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 key programmatic areas for UN Women Somalia elaborated in the Strategic Note and Bi-annual work plan include women’s leadership in peace, security, politics and humanitarian response, promoting women’s economic empowerment and ending violence against women among others.

The key programmatic areas for UN Women Somalia elaborated in the Strategic Note and Bi-annual work plan include women’s leadership in peace, security, politics and humanitarian response, promoting women’s economic empowerment and ending violence against women among others.

Programme implementation will be guided and overseen with the support of the Programme Oversight and Quality Assurance (POQA) Specialist. The central priority of this role is to ensure quality, coherence, agility, and compliance throughout the programme cycle, achieved through the correct application of UN Women’s Programme and Project Management policies and procedures. With time, the Programme Specialist will assume leadership of the POQA Unit, providing strategic direction and oversight. 
The Specialist is responsible for conducting internal oversight while simultaneously building the capacity of both internal staff and external partners. He/ She will be responsible for extending across a harmonized and collaborative programming approach, and robust quality assurance. 

The scope of this role encompasses ensuring coherence in programme design and implementation, driving quality assurance processes, and fostering capacity development. It further extends to monitoring, learning, and evaluation, while providing coordination support and technical guidance rather than direct line management responsibilities. 

Reporting directly to the Country Representative in Somalia, the Programme Oversight and Quality Assurance Specialist will work collaboratively with colleagues in the Regional Office and the Country Office to ensure the timely implementation of UN Women’s commitments as outlined in the Annual Work Plan (AWP). In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Specialist will seek guidance and support from programme managers, procurement, and finance units as necessary, ensuring that programme delivery remains efficient, compliant, and aligned with organizational standards.

Travel Requirements:  The position is home-based, with regular travel to Somalia including Mogadishu and other field locations for monitoring, evaluation, and coordination purposes. Travel is expected to be approximately one week per month, subject to programme needs, security conditions, and UNDSS clearance in line with UN Women’s travel and security protocols. The post may also involve relocation to Mogadishu if required, and all travel costs will be covered by UN Women in accordance with its travel policy.

Scope of Work:

Programme Oversight and Quality Assurance:

• Support the Integrated Work Plan process and ensure compliance with all corporate planning system platforms;
• Formulate coordinated approaches and plans to support the implementation of the AWP ;
• Analyze and monitor progress and advise on timely corrective actions for proper UN Women operational project delivery;
• Provide technical review and quality assurance support for drafting project documents, initiation plans, concept notes, calls for proposals; facilitate presentation of the projects for internal review and to Local Project Appraisal Committee (LPAC) before final endorsement by Senior Management;
• Support internal advocacy for programme objectives and contribute to the communication of results in coordination with relevant teams; 
• Ensure compliance by supporting CO business processes and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management, control of the workflows in the Programme Units.

Budgeting and Financial management:

• Analyze quality of project delivery and advise on project implementation;
• Support and facilitate delivery review meetings with Programme Mangers in a bid to track quarterly expenses and ensure proper allocation and use of funds, review budget revisions and timely re-phasal;
• In collaboration with the operations team, identify solutions for operational and financial problems;
• In collaboration with the operations team, monitor and track programme financial delivery and identify bottlenecks that need to be addressed to improve delivery;
• Works closely with the CO Operations team to identify solutions for operational and financial management challenges/issues;
• Support cost recovery

Results-Based Management, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:

• Lead the application of Results-Based Management (RBM) across programmes, including development and quality assurance of indicators, monitoring plans, baselines, and review tools based on UN Women guidelines evaluation and RBM policies;
• Ensure quality and timeliness of  quarterly and annual reporting against the AWP and donor-funded projects;
• Ensure proper reporting to donors on implementation, the achievement of outputs as well as, contribute to reporting on progress towards outcomes and impact;
• Coordinate and support monitoring and verification of field visits, working closely with programme and operations teams;
• Coordinate and oversee the planning and implementation of donor field missions and UN joint missions;
• Ensure compliance by providing technical guidance to implementing partners on results frameworks, monitoring frameworks, baseline surveys, and data collection;
• Oversee evaluations and ensure that evaluation findings, lessons learned, and emerging evidence are systematically integrated into programme design, adaptive management, and reporting in liaison with Regional and corporate guidance;
• Ensure compliance with UN Women’s ethical standards, data protection policies, and risk management frameworks, particularly in handling sensitive programme and beneficiary data;
• Participate in and contribute to the UN Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Data Working Group  and contribute technical expertise, and promote gender-responsive monitoring, evaluation, learning, and data practices;
• Coordinate with the Programme focal person to support the implementation and monitoring of joint work plans, ensuring alignment with UN Women priorities.

Capacity Development and Coordination:

• Build the capacity of Program staff and implementing partners on RBM, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and learning through coaching, training sessions, and development of practical tools and guidance;
• Identify, document, and disseminate best practices, lessons learned, and success stories in collaboration with communications teams to strengthen learning and visibility;
• Promote a culture of results, accountability, learning, and adaptive management across the Country Office.

Resource Mobilization, Partnerships, and Donor Engagement:

• Provide technical inputs to the development and review of project proposals, concept notes, and donor submissions, ensuring strong results of frameworks and compliance with donor requirements;
•  Support tracking of donor commitments, reporting schedules, and compliance obligations in close coordination with programme and operations teams;
• Provide technical inputs to  the identification of strategic partnership and resource mobilization opportunities aligned with UN Women Somalia’s priorities.

Data, Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Support the strengthening of data collection, management, and analysis systems to support evidence-based programming and reporting;
• Identify, synthesize, and document lessons learned, good practices, and success stories from programme implementation;
• Work with communications teams to translate evidence and lessons into knowledge products that enhance learning, visibility, and advocacy.

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:

• Strong expertise in programme design and implementation in fragile contexts;
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex programme and partner performance data into clear, strategic, evidence-based insights;
• Strong coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously;
• Proven ability to ensure compliance and quality assurance in programme implementation;
• Strong coordination, facilitation, communication, networking, and advocacy skills, with the ability to engage effectively and sensitively with diverse stakeholders;
• Demonstrated ability to manage and use web-based knowledge management and monitoring systems;
• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity, with the ability to work collaboratively and inclusively with government counterparts, civil society, grassroots actors, youth and religious organizations, and international partners;
• Sound security awareness and professional judgment in fragile and conflict-affected settings;
• Knowledge of gender equality, women’s rights, and human rights-based approaches is highly desirable;
• Ability to work effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Political or Social Science, Economics, International Development Studies, Gender/Women's Studies 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:

• Minimum 2 years’ progressive experience in international development, preferably in post conflict or emergency settings.
• Experience in project and programme management, including project formulation and implementation in conflict and post conflict environments.
• Extensive experience in programme quality assurance and compliance, monitoring and reporting, ensuring partner adherence to UN Women partner management policies and procedures.
• Experience in writing Resource Mobilization proposals/concept notes. 

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of the other UN official working language 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.