Programme Officer – UN Women Spotlight Initiative (EVAW) ( Re- advertised)

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.

About the Spotlight Programme in Afghanistan

The Spotlight Initiative (SI) in Afghanistan's main goal is to reduce the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and harmful practices (HP) against women and girls in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan SI initiative aims at targeting the most at-risk groups, to accelerate efforts towards the elimination of sexual gender-based violence and harmful practices. The initiative is tailored to promote Agenda 2030’s guiding principle of “leaving no one behind”. Across the six Pillars, the SI in Afghanistan will bring women and girls, including those with intersecting forms of discrimination and marginalization, to the center of the interventions, recognizing that the empowerment of women and girls, and their unique experiences and solutions they bring based on their intersectional identities, is the key to design and implement a program that responds to the needs and priorities of women and girls of Afghanistan in all their diversity. The SI in Afghanistan will work across the socio-ecological model, using a multi-sectoral and intersectional approach, to prevent and respond to SGBV/HP and impact lasting change at the national, sub-national, community, and individual levels. The initiative will be informed by a comprehensive prevention strategy to addresses structural issues through this socio-ecological model. The SI in Afghanistan has an important focus on the prevention of SGBV/HP (pillar 3) and the provision of comprehensive services (pillar 4).

Under Pillar 1, SI will support the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission to enhance the evidence-based knowledge on ending SGBV/HP. Under Pillar 2, key national stakeholders will be identified, supported and a national platform will be created to support the development and implementation of evidence-based plans and programming on ending SGBV/HP (including the National Action Plan to Eliminate Early and Child Marriage and the National Strategy and National Action Plan on the Elimination of Violence against Women 2016 – 2020). Under Pillar 3, multi-level and multi-stakeholder initiatives working across the socio-ecological levels will be implemented to address the root causes of SGBV/HP and prevent it, working with schools, communities, young people, and the media. Under Pillar 4, coordinated, comprehensive and quality services will be promoted, in line with international standards. Under pillar 5, the SI will work with key stakeholders, including the national statistic office, the police, and civil society, to promote quality and comparable data on SGBV/HP to inform laws, policies and service provision. Under Pillar 6, the SI will support women’s movement building and the creation of platforms, inclusive of most marginalized, small, young, and grass-roots organizations to effectively advocate and influence SGBV/HP and gender equality progress

National actions will be connected with efforts at the provincial and district levels outside the capital (where the vast majority of the population lives) to strengthen the flow of information, expansion, and reach of programming and operations as well as the engagement of communities. The SI will be implemented at the national level in Kabul and in 3 provinces: Paktia, Kandahar, and Herat. The functionality and impact of existing coordination mechanisms and institutions working on SGBV/HP will also inform and be informed by provincial and district level programming. In doing so, key coordination and decision-making structures at the national level will be informed by the voices and experiences of traditionally marginalized communities

The Programme has also innovations that will further enhance efforts to capitalize on lessons learned and link to existing efforts under the UN and other development partners’ programming on SGBV,  SRHR,  etc. contributing to building knowledge and good practices in preventing SGBV/HP and improving women’s and girls’ life and that of the most left behind through access to quality, integrated essential services that include SRH, justice, and psychosocial support in line with survivor-centered and child-centered approach standards.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to Spotlight Afghanistan Technical Lead Coordinator (EVAW), the Programme Officer is responsible for supporting the implementation of the Spotlight Initiative in Afghanistan. The Programme Officer contributes to the effective implementation and management of the Spotlight Initiative in Afghanistan by providing substantive inputs to programme implementation and evaluation.  S/he works closely and coordinates with other UN partner agencies. S/he guides and facilitates the implementation of the Spotlight programme by monitoring results achieved during implementation and ensuring appropriate application of systems and procedures and develops enhancements if necessary.  She/he works in close collaboration with the programme and operations team, implementing partners, UN partner agencies, the Resident Coordinator Office, the Spotlight Secretariat, UN Women HQ staff, Government officials, the EU and civil society, ensuring successful implementation of the Spotlight programme. 

