Country Representative – P5

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. 

Niger faces a complex situation. Due to its geographical location, the country is subject to climatic hazards linked to a hostile environmental context and prolonged periods of droughts resulting in a situation of chronic food insecurity. Furthermore, gender disparities in Niger persist across various dimensions. For instance, early marriage remains a challenge with 76.3% of women aged 20–24 years married or in a union before the age of 18. Moreover, since 2015, regions of Niger, particularly Diffa, Tillaberi, Dosso, and Tahoua along the border with Mali, have faced recurring attacks by non-state armed groups. Growing internal insecurity and regional political instability have a direct or indirect impact on overall economic performance, public finances, access to markets and basic services, causing missed educational opportunities and growing social tensions with attacks on rural populations, including women. It also triggered significant population movements, with mounting survival difficulties for refugees, and internally displaced persons. In July 2023, the military took over from President Bazoum. Niger joined Mali and Burkina Faso to form the Alliance of Sahel States to address security threats.

Against this background, UN Women in Niger supports local and national efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment with a focus on the following areas: governance and decentralization; economic empowerment; gender-responsive budgeting; combating violence against women; and gender mainstreaming in national policies and programmes. 

The Country Representative operates in a matrix management model, primarily accountable and reporting to the UN Women Regional Director for the West and Central Africa Region on UN Women -specific mandates, activities and results.  Additionally, as a UNCT member, under the Management and Accountability Framework (MAF) of the UN development and resident coordinator system, the Country Representative has mutual accountability with the Resident Coordinator for periodically reporting on contributions and support for the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, formerly UNDAF).The Regional Director conducts the performance review of the Country Representative whilst seeking inputs from the RC on the Country Representative’s contributions as a UNCT member.

The Country Representative is responsible for leading and managing the Niger Country Office (CO) portfolio and for translating the UN Women’s Strategic Plan (SP) in line with regional and national priorities, into development initiatives and results by developing, implementing and managing programmes and projects under the Niger CO; and developing effective partnerships with Government counterparts, UN system agencies and organizations, civil society organizations, and with bilateral and non-traditional donors in order to promote inter-agency partnerships, support for UN reform, and mobilization of visibility and resources to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

 

Key Functions and Accountabilities

1.  Manage the strategic country programme planning and development

• Develop and implement strategic direction of the country;
• Lead the design, planning, formulation, preparation and development of the Country Strategic Note in close consultation and collaboration with the government, civil society, donors, UN system partners and the Regional Director, Resident and/or Humanitarian Coordinator in the country and other national development stakeholders and partners, taking into account national priorities, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Common Country Analysis and UNSDCF;
• Provide substantive advice to the Executive Director, Regional Director and Senior Management on the regional strategy, direction and planning of programmes and projects;
• Manage and ensure the quality of results-based and rights-based programming for the CO; Finalize the annual work plan and budget;
• Lead the monitoring of the results-based management approach to programme planning and design.

 2.  Manage the Niger Country Office

• Lead the office in the delivery of operational goals; Finalize the annual work plan and budget; and oversee the implementation, including providing direction, guidance and technical support;
• Oversee and approve programme work plans and monitor the overall progress and compliance of the CO;
• Manage the preparation of UN Women mandated country reports;
• Manage the audit review process and timely response to audit reports;
• Provide managerial direction, guidance and leadership. Ensure effective workforce planning and timely recruitments; Manage the performance of personnel under their supervision; provide ongoing performance and career development feedback, timely completion of performance assessments and coaching;
• Ensure that personnel are familiar with and follow UN Women’s regulations and rules, policies and procedures in the Policy, Procedures and Guidance Framework (PPG); Ensure personnel are aware in particular or of UN Women’s standards of conduct including but not limited to policies and procedures on preventing, reporting and addressing misconduct, Fraud and Corruption, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and abuse of authority, Protection from retaliation, and ensure mechanisms are in place to support personnel in this regard.
• Promote teamwork to ensure harmonization, linkages, collaboration and synergy; Ensure a respectful, inclusive safe and healthy work environment for personnel.

