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 East and Southern Africa regions are confronted with rapidly evolving and interconnected peace and security challenges, including political instability, violent extremism, climate-induced disasters, competition over natural resources, growing economic disparities, and large-scale displacement. Longstanding conflict dynamics and entrenched mistrust continue to fuel recurrent crises across national borders, heightening humanitarian needs and straining already fragile social and political systems. The region hosts more than 27 million internally displaced persons, refugees, and asylum seekers, with over 85 million people requiring humanitarian assistance. Conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Mozambique contribute to spillover effects that further undermine regional peace and cohesion. These pressures are compounded by widespread marginalization, poverty, inequality, high youth unemployment, and the erosion of democratic governance. 

Women and youth have largely been excluded from formal political dialogue and peace and security processes, despite the integral role women play in promoting peaceful communities, coexistence, and social cohesion, making peace more robust and sustainable. As a result, women, children, and other vulnerable groups bear a disproportionate share of these impacts, facing heightened risks of sexual and gender-based violence, restricted access to services, reduced livelihood opportunities, and persistent barriers to participating in public and political life.

In response, UN Women supports efforts to advance the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda across the region. Through mechanisms such as the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) Rapid Response Window, the UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) works to increase the representation and leadership of women in formal and informal peace processes. This includes strengthening the capacity of women- and youth-led organizations to meaningfully participate in peacebuilding, monitor and report on the implementation of peace agreements, and hold decision-makers accountable. Support is provided through technical guidance, programmatic assistance, and rapid, flexible grants enabling women’s rights organizations to engage in advocacy, mediation, and strategic peace platforms and processes.

Under the supervision of the Policy Advisor Women, Peace, and Security, the WPS Programme Consultant will support the day-to-day coordination and management of the project, working under the direct supervision of the Policy Advisor – WPS & Governance. The Analyst will play a pivotal role in conceptualizing, planning, and implementing project activities; guiding and supporting implementing partners; and ensuring coherent coordination with key national, regional, and global stakeholders. In addition, the Analyst will actively contribute to advocacy, and capacity-building initiatives, ensuring that interventions are not only timely and impactful but also strategically aligned with the WPHF/RRW and the UN Women ESARO Strategic Note. The role will further lead on evidence generation, monitoring and documentation of results, robust knowledge management, and the development of compelling communication and visibility products, contributing to the Global Learning Hub (L-HUB) ensuring that lessons, innovations, and results are effectively captured and shared.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

S/he will undertake the following tasks and responsibilities:

Support Programme Coordinate Programme Implementation and Management: 

• Support day-to-day implementation of the WPHF programme work plan and budget, ensuring coherence with strategic priorities;
• Contribute to refining and reviewing programme strategies, concept notes/proposals, and project briefs;
• Coordinate consultations with stakeholders, women’s groups, and experts to gather input for programme development;
• Oversee onboarding of implementing partners;
• Review financial and narrative reports to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with WPHF and UN Women requirements;
• Provide support in monitoring and evaluation of the projects on reporting guidelines and procedures as per UN Women’s rules and regulations;
• Undertake periodic field visits to assess partner performance, verify results, and ensure alignment with global programme objectives;
• Ensure the timely preparation and submission of programmatic briefs, updates, and reports, and provide recommendations to the policy Advsior & WPHF/RRW focal Point as needed.

Facilitate Technical Support and Capacity Building:

• Support planning, coordination, and delivery of capacity-building initiatives for WPHF-funded CSOs and women’s rights organizations;
• Facilitate peer learning, experience exchange, and mentorship opportunities for CSO partners across the region;
• Ensure all training and technical support integrates intersectional gender analysis, conflict sensitivity, and rights-based approaches.

Administrative Support to the Programme Unit:

• Provide administrative and procurement support for organizing conferences, workshops, missions, and trainings under the WPHF/RRW project;
• Coordinate travel planning, logistics, and claims for women peace advocates and other direct support beneficiaries;
• Organize and coordinate filing of correspondence/documents and ensure up-to-date digital filing. 

Financial Management Support:

• Create and manage projects in Quantum, including budget preparation, budget revisions, award management, and financial closure processes;
• Create requisitions, process goods receipt notes, and support procurement workflows in alignment with UN Women rules and procedures;
• Support the Programme Team in financial tracking, donor reporting, and monitoring budget utilization across activities;
• Compile, analyze, and organize financial and programme information from donors and internal teams for use in reporting and decision-making;
• Support tracking and reporting of mobilized and pledged resources for WPHF initiatives.

Monitor Programme Performance and Reporting: 

• Participate in coordination meetings with the WPHF RRW Unit and grantees and women peace advocates supported through the project;
• Support the preparation of high quality, timely progress reports, financial updates, and analytical briefs for the WPHF RRW Unit and internal stakeholders;
• Contribute to data collection and analysis and support the production of knowledge products that capture programme progress, challenges, and learning.

Support Advocacy and Knowledge Management:

• Contribute to advocacy and visibility efforts of the WPHF/ RRW and partnership opportunities;
• Support learning processes, best practice documentation, and cross-regional knowledge-sharing, including through the Global Learning Hub (L-HUB);
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of knowledge products, policy briefs, case studies, and learning materials;
• Coordinate travel planning, logistics, and claims for women peace advocates and other direct support beneficiaries.

Communication, Visibility, Partnerships, and Resource Mobilization

• Support the development and dissemination of communication materials, including success stories, human-interest stories, social media content, briefs, and web updates to enhance visibility and awareness of WPHF/RRW initiatives at regional and global levels;
• Document and amplify the voices, experiences, and contributions of women peacebuilders and women’s rights organizations, ensuring their leadership and impact are prominently reflected across communication and advocacy platforms;
• Strengthen and sustain partnerships with women’s rights organizations, civil society actors, and other key stakeholders to enhance programme visibility and coordination;
• Contribute to resource mobilization efforts by preparing high-quality briefing notes, concept notes, donor profiles, and other materials required to engage partners and mobilize financial and technical support for WPHF/RRW programming.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

• This is an office-based consultancy. 

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 knowledge on gender equality, including the Women, Peace, and Security agenda;
• Proven ability to advocate and provide policy, substantive and strategic advice in women, peace, and security;
• Ability to develop and maintain strong partnerships;
• Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making;
• Excellent analytical and communication skills required;
• Familiar with the UN system and inter-agency coordination.

Required Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in economics, social sciences, gender studies, human rights, development studies, peace and conflict studies or a related field;
• 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 of relevant work experience in development programme/project analysis, implementation, coordination, reporting;
• Experience in gender and/or WPS;
• Experience undertaking analysis, documenting best practices and knowledge products to inform advocacy, policy and programming;
• Experience in country and/or region is required;
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required.

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.