Project Officer

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Founded as part of the United Nations, it operates globally to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, promote their rights, and achieve equality between genders. UN Women has been active in Sri Lanka since 2014, working collaboratively with the government and civil society to advance women's rights and empowerment. The organization focuses on various areas, including women's economic empowerment, leadership in governance, and preventing violence against women. UN Women aims to create a more inclusive and equal society for women and girls in Sri Lanka, implementing programs that address the unique challenges they face, particularly in the context of crises and climate change.

Job Overview:
The Project Officer position at UN Women involves contributing to the effective management of projects aimed at promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in Sri Lanka. The role requires coordination, implementation, and monitoring of assigned projects, ensuring that they meet their targets and deliverables. The Project Officer will work under the guidance of the Head of Office and the Programme Management Analyst, providing substantive inputs to design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design and evaluation. The position emphasizes the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders, including government agencies and civil society, to achieve project objectives. The Project Officer will also be responsible for developing capacity-building programs for women entrepreneurs and promoting positive behavior change within communities. This role is crucial in advancing UN Women's mission to empower women and girls and ensure their full participation in society.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordination and implementation of the project: The Project Officer will support assessments during the project's initial stages, ensuring effective coordination with stakeholders to finalize deliverables and meet targets. Responsibilities include managing daily project operations, developing interventions to shift harmful social norms, and enhancing the capacity of women entrepreneurs. The officer will liaise with UN agencies and partners to implement project activities effectively.
• Technical and financial management, monitoring, and reporting: The Project Officer will assist in budget management, procurement, and compliance with UN regulations. This includes coordinating contracts with implementing agencies, overseeing fund releases, and conducting monitoring meetings with partners. The officer will analyze technical and financial reports, update project monitoring frameworks, and prepare internal and external reports.
• Strategic partnerships, advocacy, and knowledge management: The role involves developing partnerships with UN agencies, government institutions, and civil society. The Project Officer will analyze donor information, prepare briefs and proposals, and identify best practices to refine project strategies. Advocacy campaigns will also be organized in collaboration with partners.
• Additional duties may be assigned as necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the Project Officer position should possess strong technical expertise in gender equality and women's empowerment, particularly in the Sri Lankan context. They should have practical experience in project coordination, strategic partnership development, and capacity-building initiatives. Excellent analytical, written, and oral communication skills are essential, along with a strong understanding of UN Women's mandate and the Sustainable Development Goals. The candidate should be able to work independently and within a diverse team, demonstrating strong planning, organizing, and problem-solving skills.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in Gender Studies, Development Studies, International Relations, Law, Human Rights, or a related field in Social Sciences. 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 is considered an advantage.

Experience:
The position requires at least one year of progressively responsible work experience in providing technical inputs and implementing projects related to gender equality and women's empowerment. Relevant experience in Sri Lanka, particularly in development program implementation, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, budgeting, and donor reporting, is essential. Candidates should also have experience in results-based management and facilitating multi-stakeholder initiatives, coordinating with various stakeholders, including government and civil society organizations.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Tamil is required for this position, while fluency in Sinhala is desirable. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish, is also considered a plus.

Additional Notes:
The job may involve a full-time commitment, and the position is based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The role may require international collaboration and engagement with various stakeholders. Compensation and benefits will be aligned with UN Women’s policies and standards.