Programme Associate on Communications, Monitoring and Reporting

Background

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women will work 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. Placing women's rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations System efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women is dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in Afghanistan.  Staff and consultants of UN Women Afghanistan Country Office (ACO) are expected to contribute to a professional working environment in which the strengthening of national capacities and human potential is prioritized.  Respect for diversity and human dignity is required, as is the active pursuit of a collaborative and inclusive approach to both internal and external stakeholders, including colleagues and partners.

UN Women works in four thematic areas i.e. Governance and Participation, Ending Violence Against Women, Women Economic Empowerment, and Women Peace and Security. The Programme Associate on Communications, Monitoring and Reporting will support the UN Women Country Office and especially the team working on Communications, Monitoring, Reporting and Partnerships to conduct their duties. This team is cross-cutting and works closely together with all mentioned thematic area teams as well as the UN Women Country Office senior management and the operations team.  

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Functions:  

Under direct supervision of the Monitoring, Reporting and Partnerships Development Specialist, the Programme Associate works with and provides support to the members of the team working on Communications, Monitoring, Reporting and Partnerships and supports consistency of the work of this team with UN Women rules and regulations.  S/he contributes to knowledge management and monitoring data collection, reporting, communications and management of partner databases including providing necessary operational, administrative and programmatic support.  The Associate will share the responsibility in implementing of the UN Women Strategic Note, the UN Women corporate guidelines and policies and procedures, the Development Result Framework (DRF) and Organization Effectiveness and Efficiency Framework (OEEF) obligations.

Key Results Expected:

Support in the formulation of Programme Strategies

• Collect and present background information for the preparation of effective application of RBM tools;
• Provide programme and administrative support in the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and proposals;

• Assemble briefing materials and prepare power-points and other presentations for the Programme Areas;
• Identify sources, and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers.

 Programme Management Support 

• Support the management in coordination, implementation and monitoring program plans/activities;
• Provide necessary information for audit and support implementation of audit recommendations;
• Organize, compile and process information from donors, strategic partners, and programme team;
• Draft reports, including reports on workshops, meetings, etc.  for the team;
• As requested, represent the Communications, Monitoring, Reporting and Partnerships team in follow-up meetings with partners, to ensure decisions are followed up, and plans and activities progress smoothly and in a timely manner;

Administrative and Financial Management Support

• Review Financial Reports; prepare non-PO vouchers;
• Ensure maintenance of the internal expenditures control system; ensure that vouchers processed are matched and completed; transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas;
• Take timely corrective actions on un-posted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers;
• Support the team in implementation of budget control mechanism to ensure expenditure compliance with pillar budget, and tracking and reporting on financial resources; 
• Make budget check for requisitions, POs and vouchers;
• Ensure tracking of outstanding advances and prompt follow up of overdue financial reports;
• Review of financial reports received, review expenditure against source documents maintained by the IPs and raise any significant issues with the supervisor for resolution;
• Communicate as needed with IPs on financial and administrative matters;
• Oversee maintaining proper filing systems; ensure the systematic management and filing of team documentation.

Facilitation of Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Support creating/documenting of lessons learned and best practices;
• Support organization of training for country office staff and partners on Communications, Monitoring, Reporting and Partnerships related issues

Competencies

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 and positive 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 establish, build and sustain effective relationships with clients, demonstrating understanding of client's perspective; anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly;
• Strong and proven integrity, time management; work prioritization skills, ability to multi-task; work under pressure and handle numerous tasks simultaneously in timely manner.
• Understanding of UN Women procedures, rules and regulations an asset;
• Ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Demonstrated sensitivity, discretion, tact and courtesy in relation to gender equality and women’s rights, development principles and projects, implementing partners, and national and international personnel of varied nationalities and backgrounds.
• Ability to travel inside and outside the country.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Gender studies, Human Rights, media political/social science or other related field with at least 4 years of progressively relevant professional experience. A secondary school certificate with minimum 6 years of relevant experience will be considered.

Skills and Experience:

• A least 4-6 years of experience in program conceptualization, implementation, monitoring and reporting, office administration;
• Experience in development and implementation of advocacy campaigns around gender issues, women’s empowerment, human rights preferably with government and civil society;
• Experience in office management with finance and administration skills.
• A proven ability to effectively work with government, civil society, NGOs, and international organizations;
• Understanding of the social, cultural, and political context of Afghanistan and its impact on women and girls;
• Proficiency in the use of computer, office software packages
• Advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is desirable
• Previous experience with UN administration, or donor organizations is desirable
• Previous work experience or other interest in communications, photography or outreach is desirable

Language Requirements:

Excellent professional communication skills, fluency in written and oral English, and fluent written and oral skills in Dari or Pashto