Fresh Jobs at UN Women

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.
• Women’s leadership and political participation is one of UN Women’s primary areas of work as mandated in its inception, recognizing the integral role of women in strong and stable democratic processes. Through its Leadership and Governance pillar, UN Women’s programs are guided by a history of international commitments to women’s representation. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women upholds women’s right to participate in public life, while the Beijing Platform for Action calls for removing barriers to equal participation. The Millennium Development Goals measure progress towards gender equality in part by the proportion of women in parliamentary seats.
• With funding support from the Government of Canada, UN Women is currently implementing a program to advance women’s political leadership and participation in Nigeria. Part of program intervention is to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be more inclusive. INEC is the sole authority with the constitutional mandate to prepare and conduct all public elections and referenda in Nigeria. On 25 February and 11 March 2023, voters across Nigeria casted ballots in general elections for federal positions of the president and members of the national assembly and state positions of the governor and members of state houses of assemblies.
• In order to further strengthen the leadership and participation of women in the electoral process of Nigeria as voters, candidates, observers and electoral staff, UN Women in collaboration with the INEC gender department will conduct in a participatory approach the 2023 post elections INEC gender assessment during a three days retreat of all INEC heads of departments  

Duties and Responsibilities

• UN Women seeks to engage a senior national consultant to support INEC and UN WOMEN team with the gender post electoral assessment to enhance the gender inclusivity of the commission and ensure a more inclusive electoral process.
• Specific objectives of the assignment are:
• Assist INEC in reviewing the new electoral legal and procedural framework from a gender perspective
• Discuss the challenges of women’s participation as voters, candidates and electoral staff
• Assist INEC in producing recommendations to improve INEC interventions in terms of gender and inclusivity    

Main Tasks:

• Work with the INEC gender department to identify relevant departmental and directors to participate in the assessment retreat.
• Work closely with the INEC gender and inclusivity department to build linkages with the different departments at INEC towards the gender assessment.
• Conduct consultations with key INEC staff.
• Conduct a desk review of INEC electoral processes
• Facilitate sessions during the assessment retreat
• Harmonize all findings and recommendations from the different departments of INEC participating in the assessment.
• Prepare and submit to UN Women, a report of the assessment including findings and recommendations.

Deliverables 

• Act as lead facilitator of the assessment retreat
• Compile the working groups work and data and finalize the gender assessment report
• Liaise with INEC for the validation of the document to be printed and published   

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality submission of reports  
• Analysis of secondary and primary data

Survey tools

• Presentation of findings to key stakeholders
• Engagement with INEC  

Competencies

Core Values and Guiding Principles

• Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
• Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity: Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• 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, multiethnic 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
• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making

Functional Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of contextual gender equality literature, women’s rights, empowerment and participation in leadership and decision making
• Sound practical knowledge of initiatives to promote women’s political participation.
• Proven experience of working on political and electoral processes and working with political stakeholders including INEC, political parties, women aspirants and candidates etc.
• Excellent research and analytical skills
• Excellent networking and communication skills
• Excellent writing and presentation skills
• Ability to break down complex information and simplify to facilitate understanding by persons with limited literacy
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture
• Extensive experience in developing and finalizing technical documents/reports.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Social Science Research or related field (e.g., Statistics, Political Science, International Relations, Gender, Development, Communications, Public Relations) or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in research and data analysis.
• Demonstrated extensive knowledge of elections in Nigeria
• Proven experience facilitating and making presentations targeting high level stakeholders.
• Proven experience and evidence of having conducted previous assignments on research and data analysis.
• Proven track record of working with INEC is an asset
• Experience of working with multi-stakeholder organizations is desirable: governments, CSOs, and the UN/ multilateral/bilateral institutions
• Knowledge of issues related to gender equality in Nigeria is desirable
• Strong report writing and development of knowledge products 

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Excellent English writing skills is required

