Job description
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 Kenya, the UN Women Country Programme contributes to the development objectives of Kenya’s blue print, the Vision 2030 and is aligned to the United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF) of 2009-2014 and the upcoming UNDAF of 2014-2018, as well as UN Women Global Strategic Plan. The Kenya Country Programme – “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Gains Consolidated’ – aims to achieve the following results: (i) increased women’s leadership and participation in governance; (ii) strengthened women’s economic empowerment; (iii) increased protection of women & access to justice for women; and (iv) strengthened women’s leadership in peace building and humanitarian response.
Reporting to the Regional Director, East and Southern Africa region, the Country Director is responsible for leading and managing the Kenya Country Office portfolio and for translating the UN Women’s Strategic Plan (SP) in line with regional and national priorities, into development initiatives and results by developing, implementing and managing programmes and projects for each country under the Kenya Country Office; and developing effective partnerships with Government counterparts, UN system agencies and organizations, civil society organizations, and with bilateral and non-traditional donors in order to promote inter-agency partnerships, support for UN reform, and mobilization of visibility and resources to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Duties and Responsibilities
Manage The Strategic Country Programme Planning And Development
Develop and implement strategic direction of the Kenya Country Office;
Lead the design, planning, formulation, preparation and development of the Country Strategic Note;
Provide substantive advice to the Executive Director, Regional Director and Senior Management on the regional strategy, direction and planning of programmes and projects;
Manage and ensure the quality of results-based and rights-based programming for the Kenya Country Office; Finalize the annual work plan and budget;
Lead the monitoring of the results-based management approach to programme planning and design.
Manage The Kenya Country Office
Lead the office in the delivery of operational goals; Finalize the annual work plan and budget; and oversee the implementation, including providing direction, guidance and technical support;
Oversee and approve programme work plans and monitor the overall progress and compliance of the Kenya Country Office;
Manage the preparation of UN Women mandated country reports;
Manage the audit review process and timely response to audit reports;
Maintain and update country office security strategy, plan, and measures to ensure full compliance with UN security policies, procedures and requirements;
Manage the performance of staff under his/her supervision; provide managerial direction, guidance and leadership to staff and provide performance feedback and coaching to staff under supervision;
Maintain and update Kenya Country Office security strategy, plan, and measures to ensure full compliance with UN security policies, procedures and requirements.
Represent UN Women In UN System Coordination
Serve as member of the UN Country Team (UNCT) under the strategic guidance and coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC)/Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and support UNCT programming and advocacy to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment issues are fully integrated into UN programming processes, including the
Common Country Assessment (CCA) and United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and in an enhanced response to national partners;
Partner with RC and UN system partners to strengthen UN system interagency coherence, collaboration, planning, cooperation, resource mobilization, advocacy, common services, and operations; Facilitate joint programming and promote UN competencies to advance gender equality and women’s human rights; report to the UN RC on these issues as required;
Ensure UN Women’s active participation in UN system thematic and other working groups to establish effective networks and keep abreast of ongoing debates and thinking on development.
Represent UN Women And Lead Advocacy Strategies
Represent UN Women in intergovernmental forums, public information/relations events and key meetings, participate in policy dialogue; discuss policy initiatives, report on progress achieved and/or present policy papers/ideas;
Build relations and partnerships with high level and senior government officials as well as multi-lateral, bi-lateral agencies and NGOs; and participate in regional, country and other critical meetings and events;
Lead and support advocacy for gender equality and women’s empowerment to ensure that UN support towards realization of the national plans and priorities are done in a gender responsive manner, and within agreed international frameworks that promote and protect gender equality.
Create and maintain strategic partnerships and manage resource mobilization strategies:
Lead the development of resource mobilization strategies and manage the implementation of resource mobilization strategies, plans, and efforts;
Establish and maintain relationships with government, partners, stakeholders and donors to achieve active collaboration, cooperation and alliances on programme development and implementation and resource mobilization;
Finalize donor reports and negotiate and/or approve cost-sharing agreements with donors; Establish reporting accountability framework to ensure that donors are duly informed on a timely basis.
Knowledge Management, Innovation And Capacity Building
Manage the development and implementation on Kenya Country Office communication plans, based on UN Women’s communication strategy;
Approve the implementation of innovation and best practices in the Kenya Country Office;
Promote learning and development by providing opportunities for training and capacity guiding to enhance the competencies/productivity of staff members;
Lead the production of knowledge products.
Key Performance Indicators
Timely and quality development and implementation of the Country Strategic Note and Annual Workplan;
Timely and quality delivery on operational goals;
Timely submission of UN Women Country Reports, donor reports, and audit responses;
Quality and level of engagement with UNCT, including joint planning joint programming, joint resource mobilization, joint advocacy, working groups;
UN Women is seen as a reliable and trustworthy partner by governments, donors and civil society;
Timely development and implementation of Kenya Country Office resource mobilization strategy;
Performance of staff, security plans are in place and up to date, office produces quality knowledge products.
Functional Competencies
Excellent programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills;
Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them;
Ability to advocate and provide policy advice and interact with high level decision makers;
Excellent knowledge of gender equality and women’s empowerment in country;
Strong knowledge of UN system;
Ability to envision and lead the strategic direction for UN Women in the country;
Excellent networking skills;
Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising and develop strategies.
Education
Required Skills and Experience
Master’s degree or equivalent in development related disciplines, economics or public policy or other social science fields is required;
A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.
Experience
At least 10 years of progressively responsible development experience that combines strategic and managerial leadership in aid development cooperation, some of which is in gender and women’s issues programming, at the international level, preferably in developing countries within the UN system, Agencies, Funds or Programmes or UN Mission;
Field based experience working with multi-cultural teams;
Experience in leading a team.
Languages
Fluency in English is required;
Working knowledge of another UN official language will be an asset.
Application
All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from? http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment ?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.
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.
