Background:

The United Nations 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.

In accordance with the UN Women Strategic Plan, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) works to advance social, economic, and political rights of women and girls, including the right to live free of all forms of violence. Ending violence against women is a priority area in UN Women’s global and regional strategic plan.

Gender-Based Violence Prevention in Southeast Asia

Violence against women (VAW) is one of the most widespread violations of human rights worldwide, globally affecting around one in three women in her lifetime. Regional evidence suggests that a similar rate applies in the Asia-Pacific region, with wide ranging differences in specific contexts and populations. VAW is a human rights violation resulting in immediate and long-term physical, sexual, economic, and mental health consequences for the survivors. The impacts of VAW go beyond survivors, affecting families, communities, and countries. However, research suggests that VAW is preventable. Elimination of VAW requires a holistic approach focusing on both response to and prevention of VAW at different levels, including individual, community, institution, societal and governmental levels.

The work of the Ending Violence against Women (EVAW) Section within UN Women’s ROAP maintains a comprehensive approach to ending violence against women. This includes transformative approaches to building environments and institutions that do not accept violence, that support gender equality, and that hold perpetrators of violence accountable. The approaches of the EVAW section focus on evidence and practice-based knowledge production and dissemination, informing legislation and policies, prevention and social norms change, ensuring quality essential services for survivors, creating safe public spaces in different settings and supporting women’s rights organisations and movements to end violence against women.

UN Women has partnered with the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to co-design the Southeast Asia Gender-based Violence Prevention Platform (the ‘Prevention Platform’). To support the aims of the Prevention Platform, UN Women and UNFPA are implementing a UN Joint Programme which will support knowledge- and community- building on prevention of violence against women in Southeast Asia, including with policymakers. Within this joint programme (JP), UN Women is the Convening Agent. The Regional Coordination Specialist on Gender-Based Violence Prevention will lead the coordination of this joint programme under the roles of the Convening Agent and UN Women as a participating UN agency.

The incumbent will work in close coordination with the UN Women EVAW team in ROAP and country offices, as well as with UNFPA, DFAT and the Prevention Platform team. They will be responsible for coordinating support among UN agencies, and ASEAN. Coordination and convening policy dialogues and learning events; providing technical support to facilitate the monitoring, documentation and reporting on results and lessons learned at national and regional level; developing advocacy strategies, communications materials and strategic partnerships; maintaining and building relationships with partners; and organizing high-level functions and events to mobilize political will. Partners this role will liaise with include thematic units and country presence offices within UN Women; UNFPA; civil society networks and organisations; researchers and academic institutions; ASEAN; advocacy organizations; media; and private sector organizations.

Based in the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (in Bangkok, Thailand), the Regional Coordination Specialist on Gender-Based Violence Prevention will work under the supervision and guidance of the Ending Violence against Women Regional Programme Manager.

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

1. Guide implementation of the Joint Programme 

• Develop, implement and monitor the JP work plan and resources aligned with the ROAP Strategic Note, JP and donor guidelines;
• Liaise with UN agencies, national counterparts, UN Women and partners to ensure the Portfolio results are achieved and resources are managed effectively;
• Prepare and present work-plans, periodic narrative progress reports to UN Women, UNFPA, donors and key partners;
• Establish and maintain systems for project planning, implementation and results-based monitoring, in collaboration with partners;
• Support project governance and oversight functions, such as the Steering Committee, etc
• Utilize the UN Joint Programming Guidelines as a key reference in the implementation of the JP.

