Coordination and Normative Officer

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact on gender issues. UN Women operates globally, supporting initiatives in various countries, including 25 in the East and Southern Africa region. The organization focuses on eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between genders in development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications and organizational needs.

Job Overview:
The Coordination and Normative Officer will provide essential technical and operational support to enhance inter-agency coordination and gender mainstreaming efforts across the East and Southern Africa region. Reporting to the Regional Coordination & Normative Specialist (P4), the Officer will assist in implementing the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard and support various normative intergovernmental initiatives. This role involves working closely with Country Offices (COs) and Resident Coordinator Offices (RCOs) to integrate gender equality and women's empowerment into strategic planning processes, joint programs, and pooled financing mechanisms. The Officer will also be responsible for preparing background materials, monitoring and reporting on gender-related data, and contributing to capacity-building activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide coordination and technical support to inter-agency processes, assisting COs and RCOs in integrating gender equality into UNSDCF processes and joint programs.
• Prepare background notes and summaries for inter-agency decision-making.
• Collect and verify data for regional coordination reporting, ensuring accuracy in coordination indicators.
• Support the roll-out of the UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard and monitor action plan implementation.
• Track implementation progress of gender initiatives and draft periodic updates.
• Participate in joint inter-agency UN planning processes and prepare briefing materials for discussions.
• Support the preparation of regional inputs for global normative processes and liaise with regional stakeholders to align commitments.
• Document lessons learned and compile good practices for knowledge sharing.
• Facilitate capacity-building activities and provide logistical support for workshops and training events. 1
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of gender equality and women's empowerment principles.
• Familiarity with the UN system and coordination mechanisms.
• Ability to collect, organize, and analyze data effectively.
• Strong drafting and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and virtual collaboration tools.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage with diverse stakeholders.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree (or equivalent) in international development, public administration, public policy, or a relevant social science field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage.

Experience:
At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in inter-agency coordination and strategic program planning processes is required. Experience in the development, planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of programs is essential. Desirable experience includes working in gender equality and women's rights at the international level, particularly within the UN system, and familiarity with gender mainstreaming tools such as UNCT-SWAP and GEM.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French or another UN language is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve working with international teams. UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims, including discrimination and harassment. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form are completed to avoid disqualification from the recruitment process.