Programme Associate, Ending Violence Against Women, in Dhaka (Only Bangladeshi Nationals are eligible to apply)

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 Bangladesh supports the government in implementing commitments to international normative standards on gender equality and women’s human rights. The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2026, launched in 2021, and the corresponding UN Women Bangladesh Strategic Note (SN) 2022-2026, defines UN Women’s strategic engagement in Bangladesh. The country strategy focuses on strengthening the national structures and mechanisms for gender mainstreaming in policies, plans, and budgets; supporting efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women; promoting women’s access to decent and safe work; promoting policies and government investment in women’s empowerment and resilience building in the context of climate change, humanitarian crisis as well as other threats to peace and security. UN Women works with a range of stakeholders in Bangladesh, including the government, civil society, women’s organisations, youth, UN agencies, and donors, to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. 

The Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW) portfolio contributes to UN Women Bangladesh Strategic Note 2022 – 2026 Outcome 1.4: By 2026, more women, girls and sexual minorities benefit from an environment in which they are empowered to exercise their rights, agency, and decision-making power over all aspects of their lives and towards a life free from all forms of discrimination, violence and harmful norms and practices.  Under the EVAW portfolio, BCO is implementing projects for the prevention of and response to GBV, especially sexual harassment and sexual violence in public spaces, the world of work and educational institutions, funded by the European Union and other donors. It draws on UN Women’s work globally , as well as in Bangladesh to implement strategies proven to be effective in measurably reducing the prevalence of SGBV and decreasing the risk factors for women who experience SGBV, thereby preventing violence before it occurs. The overall goal of these projects is for women in Bangladesh able to live a life free from sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in public spaces, workplaces, and tertiary educational institutions. 

The EU project has three key objectives – to strengthen the enabling environment through policies, systems and improved institutional knowledge, resources, and practices to prevent sexual and gender-based violence in public spaces, including for workplace and tertiary educational institutions; to transform harmful social and gender norms and practices; and to strengthen agency and leadership of civil society and women rights organisations. Under the first result area, the project will contribute to the effective implementation of existing policies and laws at the national level. Simultaneously, the project will increase the capacities of national and local government institutions by improving gender-responsive budgeting systems and policy implementation for stronger accountability of government institutions. To establish institutional accountability, support will be provided to the University Grants Commission (UGC) to implement a whole-school approach to strengthen the sexual harassment prevention mechanism and build capacities of administrators, teachers, students, and others related to universities to address SH and GBV on campus. Under the second result area, the project will improve the institutional culture and practices by increasing awareness and behaviour change on social and gender norms that perpetuate sexual harassment and sexual violence in the workplace, in educational institutions and public spaces, such as the transport sector. Under the third result area, the project will invest in feminist approaches to improve the leadership of civil society and women’s rights organisations at the national and local level for evidence-based advocacy for survivours-centred implementation of laws, policies, and social norms changing initiatives and enhance collaboration for cross-learning on prevention programming. 

Reporting to the Programme Coordinator, the Programme Associate will work with and provide support to the team members of the EVAW Programme Team in the development and implementation of effective programmes consistent with UN Women rules and regulations.  The Programme Associate will contribute to the research, financial management, and programme implementation including providing necessary operational, administrative and programmatic support during the project life time. The Programme Associate will work in close collaboration with the operations, programme and projects’ staff in BCO and UN Women ROAP and HQs as required for resolving complex finance-related issues and exchange of information.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide administrative and logistical support to the formulation and management of programmes:

• Provide administrative support in the preparation of programme work plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements;
• Provide technical guidance to the EVAW team and executing agencies on routine delivery and reporting of programme supported activities and finances;
• Prepare information for the audit of programmes/ projects and support implementation of audit recommendations; 
• Review programme data from programmes/ projects for the BCO website;
• Identify sources, and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers.

2. Provide administrative support to the financial management of the Programme Unit:

• Create projects in Quantum system, prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds and the operational and financial close of a project;
• Provide administrative support in monitoring budget preparation and the finances of programmes/projects; including the finalization of FACE forms;
• Review financial reports; prepare non-PO vouchers for development projects;
• Process payment for consultants;
• Maintain internal expenditures control system;
• Create requisitions in Quantum system for development projects; register good receipts in Quantum system;
• Assist in the preparation and follow up of cost-recovery bills in Quantum system.

3. Provide administrative support to the EVAW Programme Unit:

• Undertake all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for organization for meetings, workshops, events, and missions;
• Make travel arrangements for the Programme Team, including travel requisitions and claims; 
• Prepare public information materials and briefing packets; 
• Assemble briefing materials and prepare PowerPoint and other presentations.

4. Provide administrative support to Resource Mobilization:

• Prepare cost-sharing and other agreements; follow up on contributions within the BCO resource mobilization efforts;
• Organize, compile and process information from donors,  and programme team, as inputs to various databases and documents.

5. Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

• Provide administrative support synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices related to programme management and finance;
• Provide administrative support to the organization of training for the office staff and partners on programme and operations related issues.

6. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

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.

https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Good knowledge of programme 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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

• Completion of secondary education is required;
• Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration is an asset.

Experience:

• At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in administration or programme management/support;
• Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages is required;
• Experience in supporting a team is required;
• Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Languages: 

• Fluency in English and Bangla is required;
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

UN Women Statement on Diversity and Inclusion:

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.)

Application:

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from ;

Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.