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Country Programme Manager, Thailand, “WeEmpower Asia” (Thai national only)

Bangkok

  • Organization: UNWOMEN - United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
  • Location: Bangkok
  • Grade: Mid level - SB-5 (SC10/SC11), Service Contract, Local Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
    • Project and Programme Management
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

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.

In 2015, on 25 September, the United Nations General Assembly adopted unanimously the Resolution 70/1 Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender equality and women’s empowerment is at the heart of the agenda, as numerous goals and targets address structural barriers to achieve equal rights and opportunities between women and men, girls and boys.

One of the key areas of concern is the economic empowerment of women. It is expressed in targets and indicators of SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls) and SDG 8 (Promote inclusive and sustainable development, decent work and employment for all). Progress toward it depends not only on the adoption of a set of public policies by governments, but also on the existence of an enabling environment and active engagement of the corporate sector. This is also relevant to the achievement of SDG 1 (Poverty Reduction), SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) and SDG 17 (Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development).

About 90 per cent of jobs in the world are in the private sector. This represents a huge potential to implement transformative actions in the world of work and social responsibility in favour of women, benefiting the whole society. There is an increasing consciousness, interest and commitment of private and public sector companies on the value and benefits of gender equality and the economic empowerment of women and its role to achieve it.

UN Women - in partnership with the European Commission is proposing the regional programme “Promoting Economic Empowerment of Women at Work in Asia – WeEmpower Asia” to contribute to the economic empowerment of women, recognizing them as beneficiaries and partners of growth and development, by increasing commitment of private companies to gender equality and women´s empowerment and strengthening companies’ capacities to implement these commitments. The programme will ultimately contribute to the achievement of gender equality through enabling women’s labour force participation, entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and thus their full and equal participation in society.

The guiding platform will be the Women’s Empowerment Principles. The WEPs are a set of Principles for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. Coordinated by UN Women and the UN Global Compact, the Principles emphasize the business case for corporate action to promote gender equality and women's empowerment and are informed by real-life business practices and inputs gathered from across the globe.

Targeting women led enterprises and networks, multi-national companies, and relevant stakeholders in selected Asia countries, the project will promote business opportunities for women entrepreneurs and women-owned enterprises in Asia and their business relations with Europe, while supporting inter-regional dialogue and exchange of good practices to increase the capacity of the private sector more broadly in the implementation of gender-sensitive business culture and practices. The programme will cover seven countries: India, Indonesia, China, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. It will also have a regional component under the responsibility of UN Women Region Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP).

Thailand has a greater percentage of women in senior leadership positions than both the Asia-Pacific region and the global average. In Thailand’s mid-market companies, women hold 32% of senior leadership positions, is higher than the global average of 27% as well as the Asia-Pacific average of 26%. There have also been recent improvements. Among mid-market companies, the number of businesses with no women in senior management has decreased by 5 percentage points – from 19% in 2019 to 14% in 2020. As with several other related indicators, Thailand’s numbers on this metric show more diversity than the overall averages for both the region (20%) and the world (17%). Thailand is also performing comparatively well when it comes to having women in the highest positions of power: 24% of CEOs / Managing Directors in Thailand are women, compared to 20% worldwide and only 13% in Asia-Pacific. The senior leadership position held by women in Thailand the most is Chief Financial Officer which contributes to fully 43%, making Thailand the world’s highest percentage of female CFOs and the third-highest percentage of female CEOs. Many mid-market businesses in Thailand are looking to build on this trend towards equality.  Yet, labor force participation remains decreasing and has reached its all-time low of 45.61 % in 2020, according to the World Bank.