2. Guide coordination with UN and national partners and other stakeholders 

• Support joint implementation of the JP workplan in close coordination with   UNFPA, other UN agencies, regional and national partners ;
• Schedule regular joint programme meetings, including Steering Committeee and Technical Committee meetings,  following up on agreed action points as required;
• Coordinate the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the Annual Work Plan, and support progress and reporting;
• Provide inputs to communications plans for the initiatives and partnership work;
• Monitor, analyze and share results, in coordination with relevant colleagues in country offices;
• Prepare, review and/or coordinate documents/reports, briefs, speeches, presentations and other advocacy materials on strategies, actions and results as needed;
• Ensure quality documentation, reporting and monitoring of advocacy/campaign results, lessons learned and effective approaches;
• Effectively engage with various media outlets in the region to ensure media coverage of key campaign and advocacy events, results and messages and to raise public awareness on issues of VAWG prevention;
• Provide guidance to partners on establishment of performance indicators, and monitoring achievement of results;
• Identify capacity building needs and support partners through technical assistance, mentoring, training, cross-partner learning, and capacity development initiatives.

3. Guide monitoring and reporting on the JP

• Compile, analyze and present information necessary for monitoring and reporting on the JP from planning to evaluation stages;
• Monitor the implementation of activities and the expenditure of funds by partners;
• Write annual and quarterly reports; review and coordinate the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports as relevant;
• Ensure adequate documentation, monitoring and reporting of programme implementation, results, lessons learned and promising approaches;
• Provide inputs from EVAW programme activities and results to Regional Office reporting.

4. Manage financial resources and supervise staff

• Supervise and manage relevant administrative personnel, consultants, interns and volunteers; review performance and mentor personnel, ensuring alignment with work plans and the regional strategic note;
• Ensure strong financial delivery through regular planning and monitoring of financial resources;
• Provide inputs to expenditure tracking and reporting;
• Monitor the allocation and disbursement of funds to partners.

5.  Build partnerships with relevant Stakeholders, including the Secretariat

• Prepare partnerships strategies, concepts and proposals where needed;
• Build and maintain close relationships with current and potential strategic partners, to coordinate action on key priorities needed to advance VAW prevention;
• Support building and maintaining strong relationships with UN agencies, partners, and regional stakeholders, including in supporting the design and/or implementation of initiatives;
• Identify and follow-up on strategic opportunities for partnerships through concept note/proposal development;
• Identify potential programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals, country needs and opportunities to advance partnerships.

6. Advocate and facilitate knowledge building, management and communication

• Prepare, review and/or coordinate substantive documents/reports, briefs, speeches, presentations, web and social media content, and other advocacy and communications plans and materials;
• Support implementation of the communications and advocacy strategy;
• Ensure documentation of the programme implementation process and products produced are in accordance with UN Women guidelines;
• Contribute to the exchange of information and knowledge products internally and externally of the programme;
• Organize major advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products.

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

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:

• Technical credibility on ending violence against women and girls;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong writing skills in English;
• Strong coordination and networking skills;
• Ability to work independently to deliver agreed results and meet strict deadlines;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively;
• Ability to supervise and coach personnel;
• Ability to foster good relations with counterparts, UN agencies, donors, and private partners;
• Ability to command trust and authority from external and internal stakeholders

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Social Work, Social Sciences, Law, International Development, Public Health, Gender and Development, or a related field.
• 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 progressive professional work experience at national or international level in ending violence against women and/or gender-based violence, and transformative approaches to building gender equality;
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, monitoring and reporting on programmes focused on ending violence against women and girls is required;
• Demonstrated experience in coordination and partnership building is required;
• Demonstrated experience in organizing advocacy, public outreach and/or strategic partnerships initiatives and high-visibility events, preferably within a development or social change marketing context is required;
• Experience leading and coaching staff in international settings is required;
• Demonstrated skills and experience in the use of computers and the latest office/audiovisual software packages is required;
• Demonstrated experience and skills with interventions to prevent violence against women or GBV preferred;
• Demonstrated experience with coordination among UN agencies, and UN joint programmes, is preferred;
• Experience with developing content for communication through social media/web/audiovisual production is an asset;
• Work experience in the Asia and the Pacific, and with ASEAN, is a significant asset;
• Familiarity with the UN system’s rules and procedures will be an advantage.

Language Requirements:

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

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.)

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements