WPS Programme Consultant, ESARO, Nairobi, Kenya

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 East and Southern Africa regions are confronted with rapidly evolving and interconnected peace and security challenges, including political instability, violent extremism, climate-induced disasters, competition over natural resources, growing economic disparities, and large-scale displacement. Longstanding conflict dynamics and entrenched mistrust continue to fuel recurrent crises across national borders, heightening humanitarian needs and straining already fragile social and political systems. The region hosts more than 27 million internally displaced persons, refugees, and asylum seekers, with over 85 million people requiring humanitarian assistance. Conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Mozambique contribute to spillover effects that further undermine regional peace and cohesion. These pressures are compounded by widespread marginalization, poverty, inequality, high youth unemployment, and the erosion of democratic governance.

Women and youth have largely been excluded from formal political dialogue and peace and security processes, despite the integral role women play in promoting peaceful communities, coexistence, and social cohesion, making peace more robust and sustainable. As a result, women, children, and other vulnerable groups bear a disproportionate share of these impacts, facing heightened risks of sexual and gender-based violence, restricted access to services, reduced livelihood opportunities, and persistent barriers to participating in public and political life.

In response, UN Women supports efforts to advance the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda across the region. Through mechanisms such as the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) Rapid Response Window, the UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) works to increase the representation and leadership of women in formal and informal peace processes. This includes strengthening the capacity of women- and youth-led organizations to meaningfully participate in peacebuilding, monitor and report on the implementation of peace agreements, and hold decision-makers accountable. Support is provided through technical guidance, programmatic assistance, and rapid, flexible grants enabling women’s rights organizations to engage in advocacy, mediation, and strategic peace platforms and processes.

Under the supervision of the Policy Advisor, Women, Peace and Security, the WPS Programme Consultant will provide administrative and programme operational support and implementation of the ESARO WPHF Project project, contributing to the effective management of programme activities and administrative processes. The WPS Programme Consultant will support the gathering and consolidation of Women-Led Organizations (WLO) training materials across the ESAR region, assist in coordinating with implementing partners, and provide administrative, logistical, and financial support to ensure the smooth running of project operations.

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work

The national consultant will be responsible for:

Provide administrative and logistic support to the management ESARO-WPHF Project:

• Provide administrative support in the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements;
• Assist in follow-up actions to implement operational activities;
• Provide administrative support to the Policy Advisor WPS in monitoring the implementation of the WPHF project work-plan;
• Collect and compile information/data as required on programme related operations matters by the Policy Advisor WPS and Programme Analyst in support of WPHF project;
• Participate in Operations meetings for effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact of UN Women operational activities.

Provide administrative support to the budgetary planning, monitoring and financial management of the section:

• Provide administrative Support in the planning, tracking and recording of financial resources in accordance with UN Women rules and regulations;
• Prepare budget revisions, create requisitions, register good receipts and assist in the preparation and follow up of cost-recovery bills in the Quantum system;
• Provide administrative support to the contributions management business process by compiling and recording contribution information and ensuring supporting documentation is properly maintained;
• Support and work with WPS team in the creation of projects in Quantum, recording and tracking expenses and budgets in Quantum and Prism, including revising project awards and providing updates in project status in Quantum, in relation to issues such as the determination of unutilized funds; the operational and financial closure of projects etc.;
• Review and monitor program budget expenditures and delivery on a monthly basis, review financial reports and other documents required by the Section to respond to donor queries;
• Provide administrative support in monitoring budget preparation and the continuous monitoring of finances of programmes/projects; including the finalization of FACE forms.

Provide Administrative and Financial Support:

• Provide administrative and procurement support for the organization of conferences, workshops, missions, and trainings under the WPHF/RRW project, including preparation of requisitions, logistics coordination, and vendor follow-up;
• Coordinate travel planning, logistics, and claims processing for women peace advocates, other direct support beneficiaries, and relevant project activities that require travel;
• Support financial management tasks including creating e-requisitions, supporting procurement processes, and maintaining organized financial records in line with UN Women procedures;
• Maintain organized digital filing of correspondence, documents, and project records, ensuring they are up-to-date and properly archived.

Support Knowledge Management and Communications:

• Assist in developing communications and visibility materials including success stories, human-interest stories, social media inputs, and web updates to enhance visibility of WPHF/RRW initiatives;
• Support documentation of lessons learned and best practices;
• Support regional meetings and prepare concise, structured meeting reports to facilitate timely follow-up and decision-making;
• Contribute to drafting knowledge products such as policy briefs and learning notes based on programme findings, under the guidance of the Policy Advisor.

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

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is an office-based consultancy.

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 monitoring, evaluation, and data management skills;
• Proficiency in research and analytical methodologies;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement business plans;
• Expertise in risk identification, assessment, and mitigation;
• Proven ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Completion of secondary education is required;
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, humanities or a related field is desirable.

Experience:

• At least 6 years of progressively responsible work experience in monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation;
• Experience of work with UN agencies in East and Southern Africa would be an asset;
• 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;
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

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.