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.

Job Title: Program Associate

Location: Maiduguri, Borno 
Additional Category: Gender Equality
Type of Contract: Service Contract
Post Level: SB-3
Starting Date: 01-May-2018
Duration of Initial Contract: one Year
Expected Duration of Assignment: one 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.

The conflict in the North-East poses the biggest humanitarian challenge in Nigeria. It has caused displacement, disruption of livelihoods, food insecurity, increasing rates of severe acute malnutrition, and severely weakened basic social services and protection mechanisms. The situation has been further aggravated by the involuntary return of IDPs from neighboring countries registered by the Nigerian Immigration Service in 2017. Amongst them, the most vulnerable are women, adolescents, older persons, child headed households who are exposed to high protection risks including gender based violence.

UN Women, with the support of the Government of Japan, is implementing a project on Protection, Empowerment and Resilience Building in Borno and Yobe States. The project will empower communities and build resilience through promoting social and behavior change including women’s empowerment to mitigate and address the root causes of GBV as well as promote access to information and services. It will support need-based and market driven income generating activities (IGAs) for vulnerable women with the necessary technical and financial support to empower women economically and reduce the risk of GBV. The project will also support male involvement and participation to promote positive behavior change to reduce GBV and put a strong focus on the collection of gender disaggregated data for evidence based planning.

Job Description

• In the context of the project, UN Women is recruiting a Program Associate to support the implementation of the project activities.
• Reporting to the Gender and Humanitarian Program Coordinator, the Program Associate will work with and provide support to the Coordinator in the development and implementation of effective program activities and component consistent with UN Women rules and regulations.
• S/he will contribute to research, financial management, and program implementation including providing necessary operational, administrative and programmatic support.
• The Program Associate will work in close collaboration with the operations in the Country Office in Abuja

Duties and Responsibilities
Operationalization and set-up of the UN Women PERD project:

• Support the efforts to build partnerships and cooperation with key stakeholders including, government, civil society and women’s organizations and UN and international partners working in Borno and Yobe States.
• Prepare partnership agreements and support the administrative process for the recruitment of experts and support staff
• Organize and support capacity assessments of partners and training activities of implementing partners
• Provide support to and oversee the submission of narrative and financial reports of implementing partners
• Support the process of commissioning assessments and research and data gathering activities to facilitate project implementation;

Provide administrative and logistical support program and financial of the project:

• Provide administrative support in the preparation of project work plans, budgets, and proposals on project implementation arrangements;
• Provide support to the Project Coordinator and executing agencies on routine delivery and reporting of activities and finances;
• Support program monitoring and evaluation activities
• Research and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, reports, guidelines, speeches and position papers.
• Prepare budget revisions in Atlas, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds and the operational and financial close of the project;
• Provide administrative support in monitoring budget preparation and the finances the project; including the finalization of FACE forms;
• Support the Program Coordinator in the preparation of financial reports
• Review financial reports; prepare non-PO vouchers;
• Process payment for consultants;
• Maintain internal expenditures control system;
• Create requisitions in Atlas for the project; register good receipts in Atlas;
• Assist in the preparation and follow up of cost-recovery bills in Atlas.

Provide administrative support to the project:

• Undertake all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for organization of meetings, workshops, events, and missions;
• Make travel arrangements for the project coordinator as necessary, including travel requisitions and claims;
• Prepare public information materials and briefing packets;
• Assemble briefing materials and prepare power-point and other presentations;

Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

• Provide administrative support for synthesizing lessons learned and best practices related to project management and finance;

Key Performance Indicators:

• Timely and accurate support to events, workshops, and missions;
• Full compliance of administrative activities with UN Women rules, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Timely recording of overall project finances;
• Timely and accurate tracking of data for CO management and donor purposes;
• Quality maintenance of internal systems.

Requirements, Skills and Experience
Qualifications:

• Higher Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Business or Public Administration or Finance

Experience:

• At least 3 - 4 years of progressively responsible experience in administration, finance or program management/support;
• Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages;
• Experience in the use of ATLAS is an asset;
• Experience in supporting a team.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required
• Knowledge of Hausa would be an asset

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:

• Good knowledge of Program management;
• Ability to administer and execute administrative processes and transactions;
• Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats;
• Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow;
• Strong financial and budgeting skills;
• Strong IT skills.
• Previous experience working in the North-East of Nigeria is an asset.