UN Women: Programme Manager, Policy and Research, Kabul, Afghanistan, FTA, P4

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. Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex emergencies, and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Afghan people are grappling with the impact of chronic, poverty, climate change, economic decline, and natural disasters. Afghan women and girls face unique and amplified vulnerabilities particularly the series of restrictions and bans that restrict their access to education, health, workplaces and public spaces. In this context, it remains urgent that Afghan women and girls are provided targeted support and that they can continue to shape the development of their country, and that their gains are protected. UN Women remains fully committed to supporting Afghan women and girls and to putting them at the center of the global response to the polycrises crisis in Afghanistan. 

UN Women has been in Afghanistan for two decades. UN Women’s programming approach is informed by analysis of the political, economic and humanitarian situation, risks to and capacities of partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls. UN Women Afghanistan currently has five key programme priorities: (1) Intgrated Programming and Localization, (2) Women’s movement building through core grant making; 3) Policy and Research; 4) Economic Resilience and Private Sector and 5) Coordination, Access and Humanitarian Response. UN Women Afghanistan operates through its main office in Kabul and five sub-offices located in the provinces of Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar and Nangarhar. 

Following the Taliban takeover on August 2021, UN Women through its thematic pillar Women, Peace and Security (WPS) pillar reconfigured to focus largely on ensuring accountability to the normative framework on women’s rights through leveraging strategic partnerships with UN entities, especially UNAMA, amplifying voices of Afghan women to inform policy’ targeting programming to provide protection to women human right defenders and investing in knowledge management through designing and managing innovative ways of evidence and data generation in Afghanistan’s operational context. Based on the lessons learnt and the significance of ensuring accountability to normative mechanisms anchored in robust data and evidence  generation through the establishment of a policy and research unit. 

Under the overall guidance of the Special Representative and reporting directly to the Deputy Country Representative (Programmes), the Programme Manager will be responsible for leading, planning, implementing and managing UN Women’s Policy and Research team in country. She/he will work in close collaboration with the UN Women programme and operations team in Afghanistan, and relevant UN Women staff in the Regional Office (Bangkok) and HQ (New York), as well as other key stakeholders - including UN partners, civil society and international partners - to ensure successful implementation and achievement of the WPS agenda and planned results.

Oversee the Policy and Research Unit including production and coordination of political analysis, gender data, and political advocacy on WPS Agenda:

• Provide political analysis and advisory support to ACO Management within the WPS framework.
• Draft policy briefs, analytical papers and other strategic, technical and policy influencing documents elevating opportunities to amplify Afghan women’s voices to define and advance the WPS agenda.
• Lead the data collection and trend analyses on political and women’s human rights issues, primarily to advance the WPS mandate.
• Organize periodic consultations with key stakeholders, women leaders, research institutions, human rights experts and UN partners to gather inputs on developing strategic partnerships, policy and programme priorities, as necessary.
• Serve as an expert resource to partners on programmes/initiatives, data generation and advocacy opportunities on WPS.
• Lead initiatives that seek to meaningful consult with diverse women leaders, connecting them to policy windows to increase their influence over key decision- and policy-making processes and ensure their priorities are reflected in UN Women in-country programming.
• Build, manage, and expand relationships with strategic partners (UN, International community and women CSOs and women leaders) to support implementation and expansion of the WPS programme and pathways for inclusive political engagement processes.
• Lead and regularly update risk mitigation measures informed by operational context to enable safe and secure operational environment for implementation of the Unit’s priorities and ensure safety of partners.

Lead policy and political engagement, focusing on WPS including through programmes, partnerships, and advocacy:

• Oversee and manage the design and formulation of new policy and programme initiatives and strengthen existing programmatic areas and interventions, primarily within the WPS framework, ensuring flexibility and adaptability of programming in a timely and principled manner in response to potential challenges.
• Provide policy advice and substantive inputs to the design, formulation and finalization of strategic country programme/project proposals and joint initiatives related to the WPS Agenda.
• Participate and create opportunities for outreach and engagement with stakeholders, including UN, civil society, Members States and the De facto Authorities.

Manage the monitoring and reporting of the Policy and Research Unit:

• Finalize the annual workplan and budget for the Unit and oversee implementation in line with Results Based Management Tools.
• Oversee monitoring of the Unit’s activities and finances using results-based management tools.
• Prepare high quality donor reports and contribute to UN Women reporting (quarterly, annual, etc.).

Build partnerships and support in developing resource mobilization strategies:

• In close coordination with ACO Management and the Partnerships Unit, advise and implement partnerships and resource mobilization strategies.
• Finalize relevant documentation for donors management partnerships and contribute to developing potential opportunities for resource mobilization on WPS.
• Analyze and research information on donors, finalize substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost sharing.

Manage inter-agency coordination to achieve a coherent and aligned implementation to advance policy and political engagement, within the WPS framework :

• Provide substantive technical support to the Special Representative and Deputy Country Representative on political processes and inter-agency coordination related activities by attending relevant meetings, events, and participating in working groups and committees.
• Coordinate with relevant working groups to drive policy and political tracks, including different preparatory activities and meetings with stakeholders and liaise with Member States, International Organizations, international finance institutions and de facto authorities,
• Provide guidance and lead relevant interagency and /or multistakeholder coordination mechanisms to ensure WPS priorities are fully integrated across the joint strategic planning processes and outcomes.
• Provide thought-leadership on advancing structured pathways for women’s inclusion in key political processes, in close consultation and collaboration with other UN agencies.
• Take part in country level Comprehensive Country Assessment (CCA)/ United Nations Transitional Engagement Frameworks and  similar UN System wide process to ensure centrality of gender analysis underpins these processes. 
• Prepare substantive inputs to CCA /UNSF and other strategic planning documents, as necessary.

Provide technical advice on strategic communications, advocacy and knowledge building:

• Represent UN Women in meetings and policy dialogues, high-level discussions and academic fora to advance policy engagement in women’s rights, primarily on WPS.
• Provide technical support and advice to implement advocacy strategies focusing on WPS.
• Lead and manage creative strategies, products and methodologies for data generation and evidence gathering to amplify the voices of Afghan women and women CSOs, aligned to the WPS priorities.

Manage the people and financial resources of the Policy & Research Unit portfolio:

• Provide managerial direction, guidance and leadership to staff and provide performance feedback and coaching to staff under supervision.
• Develop and manage the Unit’s budget and finalize financial reports in collaboration with the Operations team.
• Provide guidance to staff and partners on Results Based Management tools and performance indicators.
• Oversee recruitment and staff onboarding processes, as necessary.

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:

• Excellent programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them
• Excellent knowledge of Results Based Management
• Strong writing skills and ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making
• Strong organization skills and ability to pay close attention to detail;
• Strong policy analysis experience and knowledge of WPS;
• Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation
• Strong networking skills
• Ability to negotiate and interact with donors, identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising

Recruitment Qualifications

Education and certification:

• 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 (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects is required.
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is desirable.
• Experience working in the UN System is desirable.
• Experience in leading/managing a team is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

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.