Deputy Unit Manager (Women Peace and Governance Unit), Afghanistan

Grounded for the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, UN Women will work 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 will lead and coordinate United Nations System efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

Organizational Context:

UN Women is dedicated to advancing gender equality and women's human rights in Afghanistan. Staff and consultants of UN Women Afghanistan are expected to contribute to a professional working environment in which the strengthening of national capacities and human potential is prioritized. Respect for diversity and human dignity is required, as is the active pursuit of a collaborative and inclusive approach to both internal and external stakeholders, including colleagues and partners.

UN Women's Women, Peace & Governance Unit aims to build the capacity of and strengthen opportunities for Afghan women to mobilize as political actors of change as a means of demanding accountability by state and non-state actors on the implementation of gender equality commitments, including provisions of women's full and meaningful participation in peace and governance processes at the community, sub-national and national levels. The unit operates within the framework of UN SCR 1325, CEDAW, and the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA) and the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS).

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary:

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Women , Peace & Governance Unit manager, the Deputy Unit Manager serves as deputy to the Unit manager and is charged with the direct and daily management of and supervisory responsibility for project staff; coordination of Unit programmes, projects, and initiatives; oversight of monitoring and evaluation efforts; substantially contributing in the completion of donor and other report writing; participation in strategic planning and work plan development; and implementation of capacity building and professional development programmes for other national staff in the unit. The post serves as a key advisor to the Unit manager on matters of organizational integrity within the unit, with the aim of ensuring: (i) compliance with UN Women and UNDP policies and regulations; (ii) effective systems to support programme delivery and growth; (iii) accountability to organizational values and principles; and (iv) and enabling workplace environment in which staff potential is maximized. Programmatically, the Women, Peace & Governance Deputy Unit Manager head the Peace, Governance, Advocacy, and Strategic Communications arm of the unit.

Reporting directly to the WP&G Unit Manager, the WP&G Deputy Unit Manager will serve as a critical member of the WP&G Unit team.

Functions/Key Results Expected:

Advisor to Unit Manager:

The Deputy Unit Manager will provide input on the strategic direction of program within the context of Afghanistan. The National Deputy will support the identification of opportunities for productive interventions and will support the Unit Manager in establishing policies and practices to ensure sound management and staff oversight, to effectively meet program obligations, and to facilitate a workplace environment of mutual accountability, recognition, and respect. The Deputy Unit Manager will also be responsible for overseeing quality control of programming and identifying potential challenges.

• Officer in Charge:

The Deputy Unit Manager will act as the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the WP&G Unit when the WP&G Unit Manager is not in country. As OIC, the Deputy Unit Manager will assume responsibilities of the Unit Manager for a given period of time.

• Management and Supervision:

The Deputy Unit Manager will support the Unit Manager in supervising and appropriately delegating areas of responsibility to Unit staff. The Deputy Unit Manager will be particularly responsible to supervise the Program Officers and be maintaining close relations with International Consultants of the unit to provide the required advices and consultations. The Deputy Unit Manager will be further responsible to provide intensive support to all staff, overseeing capacity building needs and to ensure quality implementation and partner management.

• Peace and Governance Programme expertise &Coordination

: The Deputy Unit Manger will support the integration of the Unit Manager's technical inputs, vision, conceptualization of the strategy, and annual planning into day-to-day programming activities. Working closely with unit staff, the Deputy Unit Manager will coordinate the timing, resources needs, and synergy of all projects and initiatives of the unit, encouraging cross-fertilization within and across units as appropriate. The Deputy Unit Manager will support the Unit Manager in overseeing the development of the annual planning process and project activities; including preparation of proposals, work plans, budgets and progress reports with realistic and achievable timelines.

• Leadership

. The Deputy Unit Manager is responsible for adhering to the organizational culture of accountability, responsibility, capacity building and quality of services created by the Unit Manager and guiding other unit staff in adherence to these principles. The Deputy Unit Manager is expected to support the Unit Manager in encouraging a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation and respects that there exists a clearly understood and implemented chain of authority and accountability within the Unit.

• Partnership and Networking:

The Deputy Unit Manager will support the Unit Manager in developing strategic partnerships and strengthening linkages with NGOs, donors, UN agencies, government institutions, private sector, civil society and community grass roots organizations for the implementation of the Unit's strategic plan.

• Donor Reporting and Programme Writing. Under the direction of the Unit Manager, the Deputy Unit Manager will oversee the completion of donor reports in coordination with the relevant Program Officers in a timely and professional manner. The Deputy Unit Manager will also undertake preparing concept notes and other writing materials as requested by the Unit manager.
• Capacity Building:

In consultation with the Unit Manager, the Deputy Unit Manager will assess the needs for capacity building of the unit staff, developing training plans and designing a capacity building and professional development programme for national staff to maximize their human potential and optimize operational effectiveness of the unit.

• Monitoring and Evaluation:

The Deputy Unit Manager will oversee monitoring and evaluation of specific projects and initiatives as well as the unit as a whole, advising the Unit manager on areas in need of strengthening in such a way that proactive and remedial action might be taken in a timely manner.

• Research, Advocacy, and Strategic Communications:

The Deputy Unit Manager with the direct guidance of Unit Manager will lead the efforts of the unit's Research, Advocacy, and Strategic Communications arm, overseeing the production of timely, accurate, and professional research and guiding the direction of evidence-based advocacy and communications in support of the unit as a whole.

Competencies

• Ability to multi-task and respond simultaneously and in a timely fashion to job requirements. Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work under pressure, to follow deadlines and handle numerous tasks simultaneously;
• Strong and proven integrity, time management and work prioritization skills;
• Understanding of UNDP/UN WOMEN procedures, rules and regulations an asset;
• Ability to work effectively as a team member.
• Demonstrated sensitivity, discretion, tact and courtesy in relation to gender equality and women's rights, development principles and projects, implementing partners, and national and international personnel of varied nationalities and backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills, written and oral
• Commitment to upholding the organizational values and principles of UN WOMEN Afghanistan.
• Ability to travel inside and outside the country

Required Skills and Experience

• Masters degree in, international development, Peace & Conflict studies, public policy, Political Science, gender or related field with minimum of 5 to 7 years of progressively relevant professional work experience in programme design and management, program coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting, and capacity building with proven technical expertise/experience in the areas of Gender Equality, Elections, Governance and Peacebuilding issues, or a Bachelors degree in the above mentioned fields with minimum of 7 years of relevant experience.
• Sound knowledge of national and international policy frameworks on women's empowerment and gender equality;
• A proven ability to liaise with a myriad of stakeholders and partners, including government, Parliament, civil society, international organizations and grassroots organizations;
• A proven history of leadership, management and staff supervision through a style of mutual accountability and professional development;
• Experience in the area of gender policy and program advocacy, gender mainstreaming and monitoring, ideally in a post conflict setting;
• An understanding of the social, cultural, and political context of Afghanistan and its relation to gender;
• Proficiency in the use of computer, office software packages;

Language Requirements:

? Fluency in written and speaking English and local language Dari and/or Pashto.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.