UN Women, Programme Coordination Specialist- Head of field office, Ziguinchor, Senegal, N-PPSA 10

Contexte:

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. 

Adopted in 2024, the overall objective of Senegal's National Development Strategy 2025-2029 is to promote sustainable development driven by empowered, viable, and competitive territories, laying the foundations for economic sovereignty. It is divided into four (4) strategic areas: Competitive Economy; Quality Human Capital and Social Equity; Sustainable Planning and Development; and Good Governance and African Engagement.

 As a development partner, UN Women supports the operationalization of this national development strategy by setting national standards for achieving gender equality, and works with the governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls in Senegal focusing on four strategic priorities:

• Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems
• Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy
• All women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence
• Women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action

To be aligned with the territorialization approach of Senegal and to bring UN Women's intervention more closer to communities, particularly to women and girls, through regionalization and decentralization of interventions, UN Women iis opening a field office in Ziguinchor that will cover the Casamance region. It’s a region located in southern Senegal between Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, populated by more than two million people, with a rich ethnic diversity that coexists harmoniously. Economic activities are primarily rural (agriculture, livestock farming, fishing, and exploitation of forest resources). While the national poverty rate was estimated at 37.8% in 2018/2019, the poverty rates in the Ziguinchor and Sédhiou regions are among the highest in the country, with rates of 51.1% and 65.7% respectively. 

Based in Ziguinchor, the office will cover the three administrative regions of Casamance (Ziguinchor, Kolda, and Sédhiou) and Tambacounda and Kédougou regions.

Under the direct supervision of the Resident Representative (RR) and in close coordination with the Programme Management specialist, the  Programme Team Leaders, the Head of field office sets the strategic direction at the local level and oversees all Field office activities. The Head of field office is part of the management team of the Country Office.

The Head of field office has formal delegated authority from the RR to represent the UN Women  programme at the local level and perform related indispensable management functions.

The Head of Field office leads and supervises the UNWOMEN staff, personnel and project staff in Ziguinchor ensuring cross-unit cooperation and coordination. He/she ensures a client-oriented approach and consistency with UNWOMEN rules and regulations in conformity with the UNWOMEN Internal Control Framework and good management practice. He/she advises the senior management on programmes in the southern regions, UN Women’s presence, cost effectiveness and responses to emerging complex challenges in the area.

The incumbent will work closely with the UN bodies in Ziguinchor and with diverse internal and external counterparts, including Government, national institutions, civil society, NGOs, INGOs and the private sector to successfully deliver UNWOMEN  programme at the local level.

Scope of Work:

1-Manage programme coordination and oversee programme implementation in the geographic area of responsibility of the field office

• In close coordination with the UN Women Country Office Programme Managers, provide leadership to efficient implementation of programme and project activities and the timely delivery of results against agreed upon work plans
• Working closely with the programme leads and management support units, contribute to and participate in programme development, planning implementation and reporting requirements
• Identify programming opportunities based on urgent and emerging needs on the ground, and based on discussion with thematic leads, lead the development and management of these priority initiatives
• Based on local assessments and operating conditions, provide substantive recommendations for the adaptation of programme and project activities as necessary
• Lead emergency assessments and implement emergency response action plans when required
• Coordinate and support programme and project monitoring against agreed upon results frameworks and performance indicators and prepare technical monitoring reports, as necessary and in close coordination with programmes and programme management support unit;
• Facilitate discussion with programme teams and relevant units and partners with the aim of ensuring coherence and convergences of overall programmatic footprint
• Ensure effective internal communication and coordination at Field office level and effective and proactive communication between relevant Country Office units (both programme and operations) and the ffield office ;
• Coordinate and support programmatic missions from the Country Office to the ffield office .

2-Represent UN Women at the sub-national level and develop and manage UN Women’s strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement     

• Manage and coordinate relationships with key counter parts, especially representatives from women’s civil society, and provide technical inputs to efforts at the country level to develop new and innovative partnerships.
• Represent UN Women in regional and local coordination mechanisms 
• Lead engagements with the de facto authorities in line with the agreed UN guidance, with the aim of to ensure operational access for UN Women and its partners to affective deliver for women and girls.
• Maintain collaboration and coordination with other UN and humanitarian and basic human needs partners to ensure programmatic integration and sharing of best practices
• Establish effective communication channels with and ensures that stakeholders (humanitarian and basic human needs partners, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society, UN agencies, and other) have a consistent UN Women counterpart at the sub-national level.

