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. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.
In the Arab States region, UN Women just initiated in October 2023 the implementation of an exciting and unique three-year regional programme entitled ‘Dare to Care’ with the goal of transforming patriarchal social norms and masculinities, with a focus on four priority countries: Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia. This ground-breaking regional programme aims to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment using the involvement of men and boys in unpaid care and domestic work as an entry point. The programme is also meant to contribute to shifting discriminatory social norms and break stereotypes that impede women’s participation in paid employment. The ’Dare to Care’ regional programme is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the German International Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) and the Basque Country’s International Development Cooperation Agency. It works towards the achievement of three outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Societies across the MENA region demonstrate an increased involvement of men and boys in caregiving and household responsibilities and more empowerment of women and girls;
- Outcome 2: Key institutions effectively transform patriarchal masculinities and social norms, with a focus on advancing the caregiving and household responsibilities of men and boys and the economic empowerment of women and girls;
- Outcome 3: More men and boys are able to take their share in caregiving and household responsibilities with more enabling laws and policies that promote their caregiving and household responsibilities, and paternity leave.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the ‘Dare to Care’ Regional Programme Manager -and in a matrixed supervision with the ‘Dare to Care’ Regional Programme Analyst, the Regional Finance and Programme Associate will provide support and assistance for the effective management, implementation and monitoring of the ‘Dare to Care’ regional programme. The incumbent will also work in close cooperation with other staff members of the ‘Dare to Care’ programme from UN Women’s Regional Office and Country Offices of programme implementation, as well as with other UN Women staff members from the Regional Office’s Operations team.
The Finance and Programme Associate is to support the ‘Dare to Care’ regional programme by performing a variety of standard programme, finance and administrative processes ensuring high quality and accuracy of work. The Finance and Programme Associate is expected to promote a client, quality and results-oriented approach, and to work in close collaboration with UN Women staff members as well as the implementing partners of the programme, to ensure consistent service delivery and to resolve complex administration-related issues and information delivery.
Provide general administration and operations support to the ‘Dare to Care’ regional programme in compliance with UN Women rules, regulations, policies, and strategies
- Coordinate and supervise financial and administrative work in the regional programme;
- Assist in the development of programme’s work and budget plans (including procurement and HR plans) and provide support for monitoring programme budget in terms of expenditures according to the work plan;
- Support the organization and logistical arrangements of regional conferences, workshops, and events, as well as regular project-site visits in order to monitor and evaluate the flow of activities on the ground/country level;
- Lead and coordinate the travel arrangements for the regional programme, including creation and management of travel requests and security clearances through internal UN Women online systems (i.e., UNALL and Quantum) for programme staff members, consultants and partners participating in missions and workshops, as needed;
- Support to coordination efforts of the programme, ensuring the flow of information with partners as needed; arranging for meetings with stakeholders and drafting minutes of meetings as requested;
- Oversee protocol matters, registration of the regional programme hired Consultants in UN Women online systems, release of their scheduled payments, and other administrative matters;
- Prepare conduction of audits by facilitating the necessary information about the programme;
- Support preparation and organization for the processes of call for proposals/procurement quotations;
- Drafting formal correspondence, in both Arabic and English;
- Providing translations in Arabic and English, as requested.
Support financial oversight, management and monitoring of the ‘Dare to Care’ regional programme
- Coordinate and lead the revision of programme budget plans and maintain a close oversight and monitoring of programme financial status and expenditures;
- Manage the financial reporting of the programme to meet financial requirements with all the programme donors;
- Monitor regular transactions posted to projects ensuring actual expenditure has been recorded against the correct Chart of Accountt (COA) and budget category, and take timely corrective actions as required;
- Support quarterly financial reporting submitted by implementing partners of the programme, including following up on Face Forms, release of advances and liquidations. Conducting quality assurance on implementing partners’ submissions, together with the Programme Manager and Programme Analyst, undertaking verifications and spot checks as needed to validate the proper use of financial resources by implementing partners, and providing guidance to implementing partners on financial matters and reporting requirements to ensure compliance with UN Women rules and regulations and support liquidations;
- Initiate and monitor payment processes to the consultants of the programme;
- Creating e-requisitions in Quantum for the programme expenditures and register of goods/services receipt in Quantum;
- Prepare non-PO invoices as needed;
- Monitor and properly follow up of all the financial items related to Month-end and Year-end closure instructions status and under the guidance of supervisors and the ROAS Operations team, take correction actions as required;
- Provide information inputs to financial reports for the Regional Office, HQ Finance and stakeholders;
- Provide inputs and take necessary actions to facilitate timely operational and financial project closure.
