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.

UN Women, in collaboration with the Government of Finland is implementing a four-year project titled, ‘Strengthening women’s and girls’ meaningful participation, leadership, and economic rights, (WLER) at the local levels in Tanzania’ (2022 – 2025). The project has the overarching goal of ensuring ‘Women’s and girls’ meaningful participation, leadership and economic rights are strengthened at local levels in Tanzania’ aims to increase the number of women in leadership and decision making positions and their voices at the local government levels through promoting gender-responsive norms, behaviours and practices, strengthening capacities of women leaders, enhance collection and use of sex and disability responsive data and enhancing women’s economic rights including by piloting gender and disability transformative innovative measures such as care services, in line with the Government of Tanzania’s Generation Equality Commitments.

The project will enhance the implementation of the United Republic of Tanzania’s commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) including the Generation Equality. It builds on the Women’s Leadership and Political Participation Project (Wanawake Wanaweza) Phase II (2017-2021) and Phase I (2014 – 2017) that identified discriminatory gender norms, behaviours and practices and lack of women’s economic opportunities as among the key barriers to women’s leadership at the local government levels. The project adopts a long-term action-based approach to advancing women’s leadership, meaningful participation, economic rights and, addressing the disproportionate share of unpaid care work by women and girls

Reporting to the Programme Management Specialist, the Programme Specialist on Gender and Local Government exercises overall responsibility for planning, implementing, and managing UN Women interventions of the Project; Strengthening women’s and girls’ meaningful participation, leadership, and economic rights at the local levels in Tanzania’ (WLER). The Programme Specialist works in close collaboration with the Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist, the programme and operations team, UN Women Tanzania CO staff, Government officials, other projects stakeholders and multi and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Design and develop programme strategies in the WLER Project

Design and formulate programme/ project proposals and initiatives;
Draft inputs to country strategy documents, briefs, policy dialogue and other documents related to WLER Project.
Manage the implementation and management of the WLER Project

Finalize the annual workplan and budget and manage their implementation;
Manage the technical implementation of the programme/project; ensure synergies with other teams;
Manage the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports;
Provide guidance to personnel and partners on Results Based Management tools and performance indicators;
Organize Project Steering Committee, project review and/or evaluation meetings, as needed.
Manage technical assistance and capacity development to WLER project/programme partners

Manage the implementation of technical advice and guidance. Develop and implement technical tools, and initiatives;
Build and manage relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of interventions related to women inclusion at local government levels, respond to any potential problems;
Identify capacity building needs of partners and lead the coordination of technical assistance, mentoring, training and capacity development initiatives to partners.
Manage the monitoring and reporting of the programme/ project

Manage the monitoring of programme/ project implementation and finances using results based management tools;
Oversee field missions and review reports on monitoring missions;
Write quarterly reports and donor reports, focusing on results, output and outcomes;
Contribute to office donor and UN Women reports.
Manage the people and financial resources of the gender and local government interventions

Manage the programme budget and draft financial reports;
Supervise Programme Analysts; Mentor and coach personnel and conduct performance assessments;
Oversee recruitment processes, as necessary.
Build partnerships and support in developing resource mobilization strategies

Develop and implement partnerships and resource mobilization strategies;
Finalize relevant documentation on donors and potential opportunities for resource mobilization;
Analyze and research information on donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost sharing.
Contribute to inter-agency coordination on to achieve coherence and alignment of UN Women programmes with other partners in the country

Provide technical support to the Programme Manager and Representative on inter-agency coordination related activities by attending meetings, events, and participating in groups and committees as needed;
Coordinate with other UN agencies, government departments, donors and NGOs to ensure the projects’ capacity development programme is harmonized and aligned with other in-country efforts.
Manage advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts

Develop and review background documents, briefs and presentations related to the WLER Project
Represent UN Women in meetings and policy dialogues on issues related to WLER Project as necessary;
Develop advocacy strategies and oversee their implementation;
Identify best practices and lessons learned to guide programme improvement and strategy planning;
Develop knowledge management strategies, products and methodologies on WLER Project .
Key Performance Indicators

Timely and quality programme design and inputs to Strategic Note;
Timely and quality of programme delivery in line with budget and workplans, and in line with all UN Women operational rules and regulations, including security;
Timely and quality monitoring and evaluation of programmes;
Relations with partners and stakeholders;
Quality reports and timely submission;
Regular communication with other agencies and partners;
Quality of advocacy and communication initiatives.

Competencies

Core Values:

Respect for Diversity;
Integrity;
Professionalism.
Core Competencies:

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
Accountability;
Creative Problem Solving;
Effective Communication;
Inclusive Collaboration;
Stakeholder Engagement;
Leading by Example.
Functional Competencies

Strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills;
Strong knowledge of Results Based Management;
Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making;
Strong knowledge on gender and local government authorities;
Strong analytical skills;
Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising and develop strategies.

Required Skills and Experience

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 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 5 years of progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in design, planning implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects including with a focus on local government authorities;
Experience in working in local governance, gender equality, women’s rights, and empowerment of women, at the local level;
Experience coordinating and liaising with central government ministries and agencies, local government authorities; ;Experience working in the UN System is an asset.
Experience in leading/managing a team is an asset.
Language Requirements

Fluency in English and Swahili is required;
Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

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.)