Project Specialist

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.

UN Women Liberia will implement a 2-year project to scale up innovative initiatives that leverage digital and mobile technologies and will allow to enhance the economic empowerment and the resilience to disasters of rural women in Liberia. The overall project goal is to consolidate the results from ongoing innovative initiatives and expand their scope, by scaling-up the individual components of UN Women’s Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment programme that are linked to women’s digital inclusion. Thus, the project will provide critical value addition to these initiatives, through technical expertise, networking and existing infrastructure around digital skills, digital and mobile technology, and digital inclusion, which are critical aspects to ensure that rural women in Liberia are not left behind during the ongoing digital revolution and the post COVID-19 recovery. In particular, the project will allow UN Women and its partners to consolidate the results obtained to date through the BfW initiative, the Rural Women Joint Programme, and the D4RWRD project in Liberia.

The project is supported by Orange Foundation and will be implemented over a period of 2 years (1 January 2021 – 31 December 2023) in 3 counties, namely Lofa, Bong, and Nimba Counties with technical support from Orange Foundation Liberia Country Office in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection; the Ministry of Agriculture; the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, and the Cooperative Development Agency. It is expected that approximately 1,200 women and youth beneficiaries will benefit from the project in Liberia.

The Project Specialist will be based at UNWOMEN and work under the overall guidance of the National Programme Manager on Women’s Economic Empowerment. The Project Specialist: a) engage and coordinate with the national level stakeholders on women’s economic empowerment at all levels; b) contribute to the design of project documents and implementation of any project opportunity under the Women’s Economic Empowerment c) lead implementation and monitoring of interventions of UN Women’s project on “Leveraging Digital Inclusion for the Economic Empowerment and the Resilience to Disasters of Rural Women Smallholders and Entrepreneurs in Liberia” funded by Orange Foundation

The Project Specialistwill report to the National Programme Manager on Women’s Economic Empowerment and work with planning, implementing, and managing UN Women interventions under gender and innovation. The Project Specialist is expected to work in close collaboration with the programme and operations team, UN Women Regional Office, implementing partners as well as donors and civil society ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation under the portfolio.

More specific duties include but not limited to the following:

• Work with Orange Foundation Liberia Country Office to complete the integration of Orange Money (mobile money) as a payment option to the Buy from Women (BFW) digital platform and to liaise with LoneStar MTN mobile money as another payment option. • Organize training workshops for rural women smallholders and entrepreneurs on marketing, networking, and price setting to improve their skills to successfully sell on the BFW digital platform. • Assist in conducting and integrating BFW digital platform registration and trainings with the Women Digital Centers (WDCs) and/or Orange Digital Centers (ODCs). • Work with Buy from Women pilot communities to establish BFW champions – a mentorship program to capacitate a certain number of rural women smallholders and entrepreneurs for them to further support and train others in the digital, financial, and business skills needed to improve access to markets and the use of the BFW platform • Conduct quality assurance and design review of the digital platform. • Assess options for scale up of the BFW platform (e.g., marketing for services provided by rural women, shipping options and include other non-agriculture products to the platform). • Work with Orange Foundation Liberia Country Office to provide quality product pictures to the BFW digital platform.

• Work with Orange Foundation Liberia Country Office to train a new cohort of BFW champions. • In collaboration with Orange Foundation Liberia and based on the quality assurance and design review, implement improvements to the website and application as needed. • Based on the assessment, scale up the BFW platform.
• Assess initiatives implemented by Orange on insurance, risk transfer and disaster risk reduction for replication (e.g., mobile based insurance and savings product in Mali and mobile based weather and climate information) – Orange Foundation and UN Women • Support the development of and the facilitation of capacity building initiatives on disaster risk transfer, financial inclusion, and disaster risk reduction for rural women smallholders and entrepreneurs. • Assist in conduct a feasibility study to set up a community-based risk transfer mechanism (social protection fund) with support from a consultant. • Based on the assessment of Orange initiatives for replication, establish needed partnerships to design and pilot the chosen mobile-based product(s). • Implement the orange energy solar kit in rural households in Buy from Women pilot communities. • Assist in conducting a rapid assessment to establish PAYGo models to promote renewable energy. • Work with Orange Foundation Liberia Country Office to improve the domestic use of energy by providing knowledge and access to resources for rural women to adopt clean and efficient cooking solutions. • In collaboration with Orange Foundation Liberia Country Office and based on the rapid assessment to establish PAYGo models, establish partnerships with relevant stakeholders to design and/or pilot a model.

