International Project Manager Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It operates under the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, focusing on eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between women and men. UN Women leads and coordinates efforts across multiple countries, including Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Eswatini, ensuring that commitments to gender equality translate into actionable initiatives. The organization emphasizes building effective partnerships with various stakeholders, including governments, private sectors, and civil society organizations, to promote women's empowerment and rights.

Job Overview:
The International Project Manager Consultant role at UN Women is pivotal in supporting the Government and stakeholders in Southern Africa, particularly focusing on the economic inclusion of women in the informal sector. This position is primarily centered around the Accelerating Women Micro-Enterprises (AWOME) Programme, which aims to enhance the management skills of low-income women entrepreneurs, ensuring they can secure decent jobs and income. The consultant will be responsible for developing and implementing a capacity-building model that is adaptable and scalable across Southern Africa. Additionally, the role involves providing technical support for managing partnerships and resource mobilization strategies for the Country Office. The consultant will collaborate closely with various teams, including the programme and operations team, UN Women HQ staff, government officials, and donors, to ensure the successful implementation of UN Women’s programs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will manage the development and implementation of differentiated donor fundraising strategies aligned with country-level initiatives. Responsibilities include setting and monitoring priorities, goals, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for partnerships and resource mobilization. The consultant will develop targeted initiatives to mobilize programmatic resources, provide technical support for drafting partner-specific agreements, and guide staff and partners on Results Based Management tools. Identifying capacity-building needs and coordinating technical assistance initiatives will also be key duties. The consultant will oversee the monitoring of program implementation and finances, engage with government counterparts and implementing partners, and ensure high visibility for the program through effective communication strategies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong knowledge of Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) and gender equality issues. They should demonstrate the ability to interact effectively with government representatives and donors, possess strong program formulation and evaluation skills, and have a proven ability to synthesize program performance data. Networking skills and the ability to mobilize support for gender equality initiatives are essential. Additionally, candidates should have the ability to identify and analyze trends and develop fundraising strategies accordingly.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, business management, economics, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with five additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. A project/programme management certification is considered an added advantage.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in project design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects. Experience in resource mobilization, communication, advocacy, and business development is crucial. Familiarity with gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as experience working with civil society organizations and international institutions, is highly desirable. Technical experience in Women Economic Empowerment, particularly in the informal sector across South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana, is also important. Experience in leading or managing a project team is an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's profile for this position.

Additional Notes:
The position is a consultancy role, and candidates should be aware of UN Women’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The organization promotes a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. The role may involve working with various stakeholders across multiple countries, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and effective communication. Candidates are encouraged to provide any necessary accommodations to support their participation in the recruitment process.