International Consultant – Regional Coordination Specialist on Ending Violence against Women

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.

In accordance with the UN Women Strategic Plan, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) works to advance social, economic, and political rights of women and girls, including the right to live free of all forms of violence. Ending violence against women is a priority area in UN Women’s strategic plan. 

UN Women’s focus on Ending Violence Against Women 

Violence against women (VAW) is one of the most widespread violations of human rights worldwide, globally affecting around one in three women in her lifetime. Regional evidence suggests that a similar rate applies in the Asia-Pacific region, with wide ranging differences in specific contexts and populations. VAW is a human rights violation resulting in immediate and long-term physical, sexual, economic, and mental health consequences for the survivors. The impacts of VAW goes beyond survivors affecting families, communities, and countries. However, research suggests that VAW is preventable. Elimination of VAW requires a holistic approach focusing on both response to and prevention of VAW at different levels from individual, community, institution, societal and governmental levels.

The work of Ending Violence against Women (EVAW) Section within UN Women’s ROAP maintains a comprehensive approach to ending violence against women. This includes gender transformative approaches to building environments and institutions that do not accept violence, that support gender equality, and that hold perpetrators of violence accountable. The approaches of the EVAW section focus on evidence and practice-based knowledge production and dissemination, informing legislation and policies, prevention and social norms change, ensuring quality essential services for survivors, creating safe public spaces in different settings and supporting women’s rights organisations and movements to end violence against women. 

The incumbent will work in close coordination with the UN Women EVAW team in ROAP, UN Women personnel at country, regional and global levels, as well as with the Asia-Pacific UNiTE working group. They will be responsible for coordinating with internal and external clients to ensure the effective coordination and implementation of EVAW and UNITE programming and campaign actions in the region; providing technical support to facilitate the monitoring, documentation and reporting on results and lessons learned at national and regional level; developing advocacy strategies, communications materials and strategic partnerships;  maintaining and building relationships with partners to mobilize resources for EVAW; and organizing high-level functions and events to mobilize political will and resources to end VAW. Partners this role will liaise with include thematic units and country presence offices within UN Women, UN agencies, civil society networks and organisations, ASEAN, advocacy organizations, and private sector.

Description of Responsibilities

1. Coordinate the regional EVAW Portfolio 

• Liaise with UN agencies, national counterparts, UN Women and partners to ensure the Portfolio results are achieved and resources are managed; 
• Prepare and present work-plans, periodic narrative progress reports to UN Women and key partners, including UNITE and regional Issue-Based Coalition (IBC) partners;
• Maintain and establish systems for project planning, implementation and monitoring, in collaboration with partners. 

2. Guide coordination with UN and national partners and other stakeholders 

• Coordinate relationships with UN, regional partners such as ASEAN, and national partners to support implementation of the regional EVAW Portfolio; 
• Serve as Regional Coordinator for the Asia-Pacific UNiTE Campaign Working Group, currently co-chaired by UN Women and UNFPA, supporting implementation of joint actions on ending violence against women, including joint programming; 
• Schedule regional inter-agency Asia-Pacific UNiTE meetings, following up on agreed action points as required; Coordinate the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the Asia-Pacific UNiTE Working Group Annual Work Plan, and support progress where relevant;
• Provide inputs to communications plans for the UNiTE initiatives and partnership work; Monitor, analyze and share results, in coordination with relevant colleagues in country offices;
• Prepare, review and/or coordinate documents/reports, briefs, speeches, presentations and other advocacy materials on UNITE strategies, actions and results as needed;
• Ensure quality documentation, reporting and monitoring of UNITE advocacy/campaign results, lessons learned and effective approaches in the Asia-Pacific region, including to update the Issue Based Coalition (IBC) group;
• Effectively engage with various media outlets in the region to ensure media coverage of key campaign and advocacy events, results and messages and to raise public awareness on issues of VAWG;

3. Coordinate the monitoring and reporting on the regional EVAW Portfolio

• Compile, analyze and present information necessary for monitoring and reporting on programmes and projects from the planning to the evaluation stages; 
• Write annual and quarterly reports; review and coordinate the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports as relevant; 
• Ensure adequate documentation, monitoring and reporting of programme implementation, results, lessons learned and promising approaches in preventing and responding to VAW in the Asia-Pacific Region;
• Provide inputs from EVAW programme activities and results to Regional Office reporting.

4. Build partnerships and support resource mobilization 

• Prepare partnerships and resource mobilization strategies, concepts and proposals;
• Build and maintain close relationships with current and potential strategic partners, to coordinate action on key priorities needed to advance EVAW in line with UNITE;
• Support building and maintaining strong relationships with UN agencies, partners, and regional stakeholders such as ASEAN, including in supporting the implementation of initiatives;
• Identify and follow-up on strategic opportunities for resource mobilization for EVAW programming and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region through concept note/proposal development, for example through Spotlight 2.0 and provide guidance and technical support to COs as desired;
• Identify potential programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UN Women related to EVAW, country needs and opportunities to advance partnerships.

5. Advocate and facilitate knowledge building, management and communication

• Prepare, review and/or coordinate substantive documents/reports, briefs, speeches, presentations, web and social media content, and other advocacy and communications plans and materials; 
• Support implementation of the regional EVAW communications and advocacy strategy; 
• 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; 
• Organize major advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products.

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

Key Deliverables

1.Coordinate the regional EVAW Portfolio

1.1.1 Work-plans, periodic narrative progress reports to UN Women and key partners, including UNITE and regional Issue-Based Coalition (IBC) partners are prepared and presented;

1.1.2 Portfolio results are achieved, and resources are managed through liaising with UN Agencies, national Counterparts, UN Women and partners.