Coordination of the implementation of the project • In collaboration with the Pillar Manager Contribute to the overall coordination and harmonization of all projects related to gender and innovation • Ensure effective communication among the UN entities, Government agencies, relevant private sector partners, and key Civil Society actors involved in the project including implementing partners, always keeping them abreast of implementation status. • Provide technical assistance to UN Women’s key partners during project implementation. • Ensure project coordination meetings are systemically held and strategic decisions are followed up on. • Ensure synergies with other women’s economic empowerment related initiatives. • Contribute towards increasing the visibility of the projects related to innovation and gender (both at national and field levels)

Project implementation: day-to-day responsibilities • Support the day-to-day management of the projects related to gender and innovation • Provide the necessary support and technical guidance to the project implementation partners to ensure achievement of outputs as per the approved work plan. • Undertake monitoring visits (including joint monitoring) and document findings, lessons learned and recommendations for improved project/programmes delivery. • Support the undertaking tailored needs assessments as well as mobilization and engagement of communities to play a leading role in projects implementation. • Organise activities and provide support to strengthen capacity of project implementation partners—government counterparts, private sector, and CSOs, women’s groups both at national and sub-national levels, organise trainings, workshops, exchange visits in project implementation and the thematic area. • Ensure delivery of project quarterly reports, annual reports, financial reports, and any other donor required reports in a timely manner. • Work with the UN Women M&E officer to monitor project risks as initially identified in the Project, advise the Project Implementation Team on new risks as they emerge for consideration and decision on possible actions, if required. • Prepare briefings for women’s economic empowerment related forums, dialogues, and platforms.

Knowledge-management & partnership • Support documentation and dissemination with project stakeholders and wider community the knowledge generated through the project implementation process, the experience, and good practices for enhanced women’s economic empowerment within the context of gender and innovation. In consultation and collaboration with the Project Implementation Team and the various coordination mechanisms including the National Working Group on Gender, the Gender Theme Group, and the Communication Group, share good practices and project lessons learned. • Maintain close working relationship with the project stakeholders and partners and provide them with strategic advice and inputs on a regular basis. • When working with national and or (non-)governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs), the incumbent is strongly encouraged to set aside dedicated time for capacity development through coaching, mentoring and formal and on-the job training • Any other related duties as may be required

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative, and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality, and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately, and confidentially; responsive and client oriented. • 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 – Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan, demonstrates ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. • Teamwork – Good interpersonal skill; ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. • Communication - Ability to speak and write in a clear and concise manner, including ability to draft a variety of reports, correspondence, etc. capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote, and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary. • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

women’s empowerment and development • Prior experience in implementing projects successfully in an uncertain and/or challenging environment • Strong abilities in results-based reporting, monitoring, and evaluation. • Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of project management, preferably in the field of gender and innovation • Experience in liaising with external stakeholders, such as national/international institutions, the private sector, government authorities and other relevant actors. • Experience in or exposure to providing advice and technical assistance in relevant areas to external stakeholders • Experience in or exposure to engaging in results-oriented capacity development, including training-related activities Strong analytical, results-based management and communication skills. • A good team player; skilled in strategic partnership building, networking, and teamwork. • Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills. • Excellent ability to use information and communication technology (ICT) as a tool and resource. • Initiative, analytical judgment, ability to work under pressure, ethics, and honesty. • A solid understanding of development issues, with a focus on participatory processes and joint management including gender and innovation issues. • Prior experience working for UN Women, a UN agency or another international organization will be an advantage

Liberia, Africa's oldest Republic, is located at the western edge of the continent, on the Atlantic coast between Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire. The population of Liberia is approximately 4.5 million and contains about 16 different ethnic groups. A large percentage of Liberia’s population lives in the capital, Monrovia.
The Liberia climate features a wet season and a dry season, but precipitation is seen even during the dry season. Temperatures remain constant throughout the year averaging around 26.4 °C (79.5 °F). The weather is sometimes cold during the day and evenings in the rainy season; also, most rooms are air-conditioned, so it is suggested that appropriate clothing (light sweater or jacket) be brought along. The country is generally safer, except for petty crimes, especially in the cities. It is mandatory to complete the United Nations Basic Security course BSAFE. The current UN security level for Liberia is level 2. Upon arrival in the country, all UN staff receive a security briefing from UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS). Security recommendations from UNDSS must be followed by all UN Staff and UN Volunteers during their assignments in Liberia. There are hotels and guesthouses in the capital, Monrovia, that are comfortable and have electricity and security. All UN Staff and UN Volunteers are to use only UN-approved guest houses and hotels. There is a UN Clinic located within the UN Compound, accessible to all UN Staff. Also available in the country are recognized hospitals and clinics that UN staff can visit, based on his/her decision. A gym is available at the One UN House for all categories of staff based on the presentation of the UN ID Card. A mini mart and two local banks ( UBA and Ecobank) are available on the underground floor of the UN Compound for easier access by UN staff.

Liberia is a unique country and UN WOMEN is a unique (humanitarian) operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.