Programme Associate, Cox's Bazar Bangladesh

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. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. UN Women provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women in Bangladesh supports the government to implement commitments to international normative standards on gender equality and women’s human rights. The new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2022-2026 was launched in 2021 and the corresponding UN Women Bangladesh Strategy Note (2022-2026), defining UN Women’s strategic engagement in Bangladesh, has also been finalized. The country strategy focuses on strengthening the national structures and mechanisms for gender mainstreaming in policies, plans and budgets; supporting efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women; promoting women’s access to decent and safe work; promoting policies and government investment in women’s empowerment and resilience building in the context of climate change, humanitarian crisis as well as other threats to peace and security. UN Women works with a range of stakeholders in Bangladesh including the government, civil society and women’s organisations, youth, UN agencies and donors, to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.

UN Women in Bangladesh is supporting the Government of Bangladesh with the Rohingya humanitarian crisis response. UN Women has developed a humanitarian response programme in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to meet the specific needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized Rohingya Refugee Women and Girls and the women and girls in the host communities affected by the refugee influx in Cox’s Bazar. The objective of the programme is to ensure protection, as well as equitable and safe access to and benefit from urgent life-saving humanitarian assistance and information to the most vulnerable, and marginalized Rohingya women while assisting them to live with dignity. The programme also promotes women’s participation and leadership in the camps and host community and peace and social cohesion building activities. UN Women co-chairs the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group for the Rohingya Refugee Response with UNHCR to promote gender-responsive humanitarian action across humanitarian agencies in Cox’s Bazar, and established a sub office in Cox’s Bazar in January 2018 to reinforce management of programmes in Cox’s Bazar district.

Under supervision of Programme Analyst-EVAW, the Programme Associate works with and provides support to the members of the Programme Team in the development and implementation of effective programmes consistent with UN Women rules and regulations. The Programme Associate contributes to research, financial management, and programme implementation including providing necessary operational, administrative and programmatic support.The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme, projects’ staff in the Cox’s Bazar Project Office and Bangladesh Country Office as required for resolving complex finance-related issues and exchange of information.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide administrative and logistical support to the formulation and management of programmes

Provide administrative support in the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements;
Provide technical guidance to Cox’s Bazar Project Office and executing agencies on routine delivery and reporting of programme supported activities and finances;
Prepare information for the audit of programmes/ projects and support implementation of audit recommendations;
Identify sources, and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers;
Support to programme/project’s implementing partners, including liaising, coordinating and communicating programme activities, and following up as necessary;
Monitor schedule of implementation of project activities and budgets and expenditures. Raise issues with Programme Analyst when necessary.

2. Provide administrative support to the financial management of the Programme Unit

Create projects in Atlas, prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds and the operational and financial close of a project;
Provide administrative support in monitoring budget preparation and the finances of programmes/projects;
Review and perform spot check of the quarterly financial reports of the implementing partners
Prepare non-PO vouchers for development projects;
Process payment for consultants;
Maintain internal expenditures control system;
Create requisitions in Atlas for development projects; register good receipts in Atlas;
Assist in the preparation and follow up of cost-recovery bills in Atlas.

3. Provide administrative support to the Programme Unit

Undertake all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for organization for meetings, workshops, events, and missions;
Make travel arrangements for the Programme Team, including travel requisitions and claims;
Prepare public information materials and briefing packets;
Assemble briefing materials and prepare power-point and other presentations;
Provide guidance and training to Programme Assistant.

4. Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Provide administrative support synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices related to programme management and finance;
Provide administrative support to the organization of training for the office staff and partners on programme and operations related issues.

Key Performance Indicators

Timely and accurate support to events, workshops, and missions;
Full compliance of administrative activities with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and procedures;
Timely and accurate reviewing of financial reports and disbursing funds for the project partners;
Timely recording of overall programme unit finances;
Timely and accurate tracking of data for CO management and donor purposes;
Quality maintenance of internal systems.

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:

Good knowledge of programme management;
Ability to administer and execute administrative processes and transactions;
Ability to create, edit, synthesize and present information in clear and presentable formats;
Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow;
Strong financial and budgeting skills;
Strong IT skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

Completion of secondary education required;
Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration is an asset.

Experience:

At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in administration or programme management/support;
Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages;
Experience in the use of ATLAS is an asset;
Experience in supporting a team.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Bangla is required;
Knowledge of the other UN official working language is an asset.