UN Women: M4C National Project Coordinator-Country Lead, Port Vila, Vanuatu, NPSA-9, National Personnel Service Agreement.

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.

The UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office is based in Suva, Fiji and works alongside over twenty other UN agencies in the region and in fourteen countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Under its Strategic Note 2018-2022, UN Women Fiji MCO focuses on delivering on four interlinked programme areas underpinned by support for intergovernmental and normative processes:

• Women’s Political Empowerment and Leadership
• Women’s Economic Empowerment
• Ending Violence against Women
• Gender and Protection in Humanitarian Action and Disaster Risk Reduction

The Markets for Change Project promotes gender equality through the economic empowerment of women market vendors in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The project brings together governments, market vendors and market vendor associations, civil society organizations and UN agencies. M4C is implemented by UN Women in partnership with UNDP, and the Governments of Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Under the guidance and direct supervision the M4C Regional Project, the National Project Coordinator - Country Lead, Vanuatu, is responsible for project management and implementation at national level, managing strategic partnerships, financial and human resource management, and knowledge building. The Country Programme Coordinator (CPC) Vanuatu will be the matrix manager.

The National Project Coordinator - Country Lead, Vanuatu supervises the M4C Team based in Vanuatu Joint Presence Office and is the lead Liaison Officer for all M4C related matters with stakeholders and beneficiaries in Vanuatu. The NPC works in close collaboration with the M4C Vanuatu Team and Markets for Change teams across Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands, the Fiji MCO Regional Team, staff of other UN Agencies, Government officials, multilateral and bilateral donors, market vendor associations, market vendors and civil society to ensure successful implementation of the project.

Scope of Work:

Lead the development of programme strategies for Markets for Change Vanuatu

• Provide substantive input to the design and formulation of programme/ project proposals and initiatives;
• Identify areas for support and interventions related to the programme;
• Participate in M4C regional meetings and learning retreats;
• Work in collaboration with the M4C Regional Team

Lead the implementation and management of Markets for Change Vanuatu project:

• Manage the annual workplan and budget for M4C Vanuatu, in liaison with the M4C Regional Finance Associate;
• Lead the implementation of project activities;
• Support the review, coordination and monitoring of the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports;
• Contribute towards the training of partners on Results Based Management and monitor implementation.
• Manage Results Management System input for M4C Vanuatu

Provide technical assistance and capacity development to project/programme partners:

• Coordinate and provide technical support in the implementation of programme activities;
• Maintain relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of Markets for Change Vanuatu project;
• Provide support to the M4C Regional Team in liaison with the M4C Vanuatu Project Officer on project data collection and analysis;
• Identify opportunities for capacity building of partners and facilitate technical/ programming support and training to partners, as needed;
• Provide training, facilitation and mentoring partners, as needed.

Provide technical input for the monitoring and reporting of the programme/ project:

• Monitor progress of implementation of activities and finances using results-based management tools;
• Draft reports on monitoring missions, programme results, outputs and outcomes;
• Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of donor and UN Women reports;
• Provide support to project management and the Project Management Committee (PMC) and Project Working Committee (PWC) meetings and reports.
• Oversee operational logistics for M4C Vanuatu, including the annual procurement plan in accordance with UN Women policies and procedures and in close liaison with the M4C Project Associate for Vanuatu.

Provide substantive technical inputs to the management of people and finances of the Markets for Change Vanuatu project:

• Contribute to the monitoring of implementation and make budget re-alignments/ revisions, in liaison with the M4C Regional Finance Associate;
• Provide substantive input to all M4C reports, including support to donor reporting;
• Contribute to all monitoring and evaluation activities including routine monitoring, data collection and reporting for all donor reports, six-monthly, annually, as required;
• Contribute to the training of partners on FACE form;
• Supervise M4C project staff, volunteers and consultants in Vanuatu.
• Manage and approve invoices related to M4C Vanuatu payments in line with established financial procedures.

Provide substantive inputs to building partnerships and resource mobilization strategies:

• Provide substantive inputs to resource mobilization strategies; analyze and maintain information and databases;
• Prepare relevant documentation such as project summaries, conference papers, briefing notes, speeches, and donor profiles;
• Participate in donor meetings and public information events, as delegated;
• Assist in the preparation and support to partner organizations for the hosting of high-level delegations.

Contribute to inter-agency coordination to achieve a coherent and aligned presence for Markets for Change Vanuatu:

• Provide substantive technical support to the M4C Regional Project Manager on inter-agency coordination related activities by drafting background reports and briefs, initiating coordination meetings and monitoring program activities when required;
• Provide technical support to M4C Outcome Two in-country focal officer (UNDP), including regional staff.

Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts:

• Develop background documents, briefs and presentations related to Markets for Change Vanuatu project;
• Coordinate and organize advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products;
• Coordinate the development of knowledge management methodologies, and products on Markets for Change Vanuatu;
• Provide inputs and technical support to all communications and knowledge product development;
• Supervise M4C communication efforts in Vanuatu to ensure ongoing and substantive communication about the Markets for Change Project with media, partners as well as current and potential donors

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 National Project Coordinator- Country Lead will supervise the M4C Country team based in Vanuatu. The M4C Vanuatu team consists of a Senior Project Officer, Project Officer and a Project Associate. The NPC will oversee the project implementation in the country together with all HR related matters for the country project team. The NPC reports directly to the Regional Project Manager. The Country Project Coordinator is a matrix manager.

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:

• Ability to lead and to drive results
• Ability to establish and maintain broad strategic networks and partnerships, to mobilize resources and to build alliances to advance organizational interests
• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations
• Good analytical skills
• Good knowledge of technical area
• Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in development related discipline/s including gender issues, public policy, social work or other related social science fields is highly required.
• A first-level University Degree (Bachelors’ Degree) in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least two (2) years (Masters), or minimum of four (4) years (Bachelors Degree) of progressively responsible work experience at the national and/or international level in project / programme formulation, implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building.
• Experience in the women’s economic empowerment, informal sector support, women in markets, or any of the Markets for Change technical areas is an asset.
• Experience in facilitating workshops and delivering training is an asset.
• Experience in coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop team members is required.
• 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 working with the UN System is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in the local language (Vanuatu) is a desirable.

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.