National Project Coordinator – Country Lead (M4C, Samoa) (Open to Samoan Nationals Only)

Background

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (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.

The UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office is based in Suva, Fiji and works alongside over 20 other UN agencies in the region and in 14 countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 

Under its Strategic Note 2018-2022, UN Women Fiji MCO focuses on delivering on four interlinked programme areas underpinned by support for intergovernmental and normative processes:  

• Women’s Political Empowerment and Leadership 
• Women’s Economic Empowerment 
• Ending Violence against Women 
• Gender and Protection in Humanitarian Action and Disaster Risk Reduction 

The Markets for Change Project promotes gender equality through the economic empowerment of women market vendors in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The project brings together governments, market vendors and market vendor associations, civil society organizations and UN agencies. M4C is implemented by UN Women in partnership with UNDP, and the Governments of Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Reporting to the M4C Regional Project Manager, the National Project Coordinator – Country Lead (Samoa) will be responsible for project management and implementation at national level, managing strategic partnerships, financial and human resource management, and knowledge building.

The National Project Coordinator – Country Lead (Samoa) will work in close collaboration with the M4C Fiji Team and Markets for Change teams across Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the Fiji MCO Regional Team, staff of other UN Agencies, Government officials, multilateral and bilateral donors, Market Vendor Associations, market vendors and civil society.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the development of programme strategies for Markets for Change Samoa:

• Provide substantive inputs to the design and formulation of programme/ project proposals and initiatives;
• Identify areas for support and interventions related to the programme;
• Participate in M4C regional meetings and learning retreats;
• Work in collaboration with the M4C Regional Team.

Lead the implementation and management of Markets for Change Samoa project:

• Manage the annual workplan and budget for M4C Samoa, in liaison with the Regional Finance Officer;
• Lead the implementation of programme activities;
• Support the review, coordination and monitoring of the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports;
• Contribute towards the training of partners on Results Based Management and monitor implementation.

Provide technical assistance and capacity development to project/programme partners:

• Coordinate and provide technical support in the implementation of programme activities;
• Maintain relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of Markets for Change Samoa project;
• Provide support to the regional Knowledge Management Specialist in liaison with the M4C Samoa Senior Project Officer on AKVO data collection and analysis;
• Identify opportunities for capacity building of partners and facilitate technical/ programming support and trainings to partners, as needed;
• Provide training, facilitation and mentoring to partners, as needed.

Provide technical inputs to the monitoring and reporting of the programme/ project:

• Monitor progress of implementation of activities and finances using results-based management tools;
• Draft reports on monitoring missions, programme results, outputs and outcomes;
• Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of donor and UN Women reports;
• Provide support to project management and the Project Management Committee (PMC) and Project Working Committee (PWC) meetings and reports.

Provide substantive technical inputs to the management of people and finances of the Markets for Change Samoa project:

• Contribute to the monitoring of implementation and make budget re-alignments/ revisions, in liaison with the M4C Regional Finance Associate;
• Provide substantive inputs to all M4C reports, including support to donor reporting;
• Contribute to all monitoring and evaluation activities including routine monitoring, data collection and reporting for all donor reports, six-monthly, annual / as required;
• Contribute to the training of partners on FACE form;
• Supervise M4C project staff, volunteers and consultants in Samoa.

Provide substantive inputs to building partnerships and resource mobilization strategies:

• Provide substantive inputs to resource mobilization strategies; analyze and maintain information and databases;
• Prepare relevant documentation such as project summaries, conference papers, briefing notes, speeches, and donor profiles;
• Participate in donor meetings and public information events, as delegated;
• Assist in the preparation and support to partner organizations for the hosting of high-level delegations.

Contribute to inter-agency coordination to achieve a coherent and aligned presence for Markets for Change Samoa:

• Provide substantive technical support to the M4C Regional Manager on inter-agency coordination related activities by drafting background reports and briefs, initiating coordination meetings and monitoring program activities when required;
• Provide technical support to M4C Outcome Two in-country focal officer (UNDP), including regional staff.

Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts:

• Develop background documents, briefs and presentations related to Markets for Change Samoa project;
• Coordinate and organize advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products;
• Coordinate the development of knowledge management methodologies, and products on Markets for Change Samoa;
• Provide inputs and technical support to all communications and knowledge product development;
• Supervise M4C communication efforts in Samoa to ensure ongoing and substantive communication about the Markets for Change Project with media, partners as well as current and potential donors.

Competencies

Key Performance Indicators:

• High quality programme delivery of M4C Samoa, in line with budgets and AWP, in support of M4C project goal and outcomes;
• Timely and quality substantive inputs to programme strategies and activities;
• Timely and quality substantive inputs to donor reports, workplans and budgets;
• Adherence to UN Women standards and rules;
• Timely monitoring and tracking of programme results and finances;
• Relationship with partners and stakeholders;
• Timely organization of events;
• Quality of knowledge and advocacy products.

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.

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to lead and to drive results
• Ability to establish and maintain broad strategic networks and partnerships, to mobilize resources and to build alliances to advance organizational interests
• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations
• Good analytical skills
• Good knowledge of technical area
• Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in development related discipline/s including gender issues, public policy, social work or other related social science fields is highly required.
• A first-level University Degree (Bachelors’ Degree) in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of two (2) years (with Master’s Degree), or minimum of four (4) years (with Bachelors’ Degree) of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level in project / programme formulation, implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building;
• Experience in the women’s economic empowerment, informal sector support, women in markets, or any of the Markets for Change technical areas is an asset;
• Experience in facilitating workshops and delivering trainings is an asset;
• Experience in coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
• Knowledge and fluency in the local language(s) of the duty station (Samoa) is an asset.

How to Apply / Submission of Application:

• Personal CV or P11; P11 can be downloaded from: 

UN Women Statement on 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).