Job Opportunities at UN Women

Type of Contract: Service Contract
Post Level: SB-4
Duration of Initial Contract: 1 year

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.
• The Spotlight Initiative is a global partnership between the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in support of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. It was launched in September 2017 by the UN Secretary-General and the EU High Representative and Vice President (HRVP).
• The 500 million Euro Initiative provides a model for partnerships with donors, civil society, and the UN to deliver on the SDGs in a comprehensive manner leveraging comparative expertise. SDG 5 and the achievement of gender equality are placed at the centre of efforts (alongside Goal 16) with the aim to provide an enabling environment for the implementation of all goals. Within the UN, the Initiative will operationalize the UN development system reforms and model a new way of delivering on the SDGs in an integrated way, leveraging collaborative advantages.
• Three Core Agencies: UNDP (the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population (UNFPA) and UN Women) will work together with other UN agencies to make large-scale investments in priority countries.
• Reporting to the Programme Specialist- Technical Coherence, Spotlight Initiative, the Programme officer- PMS will be responsible for the delivery of UN Women interventions and results in the area of  prevention and mitigation/services provision under the Spotlight Programme.
• He or she also provides substantive inputs to programme design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. He or she also ensures appropriate application of systems and procedures and develops enhancements if necessary. 
• She/he works in close collaboration with the programme and operations team, UN Women staff, Government officials, academic institutions, multi and bi-lateral stakeholders and civil society working to address prevention and services provisions to ensures successful UN Women programme implementation under portfolio.  

Duties and Responsibilities
Contribute technically to the development and implementation of the Spotlight programme strategies and interventions for the prevention and mitigation of SGBV and Harmful Practices:

• Provide substantive inputs towards the development of the programme annual work plans, budgets and implementation strategies for the UN Women components of the Spotlight Programme focusing on prevention and services provisions;
• Identify and design advocacy and lobby opportunities and interventions for effective prevention and services provisions and overall interest of the programme;
• Support development of the state level programme work plans in collaboration with the technical colleagues of the other UN agencies participating in the Spotlight Programme (UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UNESCO), and ensure that UN Women’s interventions are consistent with the overall programme results and resources frameworks;
• Provide substantive technical support to the implementation and management of the Spotlight Initiative programme in the targeted states for prevention and services provisions;
• Lead the delivery of the UN Women components on prevention and services provisions within formal and informal institutions; driving message development and demand creation for services among various stakeholders;
• Support the call/request for proposals, including the organization of technical review committees, and capacity assessment of partners to ensure effective selection of partners who can effectively deliver on SGB prevention and services provisions;
• Review, coordinate and monitor the submission of partners financial and narrative reports;
• Support training of partners on prevention and mitigation techniques, Results Based Management and monitor implementation;
• Monitor budget implementation and make budget re-alignments/ revisions, as necessary; in relation to the prevention and services delivery components.

Provide technical assistance and capacity development to programme stakeholders:

• Provide technical support to counterpart institutions and partner organizations including CSOs to enhance their capacity to prevent and respond to SGBV and HPs at national, subnational and community levels;
• Coordinate the implementation of effective prevention and services provisions programme activities; also support the development of technical knowledge products;
• Coordinate and lead technical workshops and webinars; facilitate workshop sessions for effective prevention and services provisions;
• Contribute to the assessment and development of capacity plan for partners implementing the prevention and services provisions on the spotlight as well as provide a forum for exchanging experiences;
• Consolidate lessons learned and key outcomes of workshops and webinars for the prevention and services provisions aspect of the spotlight interventions;
• Analyze emerging needs and provide suggestions for technical follow up;
• Establish and nurture relationships with state and national partners to support implementation and expansion of the Spotlight Initiative programme;
• Identify opportunities for capacity building of partners and facilitate technical/ programming support and trainings to partners, as needed.

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

• Monitor progress on implementation of activities and finances using results-based management tools;
• Draft reports on monitoring missions, programme results s, outputs and outcomes;
• Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of donor and UN Women reports with specific focus on prevention and service provisions outcomes.

Provide substantive inputs to building partnerships and resource mobilization strategies:

• Pro-actively identify relevant partners working to promote SGBV prevention at state and national levels, and liaise and foster partnership with them;
• Identify potential partners including private sector, traditional and religious institutions, academics, celebrities etc. to support the prevention and services provisions component of the spotlight interventions;
• Provide substantive inputs to resource mobilization strategies; 
• 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.

Provide technical support to inter-agency coordination on Spotlight Initiative to achieve coherence and alignment of UN Women programmes with other partners in the country:

• Provide substantive technical support to the Programme Specialist Technical Coherence on inter-agency coordination and related activities by drafting background reports and briefs;
• Leverage opportunities within the broader spotlight partnership to promote the prevention and services provisions components of the programme.

