Programme Specialist, Gender and Humanitarian Action

Background

UN Women has been working in Afghanistan since 2002 (as UNIFEM until 2010). Afghanistan has emerged as one of the world’s most complex emergencies. The crisis dynamics in the country are multi-layered, and Afghanistan’s people are facing the devastating effects of successive decades of conflict, increasing poverty, economic decline and natural disasters, all of which are amplified by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the Humanitarian Response Plan 2022, 24.4 million Afghans – more than half of the country’s estimated population of 42 million – are projected to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2022, with a staggering 55 per cent of the population expected to face crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity.

In this context, Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities as gender inequality is interwoven with conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. Women’s fundamental rights have been continually threatened since the Taliban takeover and the limited gains made over the past twenty years are now at risk of being erased – and at worst regressed. The contest around gender norms remains at the center of the political, peace and security landscape in Afghanistan, putting women and girls at the frontlines of this crisis. Responding to this crisis, the UN Women Afghanistan Country Office is consolidating its programming under the humanitarian-peace-development nexus, anchored in the Country Office Strategic Note (2018-2022), and continues to deliver on its triple mandate across four thematic areas: 1) Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action; 2) Ending Violence Against Women; 3) Women Economic Empowerment; and 4) Women’s Leadership and Participation. UN Women Afghanistan thereby capitalizes on its five Sub-Offices located in the provinces Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar and Nangarhar respectively, and is part of inter-agency Joint UN initiatives, such as the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA)

Under the overall guidance of the Country Representative, and the Deputy Country Representative, and directly reporting to the GiHA Programme Manager will be overall responsible to support and lead planning, implementing, and managing UN Women interventions under the Gender and Humanitarian Action programme. She/he works in close collaboration with the programme and operations team, other UN Agencies and the Humanitarian Country Team in Afghanistan, UN Women Regional Office and HQ specialists, multi and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation under the Gender and Humanitarian Action portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

Design and develop programme strategies on Gender and Humanitarian Action

Design and formulate programme/ project proposals and initiatives;
Draft inputs to country strategy documents, briefs, policy dialogue and other documents related to Humanitarian response

2. Manage the implementation and management of the Gender and Humanitarian Action initiatives

Finalize the annual workplan and budget and manage their implementation;
Manage the technical implementation of the programme/project; ensure synergies with other teams;
Manage the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports;
Provide guidance to staff and partners on Results Based Management tools and performance indicators;
Organize Project Steering Committee, project review and/or evaluation meetings, as needed.

3. Provide overall programme advisory support to the Office Management;

Guide the development of the GiHA programme, and provide technical support to the design and formulation of programme/ project initiatives;
Review and provide feedback to project/ programme strategies and documents, workplans, case studies and related knowledge products and publications, as needed;
Provide technical advice on the development of systems, processes and mechanisms to support programme planning, implementation, monitoring and progress reporting;
Review and evaluate proposals and oversee the preparation of donor proposals and reports;

4. Provide technical support to the implementation of the Afghanistan Country Office’s GiHA programme

Review programme annual work plans to assure compliance with UN Women programme goals and results-based indicators;
Analyze and ensure alignment of project budgets with logical framework matrices and work plans;
Lead the partner NGO management processes in line with partnership agreement.
Draft reports on activities, outputs and outcomes; and compile information in preparations of country office donor and UN Women reports;
Analyze and ensure alignment of project budgets with logical framework matrices and work plans;
Manage programme quality control and identification of potential challenges;
Align programme activities with operations team in close liaison with Operations Manager;
Provide substantive technical and overall programme management support to the implementation and management of the establishment and running of Multi-purpose Women Centers (MPWCs)
Lead the implementation of programme activities;
Provide technical assistance and capacity development support to project/programme partners and beneficiaries as needed

5. Manage the monitoring and reporting for the GiHA programme

Recommend and establish programme monitoring standards, criteria, and other indicators for measuring and assessing progress/results;
Monitor progress of implementation of activities and finances using results-based management tools;
Lead monitoring and reporting efforts in liaison with UN Women sub-offices and UN Women M&E, operations and programme management teams;
Review, coordinate and monitor the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports.
Draft reports on monitoring missions, programme results, outputs and outcomes;
Coordinate the process of gathering information and preparing progress reports on programme implementation; prepare technical reports;
Prepare programme team for audits and monitor implementation of audit recommendations;

6. Support knowledge building efforts and coordination

Provide substantive technical and overall coordination and information management support for the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group, Humanitarian Access Group, and the Afghan Women’s Advisory Group
Support and coordinate consultations, surveys and other data collection exercises with key stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels under the GiHA portfolio.
Provide support to GiHA WG co-leads on the monthly meetings organization and follow up and data/information management.
Support the development, implementation and monitoring of the GiHA WG annual work plan.
Work closely with key partners including GIHA WG co-leads Identifying and analyze gender data gaps and trends. Regularly review and systematize relevant information from strategies, plans, surveys, assessments, and research products developed by humanitarian partners, contributing to ensure that gender content and SAAD are integrated.
Support the development of training materials and organization of training and capacity development events for gender focal points, enumerators and member of the HCT Afghan Women Advisory Group.
Lead and manage the secretariat functions that the GiHA WG provide to the HCT Afghan Women Advisory Group

7. Manage advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts

Develop and review background documents, briefs and presentations related to Gender and Humanitarian Action
Represent UN Women in meetings and policy dialogues on issues related to Humanitarian as necessary;
Develop advocacy strategies and oversee their implementation;
Identify best practices and lessons learned to guide programme improvement and strategy planning;
Develop knowledge management strategies, products and methodologies on Gender and Humanitarian Action.

Timely and quality programme design and inputs to Strategic Note
Timely and quality of programme delivery in line with budget and workplans, and in line with all UN Women operational rules and regulations, including security
Timely and quality monitoring and evaluation of programmes
Relations with partners and stakeholders
Quality reports and timely submission
Regular communication with other agencies and partners
Quality of advocacy and communication initiatives

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

Strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills

Strong knowledge of Results Based Management
Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making
Strong knowledge of Gender and Humanitarian response
Strong analytical skills
Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising and develop strategies

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

Master’s degree or equivalent in humanitarian and/or conflict response, disaster relief, logistics, engineering, social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or other relevant field 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 or a certification on Gender in Humanitarian Action would be an added advantage

Experience:

At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian assistance and/or development projects;
Technical expertise and previous work experience in Gender and Humanitarian response;
Experience coordinating and liaising with women CSOs, bilateral and multilateral partners and/or donors is an asset;
Experience working in the UN System or humanitarian cluster organization is an asset;
Experience in leading/managing a team is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Dari and/Pashto is required;
Working knowledge of another official UN language
Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset;