Programme Specialist - Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW) and Peace and Security

Violence against women is endemic in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and SADC Member States have collectively recognised it as a critical area of concern.  Addressing the challenge therefore requires an effective and coordinated institutional response at regional, national and local levels as well as a change in norms and attitudes, particularly of men. GBV interventions mainly focus on response and support with little attention to prevention, especially primary prevention.

Most actors continue to use traditional methods of programming, yet the changing global context requires adaptation and innovation including using technology. A holistic approach to addressing violence is required by creating linkages and actions that empower women so that the violence does not recur. It is important that initiatives address the link between Violence Against Women and HIV and AIDS and other intersectionalities that impact on women disproportionately. New sites of violence against women and girls continue to surface as shown by increased reporting of violence against women at tertiary institutions.

There is a close link between violence against women and a lack of women’s safety and security. While this is heightened during times of conflict, violence against women is a human security issue and should be viewed from that lens. It is imperative to broaden the scope from the militarization of the peace and security agenda to a human security approach underpinned by the Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 5 on Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment as well as for sustainable peace; and Goal 16 on promoting Peaceful and inclusive communities.

UN Women played a key role in the development of the recently adopted SADC Regional Strategy on Women, Peace and Security and provides technical support to SACU Member States in the development National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security and implementation of the women, peace and security agenda.

UN Women’s programme focus is based on the following strategies but not limited to:

• Guided by the global normative framework, UN Women SAMCO has influenced development and implementation of robust GBV prevention strategies by UN agencies, civil society, tertiary institutions and the private sector informed by survivors of gender-based violence.
• GBV interventions by UN, government, civil society and the private sector are coordinated at national levels in countries that UN Women SAMCO works.
• Favourable social norms, attitudes and behaviour are promoted at societal, community and individual levels to prevent GBV.
• Data and knowledge management of GBV and EVAW including use of technologies.
• An enabling environment for the implementation of peace and security commitments in South Africa, SADC and other SACU countries is created.
• A robust community of practice on women, peace and security is created and supported to deepen democratic governance and improve the lives of women and in SACU countries.

UN Women SAMCO leverages the advocacy campaigns, HeForShe and the Secretary General’s UNiTE to End Violence Against Women to mobilise partners and communities and deepen its engagements.
 

Organisational context

UN Women is grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. UN Women work entails the elimination of discrimination against women and girls and promotion of equality between women and men.

Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women also leads and coordinates the efforts of the United Nations System to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action.

UN Women provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts in promotion of gender equality. UN Women builds effective partnerships with Governments, Civil Society Organisations and Private Sector support of government’s effort to attain gender equality.

In carrying outs its mandate, UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office’s new Strategic Note (2017 – 2022) focuses on three programmes: (1) Women and Leadership (2) Women’s economic empowerment (3) Ending violence against women (EVAW) linked to Women, Peace and Security. See http://www.unwomen.org/en/how-we-work/programme-and-technical-assistance for further information on the above programme areas. UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) covers SACU countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland and is the UN Women liaison office for the SADC Secretariat.
 

Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative, the Programme Specialist will manage the programme: Ending Violence Against Women linked to Women, Peace and Security. SAMCO aims to contribute to ensuring that women and girls live free from violence against women and thus has multiple initiatives on the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls (EVAW/G) in the countries that it serves.  To accelerate delivery on prevention of EVAW/G and work with strategic partners, UN Women SAMCO is developing a GBV programme document and a resource mobilisation strategy aligned to its Strategic Note (2017 -2022).

The current Women, Peace and Security programme is drawing to a close and once the Programme Specialist is recruited s/he will be charged with leading the development of a successor programme for 2019 – 2022 with strong linkages to the EVAW programme. Therefore, in its programme delivery approach UN Women SAMCO will support SACU countries and the SADC Secretariat in promoting the role of women in the peace and security agenda in addition to managing the programme s/he will manage a team of staff that will be supporting the implementation of the project as well as ensure synergies with other Programme Specialists in UN Women MCO.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Provision of top quality advisory and programme development services
• Management of the EVAW linked to WPS programme, supervision of the EVAW/WPS team and development and operational effectiveness
• Advocacy, knowledge building and management of the EVAW linked to WPS programme
• Strategic partnerships building and resource mobilization support
• Inter-agency coordination support for implementing EVAW linked to WPS programme
   

Provision of top quality advisory and programme development services:

• Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country related to EVAW and WPS and preparation of substantive inputs to the UNW country office programme planning in EVAW and WPS;
• Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
• Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of programme interventions;
• Identification of areas for support and interventions within EVAW and WPS;
• Lead the EVAW linked WPS & humanitarian action programme development process
• Design and formulation of programme initiatives
• Provision of programme advisory support to the Office Management within EVAW and Women Peace and Security
   

Management of the EVAW linked to WPS programme, supervision of the EVAW/WPS team and development and operational effectiveness:

• Under the guidance and oversight of the Deputy Representative, exercise overall responsibility for planning, implementation, management and coordination aspects of the EVAW linked to programme results;
• Manage the portfolio of ongoing programme/projects through technical monitoring and administrative and financial supervision ensuring the proper application of a monitoring system to track progress;
• Execute the responsibilities/roles as defined in the Office Internal Control Framework within the ATLAS programme/financial management system;
• Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies using agreed performance indicators/success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones.
• Provide substantive inputs into the Strategic Plans, Annual Work Plans, UNDAF and other documents;
• Lead programmes/project appraisal and evaluation according to Results Based Management requirements;
• Coordinate and supervise the activities of programme staff; projects staff, experts and consultants working as part of the technical assistance team;
• Responsible and timely preparation and quality control of all substantive technical reports, briefs and required documents;
• Ensure timely production and submission of all partial and or progress reports by all members of the project team, contractors and project partners;
• Conduct field visits to supervise, coordinate and monitor field level activities of portfolio.
   

Programme implementation of EVAW linked to WPS programme:

• Ability to work with UN agencies, civil society, tertiary institutions and the private sector informed by GBV survivors on violence prevention;
• Collection, systematization and analysis of data, statistics and information required for providing support to government, fellow UN agencies and strategic partners on EVAW and WPS;
• Technical support to multi-sector coordination mechanisms at national and sub-regional levels including to development and implementation of National Action Plans for both EVAW and WPS;
• Has good grounding in changing social norms, attitudes and behaviour at societal, community and individual levels to prevent GBV;
• Can harness innovative approaches including use of technology for data tracking and prevention of violence against women;
• Provide technical support to create enabling environment for the implementation of peace and security commitments in South Africa, SADC and other SACU countries;
• Support the building of a robust community of practice on women, peace and security to deepen democratic governance and improve the lives of women in SACU countries.
   

Advocacy, knowledge building and management of the EVAW linked to WPS programme:

• Provide leadership and implement high impact advocacy initiatives and campaigns policy related issues and other challenges linked to EVAW and WPS;
• Identify and synthesise best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme policy goals in EVAW/WPS;
• Support the establishment of and contribute to advocacy networks at national level and linkages to international networks related to EVAW/WPS;
• Contribute to and support programme communication activities in consultation with the office communications focal point.
   

Strategic partnerships building and resource mobilization support:

• Determine programme areas of cooperation, establish and maintain strategic partnerships with UN Agencies, government, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, NGOs, CBOs in the EVAW/WPS thematic areas based on strategic goals of UN WOMEN, country needs and donors’ priorities;
• Ensure effective inter agency coordination as necessary on EVAW and WPS initiatives
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs, possible areas of cooperation and identification of opportunities of cost sharing
• Follow up on resource mobilisation activities for fund raising for new projects within the EVAW linked to WPS portfolio.
   

Impact of results:

The post has an impact on the overall effectiveness and success of UN Women interventions and activities in the assigned sectorial/thematic areas, which impact in turn on the overall effectiveness of the UN Women programme in the CO/MCO.  By helping ensure effective design, planning, implementation, and M&E of assigned sectorial/thematic areas and building networks and helping mobilize resources for these areas, the incumbent enhances the organization’s capacity and credibility in implementation of highly effective programmes with strong impact.

CORE VALUES / GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
• Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity: Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.
   

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity
• Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative
• Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication
• Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others 
• Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.
• Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge
• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making
   

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects.
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice.
• Lead teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills
• Focuses on impact and result for the partners and responds positively to feedback.

Education:          

Master’s Degree in International Development, Gender, Human Rights, Applied Anthropology, or in other related Social Sciences.
 

Experience:        

Minimum 5 years relevant experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments, preferably in the field of gender and human rights of women. Prior experience in the UN System and the Region will be an asset.
 

Language Requirements:              

Fluency in English is required