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.

Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex emergencies and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Afghan people are grappling with the impact of conflict, poverty, economic decline, and natural disasters. In this context, Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities and require urgent support as gender inequality is interwoven with conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. It is essential that Afghan women and girls can continue to shape the development of their country, and that their gains are protected. UN Women remains fully committed to supporting Afghan women and girls and to putting them at the center of the global response to the crisis in Afghanistan. UN Women has been in Afghanistan for two decades. UN Women’s programming approach is informed by analysis of the political, economic, and humanitarian situation, risks to and capacities of partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls. UN Women Afghanistan currently has four key programmed priorities (1) Gender in Humanitarian Action, (2) Ending Violence Against Women, (3) Women’s Economic Empowerment, and (4) Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan (HNRP) identified 23.7 million people in need – 53% of the entire population- and it requires USD 3.06 billion in funding. In addition, the 2023-25 UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) stresses the acute basic human needs that vulnerable populations across the country continue to face – in terms of access to services, livelihoods and social cohesion/human rights. The (immediate) humanitarian challenges, as well as the (longer-term) basic human needs situation, compound each other, making the crisis in Afghanistan particularly complex.

Engaging women’s organization has a catalytic impact on promoting HPD nexus. Women-led/focused CSOs play a pivotal role in ensuring meaningful delivery of services to women and girls in any context but the role of these organizations is even more critical in gender-segregated societies like Afghanistan. Women CSOs have a catalytic effect in reaching people in need as they are deeply embedded in the communities where they work. The presence of women-led and women-focused CSOs is paramount to navigating the constrained operational environment and facilitating gender-sensitive programming. Further, addressing the needs of women is at the forefront of women focused CSOs’ programming, rather than just one component of their operations.

In Afghanistan, to ensure a gendered response to a worsening humanitarian situation, the UN Women Afghanistan Country Office is working actively to provide strategic leadership and technical support to ensure the humanitarian response fully responds to the specific needs and priorities of women in girls through elevating support the humanitarian response architecture as well develop targeted programming. Within the worsening humanitarian context in Afghanistan and multiple restrictions on women’s rights and movement, additional emphasis is being placed on the gendered impacts of the crisis, such as gender targeted security incidents further impacting space for women humanitarian workers or the impact on women’s access to humanitarian services, amongst others.

Under the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Unit, UN Women is partnering with the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA) on the implementation of a project aiming to build the capacity of small and medium women NGOs and CSOs, to strengthen their ability to play an effective role in humanitarian response and basic human needs programming. The project, through building the ability of women organizations to 1) deliver gender-responsive, results driven programs linking the humanitarian response to basic human needs programming and 2) influence the aid coordination structure to increase the accountability of the humanitarian response and its connection with basic human needs programing.

Reporting to Programme Manager on GIHA, with dotted line reporting to the Head of Sub-Offices in Herat and Jalalabad, the Project Coordination Analyst is responsible for coordinating the CSO Twinning Project portfolio which includes coordinating relationships with national partners and stakeholders, and the monitoring and reporting, and the finances and personnel of the portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Coordinate the CSO Twinning Initiative Project

• Coordinate the overall Programme/Portfolio work plan development and implementation according to project document.
• Coordinate relationships with UN Women teams and external project partners and stakeholders to support implementation and expansion of the CSO Twinning Project, raise potential problems and suggest solutions.
• Gather inputs and coordinate the preparation of work-plans, periodic narrative progress reports and expenditures status reports to the STFA Board and UN Women.
• Support Humanitarian Programme Manager to establish systems for project planning, implementation and monitoring, in collaboration with partners.
• Record and maintain documents on relevant Programme process, activities, issues, risks, impacts and milestone achievements.

2. Lead curriculum development and coordinate with relevant stakeholders (AKBAR, PUNOs, INGOs, Clusters, Working Groups, etc.)

• Oversee development of CSO capacity assessment and development of resulting curriculum.
• Identify capacity building needs and lead development of resulting curricula.
• Coordinate inputs (including technical support, training sessions, etc.) from relevant stakeholders.
• Provide technical support to INGO and CSO partners through technical assistance, mentoring, training and capacity development initiatives.

3. Coordinate the monitoring and reporting on the CSO Twinning Project

• In collaboration with Eastern and Western Region Project Coordinators, gather and compile all information necessary for monitoring and reporting on the projects from the planning to the evaluation stages;
• Monitor the implementation of activities and the expenditure of funds; conduct regular monitoring visits, as required;
• Draft and provide inputs to annual and quarterly reports; coordinate the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports;
• Support Eastern and Western Region Project Coordinators to monitor activities, impacts and results, identification of concerns, opportunities etc. and provide inputs from CSO Twinning programme activities and results to Country Office reporting.

4. Manage people and finances of the thematic area 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;
• Supervise Programme Associate and have dotted line supervision of Project Coordinators in Eastern and Western regions.

5. Build partnerships and support in developing resource mobilization strategies

• Provide inputs to the development of partnerships and resource mobilization strategies.
• Participate in coordination structures, donor meetings, and information events, as delegated.

6. 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 products internally and externally of the programme;
• Coordinate the organization of major advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products.
• Identify opportunities for capacity building of partners and facilitate technical/ programming support and trainings to partners, as needed.
• Contribute to the development of capacity development tools, including training materials and packages;

7. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

The incumbent will lead the Twinning project team. The project team will comprise 3 affiliate personnel reporting to the incumbent: a programme associate (SB3) based in Kabul, as well as two programme coordinators (SB4) based respectively in Jalalabad and Herat. The overall team will report to the Project Coordination Analyst, while programme coordinators will also have dotted line reporting to the heads of sub-offices in Herat and Jalalabad.

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

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Good knowledge and understanding of humanitarian and development context service delivery.
• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills.
• Good understanding of training, capacity building programme development and adult learning curriculum design.
• 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
• Strong interpersonal, communication and coordination skills and experience with developing working relations with government, civil society, and other development partners.
• Knowledge of UN programme management systems

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Political or Social Science, Economics, International Development Studies, Gender/Women’s Studies or similar relevant degree 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 (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in managing complex and multi-component programme interventions with national partners, preferably related to thematic area is required.
• Experience in partnership management is required.
• Experience in a humanitarian and/or development organization is required.
• Experience in coordinating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating development programmes and projects is desirable.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.
• Experience in using online communication tools is desirable.
• Experience in civil society and women advocacy area is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Dari is required.
• Knowledge of Pashto is desirable.

Experiance:

• At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in managing complex and multi-component programme interventions with national partners, preferably related to thematic area.
• Experience in gender equality and women’s empowerment programming.
• Experience in coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating development programmes and projects is an asset.
• Experience in and understanding of the local context and surrounding provinces is an asset.

Language Requirements:

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

Application:

• All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from Application and recruitment process | About us: Careers at UN Women | UN Women – Headquarters Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality, and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Inclusion Statement:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits employ, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

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