Associate Programme Support Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

Update

Context

The office presently leads the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda in Sri Lanka. With regard to the WPS Agenda, UN Women recognizes that ongoing and emerging conflicts have devastating consequences, including the widening of development gaps between women and men. Women frequently make up the bulk of displaced and refugee populations and are disproportionately targeted for sexual violence. Despite being at the forefront of peace movements, women are rarely part of formal peace negotiations. UN Women acts to build women’s participation and influence in decision-making to prevent and resolve conflicts and works towards more inclusive and peaceful societies. UN Women’s programmes on women, peace and security are guided by a series of commitments to women’s rights. These include the historic UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and seven supporting resolutions—1820, 1888, 1889, 1960, 2106, 2122 and 2242. Other key reference points are the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Following the aftermath of nearly three decades of conflict in 2009, UN Women aims to ensure that peacebuilding initiatives in Sri Lanka include leveraging women’s capacities and contributions, and developing strategies for inclusion which recognize their roles, and diverse experiences of conflict. Research indicates that without women’s engagement at the stages of peace consolidation, the dangers of relapse are heightened. In Sri Lanka, decades of armed conflict brought a major transformation in women’s roles in society. With the large loss or disappearances of spouses, over 1.2 million women became heads of households and were left to cope with the loss of family members, death and disappearance of income earners, and displacement unassisted. This has resulted in intersectional vulnerabilities and exploitation of women directly and indirectly affected by conflict. Poverty, discrimination based on gender, multiple responsibilities of women, little to limited support structures, insecurity, vulnerable forms of employment, indebtedness, limited access to basic services, goods and resources, and the extent of trauma undergone converge to increase the likelihood of exploitation and re-victimization, particularly through sexual exploitation and sexual bribery. Additionally, both the COVID-19 pandemic and the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka have had – and continue to have – devastating consequences, and women and girls have been noted as being among those most at risk. It aims to provide targeted support for women who have been, and continue to be, directly harmed by conflict, violence and climate insecurity. In addition, it aims to strengthen the security of marginalized women and girls, and the economic empowerment of women through access to equal opportunities and resources. The Plan also aims to strengthen coordination between stakeholders of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, which is vital to sustainable peace and development in Sri Lanka. UN Women will be supporting the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment on the coordination, implementation and monitoring of the NAP WPS.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office – UN Women Sri Lanka, the UN Youth Volunteer will support the implementation of UN Women’s ongoing programmes on WPS, gender-responsive peacebuilding and conflict prevention. The UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: · Support the UN Women team with analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country to inform programming. · Liaise with other UN agencies, project partners, consultants, vendors and other stakeholders in support of project implementation. · Provide administrative support related to organizing logistics for project activities, events, trainings, meetings, in accordance with UN Women rules and regulations. Assist in periodic monitoring of project implementation. · Support preparation of internal technical reports and briefs including donor reports, documentation of project activities, outputs, and outcomes. · Assist in organizing and coordinating advocacy and communication campaigns with partners. · Any other responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.