Oversee the development of programme strategies related to the Spotlight Initiative:

• Contributes substantively to the analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to the UNW country office programme planning;
• Keeps abreast of new policy developments and strategies analyzing policy papers, strategy documents, national plans and development frameworks, and prepares briefs and inputs for policy dialogue, technical assistance coordination, and development frameworks;
• Helps ensure the quality of programme/projects design incorporating lessons learned, newly developed policies and best practices and establishing appropriate execution and monitoring mechanisms and systems.
• Provide substantive inputs to the design and formulation of programme proposals and initiatives, ensuring substantive rigour in the design and application of proven successful approaches;
• Identify areas for support and intervention related to the programme.

Provide substantive technical support to the implementation and management and coordination of the Spotlight Initiative programme for UN Women:

• Lead the implementation of UN Women programme activities;
• Coordinate the overall Spotlight Initiative programme work plan development and implementation according to the programme document;
• Provide technical inputs to the annual work plan and budget;
• Ensure programme meets expectations as specified in programme document, and update senior management and Spotlight Technical and Coordination teams as required
• Provide technical assistance to and support local partners and implementing partners
• Gather inputs and coordinate the preparation of work-plans, periodic narrative progress reports and expenditures status reports;
• Establish systems for project planning, implementation and monitoring, in collaboration with partners;
• Record and maintain documents on relevant Programme activities, issues, and risks.
• Expedites and coordinates programmes/projects implementation establishing collaborative relationships with UN partner agencies, experts, government counterparts and other partners facilitating timely and efficient delivery of inputs.
• Ensures effective application of RBM tools and monitoring achievement of results.

Guide coordination with national partners and other stakeholders:

• Coordinates with other UN partner agencies and Spotlight staff, to ensure coherency and quality of the implementation of the programme.
• Coordinate relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of the Spotlight Initiative programme, raise potential problems and suggest solutions;
• Coordinate technical workshops and webinars; facilitate workshop sessions;
• Develop country capacity and provide a forum for exchanging experiences
• Consolidate lessons learned and key outcomes of workshops and webinars
• Analyze emerging needs and provide suggestions for technical follow up
• Identify capacity building needs and support partners through technical assistance, mentoring, training and capacity development initiatives, as needed.

Coordinate the monitoring and reporting on the Spotlight Initiative programme:

• Gather and compile all information necessary for monitoring and reporting on programmes and projects from the planning to the evaluation stages;
• Monitor the implementation of activities and the expenditure of funds;
• Conducts field visits to supervise, coordinate and monitor field level activities of the programme.
• Draft and provide inputs to annual and quarterly reports; coordinate the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports;
• Provide inputs from programme activities and results to Reporting.

Manage people and finances of the Spotlight Initiative programme:

• Coordinate development and preparation of financial resources of the programme including budgeting and budget revisions, and expenditure tracking and reporting;
• Monitor the allocation and disbursement of funds to participating partners;

Advocate and facilitate knowledge building and management and communication:

• Document the programme implementation process and products;
• Contribute to the exchange of information and provide inputs to the development of knowledge and communications products internally and externally of the programme;
• Coordinate the organization of major advocacy campaigns, events, training, workshops and knowledge products.

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 programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Good budget and finance skills
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations
• Good analytical skills
• Knowledge of UN programme management systems

Required Skills and Experience

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in public administration, law, 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

Experience:

• At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in managing complex and multi-component programme interventions with national partners, on gender equality or women’s empowerment projects in case of Master degree
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in managing complex and multi-component programme interventions with national partners, on gender equality or women’s empowerment projects in case of bachelor degree
•  
• Experience in Ending Violence against Women programme support or management is required.
• Experience in coordinating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating development programmes and projects is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Dari is required;
• Knowledge of Pashto is an asset.