Project Officer Jobs in Kenya

Background

In October 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted the Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (UN SCR 1325), which mandates the protection of, and respect for, the human rights of women and girls. It calls on all parties to armed conflict to take specific measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and sexual violence. By agreeing the resolution, the International Community recognizes that civilians, particularly women and children, account for the vast majority of those adversely affected by armed conflicts. The emphasis on women (and children especially girls) is also because world leaders have recognized that conflict and insecurity affect men and women differently with the heavier burden of conflict resting on women – where women are severely underrepresented in all spheres of peacemaking, peacekeeping, and recovery and reconstruction in all post-conflict contexts.

The resolution calls for the implementation of international humanitarian and human rights law, institutional arrangements to guarantee the protection of women and girls and their full participation in peace processes. It requests member states to increase the representation of women at all levels of decision making for prevention, management and resolution of conflict. It seeks to expand the role of women in field-based operations and supports the inclusion of a gender perspective in peacekeeping operations. Since the adoption of the UN SCR 1325 in 2000, a number of member states and other organizations as well as partnerships have endorsed its principles and Nations all over the world are developing national action plans to implement the resolutions.

2010 marked ten years since the UN SCR 1325. In recognition of the 10th anniversary and in response to the call in SCR 1325 urging 'consultation with local and international women's groups', the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM – now part of UN Women) in the month of June hosted a Global Open Day, Partnerships for Peace in post-conflict countries, as part of a UN Global Action. On this day, the offices of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia and the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) for Somalia opened their doors to consult with women peace leaders and peace advocates on women, peace and security. Over 50 women and over 20 men from all over Somalia participated at the event to express their needs and also to listen and respond to one-another. These consultations aimed to provide a space for Somali women's voices to emerge and to allow for the SRSG and the RC/HC to hear and respond to issues on women, peace and security.

The key outcome of this event was the establishment of the Somali Women's Task Force on 1325 (SWTF 1325) in Somalia in order to raise awareness, push for ratification, a comprehensive national action plan, and full implementation.

The SWTF 1325 requested UNIFEM's (Part of UN Women) East and Horn of Africa Regional Office to be the Secretariat and provide Secretariat as well as technical support. It is against this background that UN Women seeks to recruit the services of a Service Contract Holder at Service Contract Band 5 (SC10). UN Women reserves the right to recruit the position at a lower SC level, subject to final classification and based on the most qualified candidate's experience. The Service Contract position will report to the Deputy Regional Programme Director till a Country Programme Manager for Somalia is appointed.

The Service Contract position will contribute to the realization of UN Women's Strategic Outcomes as following in Somalia: Outcome 1: Increased number of national development strategies (including PRSs, SWAPs, post-conflict reconstruction strategies, and other nationally-owned plans) incorporate gender equality in line with national commitments to women's empowerment (e.g., MDGs, SC1325, etc.) and human rights (e.g., CEDAW and regional human rights commitments); Outcome 2: Increase in numbers of Constitutions and legal frameworks and processes – particularly those related to economic security and rights, women's care work, property and inheritance rights, trade, migration, ending VAW, and electoral and security sector reform – that promote and protect women's human rights and eliminate gender inequality; Outcome 5: Gender equality experts, advocates and their organizations and networks enhance their capacity and influence to ensure that there are strong gender equality dimensions in national laws, policies and strategies; and Outcome 8: Increased numbers and relevance of models of community-level initiatives for advancing women's human rights and eliminating gender inequality.

The Project Officer will work closely with the SWTF 1325 members, UN Women's Regional and Country Programme Office staff and non-staff, other UN agencies, CSOs and national counterparts to build cooperative relationships and establish the SWTF 1325 as an effective platform.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

* Provide strategic coordination and secretariat support services.
* Efficient technical and logistical services.
* Efficient delivery of responsibilities and results, as outlined below, of the Somali Women's Task Force on 1325 (SWTF 1325) and to ensure the effective functioning of the SWTF 1325 Secretariat.

1. Provide strategic coordination and secretariat support services focusing on achievement of the following results:

* Mobilise members of SWTF 1325 and support them with preparations for internal and external events.
* Produce, together with the SWTF members and the chair, results based and costed work plans and proposals as may be required assuring quality and consistency.
* Identify delivery issues in the SWTF and ensure effective coordination for redress of those issues.
* Work closely with the SWTF 1325 members, other UN agencies, CSOs and national counterparts to build cooperative relationships and establish the SWTF 1325 effective platform.
* Facilitate and disseminate internal and external communication and keep members abreast of their roles, responsibilities and/or obligations pertaining to participation, contributions, meetings, etc.
* Support, facilitate and production of all deliverables related to SWTF 1325 and coordinate the SWTF 1325's internal processes including lending assistance for the decision-making processes.

2. Ensures effective technical and logistical services focusing on achievement of the following results:

* Give technical assistance to the SWTF chair and members to support their objective and UN Women programme goals
* Provide technical expertise to SWTF 1325 when and as required by the work plan including providing guidance throughout all phases of implementation of the SWTF 1325 activities
* Provide technical support to individual and collective TF members on advocacy, presentation and representation.
* Support resource mobilization for the SWTF 1325 and in the prudent management of available resources in line with the approved SWTF 1325 guidelines and UN/UN Women financial management policies.

