UN WOMEN COUNTRY PROGRAMME MANAGER

UN Women's vision is one where men and women have equal opportunities and capacities, where women are empowered and where the principles of gender equality are firmly embedded in all efforts to advance development, peace and security. Our fundamental objective is to enhance national capacity and ownership to enable national partners to formulate gender-responsive laws and policies and to scale up successful strategies to deliver on national commitments to gender equality. To meet this objective, UN Women centres its work around 5 core principles: 1) providing demand-driven support to national partners to enhance implementation of international agreements and standards; 2) supporting intergovernmental processes to strengthen the global normative and policy framework on gender equality; 3) advocating for gender equality and women's empowerment, championing the rights of women and girls - particularly those who are most excluded; 4) leading and promoting coherence in UN system work on gender equality; and 5) acting as a global broker of knowledge and experience, aligning practice with normative guidance. UN Women focuses on 5 Thematic Priorities: Expanding women's voice, leadership and participation Ending violence against women Strengthening implementation of women's peace and security agenda Enhancing women's economic empowerment Making gender equality priorities central to national, local and sectoral planning, budgeting and statistics. The project office in China, established in 1998, provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies to foster gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women works in partnership with UN organisations, governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and networks on gender mainstreaming and women's empowerment strategies. UN Women is the managing agency for the China Gender Facility (CGF), an initiative designed to promote advocacy and social dialogue on gender equality and women's empowerment in the development and implementation of policies and laws in China. Composed of government, UN agencies, multi-lateral and bi-lateral development agencies and civil society partners, CGF provides funding for innovative and catalytic proposals within the framework provided by the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) in China. The focus of CGF includes: Working with and for gender advocates to develop strategies which will be translated into information and materials for dissemination through various means, including websites. Promoting better understanding of gender issues among those influencing policy (by equipping them as gender advocates e.g. press, trade unions, employers and academia). Increasing the gender awareness and capacity of policy-makers. Promoting dialogue among women's movement, policy-makers and donors. UN Women implemented a joint programme on HIV/AIDS in 2006 entitled, "Strengthening Party and Government Leadership in Addressing HIV/AIDS from Gender Perspective in Guangdong Party School" with particular focus on mainstreaming the gender and HIV/AIDS prevention component into the Guangdong Party School training curriculum. This project was successful in raising and strengthening political leaders' awareness of the integral relationship between gender and HIV, and the need to incorporate gender concerns when developing policy response towards HIV. A continued phase of this project has been designed based on request from Guangdong Party School as well as the Central Party School to replicate model curriculum on Gender and HIV/AIDS used in Guangdong Party School for the Central Party School. To manage the above, UN Women will be recruiting a Country Programme Manager (international position), based in Beijing, China.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Regional Programme Director (RPD), the Country Programme Manager will assist in the effective development, implementation and monitoring of programmes in China. Key Responsibilties: Oversee UN Women's programme operations in China, keeping abreast of changes in national political, social and economic trends and providing recommendations to the Regional Programme Director on the strategic entry points in China. Represent UN Women in the UN Country Team (UNCT) on behalf or the Regional Programme Director; Provide technical inputs into programmes and guiding staff in formulation of project activities in consultation with Sub-Regional Programme Managers; Advocate on gender and women's issues and support UN Women's project office in China in its communication and outreach strategies; Manage the office's human and financial resources. Specific Duties and Responsibilities: Programme Management: Coordinate, manage and monitor UN Women country programme implementation to ensure synergy and results, ensuring that gender equality principles are mainstreamed into China's National Development Plan; provide strategic and technical support to government counterparts to advance implementation of the CEDAW Concluding Comments; facilitate engagement of NGO actors with a view to supporting strategic collective action between NGOs as well as improved cooperation between NGOs and the government; and ensure that the Programme work plan is effectively implemented to deliver anticipated results; Provide technical guidance to staff, in consultation with Sub-Regional Programme Managers and thematic/country focal points in the Sub-Regional Office, for development and implementation of programme workplans and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms; Maintain an effective working relationship with the Sub-Regional Programme Managers and thematic/country focal points in the Sub-Regional Office so that it creates a wider understanding on the programme issues and helps coordination between the country and the sub-regional programmes; Provide support in resource mobilization, specifically: identify resource mobilization opportunities; develop concept notes and/or programme documents in line with its gender-responsive rights-based approach in consultation with key partners in focus areas mentioned above; and assist the RPD in resource mobilization efforts. Represent UN Women in the UNCT: Represent the RPD in the UNCT and advise on strategic UNCT theme group meetings and national events that warrant the RPD's presence; Represent RPD as chair of the UN Theme Group on Gender within the RC system and work in close collaboration with the Gender Focal Points of different UN agencies towards the development of capacity within the UN for gender mainstreaming; Inform the RPD of joint programming opportunities and participate in the development of UN joint programmes; Participate in the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) formulation and review meetings to ensure mainstreaming of gender and women's human rights concerns. Partnership and Networking: Maintain close contact with the related government offices and other strategic government agencies and identify the support that may be necessary at the national level; Coordinate with national women's groups and leverage necessary support for the women's groups in China including through capacity development and advocacy support; Promote UN Women's country programme among governments, the private sector, NGOs, research institutes, UN agencies, other bilateral and multilateral aid organizations. Communication and Advocacy: Provide technical support and strategic direction in development and implementation of UN Women's information and communications strategy in consultation with the Regional Communications Officer and the Regional Programme Managers; Ensure the effective positioning of UN Women and communication of UN Women's work in China. More specifically, develop and disseminate key and strategic knowledge products; Initiate and coordinate meetings and workshops for/among stakeholders to exchange knowledge and experiences that concretely address various aspects of country programme implementation; Document and disseminate lessons learned; Support on-going advocacy with government, UN and international NGO efforts to ensure that women's concerns are part of mainstream development efforts. Operations and Office Management: Participate in the UN Operations Management (OMT) and UN Security Management Team (SMT) meetings to ensure UN Women's operating and security procedures are in-line and appropriate within a UN-system framework; Encourage learning among staff by identifying learning needs and opportunities for staff in coordination with the learning manager in the Regional Office; Keep abreast of UN Women operation and programme management guidelines and provide advice on administrative, financial, HR matters to colleagues in the office; Supervise the day-to-day work of staff in the office; Fulfill other tasks as assigned by the RPD.

Competencies

Managerial Leads teams effectively: motivates and manages teams well, inspiring confidence in others; Builds strong relationships with both internal and external actors: cultivates productive relationships with donors, government partners and other key institutions; Manages projects effectively: consistently ensures timeliness and quality of programme implementation, monitoring and timely reporting; Possesses strong communication skills: Speaks confidently and exercises diplomacy in dealing with the Government, UN System and national partners. Demonstrates determination and tact in negotiations; Displays sensitivity: is culturally sensitive and adaptable. Technical/Functional Substantive knowledge and understanding of gender-equality issues as well as - more broadly - of human rights and development cooperation, with an emphasis on the provision of coordinated support and management of strategic programmes to advance gender equality; Substantive knowledge and experience in the development of resource mobilization strategies and management for the UN's work in support of gender equality; Ability to carry out research and contribute to the formulation of policies, procedures and guidelines; Experience in results-based and rights-based programming; Experience in programme evaluation and monitoring; In-depth knowledge of UN rules and regulations.

Required Skills and Experience

Experience: Master's degree in social science, development studies or related field; At least seven years of progressive work experience related to gender and development, including programme management and team management; Familiarity with the Southeast Asia region; Knowledge of and experience working with UN agencies would be an asset. Language: Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of Chinese would be an asset.

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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.