Project Support Officer

Mission and objectives

UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. We are trusted partners for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life, and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality.

Context

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. Placing women's rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action globally. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. The National UN Volunteer (UNV) Expert will be embedded within the Country Office (CO) of UN Women Sierra Leone, specifically operating under the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Section. The WPS portfolio in Sierra Leone focuses on strengthening women's leadership, participation, and protection in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and democratic governance. In alignment with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) and Sierra Leone's National Action Plan (SiLNAP) on WPS, the unit works tirelessly to ensure that gender perspective is integrated into security sector reforms, disaster risk reduction, and social cohesion frameworks. The National UN Volunteer Expert will serve as a core technical and operational resource within this unit, helping to bridge policy advocacy with grassroots community impact. The UN Volunteer will support the implementation of key initiatives under the Country Office portfolio. These projects aim to address systemic barriers to gender equality by supporting female peacebuilders, enhancing legal frameworks against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and building the resilience of women-led community organizations.

Task Description

1. Contribute technically to the development of programme strategies in Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action. • Provide technical inputs to the design and formulation of programme/project proposals and initiatives related to Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action, and other thematic areas as needed. 2. Provide technical support to the implementation and management of the Women, Peace and Security programme • Provide inputs to the annual work plan and budget as required; • Coordinate and monitor the implementation of programme activities; • Coordinate the call/request for proposals, including the organization of technical review committees and capacity assessment of partners; • Review and coordinate the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports; • Train partners on Results-Based Management. 3. Provide technical assistance and capacity development support to project/programme partners. • Provide technical support to and technically oversee the implementation of programme activities with partners; • Identify opportunities for capacity building of partners and coordinate and facilitate technical/programming support and trainings to partners as needed. 4. Provide technical inputs to the monitoring and reporting of the programme/project • Monitor progress on programme activities, results, and indicators; • Monitor the implementation of proposals by responsible partners; • Provide inputs to quarterly reports, donor reports, and other reports on outputs, results and outcomes. 5. Provide Support and inputs to project budget of the UN Women programme. • Monitor budget implementation and programme activity expenditures and perform budget revisions when required; • Provide inputs to financial reports. 6. Contribute to building partnerships and resource mobilization strategies. • Provide inputs to resource mobilization strategies; analyse and maintain information and databases; • Provide inputs to relevant documentation such as project summaries, conference papers, briefing notes, speeches, and donor profiles. 7. Provide technical inputs to inter-agency coordination on Women, Peace and Security to achieve coherence and alignment of UN Women programmes with other partners in the country. 8. Provide inputs to advocacy, knowledge building, and communication efforts • Provide technical inputs to background documents, briefs, and presentations related to Women, Peace and Security; • Support the organization of advocacy activities, and campaign events, trainings, workshops, and knowledge products; • Provide inputs to the development of knowledge management products on Women, Peace and Security. 9. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organizing • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarks

Sierra Leone offers a dynamic and culturally rich environment, with Freetown serving as the main urban hub while Tonkolili, Kono, and Western Area Rural provide more rural and semi‑urban contexts. The security situation is generally stable, though volunteers are expected to remain vigilant and adhere to UN security protocols. Air travel is available through Lungi International Airport, with domestic transport options limited and sometimes challenging due to road conditions. The climate is tropical, with a rainy season from May to October and a dry season from November to April. Volunteers should be prepared for high humidity and occasional flooding in certain areas. Cultural norms emphasize modest dress and respect for local traditions; alcohol use is socially sensitive outside urban centers. The cost of living varies: Freetown is relatively expensive compared to rural duty stations, particularly for imported goods. Accommodation options range from serviced apartments in Freetown to more basic housing in rural areas. Access to food, water, and electricity is generally reliable in Freetown but can be intermittent in Tonkolili and Kono. Medical facilities are available in Freetown, though specialized care may require evacuation. Banking services and mobile communications are accessible, with mobile money widely used. Overall, Sierra Leone provides an enriching environment for volunteers, requiring adaptability, cultural awareness, and resilience. Flexibility and commitment are essential, particularly in rural duty stations where living conditions may involve limited comfort and physical hardship. You may check the full benefits and allowances applicable to the duty station using the UVP calculator. Please see the Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers for more information and details.