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.

Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is a significant human rights violation that impacts women and girls of all ages, regions, and societies. It undermines their rights, dignity, and potential. Addressing SGBV is a critical priority for achieving national, regional, and global development goals. 

Despite Liberia’s ratification of numerous international and regional human rights treaties, violence against women and girls remains a significant issue in Liberia, deeply rooted in its history and culture.  The 2020 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) findings show that 60% of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence and 9% have experienced sexual violence, with less than half (42%) of these women seeking help. 

To address the perennial issue of violence against women and girls in Liberia, the European Union and the United Nations implemented the Spotlight Initiative, a global, multi-year initiative focused on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG). This initiative highlighted the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment, aligning with the Agenda for Sustainable Development. The promising results from Spotlight 1.0 initiative demonstrated significant progress, showing that increased and sustained investment in gender equality is a precondition and driver to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and fulfill the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for advancing women’s rights. Building on these gains, the approved Spotlight Initiative 2.0 will continue to enhance the rights and opportunities for women and girls globally, focusing on prevention and response to VAWG with comprehensive and inclusive approaches that enable women and girls to live free from harmful practices and various forms of violence. 

The Spotlight Initiative 2.0 recognizes the pivotal role of women’s movements in spearheading efforts to eliminate discrimination, violence and harmful practices against women and girls. Consequently, the Initiative intends to work closely with women’s movements, youth networks and relevant human rights-based civil society organizations (CSOs) to fully incorporate their knowledge and expertise. Recognizing Liberia’s substantial youth demographics, the Initiative will actively engage youth activists committed to ending violence against women and girls, including those representing groups at risk or facing multiple forms of gender-based discrimination and violence. This collaboration will be mutually supportive, ensuring accountability to survivors of violence, women’s and feminist movements, and human rights CSOs while leveraging their extensive knowledge at community, sub-national and national levels. The CS-NRG is also expected to collaborate with regional and global reference groups for knowledge and experience sharing.   

To facilitate this engagement, the Initiative is establishing a Civil Society National Reference Group (CS-NRG) as an institutional mechanism will provide advice on the overall strategic direction of the Spotlight Initiative 2.0, address national policy issues related to eliminating violence against women and girls, (VAWG) and harmful practices and hold the program accountable to its commitments. The CS-NRG activities are part of the programme engagement with Feminist, Women Movement and Civil Society Organizations implemented through UN Women, the host agency. This entity will support civil society’s involvement and promote systematic participation in decision-making processes, improving accountability to various social movements, youth networks, and civil society organizations. Accordingly, UN Women and the selection committee invite nominations from representatives of women's rights and relevant human rights-based CSOs, networks, and movements to join the Liberia Spotlight 2.0 CS-NRG.  

I. General overview of services required/results 

The CS-NRG shall consist of a maximum of 11 individuals selected through an open selection process ensuring a balanced representation from diverse groups, in accordance with criteria set forth in this expression of interest. In 2025, four members were selected out of the eleven members to the CS-NRG. 

Members will serve in their personal capacity, with participation in the group being voluntary and without remuneration. However, Spotlight Initiative 2.0 will cover the costs of tasks to be performed by the group members in line with a pre-agreed upon work plan. The Initiative will also provide opportunities for networking and engaging with strategic players on ending SGBV in Liberia and across the region. Individuals who participated in the CS-NRG group during the first generation of Spotlight Initiative (2019-2023) are also eligible to apply if they are interested. The CS-NRG will serve three key functions: 

1. Advisory: To provide guidance to the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 and advise the National Steering Committee (NSC) and the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU). 
2. Advocacy and Partnership: To support the realization of Spotlight Initiative 2.0 objectives through advocacy and collaboration. 
3. Accountability and monitoring: To ensure the Initiative remains accountable for its commitments and contributes to the monitoring of its implementation. 

II. Description of required services/results   

The CS-NRG will undertake the following roles and responsibilities during the implementation of Spotlight 2.0: 