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Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide substantive technical support to the implementation and management of the humanitarian and disaster risk programme:
• Provide technical inputs to the annual workplan and budget development on humanitarian and disaster risk reduction projects
• Support the coordination of the call/request for proposals, including the organization of technical review committees, and capacity assessment of partners as assigned
• Review and evaluate proposals from partners, as assigned
• Review, coordinate and monitor the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports as assigned
• Support project partners through overseeing implementation and synergies between different elements of project implementation, while ensuring implementation are on track
• Lead the planning of humanitarian and disaster risk reduction project activities to ensure timely and comprehensive implementation
• Provide technical assistance and capacity building to partners on key areas of project implementation, to ensure the impact of interventions.
• Maintain records of all target achievements/indicators to monitor progress.
• Support in the timely preparation and quality control of technical reports, briefs and required project documents.
• Monitor budget implementation and make budget re-alignments/revisions, as necessary and provide substantive inputs to financial reports, as assigned
• Provide technical assistance and capacity development to program partners:
• Maintain relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of the humanitarian and disaster risk reduction programme as assigned
• Identify opportunities for capacity building of partners and facilitate technical/programming support and trainings to partners, as assigned
• Identify capacity building needs of humanitarian and disaster risk reduction partners and lead the coordination of technical assistance, mentoring, training and capacity development initiatives to partners
• Provide technical inputs to monitoring and reporting of programme/ project activities:
• Provide technical inputs for the establishment of an effective monitoring system for the delivery of humanitarian and disaster risk project results as assigned;
• Monitor progress of implementation of activities and finances using results-based management tools
• Undertake field visits to monitor performance of commitments by implementing partners and ensure programme objectives are being met
• Draft reports on monitoring missions, programme results, outputs and outcomes
• Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of donor and UN Women reports relating to humanitarian action and disater risk reduction
• Provide substantive inputs to building partnerships and resource mobilization strategies:
• Develop and maintain partnership at State level to support implementation and expansion of UN Women programming including in the fields of gender responsive humanitarian and women’s leadership;
• Provide technical and coordination support to Minitry of Women Affairs and Women-led organizations across humanitarian programme implementation states
• Provide substantive inputs to humanitarian and disaster risk reduction resource mobilization strategies;
• Participate in donor meetings and public information events, as delegated
• Provide technical support to inter-agency coordination on humanitarian action to systematically integrate gender and social inclusion:
• Provide substantive technical support to the GiHA Programme Manager on inter-agency coordination related activities
• Represent UN Women in inter-agency coordination related activities by attending meetings/events, participating in groups and committees, as needed
• Advocate for the engagement and participation of Women Led Organizations and other Civil Society networks in humanitarian coordination mechanisms
• Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts:
• Develop background documents, briefs and presentations related to gender in humanitarian action and disaster risk reduction
• Coordinate and organize advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products, as assigned
• Contribute to the development of knowledge management strategies, methodologies, and products on gender in humanitarian action and disaster risk reduction
• Support the development of advocacy strategies and implementation
• Support UN Women’s participation in policy dialogues on issues related to humanitarian action and disaster risk rduction as necessary
• Identify best practices and lessons learned on humanitarian and disaster risk reduction programme to guide programme improvement and strategic planning

Key Performance Indicator

• Timely and quality substantive inputs to programme development, workplans and budgets
• Quality and timely inputs to tracking, monitoring and reporting of programme results and finances
• Quality and timely technical assistance
• Quality of knowledge and advocacy products
• Adherence to UN Women standards and rules including security;
• Relationship with partners and stakeholders
• Increased cooperation and communication between UN Women and the humanitarian partners in Borno and Yobe States
• Enhanced best practices and lessons learned documented and circulated

Competencies

Core Values And Guiding Principles

Integrity:

• Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism:

• Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Respect for diversity:

• Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability and Responsibility
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Functional Competencies

• Demonstrated technical expertise on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and social inclusion in humanitarian action
• 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 recommendation
• Good analytical skills
• Good knowledge of gender in humanitarian action
• Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising
• Excellent communication skills;
• Ability to manage and maintain relationships with different levels of stakeholders effectively and strategically;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice

Required Skills And Experience

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field 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 would be an added advantage

Experience

• At least 2 years of progressively responsible work experience in the areas of humanitarian, gender equality and women’s rights programming, project/programme implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation and donor reporting and capacity building;
• Technical experience in inter-agency coordination, preferably in humanitarian action
• Experience in proposal drafting
• Experience working in the Northeast humanitarian response;
• Experience engaging diverse stakeholders, including civil society organizations and/or donors is an asset
• Experience advocating on issues of women’s rights and gender equality;
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies, donors and civil society organizations is an asset
• Experience with UN Women or the UN system would be an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of the other UN official language is an asset
• Knowledge of Hausa will be an asset.