Programme Lead, Global Grants Portfolio – P4

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.

Established by UN General Assembly Resolution 50/166 in 1996, the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) is the first and remains the only global UN funding mechanism dedicated exclusively to providing direct grants to civil society organizations working to prevent and end all forms of violence against women and girls (EVAW/G). Since 2010, UN Women has administered the UN Trust Fund on behalf of the UN system, providing a strong institutional foundation and field support through a global infrastructure of country and regional offices.

With nearly three decades of experience, the UN Trust Fund has become a key global mechanism for funding initiatives that aim to eliminate violence against women and girls. It plays a critical role in fostering collaboration across governments, UN agencies, and civil society to address the root causes and consequences of violence, aligning its work with broader international policies and frameworks. The UN Trust Fund focuses on providing long-term grants to organizations that work in diverse contexts, particularly those representing marginalized groups, such as indigenous women, women living with disabilities, and women from rural or conflict-affected areas. Its investments are survivor-centered and aim to have sustainable, long-term impacts. To date, the UN Trust Fund has funded over 700 initiatives in over 140 countries and territories, significantly contributing to global efforts to end violence against women and girls.

Working under the overall leadership of the Chief of the Trust Fund, and reporting to the UN Trust Fund Deputy Chief the Programme Lead, Global Grants Portfolio will be responsible for (1) Providing strategic leadership and oversight of the UN Trust Fund’s global grant-making portfolio, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and effective implementation across regions and thematic areas; (2) Managing the full lifecycle of grant-making processes, including the Annual Call for Proposals, portfolio performance, risk management, and capacity development of grantees; and (3) Fostering knowledge exchange and strategic engagement, including collaboration with internal and external partners, contributing to advocacy and reporting, and supporting innovation and continuous improvement in grant-making approaches.

Functions:

Strategic Global Grant Portfolio Leadership and Oversight

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the planning, implementation, and performance management of the UN Trust Fund’s global grant portfolio, ensuring alignment with the Fund’s Strategic Plan, Results Framework, and evolving global priorities to end violence against women and girls.
• Lead the design, evolution, and continuous improvement of grant-making frameworks, methodologies, and processes to ensure innovation, responsiveness, and effectiveness across all regions and thematic priorities.
• Oversee programmatic and operational performance of the global portfolio, ensuring robust risk management (in coordination with the Operations and CD Manager), results-based management, and early identification of challenges and opportunities in collaboration with Regional Programme Specialists, M&E and Operations teams.
• Collaborate closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management and the Advocacy and Communications teams to translate portfolio trends into knowledge products, donor updates or pitches, and global advocacy content.
• Foster evidence-based decision-making on grantmaking direction, knowledge and advocacy through development of strategic analyses, trend reports, and lessons learned.
• Contribute to strategic foresight by identifying emerging issues, gaps, and opportunities for innovation within the global grant portfolio, ensuring the Fund remains at the forefront of global efforts to end violence against women and girls.
• Represent the Fund in inter-agency coordination mechanisms, global conferences, and high-level technical forums to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and position the Fund as a leader in grant-making for women’s rights organizations.
• Provide regular portfolio updates and strategic recommendations to the Chief of the UN Trust Fund

Lead the UN Trust Fund Annual Call for Proposals & Special Windows

• Lead the end-to-end strategy, planning, and implementation of the UN Trust Fund’s Annual Call for Proposals, ensuring clarity of thematic priorities, geographic focus, and alignment with the Fund’s strategic vision.
• Oversee the development and dissemination of Global Call and Special Window documentation, eligibility criteria, guidance materials, and technical tools to facilitate accessibility, quality, and compliance.
• Provide inputs for the continuous improvement of the Global Grants Management System (GMS) for grant application, review, and selection processes, ensuring user-centered design and multilingual accessibility.
• Oversee internal and external Call for Proposal grant review and selection mechanisms (technical review groups, Programme Advisory Committees, expert consultants), ensuring transparency, rigor and fairness.

