Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global development network, working in about 170 countries and territories. ln line with its 2021-2025 Country Programme, UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) focuses on green, sustainable, and inclusive growth, on accountable and transparent governance and rule of law, as well as social cohesion. UNDP is fully committed to support BIH with regard to its Agenda 2030 commitments as well as the European Union (EU). In all areas, there will be an emphasis on conflict-sensitive, integrated, and innovative programme design, complementing country priorities and tailored to the specific development needs of BiH.

The Effective Governance Sector of UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina implements projects in the field of democratic governance, rule of law, access to justice, social protection, and human rights, geared towards reducing inequalities and ensuring that the most vulnerable groups have access to essential services and opportunities. All interventions are implemented in close collaboration with relevant government stakeholders, civil society, academia, and development partners, as well as other UN agencies.

As part of its broader commitment to advancing gender equality, strengthening justice and security institutions, and promoting inclusive social protection systems, UNDP, together with other UN agencies, implements the Gender and Social Assistance Joint Programme (JP) with funding from the European Union and in partnership with relevant institutions. The Programme aims to strengthen institutional capacities to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV), support legal and policy reforms, and promote the social inclusion of vulnerable groups. It focuses on three interlinked priorities: first, enhancing the ability of justice, security, health, and social protection institutions to provide coordinated, survivor-centred support services; second, promoting economic empowerment and social protection measures for women and other at-risk groups to reduce vulnerabilities and cycles of violence; and third, supporting innovative models of social assistance, including the modernization of public kitchens and social enterprises, to ensure inclusive and sustainable service delivery.

The Programme will be implemented in close collaboration with justice and security institutions at all levels—police agencies, prosecutors’ offices, and courts—as well as social protection institutions, shelters, and relevant UN agencies. It will ensure that national systems are better equipped to prevent and respond to GBV and to deliver social assistance in a more coordinated, efficient, and sustainable manner.

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent’s duties are outlined below and are to be undertaken with due respect to UNDP regulations and rules and in accordance with UNDP internal control framework, under the direct guidance of the Project Manager and in cooperation with the Project team.

Contributes to the strengthening institutional frameworks and responses to gender-based violence (GBV) and domestic violence: 

• Serves as a focal point for activities that enhance institutional and operational capacities for GBV and domestic violence prevention and response;
• Supports, coordinates and monitors project activities, including developing training methodologies for the justice and security system and information systems (software/database solutions);
• Coordinates and supports the preparation of policy recommendations and institutional guidance to improve survivor support, systemic accountability, data collection, and monitoring;
• Organizes, supports and oversees training sessions for police officers, prosecutors, judges, and police-academy students, including logistical arrangements, materials, and reporting;
• Collaborates with the respective gender centres in BiH and national consultants to develop and align protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and relevant bylaws with the latest domestic-violence legislation;
• Ensure regular office operations, including maintaining project files, correspondence and documentation.

Contributes to public kitchens and social entrepreneurship initiatives across BiH:

• Coordinates the implementation of needs assessment for public kitchens across BiH, identifying key infrastructure and service gaps, with focus on gender-sensitive analysis;
• Supports procurement and distribution of essential cooking, storage, and distribution equipment and furniture to improve service delivery in at least 20 public kitchens across BiH;
• Contributes to the design and roll-out of skills-development and economic-empowerment initiatives, including vocational training in food preparation, catering, and other women-led entrepreneurship initiatives for violence survivors and other vulnerable groups;
• Supports linkages between public-kitchen initiatives, employment opportunities in the hospitality sector, and social-entrepreneurship models that promote cooperation with women-led entrepreneurship initiatives;
• Coordinates the process of conducting public calls for civil society organizations (CSOs) including preparation of documentation, evaluation criteria, and timelines;
• Monitors the provision of grants and technical support to ensure effective service delivery and sustainability of interventions;
• Supports monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on outcomes, including beneficiary satisfaction and employment linkages.

Ensures coordination activities with UN agencies and partners and reporting of activities:

• Ensures close coordination with relevant ministries, municipalities, CSOs, and other UN agencies to promote synergies across project components;
• Supports data collection, monitoring, and evaluation to track progress, results, and beneficiary feedback;
• Prepares and maintains project documentation, correspondence, and progress reports in compliance with UNDP procedures;
• Captures and disseminating success stories and lessons learned to enhance project visibility and knowledge management;
• Provides operational support for procurement, contracting, and financial monitoring, ensuring adherence to UNDP standards.

Facilitates Gender equality, mainstreaming and knowledge management:

• Captures and support wide dissemination and visibility of Project achievements, with emphasis on success stories and impact;
• Ensures proper maintenance and regular updating of knowledge materials and documentation;
• Facilitates collaboration between the project and other stakeholders working in the field of gender-based violence, with a focus on advancing gender equality;
• Supports the Project and Effective Governance Sector in mainstreaming gender equality in the project implementation;
• Ensures use of gender-sensitive and inclusive language in all project documents;
• Promotes gender equality and human-rights principles in all activities, ensuring gender-sensitive communication and reporting;
• Drafts reports to clearly reflect interventions, lessons learned, and behavioural changes.

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

Institutional Arrangement

The incumbent will directly report to the Project Manager and will coordinate and support project activities.  The incumbent will be based in the UNDP BiH office in Sarajevo, with frequent field work travels.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-functional & Technical Competences:

Business Direction & Strategy    

• Business Acumen:  
  • Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome.
  • Ability to make good judgment and quick decisions within such frameworks. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization.

Business Management   

• Communication:
  • Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
• Monitoring & Evaluation:
  • Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; 
  • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. 
  • Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. 
  • Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. 
  • Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. 
  • Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
• Partnership Management: 
  • Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

General (across the functions)

• Event planning and execution:
  • Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate.

Partnership Management     

• CSO engagement:  
  • Knowledge and understanding of CSOs and the ability to engage with CSOs.
• Relationship management: 
  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Political Sciences, Public Policy and Administration, Social Sciences, Economics, Law, Natural Science or related field is required, or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying work experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional administrative or project experience at the national or international level.

Desired Skills: 

• Demonstrated experience in implementing, and monitoring programs addressing GBV and domestic violence, with knowledge of legal frameworks and international best practices.
• Experience in organizing and monitoring training sessions for diverse audiences.
• Expertise in mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion principles into project implementation and supporting programs targeting vulnerable groups, including GBV survivors.
• Experience in building and maintaining partnerships with government institutions, CSOs, UN agencies, and the private sector to foster collaboration and synergy.
• Experience in preparing narrative reports, success stories, and knowledge materials to boost project visibility. 
• Excellent computer skills (especially Microsoft office applications) and ability to use information technology as a tool and resources).

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.