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

• Develop background documents, briefs and presentations related to prevention and services provisions for the Spotlight Initiative
• Coordinate and prepare regular justification for scaling up the prevention and services provisions within the spotlight intervention using advocacy platforms and other events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products;
• Support the coordination and the development of knowledge management methodologies, and products on Spotlight Initiative.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Timely and quality substantive inputs programme strategies and activities;
• Timely and quality substantive inputs to 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.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent 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 3 years of progressively responsible work experience in development programme/project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building;
• Knowledge and experience in Legislative and institutional work
• Experience in similar intervention like the Spotlight Initiative is an asset;
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset.
• Strong understanding and experiences in implementing prevention and services provision interventions
• Awareness and sensitivity regarding gender issues
• Strong IT Skills. Experience in the use of computers applications and software packages (MS Word, Excel, ATLAS, etc.)

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset;
• Knowledge of a Nigeria Language is an asset.

Competencies
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:

• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Strong understanding and experiences in implementing prevention and services provision interventions
• Good understanding of the GBV prevention and services provision in Nigeria
• Good knowledge of technical of prevention, advocacy, lobbying, mobilization and citizen mobilization and engagements
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations
• Good analytical skills
• Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising.

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Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: National Consultant
Duration of Initial Contract: 4 months (66 working days)

Background

• The Spotlight Initiative is a global partnership between the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in support of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. It was launched in September 2017 by the UN Secretary-General and the EU High Representative and Vice President (HRVP).
• The 500 million Euro Initiative provides a model for partnerships with donors, civil society, and the UN to deliver on the SDGs in a comprehensive manner leveraging comparative expertise. SDG 5 and the achievement of gender equality are placed at the centre of efforts (alongside Goal 16) with the aim to provide an enabling environment for the implementation of all goals. Within the UN, the Initiative will operationalize the UN development system reforms and model a new way of delivering on the SDGs in an integrated way, leveraging collaborative advantages. Three Core Agencies: UNDP (the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population (UNFPA) and UN Women) will work together with other UN agencies to make large-scale investments in priority countries.
• The program seeks to strengthen laws and policies at national and sub-national levels as well as address the negative and pervasive socio-cultural norms that drive Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Harmful Practices (HP) and their inter-linkages with Sexual and Reproductive health Rights (SRHR) whilst entrenching transformative change.
• However, there are legal and legislative gaps which exist and engender long-standing negative socio-cultural norms due to conflicts between formal laws and customary laws/practices. It is therefore imperative that an assessment of conflicts between customary and formal laws within the scope of analyzing root causes of GBV through behavioral factors is conducted to provide solutions of how to address these gaps.
• Under the supervision of the UN Women Spotlight Programme Specialist, an individual consultant will be engaged to conduct a study assessing customary laws and possible facilitators for gender equality and women’s empowerment, assess conflicts between customary and formal laws; analyze root causes of GBV through behavioral factors and how to address existing gaps.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Task1: Conduct a study assessing conflicts between customary and formal laws which engender GBV, HP and infringement of SRHR in Spotlight states.
• Task 2: Assess customary laws which act as facilitators for gender and SRHR transformative
• Practices in Spotlight states.
• Task 3: Review Customary laws (including Sharia law) of Spotlight Initiative states from a gender perspective to document best practices and harmony with international and national laws.

Key Deliverables:

• Conduct desk review of relevant reference materials on all Spotlight states (10 days).
• Prepare and submit Inception Report for review (23 days).
• Finalize inception report (24 days)
• Conduct assessment of conflicts between customary and formal laws; analysis of root causes of GBV through behavioral factors and how to address gaps (155 days).
• Conduct an assessment of customary laws which actas facilitators for gender and SRHR transformativePractices in Spotlight states (156 days)
• Review Customary laws (including Sharia law) ofSpotlight Initiative states from a gender perspectiveto document best practices and harmony withinternational and national laws (157 days).
• Prepare and submit report of assessment and analysis for review (38 days)
• Finalize and submit report of assessment incorporating feedback from review and submit final report (4 days).

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Gender Studies, International Development, Law, Human Rights, Political Science, International Relations, or another related field.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in organizational development and /or business management.
• Knowledge and experience of working in business management and incorporation environment.
• Knowledge of documentation and knowledge products.
• Knowledge of program management and results-based management tools
• Demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner; ability to organize work efficiently and deal with multiple tasks.
• Strong IT Skills. Experience in the use of computers applications and software packages.

Language:

• Excellent oral and written English skills.

Competencies
UN Women Core Values:

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

Core Values and Guiding Principles:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling UN Women values and ethical standards.
• Demonstrates a commitment to UN Women’s mission and vision.
• Able to work effectively within a team.
• Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability.
• Able to multi-task and juggle competing demands.
• Can assess and prioritize work needs quickly.
• Able to relate to external partners, including other international organizations and agencies, NGOs, , etc.

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge of organizational development processes
• Knowledge and expertise in administrative practices and company incorporation
• Capacity to work with diverse groups, networks and partners including governments, donors and civil society.
• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with people from varied cultures and professional backgrounds.
• Results-based management skills.
• Ability to produce well-written documents demonstrating excellent interpersonal communication skills.