Coordinate and organize assets management and procurement processes for ‘Dare to Care’ programme
- Manage programme stationery supplies including maintenance of stock list of stationery, distribution of stationery and keeping a log of distribution;
- Coordinate assets management in the unit, prepare and submit periodic inventory reports, coordinate physical verification of inventory items;
- Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of procurement plans for the programme and contribute to monitoring their implementation;
- Generate procurement related to the delivery of event management, translation services, reports; research and draft responses to enquiries;
- Review procurement requests and initiate procurement procedures for the programme and project equipment, supplies and services;
- Organize and manage procurement activities and processes, including preparation and conduct of Request for Quotations, Invitations to Bid or Requests for Proposals, and the opening and evaluation of tenders;
- Coordinate contract negotiations, and prepare request for award of contract for the review and approval of relevant authorities, as required;
- Coordinate and supervise the dispatch of Purchase Orders (PO) and contracts in and outside Quantum; ensure accuracy of POs;
- Review of procurement processes conducted by the unit; submissions to the Regional Programme Appraisal Committee (RPAC) and Procurement Review Committee (PRC); Local Acquisition Management Review Committee (LAMRC) and Acquisition Management Review Committee (AMRC).
Coordinate and organize administrative Human Resources services for the ‘Dare to Care’ programme
- Create and manage vacancy announcements and organize interview panels in coordination with Dare to Care regional programme manager and Human Resources team;
- Maintain staffing lists and reports;
- Provide support in personnel administration for international and national staff as appropriate (i.e., renewal of UNLPs, visas; extension of contracts, etc.);
- Prepare staffing/personnel-related reports; research and draft responses to enquiries for clearance by the supervisors.
Support for knowledge management and information sharing of the ‘Dare to Care’ programme
- Back formulation of programme strategies through collection, analysis and presentation of information for identification of areas for support and programme formulation/implementation;
- Participation in workshops and trainings as requested by the supervisors;
- Administrative and logistical support to regional knowledge networks and communities of practice;
- Compile lessons learnt and best practices in administration, procurement, and human resources;
- Maintaining proper filing, both soft and hard versions, of programme documents;
- Keeping up to date with the latest advancements in the field of information and knowledge sharing.
Key Performance Indicators
- Adherence to UN Women rules and regulations;
- Timely and quality operations services;
- Perform duties in a transparent and cost effective manner;
- Provide timely and quality advice to clients and stakeholders;
- Timely and quality reports.
Competencies
Core Values:
- Respect for Diversity;
- Integrity;
- Professionalism.
Core Competencies:
- Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity;
- Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
- Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative;
- Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
- Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication;
- Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others;
- Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution;
- Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.
Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies:
Functional Competencies
- Ability to share knowledge and experience;
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas;
- Ability to perform a wide range of varied, inter-related administrative services;
- Ability to interpret and analyze data and resolve operational problems, propose solutions;
- Ability to work with minimum supervision, and to plan and organize work;
- Ability to supervise and train support staff;
- Ability to provide inputs to business process re-engineering and development and implementation of new systems;
- Ability to focus on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
- Ability to organise and prioritize work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
- Ability to approache work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
Required Skills and Experience
Education and certification:
- A Secondary Education degree is required;
- A higher academic degree (Bachelor’s degree or higher) is an asset;
- A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.
Experience:
- At least 7 years of experience in relevant professional experience in administration, finances and programme support services that include procurement and human resources;
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.);
- Experience in general office support and project management is desirable;
- Very good organizational skills;
- Experience in the use of Quantum ERP system is an asset;
- Previous experience in the UN system is considered an asset.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English and Arabic is required;
- Knowledge of French language would be an asset.
Application Information:
- 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;
- UN Women will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.
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.
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).