UN Women: Technical Specialist

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) is among the most pervasive and serious violations of human rights, with inextricable links to broader peace and security. Globally, one in three women have been subjected to violence; the global cost of violence against women has been estimated at approximately US$ 1.5 trillion.

Against this background, Spotlight Initiative was launched in 2017 as the world’s largest effort to end violence against women and girls. A pooled fund of the United Nations (UN) system, Spotlight Initiative is an SDG Accelerator, a United Nations High Impact Initiative to deliver on the 2030 Agenda and a model for localization, unifying communities, civil society, governments, donors, and experts under a common approach rooted in local needs. Spotlight Initiative is also a model for operationalizing the UN Development System reforms. 

Spotlight Initiative has over 6 years, delivered proof of concept across 25 countries and 5 regions and will now scale up to greater investment and reach, bringing on board new countries and new partnerships. The Initiative will deepen its “whole-of-society” approach, placing the goal of ending violence against women and girls at the centre of national development priorities. Spotlight Initiative promotes a multi-sectoral approach to the complex issue of violence against women and girls and its variety of root causes. The Initiative’s workstreams include four main pillars: 1. Laws, policies, and institutions; 2. Prevention and social norms change; 3. Response and services for survivors and perpetrators’ accountability; and 4. Support to civil society and women’s movements. 

Under the leadership of the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General and following the guidance received from the Spotlight Initiative’s Governance Mechanisms, the day-to-day management of the Spotlight Initiative is led by a Secretariat, housed within the Development Coordination Office (DCO) with a reporting line to the Executive Office of the Secretary-General and servicing the whole UN System. 

The Secretariat’s core technical responsibilities are to support the design, implementation and monitoring of comprehensive and effective country programmes on EVAWG, to contribute to increased global awareness, knowledge sharing and networking on EVAWG as well as to ensure that the achievements and results of the Spotlight Initiative are expanded and sustained. Specifically, the Secretariat is responsible for the following outputs: 1) data and research on GBV and various forms of violence at the global and regional levels is enhanced and disseminated; 2) technical package in line with the Spotlight Initiative model, and evidence-based strategies, knowledge, and tools on violence against women and girls is consolidated and made available for new programmes and advocacy purposes 3) global and regional strategic partnerships are expanded to advance efforts on ending gender-based violence, including through communication, behaviour change strategies, events and campaigns; and 4) increased expertise at country level to ensure the development and sustainability of comprehensive programmes to end violence against women and girls in line with Spotlight Initiative model.  

Under the direct supervision of the Global Coordinator of the Spotlight Initiative Fund, and with a reporting line to UN Women, the Technical Specialist is responsible for overseeing the technical assistance, monitoring, and evaluation of the Initiative as well as knowledge management and capacity development. The Technical Specialist will also be responsible for establishing and strengthening partnerships with regional and international actors including civil society actors to advance the objectives of the Spotlight Initiative as well as overall programme management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Oversee and manage technical assistance for the development and implementation of the Initiative’s programmes, including monitoring, evaluation and tracking results.

• Ensure thought, leadership, and conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise on EVAWG.
• Work in collaboration with the Initiative’s implementing agencies in the design, review and appraisal of new Spotlight Initiative programmes.
• Lead the provision of technical assistance and guidance on EVAWG in close collaboration with relevant UN Agencies.
• Provide oversight to monitoring and evaluation activities, including overseeing the strengthening and dissemination of data and research on GBV in close collaboration with the Technical and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist.
• Oversee and provide guidance on monitoring and tracking of results of the Spotlight Initiative and feed into the development of tools, guidance, and resources on GBV.
• Guide reporting activities of the Initiative in close collaboration with the Programme and Reporting Specialist.
• Undertake missions to support programme development, implementation and partnership building on EVAWG.
• Ensure the integration of evaluation results for the continued implementation of the Spotlight Initiative and in the design and appraisal of new programmes.

Provide capacity development and knowledge management support in the development and implementation of the comprehensive EVAWG programmes in line with the Spotlight Initiative model.

• Lead in ensuring the availability of technical expertise in the design and implementation of country and regional programmes in line with the Spotlight Initiative model drawing from all partner agencies’ expertise.
• Oversee the rollout of the roster of experts in the development, coordination, and implementation of new Spotlight Initiative programmes.
• Lead the research, development, and presentation of analytical reports, research papers, briefing notes, background papers, and summaries on issues related to the Initiative.
• Coordinate the provision of evidence-based EVAWG knowledge including research, upstream policy analysis, design and development of guidance and operational tools aimed at strengthening response to EVAWG through the Initiative’s programmes.
• Ensure management of any relevant knowledge platforms and innovative approaches in EVAWG/HP related to the programme.
• Oversee cooperation of Spotlight Initiative programmes and support knowledge sharing and exchange and global convenings, events, and campaigns on EVAWG, and represent the Initiative.
• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of capacity development initiatives for Spotlight Initiative programmes.

Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with regional and international actors and development partners, including civil society leaders to contribute to resource mobilization efforts.

• Identify strategic opportunities and contribute substantively to EVAWG and other relevant networks to better connect the Initiative with partners, and for the advancement of EVAWG with relevant actors.
• Galvanise the UN System, civil society, and global institutions on ending violence against women and girls as a follow-up to the High Impact Initiative designation, and support resource mobilization efforts for the Initiative.
• Work closely with implementing agencies and the broader UN system to influence policies and outcomes based on lessons of the Spotlight Initiative
• Build and strengthen close liaisons with relevant donors and other actors supporting efforts towards EVAWG.
• Foster the strengthening of key partnerships including supporting and feeding into global advocacy efforts on promoting gender equality and EVAWG.

Oversee programme and human resource management.

• Oversee the annual work plan of technical activities of the Secretariat and oversee expenditures and reporting.
• Perform staff performance reviews and ensure capacity development of staff members.
• Monitor the programme’s financial situation to ensure adherence to delivery rates and utilization of resources to meet agreed-upon targets and results.
• Ensure effective information flow, communication, and coordination between teams.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: ?

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent technical knowledge of policies and programmes on EVAWG and gender quality
• Excellent experience in programme development, implementation, results-based management, and reporting.
• Experience working with and building partnerships with various stakeholders including donors.
• Experience in managing diverse and complex multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to advocate and provide policy and technical advice.
• Ability to develop detailed operational plans, and budgets, and deliver on them
• Excellent networking skills.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to write policy papers, speeches and briefings.
• Experience in resource mobilization

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• An advanced university degree in human rights, international development, or other social science fields is required. 
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in designing and managing programmes on ending violence against women and girls with experience at the country level is required.
• Experience in the provision of technical assistance, knowledge management and capacity development on EVAWG is required.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder programmes/initiatives is required.
• Experience working with the UN system including UN joint programming at the country level is highly desirable.
• Experience in managing diverse multidisciplinary teams would be an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.

Application:

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from: . Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel 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.)