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 Country Office in the Kyrgyz Republic was established in 2012 to support the Government and other national stakeholders in implementing international and national commitments on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, UN Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Guided by the UN Women Strategic Plan and the Country Strategic Note, and operating within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023–2027, the National Gender Equality Strategy until 2030, and the National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325, the Country Office leverages its triple mandate of normative support, UN system coordination and operational activities to deliver coherent and impactful results.

UN Women Kyrgyzstan implements a programme that promotes women’s leadership and meaningful participation in all spheres of public and private life; eliminates all forms of violence against women and girls; advances women’s full, equal and effective participation in the peace and security agenda and in all aspects of decision-making; strengthens financing for gender equality; and expands women’s economic empowerment. The Country Office also prioritizes gender-responsive humanitarian action, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, and increasingly applies innovation and systems approaches in line with the SDG transformation agenda. UN Women Kyrgyzstan works as a learning and knowledge-sharing organization and promotes an open, collaborative spirit with partners, ensuring synergies across programme interventions, fostering strong and inclusive partnerships, and maintaining a client-focused, results-oriented approach fully consistent with UN Women policies, rules and procedures.

The EU-UN Women Action “Zero VAWG Program” in the Kyrgyz Republic aims to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls by preventing and responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG), through a gender-transformative, community-led approach. The programme prioritizes creating and strengthening leadership spaces for women’s and youth civil society organizations, particularly in rural areas, building on results of the EU–UN Spotlight Initiative (2020–2023), and directly empowering around 140 organizations and 1,400 change leaders, while engaging a wider network of actors and organizations. Its three interlinked components focus on: (i) capacity development to enhance technical, organizational and adaptive leadership for effective EVAWG advocacy and programming; (ii) development and institutionalization of innovative “Zero VAWG” community models, including Standard Operating Procedures; (iii) consolidation and digitization of knowledge on EVAWG through academic, media and other platforms; and iv) integrates women economic empowerment initiates.  The Action is fully aligned with the Kyrgyz Republic’s international and national commitments, supports the National Gender Equality Strategy (2022–2030) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Strategic Outcome 4, and contributes to UN Women Kyrgyz Republic’s Strategic Note.

Reporting to Country Representative the WEE/Partnership Specialist contributes to the effective management of UN Women programmes in the CO by providing substantive inputs to programme design, formulation, implementation and evaluation. The WEE/Partnership Specialist guides and facilitates the delivery of UN Women programmes by monitoring results achieved during implementation and ensuring appropriate application of systems and procedures and develops enhancements if necessary. The WEE/Partnership Specialist works in close collaboration with the programme and operations team, UN Women HQ personnel, Government officials, multi and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation under portfolio.      

Scope of Work:

1- Provision of top quality advisory, policy and programme development services

• Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country that affects women’s economic empowerment and preparation of substantive inputs to the UN Women country office programme planning in those areas.
• Provide substantive inputs to the design and formulation of programme/ project proposals and initiatives; and
• Identification of areas for support and interventions within the women’s economic empowerment areas.

2- Provide substantive technical support to the implementation and management of the WEE programme 

• Finalize the annual workplan and budget and manage their implementation;
• Manage the technical implementation of the programme/project; ensure synergies with other teams;
• Lead the coordination of the call/request for proposals, including the organization of technical review committees, and capacity assessment of partners;
• Review, coordinate and monitor the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports; and
• Provide guidance to staff and partners including trainings  on Results Based Management and monitor implementation.
• Support project steering committee, project review and/or evaluation meetings, as needed.

3- Provide technical assistance and capacity development to project/programme partners

• Coordinate and provide technical support in the implementation of programme activities; Develop technical knowledge products;
• Build and manage relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of the WEE programme; and
• Identify capacity building needs of partners and lead the coordination of technical assistance, mentoring, training and capacity development initiatives to partners.

4- Provide technical inputs to the monitoring and reporting of the programme/project

• Monitor progress of implementation of activities and finances using results based management tools;
• Oversee and draft reports on monitoring missions, programme results s, outputs and outcomes; and
• Write quarterly reports and donor reports, focusing on results, output and outcomes;
• Contribute to office donor and UN Women reports.

5- Provide substantive technical inputs to the management of people and finances of the WEE programme

• Monitor budget implementation and make budget re-alignments/ revisions, as necessary;
• Provide substantive inputs to financial reports; and
• Supervise Programme Associates and Assistant. Mentor and coach staff and conduct performance assessments;
• Oversee recruitment processes, as necessary.

6- Provide substantive inputs to building partnerships and resource mobilization strategies

• Develop and implement partnerships and resource mobilization strategies;
• Finalize relevant documentation on donors and potential opportunities for resource mobilization;
• Analyze and research information on donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost sharing.
• Build partnership and resource mobilization strategy.
• Develop a prospective donor profile database that includes prospective donor funding areas, geographical and sectoral preferences, criteria, and policies with a view to identifying funding opportunities on WEE;

7- Provide technical support to inter-agency coordination on WEE to achieve coherence and alignment of UN Women programmes with other partners in the country

• Provide substantive technical support to the Head of Office on inter-agency coordination related activities by drafting background reports and briefs.
• Provide technical inputs and program updates to the RCO/UNCF reporting processes on WEE.

8- Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts

• Develop background documents, briefs and presentations related to WEE; 
• Coordinate and organize advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products; and
• Coordinate the development of knowledge management methodologies, and products on WEE. 

9- Manage advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts

• Develop and review background documents, briefs and presentations related to the WEE
• Represent UN Women in meetings and policy dialogues on issues related to WEE as necessary;
• Identify best practices and lessons learned to guide programme improvement and strategy planning;
• Develop knowledge management strategies, products and methodologies on WEE
• Contribute write-up and human interest stories to UN Women website and newsletter.

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

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 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 WEE/Partnership.
• Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• 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 in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.

Experience:

• At least 2 years with Master’s degree or 4 years with bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible work experience in development programme/project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building is required.
• Experience in the WEE/Partnership is desirable.
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is desirable.
• [For supervisory positions] Experience leading and coaching staff in international settings 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.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Kyrgyz 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.