UN Women: Programme Assistant, Ankara, Turkiye, NPSA5

Background:

UN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead UN entity on gender equality and secretariat of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, UN Women shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world. UN Women’s partnerships with governments, women’s movements and the private sector coupled with its coordination of the broader United Nations translate progress into lasting changes.

In Türkiye, in line with its global Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and Country Strategic Note (2022-2025), and the overall UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Turkey (UNSDCF) (2021-2025), UN Women works towards the overarching goal of “Women and girls including those at greatest risk of being left behind fully exercise their human rights, enjoy a life free from violence and discrimination, and lead, influence and benefit from sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development towards the advancement of gender equality in Türkiye”. UN Women works in four thematic areas: (i) governance and participation in public life; (ii) women’s economic empowerment; (iii) ending violence against women and girls; and (iv) women, peace and security, humanitarian action and disaster risk reduction. In line with its coordination mandate, UN Women promotes coordination and coherence across the UN system to enhance accountability and results for gender equality and women’s empowerment, including through joint programmatic and advocacy actions and initiatives, standardized tools and guidance and services to strengthen the relevant capacities of the UN system. 

Towards these goals, UN Women implements programmes and projects that aim to advance gender equality, improve women’s access to opportunities, rights, and services in political, social, and economic life, and combat gender stereotypes, discrimination, and violence, as required by international and national legal and policy commitments. UN Women collaborates with numerous partners – central and local level government authorities, civil society organizations, including women’s organizations and platforms, academia, private sector companies, and other UN agencies. It commits itself to the Leave No One Behind principle, by supporting targeted actions to remove the obstacles that marginalized and vulnerable groups of women face in accessing their rights and to promote them as agents of change. UN Women Türkiye has been at the forefront of support for Türkiye’s continuous commitment to implement international norms and standards on women’s rights, and the enhancement and implementation of relevant national legal and policy frameworks. The Country Office has been operational in Türkiye since 2012.

In the area of ending violence against women and girls (VAWG) and other harmful practices, UN Women supports enhancing services on VAWG prevention and protection through strengthened capacities of institutions, improved data management, better coordination, and empowerment of women and girls who are at risk of and/or are survivors of violence. Furthermore, to address the underlying root causes of VAWG and harmful practices, UN Women Türkiye works towards favorable social norms, attitudes, and behaviors at the individual, community, and institutional levels that advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. Currently, UN Women in Türkiye has a diverse and growing portfolio on Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW) which is led by a Programme Specialist, under the overall guidance of the UN Women Country Director and the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director.

Within the scope of “Restoring and Strengthening the Preventive and Protective Services in response to Violence Against Women affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye (2024-2027) ” project, UN Women aims to restore and strengthen both the physical infrastructure and technical capacities of VAW service provision through a survivor-centered and rights-based approach that contributes the empowerment of women. The project aims to establish good models that can then be scaled up to become part of the overall MOFSS response to violence against women in their areas of competence under the scope of the project.

The Impact/ Overall Objective of the Project is to improve the protection of women and children’s rights in earthquake affected regions in Türkiye. The project comprises of the following 1 Outcome/Special Objective and 4 Outputs:

• Outcome/ Specific Objective 1: To enhance access to quality prevention, protection and empowerment services for women and girls at risk of and survivors of VAWG, in the earthquake-affected provinces and provinces receiving migration from the affected region, in line with national and international standards.
  • Output 1.1. Reconstructed women shelters for survivors of violence and their accompanying children in selected earthquakes affected provinces and migration receiving ones, in line with the national and international standards and good practices.
  • Output 1.2. Strengthened and refurbished shelters and violence prevention and monitoring centres for survivors and those at risk of violence against women and girls, and their accompanying children in selected earthquakes affected provinces and provinces that received migration to meet the increasing needs.
  • Output 1.3. Increased technical knowledge, skills and enhanced tools of the public personnel providing and coordinating violence prevention and protection services at the institutions of Ministry of Family and Social Services and Law Enforcement institutions in the target provinces. 
  • Output 1.4. Increased access of survivors to opportunities supporting their socio-economic empowerment and well-being, including in the post-shelter period. 

Reporting to Programme Specialist, the Programme Assistant works with and provides support to the members of the Programme Team in the development and implementation of effective programmes consistent with UN Women rules and regulations.  The Programme Assistant provides programme, administrative, and logistical assistance to the team for the smooth programme implementation.

Scope of Work:

1. Provide administrative and logistical support to the formulation, implementation and management of programmes under Ending Violence Against Women Portfolio and specifically “Restoring and Strengthening the Preventive and Protective Services in response to Violence Against Women affected   by the earthquakes in Türkiye” Project 

• Provide administrative support in the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements, including tracking the delivery of funds; 
• Provide administrative support for the audit of programmes/projects and support implementation of audit recommendations; and  
• Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers, in collaboration with the Programme team. 

2. Provide administrative support to the financial management of the Programme Unit:

• Provide administrative support in monitoring and preparation of budget and the finances of programmes/projects, and in the preparation of FACE forms; 
• Review financial reports, Prepare non-PO vouchers for development projects; 
• Process payment for consultants and service providers, as delegated; and
• Create requisitions in Quantum system for development projects; register good receipts in Quantum system
• Support preparation of procurement and spending plans
• Maintain internal expenditures control system;

3. Provide administrative support to the Programme Unit:

• Undertake all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for organization for meetings, workshops, events, and missions; 
• Make travel arrangements for the Programme Team, including travel requisitions and claims; 
• Draft minutes in meetings, as delegated;  
• Assemble briefing materials and prepare powerpoint and other presentations, in collaboration with the Programme team; and
• Organize and coordinate filing of documents; maintain mailing lists. 

4. Provide administrative support to resource mobilization:

• Organize, compile, and process documentation and information from donors, and programme team as inputs to various databases and documents.

5. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

• Provide administrative support to the organization of trainings for the office personnel and partners on programme and operations related issues
• Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers, in collaboration with the Programme team.

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

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 administer and execute administrative and procurement processes and transactions;
• Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats; 
• Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow; 
• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities;
• Ability to extract, interpret, analyze and resolve operational issues;
• Ability to support a team and team building skills;
• Good financial and budgeting skills; 
• Good IT and web management skills. 

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Completion of secondary education is required.  
• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, development, business, public administration or a related field is desirable. 

Experience: 

• At least 5 years (2 years with bachelor’s) of progressively responsible experience in procurement, travel, event management, administration or logistic support service is required 
• Knowledge of and professional experience in gender equality and women's empowerment is a strong asset
• Previous experience in providing administrative support to EU or UN projects is a strong asset
• Experience in organizing events and trainings is an asset
• Experience in working with different partners (Governmental organizations, donors, CSOs) is an asset
• Experience in the use of ERP systems, preferably Oracle Cloud, is a strong asset
• Experience in supporting a team is desirable.

Languages: 

1. Fluency in English and Turkish is required.

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.