3.   Provide support to the Resident Coordination and serve as a member of  UN Country Team 

• Serve as member of the UN Country Team (UNCT) under the strategic guidance and coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC)/Humanitarian Coordinator (HC), collaborate on and lead as needed UNCT programming and advocacy to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment issues are fully integrated into UN programming processes, including the Common Country Assessment (CCA) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) planning, budgeting, resource mobilization, implementation, monitoring and evaluation through UN results groups and respective joint workplans, and in an enhanced response to national partners;
• Partner with RC and UN system partners to strengthen UN system interagency coherence, collaboration, planning, cooperation, and harmonization of programming, advocacy, common services, and operations; Facilitate joint programming and promote UN competencies to advance gender equality and women’s human rights; report to the UN RC on these issues as required
• Actively engage in regular UNCT consultations and decision-making processes
• Actively engage in and contribute to UNCT strategic communications that advance UN system efforts and collective results to promote Agenda 2030, including for national goals and priorities for sustainable development to generate positive public support and ownership
• Ensure UN Women’s active participation in UN system thematic and other working groups to establish effective networks and keep abreast of ongoing debates and thinking on development
• Ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNSDCF development planning and agenda/priority setting for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Ensure enhanced accountability of the UNCT on gender mainstreaming and works for with the RC and  on the implement the UNCT SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard
• Participate in RC and UNCT members’ performance appraisal, as requested

4.   Represent UN Women and lead advocacy strategies 

• Represent UN Women in intergovernmental forums, public information/relations events and key meetings, participate in policy dialogue; discuss policy initiatives, report on progress achieved and/or present policy papers/ideas;
• Build relations and partnerships with high level and senior government officials as well as multi-lateral, bi-lateral agencies and NGOs; and participate in regional, country and other critical meetings and events;
• Lead and support advocacy for gender equality and women’s empowerment to ensure UN support towards realization of the national plans and priorities are done in a gender responsive manner, and within agreed international frameworks that promote and protect gender equality.

 5.  Create and maintain strategic partnerships and manage resource mobilization strategies

• Lead the development of resource mobilization strategies and manage the implementation of resource mobilization strategies, plans, and efforts;
• Establish and maintain relationships with government, partners, stakeholders and donors to achieve active collaboration, cooperation and alliances on programme development and implementation and resource mobilization;
• Finalize donor reports, and negotiate and/or approve cost-sharing agreements with donors; Establish reporting accountability framework to ensure that donors are duly informed on a timely basis.

6.  Lead knowledge management, innovation and capacity building

• Manage the development and implementation on the CO communication plans, based on UN Women’s communication strategy;
• Promote critical thinking and implementation of innovation and best practices in the CO
• Promote learning and development by providing opportunities for training and capacity guiding to enhance the competencies/productivity of personnel;
• Lead the production of knowledge products.

7.  Oversee safety, security and well-being of personnel, programmes and organizational assets

• Maintain and update CO security strategy, plan, and measures to ensure full compliance with UN security policies, procedures and requirements.
• Serve as member of the Security Management team (SMT) and undertake relevant security and crisis management training. Guide and influence decisions and standards related to security of personnel, premises and assets
• Oversee the implementation of the Security Mainstreaming & Compliance and Business Continuity Management and Organizational Resilience requirements
• Ensure all personnel are made fully aware of safety and security procedures and policies and undertake mandatory training

8.  The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

Incumbent leads a team of 29 personnel, includes 2 International Professional, 2 General Services and 5 National Officers as well as 20 affiliate personnel

 

Competencies:

Core values:

• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity

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: 

https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values

 

Functional Competencies

• Excellent programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Excellent people management skills in a multicultural environment; ability to deal with individuals from all backgrounds
• Results-oriented;  Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them
• Ability to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all
• Leading, developing and empowering people
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice and interact with high level decision makers
• Excellent knowledge of gender equality and women’s empowerment in country
• Excellent analytical and conceptual thinking
• Strong knowledge of UN system
• Ability to envision and lead the strategic direction for UN Women in the country
• Excellent networking skills
• Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising and develop strategies
• Excellent diplomatic and written and verbal communication skills

 

Recruitment Qualifications

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in development related disciplines, economics or public policy 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.
• A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible development experience that combines strategic and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level is required.
• Experience in gender and women’s issues programming, at the international level, preferably in developing countries within the UN system, Agencies, Funds or Programmes or UN Mission is required.
• Field based experience working with multi-cultural teams is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience working in a conflict or post conflict environment, preferably in West and Central Africa, is required.
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

 

Statement:

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.

 

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