3. Ensures efficient support to tasks related to advocacy, programming, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and representation focusing on achievement of the following results:

* Assess implementation progress for relevance and coherence.
* Organize execution of activities that pertain to the Secretariat consistent with UN Women programme objectives engaging SWTF members and the chair and building reputation for quality design and reliable delivery
* Support the SWTF to demand the development of Somalia National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 and subsequently its implementation in Somaliland, Puntland and the South Central regions or any other advocacy campaign by the SWTF as may be necessary or planned by the SWTF 1325.
* Develop, maintain and update a database of SWTF 1325 membership, thematic issues and key achievements and document all processes including lessons learned and best practices.
* Prepare monthly, quarterly, six-monthly and annual reports to UN Women, and donor reports as may be relevant.

Key Results Expected/ Deliverables

* Approved and implemented annual work plan for the SWTF 1325
* Document containing criteria for different categories of membership that SWTF 1325 should have to be truly representative of Somali women and different parts of Somalia and which are endorsed by the current members of the SWTF 1325 and contains information on the roles, responsibilities and/or obligations of the different categories of members pertaining to participation, contributions, meetings, etc
* Documented and operational communication strategy of the SWTF 1325
* An operational data base that captures the SWTF 1325 membership, thematic issues, concerns and trends of progress.
* An operational monitoring and evaluation plan that determines the functionality and effectiveness of SWTF 1325.
* An operational system of providing Secretarial Assistance to the members of SWTF 1325 with a client orientation.
* A strengthened and enlarged SWTF 1325
* Documentation of all processes of SWTF 1325 and reports as follows: quarterly, six-monthly and annual reports covering lessons learned, and at least, two case studies of good practices/success stories per year and donor reports as may be relevant.

Impact of Results

The Service Contract position will contribute to the realization of UN Women's Strategic Outcomes as follows in Somalia:

Outcome 1:

Increased number of national development strategies (including PRSs, SWAPs, post-conflict reconstruction strategies, and other nationally-owned plans) incorporate gender equality in line with national commitments to women's empowerment (e.g., MDGs, SC1325, etc.) and human rights (e.g., CEDAW and regional human rights commitments).

Outcome 2:

Increase in numbers of Constitutions and legal frameworks and processes – particularly those related to economic security and rights, women's care work, property and inheritance rights, trade, migration, ending VAW, and electoral and security sector reform – that promote and protect women's human rights and eliminate gender inequality.

Outcome 5:

Gender equality experts, advocates and their organizations and networks enhance their capacity and influence to ensure that there are strong gender equality dimensions in national laws, policies and strategies.

Outcome 8

: Increased numbers and relevance of models of community-level initiatives for advancing women's human rights and eliminating gender inequality.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

* Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UNs values and ethical standards
* Familiar with or High ability to familiarize with UN Women/UNDP rules, regulations, corporate tools and policies
* Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN Women
* Displays cultural, clan related, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
* Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

* Contributes to UN Women's Thematic Areas related to Women, Peace and Security and actively works towards continuing personal learning and development as well transferring learning to the others
* Builds knowledge relevant to SWTF 1325 priorities and shares that with all stakeholders within UN Women and outside using appropriate procedures.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

* Ability to provide top quality policy advice and Secretariat Services
* Ability to conduct results-based management and reporting.
* In-depth practical knowledge of development and advocacy coordination matters
* Strong orientation to provide quality service to clients (SWTF 1325 members)

Management and Leadership

* Team player and excellent networking ability
* Ability to value support and assistance role
* Creative, out-of-the-box thinker with an ability to adhere to institutional rules and regulations
* Calm, relaxed, able to deal with stress
* Flexible, willing to work extra or odd hours and weekends/public holidays as may be required
* Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
* Ability to negotiate with internal and external stakeholders
* Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
* Leads teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
* Well organized and consistent

Technical Competencies

* Good understanding in theory and practice of results-based management.
* Familiar with Project Cycle Management
* In-depth knowledge and experience coordination in crisis/post conflict context
* Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation
* Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to projects and resources
* Excellent results-based report drafting and presentation skills
* Very good resource management skills and knowledge of basic accounting
* Strong IT skills (MS Office; MS Excel; PowerPoint; Internet and Email)
* Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

* Masters Degree or equivalent in social sciences, gender studies, international studies, development studies, social anthropology or related field.

Experience:

* Minimum of seven years relevant experience with advance university degree, in gender equality or human rights research and coordination or a related field
* Widely knowledgeable about the Somali context and the issues that face the Somali women including the human rights of women in Somalia.
* Minimum 3 years experience of working with women's organizations, movements and networks in conflict and post conflict contexts.
* Demonstrated experience in structured report writing using Results Based Management (RBM). Short-listed candidates may be required to produce evidence of past work or undergo a written test.
* Proven experience in financial tracking and reporting abilities. Short-listed candidates may be required to undergo a written test.
* Demonstrated experience of supporting partners and maintaining productive long-distance relationships.

Language Requirements:

* Fluency in spoken and written English language is essential. Fluency in spoken and written Somali is a strong asset.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

To apply, follow this link
https://jobs.undp.org/cj_apply.cfm?job_id=21254