Reporting to the Country Programme Coordinator for Thailand and the Regional Programme Manager (P4), the Country Programme Manager for Thailand is responsible for the country-level programme coordination and implementation in close collaboration/consultation with the Thailand National Programme Coordinator to ensure programme coherent. S(he) will lead the partnership building in the framework of this project and work in close coordination with various partners and stakeholders, including the EU delegations, which will guide and provide input for the performance of the programme at country level. The Country Programme Manager will also inform and update his/her supervisors at country level about programme implementation and opportunities to build synergies with other relevant initiatives implemented by UN Women and key relevant stakeholders at the country level.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.  Lead and coordinate the country-level implementation of the Regional Programme, “Promoting Economic Empowerment of Women at Work in Asia” (WeEmpower Asia)

  • Analyze country context and identify key opportunities and partners to advance the programme planning and implementation at the country level in close collaboration with the Thailand National Programme Coordinator to ensure UN Women’s programme coherence at the country level;
  • Lead the country level consultations and engagements to elaborate the detailed formulation of programme initiatives particularly around setting-up a strong advocacy and policy influencing workplan.
  • Supervise work with existing partners to engage the private sector into WEA
  • Report on the established Performance Monitoring Framework (PMF) at the country level
  • Ensure the translation of the UN Women’s and EU Delegation regional programmers’ priorities into successful national/local interventions that resonate with country-level priority to promote women’s economic empowerment (WEE); 
  • Develop further and implement existing a detailed country-level work plan in line with the approved programme document in close consultation with the Regional Programme Manager and the Country Representative to ensure that it is aligned with the overall direction of the Regional Programme as well as UN Women’s strategic priorities on WEE and private sector engagement at the country level;
  • Manage the implementation of the country-level programme based on the Results-based Management (RBM) principles and in accordance with the UN Women’s standard rules and regulations;
  • Connect the country level activities with regional level initiatives and cross-country learning
  • Finalize country strategy documents, proposals, briefs, policy dialogue and other documents related to WeEmpower Asia
  • Coordinate country-level needs assessment and development of training materials and workshops to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure coherence in the overall approach within UN Women and other partners at the country level
  • Identify country-level capacity building needs and support partners through technical assistance, mentoring, training, cross partner learning and sharing

2.  Lead monitoring and reporting of the country-level programme

  • Monitor progress of implementation of activities and finances using results-based management tools in close collaboration with the M&E officer at the regional level;
  • Lead the drafting and consolidating of the reports on monitoring missions, programme results, outputs and outcomes at the country level;  
  • Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of donor and UN Women reports, including quarterly and annual results reporting in RMS, narrative and financial reports;
  • Review, coordinate and monitor the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports
  • Record and maintain documents on relevant Programme activities, issues, risks and risk mitigation plans
  • Monitor budget implementation and make budget re-alignments/ revisions, as necessary;

3.  Outreach and advocacy support and knowledge management at the country level

  • Lead advocacy and knowledge building at country level
  • Manage advocacy strategies and supports relevant, high-impact advocacy activities and campaigns with key partners and their implementation.
  • Develop a stakeholder engagement strategy (including for example governments, Thailand Stock Exchange, Businesses etc. to advance WEA’s policy priority to establish a more transparent gender-reporting framework for the private sector.
  • Collect knowledge on current and emerging trends by gathering relevant information on programme, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices.
  • Contribute to accomplish an updated databased of relevant women’s business networks after the initial mapping;
  • Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice, facilitating the knowledge exchange of companies to take up effective gender equitable business practices and guide development of incentives for companies to enjoy recognition of their advances.
  • Represent the programme in meetings and policy dialogues on issues related to WEE;
  • Coordinate exchange of information and knowledge products internally and externally of the programme at country level;
  • Contribute to the advocacy and communication strategy for the WeEmpower Asia with particular attention to country level work and its linkages to the multi-country platform, including key opportunities for major advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products.
  • Contribute for the elaboration and implementation of knowledge management strategy
  • Contribute to organization of activities to promote exchange of experiences between national and regional corporate commercial associations, chambers and networks and advocate for implementation of WEPs
  • Build partnerships and provide technical support for the organization of EU-Asia cross regional policy dialogues on gender sensitive private sector in close consultation with EU Delegation and relevant EU initiatives.

