Programme Assistant

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 UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325), adopted unanimously in October 2000, underscores the critical role of women’s equal participation and full involvement in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security. Since then, seven additional resolutions have been adopted, further strengthening the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

UN Women works to advance women’s engagement in peace and security by promoting the effective implementation, monitoring, and reporting of global commitments on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. These commitments are outlined in the Beijing Platform for Action and in Security Council Resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2122 (2013), and 2242 (2015), as well as in relevant Presidential Statements and UN accountability frameworks. The resolutions on sustaining peace (S/RES/2282 and A/RES/70/262) emphasize a comprehensive approach to peacebuilding that strengthens capacities for peace across all stages of the conflict cycle. In this context, UN Women supports efforts to build the capacity of actors engaged in inclusive peacebuilding and national dialogue processes, with the goal of enhancing women’s participation, influence, and gender-equality outcomes.

The Federal Government of Somalia has demonstrated strong commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda as an integral part of its broader state-building and peace consolidation efforts. In January 2023, the Government launched its first National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security (2022–2026), developed through an inclusive process led by the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development (MoFHRD) in collaboration with federal member states, civil society organizations, and development partners.

The NAP provides a strategic framework to enhance women’s participation and leadership in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, protection, and recovery processes. It is aligned with the National Development Plan, the National Gender Policy, and the National Reconciliation Framework, underscoring the Government’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment as key drivers of peace and sustainable development.

While notable progress has been made in promoting women’s representation and engagement in governance and peace structures, significant challenges persist. These include ongoing insecurity, limited institutional capacity, weak coordination among WPS actors at federal and state levels, and social and cultural barriers that constrain women’s full participation in decision-making and access to justice and protection mechanisms.

In this context where the 2nd National Action Plan is being developed and continued technical and programmatic support is essential to strengthen coordination, implementation, and monitoring of the WPS agenda, enhance institutional accountability, and ensure the meaningful participation and protection of women and girls across peacebuilding and governance processes at both national and state levels.

Under the direct supervision of Programme Specialist, WPS and closely working with the Country Program Manager, 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.  S/he provides programme, administrative, and logistical assistance to the team for the smooth implementation of the programme. 

Scope of Work

The Provide administrative and logistical support to the formulation and management of Women Peace and Security programmes

• 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 to the executing agencies / responsible parties on routine delivery and reporting of programme supported activities and finances; 
• Provide administrative support for the audit of programmes/ projects and support implementation of audit recommendations; 
• 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.

Provide administrative support to the financial management of the Programme Unit

• Create projects in Quantum, prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds and the operational and financial close of a project; 
• Provide administrative support in monitoring and preparation of budget and the finances of Programmes, and in the preparation of FACE forms;
• Prepare non-PO vouchers for development projects;
• Process all payments related to the Programme, as delegated;
• Maintain follow up of advances to implementing partners, review their financial reports (FACE form) and supporting documentation together with Project Managers and take the appropriate action;
• Create requisitions in Quantum for development projects; register good receipts in Quantum.

Provide administrative support to the Programme Unit

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

Provide administrative support to the Country Program Manager 

• Assist the Country Program Manager in coordination and convening weekly team meetings and consolidation of work plans/presentations;
• Assist the Country Program Manager in scheduling meetings with donors, UN and CSOs; 
• Organize, compile, and process documentation and information from donors, and programme team as inputs to various databases and documents.

Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Provide administrative support to the organization of trainings and retreats for the office staff and partners on programme and operations-related issues.
• Incumbents perform other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

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:

• Knowledge of programme management;
• Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats;
• Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow;
• Good financial and budgeting skills;
• Good IT skills.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Completion of secondary education required. 
• Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration is an asset.

Experience

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in administrative or programme management/support; 
• Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages;
• Experience in the use of Quantum is an asset;
• Experience in supporting a team is an asset.

Languages

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

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.