preference for digital and sustainable solutions.

Under the direct supervision of Head of Programme, in coordination with the Outcome Managers and Social Protection Advisor as well as the Research | Analysis | Monitoring team, the International UN Volunteer as Programme Officer (Women Entrepreneurship) will undertake the following tasks: • Assume a cross-cutting advisory and support role in coordination and mainstreaming gender equality and protection principles across all programme and project activities. • Actively support designing and implementing programme activities within WFP’s support to the national social protection systems as well as economic recovery through green growth and sustainable food systems that focus on innovation, women empowerment and entrepreneurship; • Contribute to use of digital and emerging technologies and solutions in improving gender sensitivity of WFP programme implementations, especially in Cash-based Transfers (CBT) and digital/financial inclusion efforts in the country programme; • Support gender analyses in WFP programme interventions for regular reports and briefs to donors, partners, media and management and help further enhance the GALS with a nutrition-lens as well as other assessment and analysis tools; • Assist in developing partnership with key stakeholders (state organs, international organizations and NGOs) to promote synergy of WFP activities in the field of women economic empowerment, active labour market and other social protection programmes, incl. by contributing to the action plan of the UN Gender Thematic Group; • Contribute to the capacity building of field staff, implementing partners and state authorities by sharing best practices and knowledge in women empowerment and entrepreneurship in rural livelihoods, food systems and income-generation activities; • Assist in public campaigns and events, including International Women’s Day, the Orange Campaign, 16 Days of Activism and Gender Community, Rural Women's Day to promote women economic empowerment and food security/nutrition related issues; • Promote and facilitate awareness raising on Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and Gender-based violence (GBV) among CO staff, stakeholders, co-operating partners and beneficiaries; • Perform other related duties as required.

Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Building Trust Client Orientation Commitment and Motivation Commitment to Continuous Learning Communication Creativity Empowering Others Ethics and Values Integrity Knowledge Sharing Professionalism Respect for Diversity Technological Awareness Vision Working in Teams

International Relations, Economic Development, Project Management; •Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded; with previous exposure to devel-opment/humanitarian assistance considered an asset; •Excellent skills in Microsoft Office and similar software; •Excellent command of English; Working knowledge of Russian (or Kyrgyz) would be an asset

The Kyrgyz people are well known for their hospitality. While the UNV will be based in Bishkek, a pleasant capital allowing for inexpensive yet good quality life-style, the assignment may include missions to the field, and there is a difference in availability of amenities between urban and rural areas. Winters can be very cold and summers hot, and there is lot of temperature difference in cities like Bishkek and high-altitude mountains. While the UN country team has made investments for COVID-19 treatment support, the health care system lacks modern health care technology, equipment and supplies of Western standards.

Undergoing complicated transition period, the Kyrgyz Republic has a history of turbulent civil unrests (so called revolutions of 2005 and 2010, interethnic conflict in the Southern part of the country in 2010 and recent protests against the October 2020 elections), but the security situation is now calm and stable. The Kyrgyz Republic is located in an active seismic zone. Thus, among the variety of natural hazards, an earthquake has the highest potential to become a natural disaster.