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. 

About the Programme:

Funded by the European Union the Multi-Country Programme “Challenging Harmful Attitudes and Norms for Gender Equality” (CHANGE) will be jointly delivered by UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women in all five Central Asian countries (hereinafter the Programme). Covering 2026-2028 the Programme  reinforces national responses while fostering regional and cross-border cooperation, demonstrating the EU’s critical support for sustainable and inclusive development in a diverse and evolving regional environment.

The Programme is aligned with the EU Gender Equality Action Plan (GAP) III (2021–2027), reflecting the EU’s commitment to advancing gender equality across its external action and accelerating progress toward international and Sustainable Development Goal commitments. Its strong focus on transforming social norms and advancing gender equality further positions the Programme as a direct contributor to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Programme is also aligned with UN Women strategic area of Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, as well as with key results and programmatic principles of the UNSDCF 2026-2030 for Kazakhstan. 

At the core of the Programme, it will address gender-based violence (GBV) as a structural and systemic phenomenon, sustained by unequal power relations, discriminatory gender norms and entrenched social inequalities. The Programme will apply a holistic, gender-transformative approach. Through coordinated action across individual, community, institutional and policy levels, it seeks to address root causes, shift harmful norms, and promote durable structural change. This will be done with the purpose of advancing legislative reform, policy dialogue and advocacy, technical assistance in adaptation of most effective measures to address sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and social norm changes necessary to prevent and respond to SGBV and harmful practices.

The Overall Objective (Impact) of the Programme  is to contribute to the reduction of GBV across Central Asia, aligned with SDG 5 and, specifically, Target 5.2 on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. While this long-term goal provides a clear strategic direction, it is important to recognize that reduction in GBV prevalence is influenced by a complex interplay of structural, behavioural, and systemic factors that extend beyond the direct scope and timeframe of the programme. 

To achieve this overarching aim, the Programme pursues three interlinked Specific Objectives (Outcomes) that together address the structural, behavioural, and institutional drivers of gender-based violence. These objectives reflect a comprehensive approach rooted in prevention, empowerment, and systems strengthening and are the following:

1. Social norms increasingly reflect zero tolerance for GBV
2. Civil society organisations more effectively prevent and respond to GBV through strengthened coordination, capacity, and advocacy
3. Women have increased economic empowerment and access to sustainable livelihoods

UNDP, UNFPA, and UN Women will be each responsible for implementing the specific programme outputs and activities and delivering the results as per the programme Theory of Change and Results and Resources Framework (RRF). All participating UN agencies will ensure close coordination with other UN Agencies during the implementation of this Programme. 

UN Women will lead the Outcome related to Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) to enhance their capacity, coordination and collective voice and enable more effective prevention and response to GBV across the region.

In addition, collaboration with the Central Asian Alliance to End Gender-Based Violence, supported by the EU and coordinated by UN Women, will enable the programme to leverage regional expertise and networks. This will strengthen advocacy, knowledge exchange, and the sustainability of GBV prevention and response efforts across Central Asia.

Reporting to UN Women Country Representative, the Programme Coordinator will exercises overall responsibility and oversight for planning, implementing, coordinating, financial management, reporting  on the Programme and inter-country coherence of UN Women’s component of the programme in close collaboration with UN Women Country Offices (COs) in Central Asia, the Regional Office, and implementing partners. The Programme Coordinator will liaise, consolidate, with UN Women COs to produce timely and high-quality reports, briefs and other relevant information. 

The Programme Coordinator also works closely with the Programme Coordinators assigned by UNDP and UNFPA, as well as Regional Steering Committee, Resident Coordinator Office, other UN agencies as well as other stakeholders.

1. Project and Financial Management

     The Programme Coordinator will:

• Lead the planning, implementation and day-to-day management of UN Women’s programme components in line with the approved programme document, Results and Resources Framework, and annual work plans 
• Develop and consolidate annual and quarterly work plans and budgets in coordination with Central Asia COs and relevant technical teams.
• Ensure compliance with UN Women financial rules and regulations, EU donor requirements, and applicable procedures.
• Monitor programme expenditures and commitments against approved budgets; ensure timely delivery rates (minimum 95%) and financial performance.
• Oversee procurement processes, partner agreements (e.g., Responsible Party Agreements, MoUs), and grant-making processes to CSOs/WROs in line with UN Women policies.
• Identify risks (programmatic, financial, operational) and implement mitigation measures in coordination with COs and the Regional Office.
• Provide technical input into budget revisions, cost extensions, and donor negotiations as required.
• Coordinate and manage the full lifecycle of small grants to CSOs and WROs in accordance with UN Women’s Small Grants Policy, including design and launch of calls for proposals, selection and contracting, technical guidance and capacity support to grantees, monitoring and reporting, financial tracking, risk management, and proper grant closure and documentation.

