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 the EVAW Programme Analyst and in coordination with the other project staff and operations unit, 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’ staff in the RO and UN Women HQs as required for resolving complex finance-related issues and exchange of information. 

Scope of Work:

1. Provide advanced administrative and logistical support to the formulation and management of EVAW programmes:

• Provide advanced administrative support and inputs in the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements; 
• Provide technical guidance to the country offices and executing agencies on routine delivery and reporting of programme supported activities and finances; 
• Coordinate the collection of information for the audit of programmes/ projects and support implementation of audit recommendations;   
• Contribute to the development or update of standard operating procedures, guidelines, checklists, templates and business processes in programme and project management; 
• Review programme data from programmes/ projects for CO/MCO/RO website; and
• Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers. 

2. Provide advanced 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 closure of a project; 
• Monitor budget preparation and the finances of programmes/projects; prepare periodic reports; finalize FACE forms; 
• Review financial reports; prepare non-PO vouchers for development projects; 
• Maintain internal expenditures control system; post transactions in Quantum system; 
• Create requisitions in Quantum system for development projects; register good receipts in Quantum system; and
• Prepare and follow up of cost-recovery bills in Quantum system. 

3. Provide advanced administrative support to the Programme Unit:

• Oversee all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for organization for meetings, workshops, events, and missions; 
• Oversee travel arrangements for the Programme Team, including travel requisitions and claims;  
• Prepare public information materials and briefing packets; and
• Liaise with high level officials on administrative issues;  
• Prepare and assemble briefing materials and prepare powerpoint and other presentations; contribute inputs to the materials; and
• Provide guidance and training to Programme Assistants. 

4. Provide administrative support to Resource Mobilization:

• Prepare cost-sharing and other agreements; follow up on contributions within the CO/MCO/RO resource mobilization efforts; and
• Organize, compile and process information from donors, Country Office, and programme team, as inputs to various databases and documents. 

5. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

• Support synthesis of lessons learned and best practices related to programme management and finance; and
• Coordinate the organization of training for the office personnel and partners on programme and operations related issues. 

6. 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: N/A

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 knowledge of programme management   
• Ability to create, edit, synthesize and present information in clear and presentable formats  
• Ability to administer and execute administrative processes and transactions  
• Ability to provide input to business process re-engineering, elaboration and implementation of new data management systems  
• Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow 
• Excellent financial and budgeting skills
• Excellent IT skills

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

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

Experience:

• At least 7 years with Secondary Education or 5 years with Bachelors Degree 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 Kyrgyz and Russian 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.