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Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: National Consultant
Starting Date : 01-Sep-2021 (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
Duration of Initial Contract: 4 months

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.
• At the core of its mandate, UN women play a leading role in supporting governments in delivering on their gender equality and empowerment of women (GEEW) commitments in the SDGs.
• The Spotlight Initiative is a global, multi-year partnership between the European Union and the United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria aims to support a Nigeria where all women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable, live a life free from violence and harmful practices.
• The vision will be realized by addressing the linkages between sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices with related aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights as a cross-cutting theme. The focus is on prevention efforts, particularly addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and harmful practices (child marriage and FGM) against women and girls; and ensuring access to inclusive, timely, and quality services for victims and survivors with vibrant CSOs and women movement. The geographical scope is vertical, supporting interventions at federal, state and community levels and horizontally across 5+1 focus states of Lagos, Sokoto, FCT, Ebonyi, Adamawa and Cross River and the FCT.
• In line with the Spotlight Initiative project, women and girls with disabilities are among the most vulnerable in society. They are not a homogenous group as they experience a range and variety of impairments, including physical, psychosocial, intellectual and sensory conditions, that may or may not come with functional limitations.
• The diversity of women and girls with disabilities, the systemic marginalization, attitudinal and environmental barriers they face lead to lower economic and social status; increased risk of violence and abuse including sexual violence; discrimination as well as harmful gender-based discriminatory practices; and barriers to access education, health care including sexual and reproductive health/rights, information and services, and justice as well as civic and political participation. All these hinder their participation on an equal basis with others.
• Systemic barriers coupled with the failure to prioritize the collection of data on the situation of women and girls with disabilities have perpetuated the invisibility and the situation of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination that excludes them from various aspects of life as well as across the humanitarian-development continuum. These attitudes can manifest in or be caused by harmful gender-based prejudices, practices and cultural norms – such as ageist attitudes and intimate partner and familial violence.
• Data is the fifth pillar of the six mutually reinforcing pillars of the Spotlight Initiative. It states that measurement and methodologies for data collection, estimation, and reporting of VAWG/HP and SRHR are improved and strengthened and If (2) the capacity of national and sub-national institutions to collect, analyse and use disaggregated VAWG, including SGBV/HP, data in line with globally agreed standards are strengthened and If (3) disaggregated data (including, to the extent possible, by age, ethnicity, location, socio-economic status, disability) are made accessible and disseminated to be used by planners, policymakers, and civil society. THEN (4) laws, policies and programmes will be based on evidence and better respond to the specific contexts and realities of women and girls in Nigeria, including those most marginalized. BECAUSE (5) they will be based on quality, disaggregated and globally comparable data.
• Strengthening disability inclusion in Spotlight Initiative requires data collection in order to understand and respond to the experiences and situation of women and girls with disabilities in the areas of gender-based violence, harmful practices and all forms of violence generally.

Duties and Responsibilities
Purpose and Objectives of the Assignment:

• Challenges for women with disabilities on GBV is rife, however, there is a lack of information on how this group faces GBV, poor or no data collection mechanisms and there is a paucity of knowledge on institutions collecting this information.
• This research aims to see how the recommendations from this research can generate the support which women with disabilities require.
• Women with disabilities will be consulted on their experience with GBV, what services are available, what is preventing them from having services and what recommendations can be presented to support interventions around women with disabilities as regards preventing and responding to GBV. 
• Overall, the assignment will seek to understand and proffer recommendations that can address data collection and utilization gaps on Gender-Based Violence.
• So effectively, this research will analyze data collection gaps and perception of women with disabilities on their access to GBV services, their knowledge of available services and what factors may be responsible for the non-availability of services.
• It is perceived that this research will support the national response for preventing and responding to GBV in women with disabilities.

Main Tasks
The National Consultant will be required to:

• Conduct a desk review on available information on Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices among women with disabilities in terms of their experience and access to GBV services?
• Conduct primary data collection on available information on GBV and HP among women with disabilities in terms of their experience and access to GBV services?
• What information gaps are there for women with disabilities concerning GBV?
• Assess existing national and sub-national GBV and HP data collection mechanisms to ascertain if there are data collection gaps on women and girls with disabilities.
• What can be done to fill those gaps? How can the situation on data collection for women with disabilities be improved in terms of GBV and HP?
• The report should incorporate good/promising practices that can be upscaled/amplified.

Deliverables:

• Conduct primary and secondary data collection on available information on GBV and HP experiences with women with disabilities and their access to services.
• Generate a report on information and data collection mechanism gaps on GBV and HP in women with disabilities.
• Conduct a stakeholder meeting on the preliminary report to present data to stakeholders
• Finalize report based on stakeholder feedback and proffer recommendations on improving inclusivity in GBV and HP data collection and accessible service provision.

Hiring Agency and Specific Consultancy Requirement:

• UN Women is seeking the services of a National consultant with a history of supporting gender equality and other related initiatives in line with the United Nations’ values. 

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree, Desirable Master's Degree in Disability or related areas.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years demonstratable experience working within disability and related areas.
• Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with people with disability.
• Ability to produce well-written documents demonstrating excellent interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong IT Skills. Experience in the use of computers applications and software packages.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.

Competencies
Core Values:

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

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.
• Teamwork: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Communication and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.