2. Human Resources Management and Coordination

     The Programme Coordinator will:

• Supervise and provide technical guidance to programme staff and consultants engaged under the UN Women component of the programme, including M&E, communications, and programme support personnel.
• Ensure clear roles and responsibilities, work planning, and performance monitoring in line with UN Women HR policies.
• Coordinate technical backstopping across Central Asia COs to ensure consistent and high-quality implementation of programme outputs.
• Facilitate cross-country technical exchanges and internal coordination meetings to promote learning and harmonised approaches.
• Ensure capacity development of national partners, including CSOs, WROs, FBOs, public authorities, and service providers, in line with the programme’s gender-transformative and human rights-based approach

3. Coordination in Collecting Inputs and Reporting of UN Women Country Offices in Central Asia

     The Programme Coordinator will:

• Serve as the central coordination point for consolidating inputs from UN Women Country Offices in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• Develop standardized reporting templates aligned with EU requirements and UN Women corporate reporting systems (e.g., Results Management System).
• Ensure timely collection, quality assurance, and consolidation of narrative and financial inputs from COs for donor reports (annual, interim, final) and corporate reporting.
• Facilitate alignment of country-level implementation with the programme’s Theory of Change, indicators and interlinked specific objectives 
• Coordinate joint reporting inputs with UNDP and UNFPA to ensure coherence of the Multi-Country Programme reporting.
• Support visibility and communication reporting in line with EU communication and visibility guidelines.

4. Oversee the Monitoring and Reporting of the Programme

     The Programme Coordinator will:

• Oversee the development and operationalization of the programme’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting framework in line with Programme Document.
• Ensure the tracking of outputs and outcomes related to UN Women’s component: Strengthened civil society coordination and advocacy;
• Ensure that sex-, age-, and vulnerability-disaggregated data are collected and analysed in line with HRBA and intersectional principles.
• Commission and oversee mid-term reviews, evaluations, and knowledge products in accordance with UN Women Evaluation Policy and EU standards.
• Strengthen results-based management (RBM) across COs by ensuring quality indicator tracking, documentation of results, and adaptive management.
• Identify bottlenecks and recommend corrective actions to ensure achievement of programme targets.

5. Oversee Advocacy, Knowledge Building and Communication Efforts

     The Programme Coordinator will:

• Oversee knowledge generation and dissemination developed during the Programme’s implementation 
• Ensure strategic engagement with civil society, media, influencers, private sector, and academia to promote programme objectives.
• Support high-level policy dialogues and regional forums to influence legal and policy reforms aligned with SDG 5 and national commitments.
• Ensure compliance with EU visibility requirements and UN Women branding standards.
• Coordinate with GEWE Knowledge center and also CA Alliance team all activities with a joint planning manner.

6. Support to the Overall Work of UN Women Kazakhstan and Contribution to the implementation of UN Women Triple Mandate

• Act as the main resource person/team for Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls portfolio for UN Women Kazakhstan CO
• Upon request contribute to the overall strategic, normative, coordination and operational work of UN Women Kazakhstan, ensuring alignment of the Programme with the Office’s Strategic Note, UNSDCF priorities, and UN Women’s triple mandate.
• Participate in and contribute to corporate processes and office-wide priorities upon request of senior management

Key performance indicators:

• Timely and quality programme strategies and contributions 
• Timely and quality of programme delivery in line with budget (minimum 95%), workplans and the Programme Document
• Timely submission of high-quality narrative inputs for donor and corporate reports (100% on schedule) 
• Percentage of small grants processes completed in compliance with UN Women Small Grants Policy (100%).
• Performance of team
• Partners and other stakeholder provide positive feedback on technical services 
• Quality coordination between UN Women Office in Central Asia and reports and timely submission
• Quality of advocacy, communication and knowledge management initiatives
• Strong relationships with donors, partners and other stakeholders
• Enhanced best practices and lessons learned documented and circulated.

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:

• Expert level knowledge in Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, Sexual and Gender-based violence thematic areas
• Strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them 
• Strong knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making
• Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation
• Strong networking skills
• Ability to negotiate and interact with donors, identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising 
• Good knowledge of UN programme management systems such as Prism, Quantum etc.

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 project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.

Experience: 

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
• Technical experience in Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, Sexual and Gender-based violence thematic areas;
• Experience in managing, coordinating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating development programmes and projects; 
• Notable experience in work with Civil Society Organisation, Women led Organisations, Women Human Rights Defenders.
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset;
• Experience working in the UN System is an asset.

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.