4.  Strategic partnership building and resource mobilization at the country level

  • Develop and manage partnerships with EU Delegation, relevant UN and multilateral agencies, government and civil society partners, key private sector players, and experts at the country level to ensure timely and efficient delivery of activities;
  • Support the engagement of private sector companies and employers` organizations in close cooperation and coordination with the regional communication and advocacy specialist to expand WEPs signatories and implementation of WEPs;
  • Contribute to the development of the shared-value partnerships strategy of WeEmpower Asia involving private sector companies, finance institutions, multilateral organizations, businesswomen, entrepreneurs, relevant national authorities and sub-national governments from Asia and EU, in close dialogue with Country Programme Coordinator and EU Delegations;
  • Engage in high level dialogue at country level with private sector companies, finance institutions, multilateral organizations and its networks to create and/or strength commitment regarding corporate practices on gender equality;
  • Implement Women’s entrepreneurship activities with existing partners and identify new partnerships for scale-up.
  • Develop strategy, build partnerships and networks to support women entrepreneurs and/or women-led small-medium enterprises at the country level;
  • Provide inputs for the development of methodologies, tools and knowledge products to strengthen companies´ capacities to implement WEPs and create a non-discriminatory workplace tailored to the country context;
  • Work with partners to build strategic partnerships with private companies and policy makers to identify possible areas of cooperation, especially contributions to gender-responsive value chain and social impact investment and/or social enterprises in key relevant sectors at the country level.
  • Identify key partners to co-finance and co-organize workshops, trainings and/or activities based on methodologies and tools developed by the regional programme at country level;
  • Identify resource mobilization opportunities particularly through private sector engagement to advance country-level results of the regional programme, WeEmpower Asia

5.  Key Performance Indicators:

  • Timely and quality implementation of Programme at country level against set workplans, timelines and budgets, in line with the programme document
  • Quality and timely reporting
  • Excellent relations with partners and stakeholders internally and externally
  • Regular and timely monitoring of activities 
  • Enhanced best practices and lessons learned documented and circulated
  • Increase in resources mobilized to co-finance programme activities
  • Increase awareness of UN Women and European Union at country level
  • Excellent relations and partnership with Governments and other stakeholders in the Gender-Equality and/or Business and Human Rights space

Competencies

Core Values:

  • Respect for Diversity
  • Integrity
  • Professionalism

Core Competencies:

  • Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
  • Accountability
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Effective Communication
  • Inclusive Collaboration
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Leading by Example

Functional Competencies

  • Ability to support design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects.
  • Knowledge of Results Based Management principles and approaches.
  • Ability to maintain networks and partnerships with UN agencies and other international partners to promote partnership and build alliances to advance organizational interests and competencies.  
  • Demonstrated good oral and written communication skills.
  • Strong knowledge of UN and/or EU programme management systems
  • Strong knowledge in gender equality, women`s economic empowerment and private sector management, policies and environment

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in public administration, law, economics, human rights, gender equality, management, social sciences or other related areas 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 would be an added advantage

Work Experience:

  • At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects.
  • Experience in promoting gender equality and/or social development
  • Experience on women’s economic empowerment
  • Strong experience in advocacy and policy influencing and working with governments and/or other inter-governmental bodies
  • Experience in applying the Results-based Management (RBM) principles and approaches in programme planning, monitoring/reporting and implementation
  • Previous experience working in the UN system is an advantage.
  • Knowledge of working with the private sector and/or corporate social responsibility is a plus as well as knowledge on Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) or Gender-equality in private sector is an advantage
  • Experience in private sector engagement for resource mobilisation is a plus 

Language Requirment:

  • Fluency in English and Thai is required;
  • Excellent written and communication skills
  • Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset

Application:

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-p11-personal-history-form.doc?la=en&vs=558. Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

This vacancy is now closed.
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