IC/SSA National Prevention Coordinator - Samoa

Background/Context

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. 

The Fiji Multi Country Office (MCO) covers 14 Pacific countries, with field offices/presence in 6 countries, and five ‘focus countries’ (Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Samoa). The National Prevention Coordinator is a consultancy based in Samoa, specifically focused on driving and implementing the Pola Puipui Prevention Framework.

Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

The incidence of violence against women and girls in the Pacific Islands is amongst the highest rates in the world. For example, 46% of women in Samoa who have ever been in an intimate relationship have experienced physical/ and or sexual violence by a partner over the course of their lifetime[1]. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a central barrier to gender equality and a cause of widespread violation of human rights across the Pacific. 

To respond to the rates of violence in the Pacific, UN Women has developed a comprehensive elimination of violence against women and girls (EVAWG) programme which takes a transformative approach to prevent violence against women and girls at multiple levels (regional, national and community), and to ensure survivors have access to quality response services. The approach to preventing and responding to VAWG also considers the context of the Pacific, which requires an integrated approach to addressing VAWG across the humanitarian – development nexus. The Fiji MCO EVAWG programme is one of the largest UN Women EVAWG programmes globally. The most substantial programme under UN Women’s EVAW programme is the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls which is an ambitious, five year joint programme, with UN Women, and the Pacific Community (SPC), which brings together governments, civil society organizations (CSO), communities and other partners to change the social norms that allow violence against women and girls to continue; to ensure survivors have access to quality response services; and to support national and regional institutions to meet their commitments to gender equality and prevention of violence against women and girls.

In October 2024, with the support of UN Women, the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development (MWCSD) in Samoa developed and launched the Pola Puipui Prevention Framework. This groundbreaking framework aims to drive sustainable change in preventing gender-based violence (GBV) in Samoa by addressing the root causes and promoting early intervention strategies.

To ensure the successful implementation of the Pola Puipui Framework, UN Women Fiji MCO is seeking a National Consultant to serve as the National Prevention Coordinator. This consultant will play a key role in the first phase of implementation, supporting the work of the Prevention and Early-Intervention Team (PEIT) within the MWCSD to enhance their work on EVAWG. Key responsibilities include providing strategic leadership, developing and managing prevention initiatives, overseeing operational resource management, fostering interagency collaboration, and working closely with key stakeholders across government and non-government sectors. This role is crucial to laying the foundations for the Pola Puipui Framework's success and ensuring its objectives are met.

The National Prevention Coordinator will work closely with the CEO of the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development and the UN Women Samoa Country Coordinator, while reporting directly to the EVAW Technical Specialist.

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work 

The consultant’s responsibilities will include:

1. Task 1: Facilitate the effective implementation of priorities and activities under the Pola Puipui Framework.
2. Task 2: Lead the development of key prevention, early intervention, and response initiatives, ensuring a holistic approach that provides a specialist GBV lens while integrating with child protection, youth and disability areas. Support operationalizing funding for these initiatives.
3. Task 3: Ensure coherence and strong governance among civil society, government, and private sector stakeholders, support the work planning for the PEIT, and provide comprehensive reporting on progress and results.
4. Task 4: Build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders to raise awareness of and promote engagement with the Framework, including helping the coordination of governance meetings, documenting outcomes and recommendations.
5. Task 5: Support the work of the Prevention and Early-Intervention Team, providing leadership and direction and enhancing their capacity across a range of domains including: planning, communication and engagement, training and capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation. 

The assignment should be carried out within a period of 12 months, not exceeding 210 working days, with the incumbent being responsible for delivering the following outputs:

• Monthly reports on major tasks performed and results matched against a detailed workplan with the first report including a draft annual workplan
• Monthly timesheet
• Mid-term 6-month progress report on carried out activities, achievements, and challenges.
• Comprehensive 12-month progress report on activities, achievement, challenges, and future plan.

Upon receipt of the final deliverables and prior to the payment of the instalment, the deliverables, related reports, and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women. 

All the deliverables shall be agreed by UN Women and the MWCSD, and UN Women will be provided in English hard and electronic copy. 

Institutional Arrangement

The Prevention Coordinator will work closely with the CEO of the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development and the UN Women Samoa Country Coordinator, while reporting directly to the EVAW Technical Specialist. An annual workplan with key deliverables will be developed with the Ministry of Women, Community and Society Development and UN Women. UN Women EVAW Technical Specialist will oversee technical quality, including the review and clearance of deliverables for quality as part of the management arrangement.  

The selected candidate is expected to have her/his own laptop, cell phone, internet access and communication equipment.

Duration of the Work 

The duration of the assignment will be for a 12-month work assignment with an anticipated start date from the 1^st April 2025.

Duty Station

The position is Apia-based without travel. In the case of unforeseeable travel, all travel must be agreed upon between UN Women and the consultant prior to travel with approved travel costs including tickets, daily subsistence allowance and terminal expenses paid by UN Women. 

Performance Evaluation

The Consultant’s performance willbe evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

Financial Arrangements 

Payments will be disbursed to the consultant on a monthly basis after receipt and approval of deliverables, monthly timesheets, and corresponding invoice and certification by the MWCSD and UN Women EVAW Programme Specialist that the services have been satisfactorily performed.  

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 

• Understanding and knowledge in the EVAWG thematic area; substantive knowledge on GBV/GBViE response and prevention, administrative data, intervention research;
• Excellent communications skills;
• Experienced people leader;
• Proficient in writing and delivering clear implementation plans; 
• Ability to advocate with senior representatives from government and other partners and provide policy advice in the context of global initiatives;
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to establish and foster strong relations with civil society, across government, UN agencies, donors, and community.

Required Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in social sciences, human rights, gender/ women’s studies, international development, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in similar fields with combination of additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Other formal education relevant for the assignment will be an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with first-level university degree) of proven gender experience working/ collaborating with national stakeholders in coordinating/ facilitating and/or implementing strategic plans/ policy recommendations/ or programmes for gender equality;
• Minimum 3 years of proven work experience in the area of EVAWG in Samoa;
• Proven experience working with diverse stakeholders with respect to sensitivity and inclusivity
• Proven experience brokering and negotiating partnerships and relationships with diverse national stakeholders including civil society and government;
• Proven experience with project management, report writing and documentation;
• Experience in working with international organizations (successful experience in working with UN agencies is an asset).

Languages:

• Fluency in English 
• Working knowledge of Samoan is required

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.

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.)

How to Apply:

• All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from: https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process
• 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. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns, or other materials.