3. Lead technical support and capacity development to civil society partners.

• Provide substantive technical support to partners in regard to programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Provide partners with training, and capacity development initiatives as needed.
• In close consultation with the Programme Managers, lead and support identification of partners in the geographic area of responsibility.
• Build relationships with local partners to support implementation and expansion of the country programme.
• Respond to any potential bottlenecks and challenges and provide guidance on mitigation actions.
• Manage capacity building opportunities and initiatives for key partners and stakeholders.

4. Provide region-specific advice, analysis, and support to support evidence-based programming and communication in the  geographic area of responsibility of the Field office            

• Provide periodic analysis of local socio-economic, political and security situations and trends as related to the situation of women and girls.
• Identify programming, advocacy and communications opportunities and entry points for UN Women and advise the UN Women Senegal Country Office on policies, programmes and strategies to adequately respond to local challenges and needs regarding gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Monitor the perception of UN Women at the local level and suggest and ensure that UN Women programming objectives and local programming results are effectively communicated in collaboration with the Communications Unit in the Country Office.
• Contribute and coordinate the development of knowledge products and mechanisms to effectively position UN Women in the region.
• Contribute to strategic planning processes for the UN Women programme in Senegal 

5. Manage the field office staff and financial resources

• Ensure smooth running of the Field office , promote teamwork and an environment that is conducive to delivering results.
• Ensure full responsibility for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the Field office by tracking use of financial resources, ensuring the integrity of financial systems and consistent application of the Internal Control Framework and/or rules and regulations.
• In collaboration with the Security Team, ensure that the security needs of office and programmes are met.
• Mitigate possible risks and impacts associated with the Field office programmes and operations by proactively designing and implementing mitigating measures in collaboration with the Deputy Country Representatives and Security Specialist.
• Supervise and coach staff and manage performance.
• Write terms of reference for new staff, consultants and contractors and oversee the recruitment process, as necessary.

6-Promotes communication flow in the office focusing on achievement of the following results

• Maximizes communication between the various portfolios and ensures that stakeholders (development partners, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society, UN agencies and Government agencies) have one consistent UN WOMEN counterpart.
• Ensures internal communication and coordination at field office level and effective and proactive communication between relevant Country Office units (programme operations and OSD units) and the Field office;
• Monitors the perception of UN WOMEN at the local level and suggest media activities that positions UN WOMEN more strategically and effectively as a neutral broker for local development. Enhances local visibility for UN WOMEN in development effectiveness.
• Ensures that local development results are effectively communicated in collaboration with the Country Office.

7-Fosters effective advocacy, partnership building and donors liaison focusing on achievement of the following results

• Contributes to the development of the CO and SO Advocacy, Partnership and Resource Mobilization strategy, including planning tools to implement the strategy.
• Identifies new partnerships and strengthens existing ones at the SO level through innovative approaches to partnership development;
• Encourages ways of increasing Field office funding base such as engaging in resource mobilization efforts in consultation with local counterparts and following-up with donors on local opportunities.
• Provide technical support to the development of partnerships and resource mobilization strategies; and
• Identify potential programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UN Women, country needs and donors’ priorities and develop the relevant partnerships.
• Ensure documentation of the programme implementation process and products produced are in accordance with UN Women guidelines;
• Contribute to the exchange of information and knowledge products internally and externally of the programme; and
• Organize major advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent will lead a team of 5 to 7 personnel including programme officers, analysts, associate and driver. Depending on the result, the team could grow.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

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 Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Strong budget and finance skills
• Strong knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports in order to inform management and strategic decision-making
• Strong analytical skills
• Good knowledge of UN programme management systems

Minimum Qualifications

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 (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in managing complex and multi-component programme interventions with national partners, preferably related to thematic area is required.
• Experience in coordinating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating development programmes and projects is required. 
• Experience leading and coaching staff in international settings is required.
• Previous experience working in the UN system is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in french  is required.
• Fluency in local language is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (English)

Statements :

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.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, 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.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.