Programme Associate, NPPSA6, (Empowering Women in Resilient Communities – Mpumalanga Province)

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.

UN Women South Africa Country Office (SACO) is based in Pretoria, South Africa. SACO works with the government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Private Sector to contribute to gender equality through the formulation and implementation of norms, laws, policies, programmes, and services that ensure the human rights of women and girls and increase economic participation. SACO’s programmes include increasing women’s political participation and leadership, securing women’s economic rights, strengthening women's involvement in peacebuilding, ending violence against women, and making government budgets and policies gender responsive.

Under the Women Empowerment Unit, the EntreprenHER (Accelerating Women Owned Micro-Entrepreneurs) is a programme aimed at The Accelerate Women’s Owned Micro Enterprise (AWOME) Phase 3 programme has been designed to target 500 women entrepreneurs in the informal sector to address the rising unemployment and inequality in the region. The overall goal of the programme is to equip low-income women entrepreneurs (micro-entrepreneurs and members of Women Business Associations) with business skills that contribute to managing their enterprises, create decent jobs and acquire income security and/or autonomy. The programme is implemented in Limpopo with the local municipalities of Blouberg and Musina. In collaboration with UNDP South Africa the EntreprenHER model is being replicated in Gert Sibande District, in Mpumalanga Province, to contribute to the UNDP’s programme on “Scaling up DIME: Digital Innovation for Market Enablement and Enterprise Development” Output 2: Finance-Ready Enterprise Pipelines Strengthened.

Reporting to Deputy Representative Programme and Programme Management Consultant, the Programme Associate works with and provides support to the members of the Programme Team in the development and implementation of effective programmes consistent with UN Women rules and regulations. The Programme Associate contributes to research, financial management, and programme implementation including providing necessary operational, administrative and programmatic support. The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and projects’ personnel in the Country Office (CO), and UN Women HQs as required for resolving complex finance-related issues and exchange of information.

Scope of Work

Provide administrative and logistical support to the formulation and management of programmes:

• Provide administrative support in the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements;
• Provide technical guidance to the COs and executing agencies on routine delivery and reporting of programme supported activities and finances;
• Prepare information for the audit of programmes/ projects and support implementation of audit recommendations.
• Review programme data from programmes/ projects for the COs website; and
• Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers
• Provide administrative support to the financial management of the Programme Unit:
• Create projects in Quantum system, prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds and the operational and financial close of a project;
• Provide administrative support in monitoring budget preparation and the finances of programmes/projects; including the finalization of FACE forms;
• Review financial reports; prepare non-PO vouchers for development projects;
• Process payment for consultants;
• Maintain internal expenditures control system;
• Create requisitions in Quantum system for development projects; register good receipts in Quantum system; and
• Assist in the preparation and follow up of cost-recovery bills in Quantum system.
• Provide administrative support to the Programme Unit:
• Undertake all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for organization for meetings, workshops, events, and missions;
• Make travel arrangements for the Programme Team, including travel requisitions and claims;
• Prepare public information materials and briefing packets;
• Assemble briefing materials and prepare PowerPoint and other presentations; and
• Provide guidance and training to Programme Assistants as needed.
• Provide administrative support to Resource Mobilization:
• Prepare cost-sharing and other agreements; follow up on contributions within the Country Office (CO) resource mobilization efforts; and
• Organize, compile and process information from donors, Country Office (CO), and programme team, as inputs to various databases and documents.
• Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing:
• Provide administrative support synthesis of lessons learnt, and best practices related to programme management and finance; and
• Provide administrative support to the organization of training for the office personnel and partners on programme and operations related issues.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

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:

• Good knowledge of programme management
• Ability to administer and execute administrative processes and transactions
• Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats
• Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow
• Strong financial and budgeting skills
• Strong IT skills

Education and Certification:

• Completion of secondary education is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration is desirable

Experience:

• At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in administration or programme management/support is required.
• Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages is required.
• Experience in supporting a team is required.
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Local languages in the Mpumalanga Province is desirable;
• Knowledge of another official UN Language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish)

Will be added separately for each position

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.