•  Meaningfully engage with Civil Society and Women’s Movements at national, regional and international levels to advise the Spotlight Initiative 2.0, advocate and partner for the realization of the program objectives, hold the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 accountable for its commitments. This engagement does not foresee study tours and visits abroad unless financed by sources other than the Liberia Spotlight Initiative funds. 
•  Enhance dialogue, information and guidance on policy, legislation, prevention and response services during the implementation of the Spotlight Initiative 2.0. The CS-NRG is expected to strengthen coherence, partnership and implementation to address all forms of violence against women and girls and harmful practices (HPs). 
•  Provide advice on the overall strategic direction of the Spotlight Initiative’s County Programme on national policy issues on eliminating VAWG and HPs. 
•  Provide advice and insights on current and ongoing interventions and processes to eliminate VAWG and HPs, including the potential for scaling up interventions within and beyond the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 target counties. 
•   Engage in high-level advocacy, communication, and dialogue to support the visibility and promotion of the Initiative’s goals at the national level.   
•  Serve as an interactive platform and open forum for dialogue between the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 and women’s rights organizations, the women’s movements, and CSOs on eliminating VAWG and HPs. 
•  Conduct broad consultations with groups and networks, including at the grassroots levels, to provide updates and solicit feedback on the programme’s performance for advocacy, research, learning and action on the prevention of and response to VAWG and harmful practices.   
•  Liaise periodically with the global and regional Civil Society Reference Groups to share knowledge and lessons learnt, and develop solutions to common challenges, with a view of supporting the achievement of the Spotlight 2.0 goals.
• Support in monitoring efforts of Spotlight Initiative 2.0 and advise on the implementation of the programme, including raising risks and proposing mitigation measures.    

In addition to advising the National Steering Committee, the Civil Society National Reference Group will collaborate with the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 Programme Management and Coordination Unit based at the Resident Coordinator’s Office to ensure systematic engagement in providing technical advice for informing the implementation of the programme and addressing emerging VAWG issues, including those affecting groups most at risk or facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.   

III. Selection criteria 

The selection process will be conducted transparently and in alignment with the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 priorities, ensuring diversity of representation and experience among members. A Selection Committee, chaired by UN Women and including the 3 members of the CS-NRG representing Civil society organisations representatives, and a participant from the global CS-NRG will review received applications. Decisions will be made by consensus or, if necessary, through voting, based on the following criteria: 

1. Minimum of 5 years’ work experience in the non-governmental sector working with one or multiple organizations, academia, research, progressive faith-based organisations, independent women human rights defenders or activists who are not affiliated with an organization. 
2. Demonstrated background in contributing to programmes advancing gender, gender equality, the elimination of VAWG and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, with thematic expertise in one or more of the following areas:   
   • gender-based violence 
   • intimate partner violence (domestic violence) 
   • family violence 
   • school-based violence 
   • child abuse and protection 
   • early sexual initiation 
   • teen and pre-teen pregnancies 
   • sexual and reproductive health 
   • mental health 
   • reintegration of offenders 
   • broader gender equality issues 
   • other relevant areas   
3. Evidence of familiarity with ending violence against women and girls, and in women’s and youth rights and gendEr equality and human rights more broadly (e.g. advocacy efforts, reports, articles or social media coverage on the issue, etc.)
4. Experience in representation of diverse communities/constituencies in terms of age, sex, and region, including groups experiencing multiple forms of discrimination in line with the Leave No One Behind principle. Priority will be given to candidates representing some of these groups. 
5. Past experience and demonstrated engagement with the Spotlight Initiative in Liberia will be an advantage. 

Note: Civil Society Organizations represented in the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 Civil Society National Reference Group cannot become implementing partners of the same programme.  

IV. Time Frame for Implementation of Programme 

The Spotlight 2.0 implementation has a duration of 48 months, starting from 1 June 2025. 

Nomination must include the following: 

1. Full legal name and address of applying or nominated individuals 
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) or a short biography: A maximum of 4 page, highlighting professional training, work or volunteer experience in gender equality, VAWG, HPs, and collaboration with women’s and youth movements 
3. Motivation Statement: Up to 1,500 characters explaining your interest, motivation and potential contribution to the CS-NRG along with confirmation of your availability. 

Applications will be reviewed for placement of short-listed candidates. Short-listed candidates may be invited for an interview for decision-making purposes. Selected candidates will be required to sign a Code of Conduct governing the organization.  

By submitting your application, you are confirming that if you are selected, you will be available to actively participate in meetings, advocacy, and other activities in Monrovia or virtually, with occasional travel outside Monrovia. You also agree to dedicate enough time to follow up on activities, promote initiatives, and respond to consultations if selected. 

The Spotlight Initiative reserves the rights to replace members who do not reflect the aspiration of the program as well as do not show adequate commitment for the roles for which they were selected or endorsed to perform.   

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:

• Excellent presentation, facilitation and interpersonal skills;
• Strong Knowledge of Result -Based Management (RBM) and programme/project management.
• Demostrates strong skills in writing policies, procedures and guidance;
• Result-Based Management (RMB), financial oversight, monitoring and evaluation, risk management, and compliance
• Excellent ability and work experience in developing online contents and presence in drafting policies, procedures and guidance;
• Demonstrated ability to prepare offices for audits and track recommendations.
• Proven skills in capacity building, including developing and delivering training packages.
• Experience in coordinating key stakeholders from different units/departments and;
• Proficient with office software packages and cloud-based systems.

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.