UN Women: Special Representative

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 Special Representative is responsible for Representative UN Women’s strategy and portfolio in Afghanistan, translating the UN Women's Strategic Plan (SP) in line with regional and national priorities, into development, coordination and advocacy initiatives; and developing effective partnerships, UN system agencies and organizations, bilateral and non-traditional donors and civil society organization in order to advance gender equality and women's empowerment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Develop and manage and oversee UN Women’s strategy in Afghanistan:

• Develop and implement strategic direction of UN Women’s presence.
• Lead the design, planning, formulation, preparation and development Strategic vision and document in close consultation and collaboration with  civil society, donors, UN system partners and the Regional Director, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the country and other stakeholders and partners, taking into account transitional context.
• Identify planning and programme needs, opportunities and approaches to strengthen UN Women presence and relevance where possible.
• Provide strategic advice and leadership to UN Women’s Executive Director, Regional Director and Senior Management on the regional and country direction.
• Manage and ensure the quality of results-based and rights-based programming for the CO; Finalize the annual work plan and budget.
• Lead the monitoring of the results-based management approach to programme planning and design.
• Engage and collaborate with senior partners in the UN System.

Manage UN Women presence in Afghanistan:

• Lead the office in the delivery of operational goals; finalize the annual work plan and budget; and oversee the implementation, including providing direction, guidance and technical support.
• Oversee and approve programme work plans and the optimum and appropriate allocation and use of resources; monitor the overall progress and compliance.
• Manage the preparation of UN Women mandated country reports.
• Manage the audit review process and timely response to audit reports.
• Provide managerial direction, guidance and leadership. Ensure effective workforce planning and timely recruitments; Manage the performance of personnel under their supervision; provide ongoing performance and career development feedback, timely completion of performance assessments and coaching.
• Ensure that personnel are familiar with and follow UN Women’s regulations and rules, policies and procedures in the Policy, Procedures and Guidance Framework (PPG); Ensure personnel are aware in particular or of UN Women’s standards of conduct including but not limited to policies and procedures on preventing, reporting and addressing misconduct, Fraud and Corruption, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and abuse of authority, Protection from retaliation, and ensure mechanisms are in place to support personnel in this regard.
• Promote teamwork to ensure harmonization, linkages, collaboration and synergy; Ensure a respectful, inclusive safe and healthy work environment for personnel.

Provide support to the Deputy Special Representative of the SG/Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator (DSRSG/HC/RC) and serve as a member of  UN Country Team, including Humanitarian Country Team:

• Serve as member of the UN Country Team (UNCT)/UN Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) under the strategic guidance and coordination of the UN SRSG collaborate and UN HC/RC on and lead as needed UNCT/HCT programming and advocacy to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment issues are fully integrated into UN programming processes, including the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and Transitional Engagement Framework with associated cooperation frameworks, needs overviews and  planning, budgeting, resource mobilization, implementation, monitoring and evaluation through UN results groups and respective joint workplans, and in an enhanced response to national partners.
• Partner with SRSG and UN system partners to strengthen UN system interagency coherence, collaboration, planning, cooperation, and harmonization of programming, advocacy, common services, and operations; Facilitate joint programming and promote UN competencies to advance gender equality and women’s human rights; report to the UN SRSG and DSRSG/HC/RC  on these issues as required.
• Actively engage in regular UNCT and HCT consultations and decision-making processes.
• Actively engage in and contribute to UNCT/HCT strategic communications that advance UN system efforts and collective results to promote Agenda 2030, including through Transitional Engagement Framework.
• Ensure UN Women’s active participation in UN system thematic and other working groups to establish effective networks and keep abreast of ongoing debates and thinking on development.
• Ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNSDCF development planning and agenda/priority setting for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Ensure enhanced accountability of the UNCT/HCT on gender mainstreaming and works for with the HC/RC Participate in HC/RC and UNCT members’ performance appraisal, as requested.

Represent UN Women and lead advocacy strategies:

• Represent UN Women in international intergovernmental forums, public information/relations events and key meetings, participate in policy dialogue; discuss policy initiatives, report on progress achieved and/or present policy papers/ideas.
• Build relations and partnerships with multi-lateral, bi-lateral agencies and NGOs; and participate in regional, country and other critical meetings and events.
• Lead and support advocacy for gender equality and women’s empowerment to ensure that UN support towards realization of the national plans and priorities are done in a gender responsive manner, and within agreed international frameworks that promote and protect gender equality.

Create and maintain strategic partnerships and manage resource mobilization strategies:

• Lead and oversee the development of resource mobilization strategies and manage the implementation of resource mobilization strategies, plans, and efforts.
• Establish and maintain relationships with partners, stakeholders and donors to achieve active collaboration, cooperation and alliances on programme development and implementation and resource mobilization.
• Finalize donor reports, and negotiate and/or approve cost-sharing agreements with donors; Establish reporting accountability framework to ensure that donors are duly informed on a timely basis.

Manage and oversee knowledge management, innovation and capacity building:

• Manage the development and implementation of communication plans, based on UN Women’s communication strategy.
• Promote learning and development by providing opportunities for training and capacity guiding to enhance the competencies/productivity of team members.
• Lead the production of knowledge products.

Oversee safety, security and well-being of personnel, programmes and organizational assets in close coordination with UNDSS, UN Women’s local, regional and HQ Safety and Security Team:

• Maintain and update security strategy, plan, and measures to ensure full compliance with UN security policies, procedures and requirements.
• Serve as member of the Security Management team (SMT) and undertake relevant security and crisis management training. Guide and influence decisions and standards related to security of personnel, premises and assets.
• Oversee the implementation of the Security Mainstreaming & Compliance and Business Continuity Management and Organizational Resilience requirements.
• Ensure all personnel are made fully aware of safety and security procedures and policies and undertake mandatory training.

Key Performance Indicators: 

• Timely and quality development and implementation of the UN Women’s strategy and plan in Afghanistan.
• Timely and quality delivery of operational goals.
• Timely submission of UN Women Country Reports, donor reports and audit responses.
• Quality and level of engagement with UNCT/HCT, including joint planning joint programming, joint resource mobilization,  joint advocacy, working groups.
• UN Women is seen as a reliable and trustworthy partner by donors and civil society.
• Timely development and implementation of resource mobilization strategy, resulting in sufficient resources to implement Strategic Note.
• Performance of personnel, enabling work environment, security plans are in place and up to date, office produces quality knowledge products.

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: http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.unwomen.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FHeadquarters%2FAttachments%2FSections%2FAbout%2520Us%2FEmployment%2FUN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf&clen=550174&chunk=true

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to work in a conflict or post conflict context;
• Excellent programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills;
• Excellent people management skills in a multicultural environment; ability to deal with individuals from all backgrounds;
• Results-oriented;  Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them;
• Ability to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all;
• Ability to lead, develop and empowering people;
• Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice and interact with high level decision makers;
• Excellent knowledge of gender equality and women's empowerment;
• Excellent knowledge of UN system;
• Ability to envision and lead the strategic direction for UN Women in the country;
• Excellent networking skills;
• Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising and develop strategies;
• Excellent diplomatic and written and verbal communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• Master’s degree or equivalent in international development, public administration, public policy or other relevant social science fields 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.

Experience: 

• At least 15 years of progressively responsible development experience that combines strategic and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level.
• Experience in gender and women’s issues programming, at the international level, preferably in developing countries within the UN system, Agencies, Funds or Programmes or UN Mission.
• Field based experience working with multi-cultural teams.
• Experience in working in a conflict or post conflict country.
• Experience in leading a team.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of the other UN official working 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/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc. 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.

Note:

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.)