Senior Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Consultant at UN Women

UN Women - In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. In doing so, UN Member States took an historic step in accelerating the Organization's goals on 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, which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Consultant

Location: Abuja
Additional Category: Democratic Governance and Peacebuilding
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: International Consultant
Starting Date: 15-Feb-2019
Duration of Initial Contract: 1 year

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.

In Nigeria, UN Women works to support the Government’s national development agenda, which prioritizes the empowerment of women and girls and their contribution to all areas of economic, political and social development. The objective of building and sustaining peace and security across the country is critical for Nigeria, which faces several security challenges including the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, the Farmers/Herders conflict in the Middle Belt, and conflicts over natural resources in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Ongoing efforts to address these conflicts often overlook women’s role and contributions. Women are often seen only as victims of conflicts that need to be protected rather than agents of change for peace. This leaves untapped, the potential and capacities of women whose contributions can be harnessed to promote transformative change and sustainable peace.

Through its just-concluded program on, Promoting Women’s Engagement in Peace and Security in Northern Nigeria (2014-2018),  UN Women has worked to support the Nigerian government (federal level), three northern states (Adamawa, Plateau and Gombe) and selected constituent local government areas (LGAs) to strengthen women’s leadership, advance gender equality and improve protection for women and children in conflict settings, by ensuring the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325).

UN Women is planning to expand its women peace and security portfolio to a second phase, which will focus on policy support to the Government of Nigeria towards implementation of UNSCR 1325 at national and state levels, including strengthening the capacity of policymakers to advocate and promote for gender-responsive security policies. The Women Peace and Security (WPS) programme will also seek to support the establishment and training of a women peace mediators’ network; support gender-responsive security sector policies; and strengthen the role and engagement of the media in promoting the WPS agenda.

UN Women will recruit an International Consultant on WPS to provide technical support for start-up and implementation of the next phase of its WPS programme in Nigeria. Under the strategic guidance of the Country Representative, and with day-to-day reporting to the UN Women Deputy Representative, the senior consultant provides guidance and expertise to the implementation of the WPS project, more particularly on the aspect of policy and legislative engagement on UNSCR 1325.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of UN Women Deputy Country Representative, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

Lead the development of key project deliverables:

• With support from the national consultant and from the WPS team, lead the development of a legislator’s guide on the implementation of UNSCR 1325
• With support from the national consultant and from the WPS team, and in consultation with the State and Federal Governments, lead the strategic planning process of developing States’ Action Plans (SAPs) on UNSCR 1325 for Benue and Bauchi States
• Lead the process of setting-up a network of women mediators and the identification and selection of potential members.

Provide expertise and guidance to program management and implementation:

• Oversee and provide technical inputs in the program implementation plans and program strategies on WPS
• Oversee research and assessments to guide implementation of activities under UN Women Nigeria WPS program
• Oversee monitoring and reporting of programmatic interventions on WPS

Provide capacity-building support to CO team and partners:

• Provide substantive technical and policy support to the WPS country office (CO) team and support the strengthening of projects and programs to enhance implementation of global norms and standards
• Provide guidance to staff and partners on Results Based Management tools and performance indicators.
• Build, manage, and expand relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of the WPS programme;
• Serve as an expert resource to partners on WPS
• Implement and oversee capacity development opportunities and initiatives
• Provide partners with quality technical assistance, training and capacity development initiatives.

Developing Partnerships and networks:

• Build and strengthen multi-sectoral partnerships including with government agencies, civil society and development partners for more effective and coordinated programme development and implementation as appropriate
• Support donor relations and donor reporting requirements, and produce periodic updates and briefs on the  country situation to be used by stakeholders, CO and UN Women Headquarters
• Provide substantive technical support to the Country Representative and Deputy Country Representative in Nigeria on inter-agency coordination related activities by attending meetings, events, and participating in working groups and committees as relevant;
• Coordinate with other UN agencies, government departments, donors and NGOs to ensure the project’ capacity development programme is harmonized and aligned with the partners’ efforts
• Foster a working partnership with ECOWAS on the women peace and security agenda and facilitate synergy-building between UN Women’s programme ad related ECOWAS interventions

Development of Knowledge Products:

• Provide policy recommendations and guidance to inform UN Women’s interventions to enhance women’s leadership in conflict-affected areas of the country
• Work closely with, and provide advice to national bodies and inter-agency groups that influence national policies related to WPS
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge, data on women peace and security at the country office and in the region, and integrate analysis and information in support of policy development, analysis, outreach and advocacy and corporate support
• Identify promising practices, technical expertise and strategic opportunities WPS
• Identify and disseminate lessons learned and good practices

Deliverables:

• A legislators’ guide on UNSCR 1325 and subsequent resolutions developed
• Two States Action Plans for targeted States developed
• Network of women mediators established with the targeted States
• Key activities of the WPS program implemented in a timely manner, with the support and buy-in of national partners
• Strengthened coordination on WPS with development partners, national agencies and departments and regional partners, particularly ECOWAS
• Up-to-date knowledge on WPS is made available, including data, best practices and lessons learned and informs UN Women’s interventions on WPS in Nigeria.

Key Results:

• Legislative mechanisms and security sector policies strengthened to enhance women’s participation in peace and security decisions for a sustained implementation of the UNSCR 1325 NAP in targeted States
• Women capacities built to be able to participate in peace processes in Nigeria and positive perceptions of women’s participation in peace and security created in Nigeria

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Master's degree in Social Science, Gender Studies, International Development, Law, Human Rights, Political Science, International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, or other related field.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience, at the international level in implementing programs on women’s empowerment/women, peace and security
• Experience leading strategic planning processes on issues relating to women, peace and security programing
• Excellent knowledge of program management and results-based management tools
• Demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner; ability to organize work efficiently and deal with multiple tasks
• Previous experience working in West Africa is an asset

Language:

• Excellent oral and written English skills.

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:

• Knowledge Management:
  • Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture.
• Development and Operational Effectiveness:
  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results based management and reporting;
  • Ability to apply conceptual models in support of formulations, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programs and projects and mobilize resources.
  • Strong organization skills and ability to pay close attention to detail;
  • Strong policy analysis experience and knowledge of WPS
  • Ability to lead formulation of strategies and their implementation;
  • Strong networking skills;
• Management and Leadership:
  • Build strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  • Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Demonstrate good listening skills and responsiveness to the opinion of others.

Application Closing Date
(Midnight New York, USA); 31st January, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• 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.
• UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.