Grantee programmatic capacity development and exchange

• Design and lead the development of the capacity of grantees in project planning, management and reporting.
• Design and implement a curriculum of workshops and online webinars and training to transfer the skills and knowledge required on the project management procedures.
• Monitor the grantees performance and satisfaction with capacity development efforts and ensure any lessons learned lead to improvements.
• Support Programme Specialists to identify grantees that may need additional capacity development support or advice and provide one-on-one coaching as necessary.

Supervision and Team Leadership

• Lead and supervise the Global Grants Management Team, including Regional Portfolio Managers and ensure close collaboration within the Trust Fund Secretariat, ensuring cohesive teamwork, accountability, and alignment with the Fund’s strategic priorities.
• Oversee annual work planning, delegation of responsibilities, and performance management for direct reports, fostering a culture of results, collaboration, and learning.
• Oversee the effective coordination of UN Trust Fund grantee partners with UN regional and national support to advance normative frameworks and strategic coordination.
• Provide management and mentoring to team members on all aspects of grant-making, monitoring, and portfolio oversight, ensuring clarity of roles in implementing wraparound support to grantees.
• Promote an inclusive, enabling, and high-performing work environment.

Quality Assurance, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Ensure grantee compliance with programmatic and financial requirements, in coordination with the UN Trust Fund Regional Specialists, Finance and M&E teams.
• Oversee the quality assurance of grantee proposals, budgets, and monitoring frameworks submitted during the application process.
• Ensure adherence to due diligence standards, grant-making protocols, and UN Women rules and regulations throughout the grant lifecycle.
• Provide strategic oversight of regional work plans and capacity development initiatives related to the grant-making process.

Coordination and Engagement

• Serve as a key liaison with UN Women Regional, Multi-Country, and Country Offices regarding the UN Trust Fund’s grant-making operations.
• Provide technical guidance and support to UN Women focal points in their engagement with grantees, especially during the proposal development and implementation phases.
• Represent the UN Trust Fund in internal and external meetings, missions, and other forums as required.
• Oversee Fund-wide grantee mission planning processes and Conduct and lead technical support and monitoring missions to selected grantee projects, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• 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: The incumbent manages a team of Regional Portfolio Specialists and team members supporting the Call for Proposals.

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 Values and Competencies Framework:

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder programmes at global and regional levels, with strong alignment to strategic plans, results frameworks, and evolving global priorities to end violence against women and girls. Skilled in translating strategic vision into actionable plans with clear deliverables and monitoring mechanisms.
• Strong competence in managing the end-to-end grant-making process, including strategy development, application and review cycles, compliance monitoring, and risk management. Demonstrates strength in applying results-based management to ensure portfolio effectiveness and accountability.
• Skill in leading high-performing, multicultural teams with clarity, accountability, and motivation. Adept at performance management, mentoring, and fostering a results-oriented, inclusive team culture.
• Ability in designing and delivering tailored capacity development initiatives for grantees, such as training, coaching, and learning tools. Capable of monitoring outcomes and adapting approaches to improve performance and engagement.
• Capacity to drive innovation and organizational change through process improvement, digital solutions, and strategic foresight. Experienced in leading system upgrades and promoting a culture of continuous learning.

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in International Development Studies, Gender/Women’s Studies or other related areas 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:

• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level in international development, with a strong focus on gender equality, women’s rights, and ending violence against women and girls (EVAWG).
• At least 3 years of direct experience in managing or overseeing grant-making portfolios, preferably in the areas of women’s rights, feminist movements, or civil society strengthening, including responsibility for proposal assessment, partner selection, and compliance oversight.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing programming, grantmaking and/or policy initiatives addressing violence against women and girls, with sound knowledge of key frameworks, challenges, and innovations in the field.
• Solid experience in results-based management (RBM), including strategic planning, monitoring, and reporting frameworks.
• Familiarity with grant-management platforms and data systems; ability to leverage data for portfolio analysis and decision-making is an asset.
• Previous experience working within the United Nations system, international financial institutions, bilateral donors, or civil society grant-making entities is highly desirable, particularly in roles requiring oversight of large grant portfolios.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of French and/or Spanish highly desirable.

Statements :

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.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.

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