2. Guide coordination with UN and national partners and other stakeholders

2.1.1 The Regional EVAW portfolio is implemented and through coordinating relationships with UN, regional partners, and national partners; including Spotlight 2.0 Technical support to Country offices in the Region; Technical support to the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on EVAW in collaboration with the Senior Consultant; any other support to ASEAN as desired;

2.1.2 The implementation of joint actions on ending violence against women, including joint programming are supported such as coordinating the 2024 Joint Programme Prevention Donor report; the Joint Steering and Technical Committee meetings per TORs; Partner meetings and in collaboration with the Regional Programme Coordinator-Prevention;

2.1.3 Regional inter-agency Asia-Pacific UNiTE meetings are timely scheduled and agreed action points followed as required; 

2.1.4 Asia-Pacific UNiTE Working Group Annual Work Plan is well coordinated and implementation monitored throughout implementation;

2.1.5 Inputs to communications plans for the UNiTE initiatives and partnership work are provided; 

2.1.6 Briefs, speeches, presentations and other advocacy materials on UNITE strategies are prepared, reviewed and/or coordinated;

2.1.7 Quality documentation, reporting and monitoring of UNITE advocacy/campaign results, lessons learned and effective approaches in the Asia-Pacific region, including to update the Issue Based Coalition (IBC) group is ensured.

3. Coordinate the monitoring and reporting on the regional EVAW Portfolio

3.1.1 Information necessary for monitoring and reporting for the Prevention Joint Programme; UNiTE joint Initiative; GBViE, Spotlight 2.0 is compiled, analyzed and presented as desired; 

3.1.2 The Joint Programme Prevention Donor report and contributions to the BWP EVAW quarterly reporting is done timely;

3.1.3 Adequate documentation, monitoring and reporting of Programme implementation, results, lessons learned and promising approaches in preventing and responding to VAW in the Asia-Pacific Region is ensured;

3.1.4 Inputs from EVAW Programme activities and results are provided to Regional Office reporting.

4. Build partnerships and support resource mobilization 

4.1.1 Partnerships and resource mobilization strategies, concepts and proposals are prepared as desired e.g. through technical Support to COs interested in developing Spotlight 2.0 proposals;

4.1.2 Current and potential strategic partners are built and strengthened, to coordinate action on key priorities needed to advance EVAW in line with UNITE;

4.1.3 Strong relationships with UN agencies, partners such as Cowater International, DFAT, and regional stakeholders such as ASEAN, are built and maintained including in supporting the implementation of initiatives;

4.1.4 Strategic opportunities for resource mobilization for EVAW programming and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region are followed through such as Spotlight 2.0 by providing guidance and technical support to COs as desired;

4.1.5 Potential programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UN Women related to EVAW, country needs and opportunities are identified and supported to advance partnerships.

5. Advocate and facilitate knowledge building, management and communication

5.1.1 Documents/reports, briefs, speeches, presentations, web and social media content, and other advocacy and communications plans and materials are prepared, reviewed and/or coordinated. 

5.1.2 Implementation of the regional EVAW communications and advocacy strategy is supported as relevant.

5.1.3 Documentation of the Programme implementation process is ensured and products produced are in accordance with UN Women guidelines;

5.1.4 Information and knowledge products are shared internally and externally of the Programme as desired; 

5.1.5 Major advocacy campaigns, events such as the Asia Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development (APFSD), International Women’s day (IWD), Commission of Status for Women (CSW), trainings, workshops are well coordinated and knowledge products developed and documented.

6. Travel Expense (in case of travel to Bangkok)

Lumpsum travel claims (Home country – Bangkok, Thailand)

- Boarding pass

- Airfare receipts

- Visa receipt

Consultant’s Workplace 

The consultancy will be supervised by the EVAW Regional Programme Manager and expected to be full-time, based in UN Women’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand.

Payments for this consultancy will be based on the achievement of each deliverable and certification that each has been satisfactorily completed. Payments will not be based on the number of days worked but on the completion of each stated deliverable within the indicated timeframes.

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:

• Technical credibility on ending violence against women and girls; 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong writing skills in English; 
• Strong coordination and networking skills;
• Ability to work independently to deliver agreed results and meet strict deadlines;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively; 
• Ability to foster good relations with counterparts, UN agencies, donors, and private partners;
• Ability to command trust and authority from external and internal stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

Education and Certification: 

• Master’s degree in the field of international development, law, gender studies, social sciences, or other related area
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressive professional work experience at national or international level in ending violence against women and/or gender-based violence, and transformative approaches to building gender equality;
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, monitoring and reporting on development programmes focused on ending violence against women and girls is required; 
• Demonstrated experience in coordination and partnership building is required; 
• Proven track record in raising the visibility and influence of an organization through effective advocacy strategies is an asset;
• Demonstrated experience in organizing advocacy, public outreach and/or strategic partnerships initiatives and high-visibility events, preferably within a development or social change marketing context is required;
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating campaigns to achieve short- and long-term impact, including using social media is an asset;
• Experience working in humanitarian contexts will be an asset; 
• Demonstrated experience in the use of computers and office/audiovisual software packages is required;
• Experience with developing content for communication through social media/web/audiovisual production is an asset; 
• Work experience in the Asia and the Pacific is an asset;
• Familiarity with the UN system’s rules and procedures will be an advantage.

Languages:

• Proficiency in English is required
• Knowledge an Asian language is an asset.

How to apply:

Submission of application 

• Personal CV or P11 (P11 can be downloaded from: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc)
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page)

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. Please merge all documents into one document to attach.

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.)