Programme Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Its mission is to advance women's rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of all women and girls. UN Women operates as the lead UN entity on gender equality and serves as the secretariat for the UN Commission on the Status of Women. The organization works to shift laws, institutions, social behaviors, and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world. UN Women collaborates with governments, women's movements, and the private sector to translate progress into lasting changes. In Turkey, UN Women has been operational since 2012 and works in alignment with its global Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and the Country Strategic Note (2022-2025). The organization focuses on four thematic areas: governance and participation in public life, women's economic empowerment, ending violence against women and girls, and women, peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, humanitarian action, and disaster risk reduction. UN Women is committed to the principle of Leave No One Behind, supporting targeted actions to remove obstacles faced by marginalized and vulnerable groups of women in accessing their rights and promoting them as agents of change.

Job Overview:
The Programme Assistant plays a crucial role in supporting the Programme Team in the development and implementation of effective programs consistent with UN Women rules and regulations. This position involves providing administrative, logistical, and programmatic assistance to ensure smooth program implementation, particularly within the Ending Violence Against Women Portfolio and the specific project aimed at restoring and strengthening preventive and protective services in response to violence against women affected by earthquakes in Turkey. The Programme Assistant will be responsible for various tasks, including administrative support in the preparation of work plans, budgets, and proposals, as well as monitoring the delivery of funds. The role requires collaboration with the Programme team to gather and compile data for documents, guidelines, speeches, and position papers. The Programme Assistant will also support financial management, logistical arrangements for meetings and events, and resource mobilization efforts, ensuring that all activities align with the organization's goals and objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative and logistical support for the formulation, implementation, and management of programs under the Ending Violence Against Women Portfolio, specifically the project focused on earthquake-affected areas.
• Assist in the preparation of program work plans, budgets, and proposals, including tracking fund delivery and supporting audits.
• Gather and compile data for documents, guidelines, speeches, and position papers in collaboration with the Programme team.
• Support financial management by monitoring budgets, preparing FACE forms, reviewing financial reports, processing payments, and creating requisitions in the Quantum system.
• Undertake logistical and administrative arrangements for meetings, workshops, events, and missions, including travel arrangements for the Programme Team.
• Draft minutes for meetings, prepare briefing materials, and organize document filing.
• Facilitate knowledge building and sharing by organizing training for office personnel and partners on program and operations-related issues.
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Qualifications:

• Completion of secondary education is required.
• A Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, development, business, public administration, or a related field is desirable.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, travel, event management, administration, or logistic support service is required (2 years with a bachelor’s degree).
• Knowledge of and professional experience in gender equality and women's empowerment is a strong asset.
• Previous experience in providing administrative support to EU or UN projects is a strong asset.
• Experience in organizing events and trainings is an asset.
• Experience in working with different partners, including governmental organizations, donors, and civil society organizations, is an asset.
• Familiarity with ERP systems, preferably Oracle Cloud, is a strong asset.
• Experience in supporting a team is desirable.

Educational Background:
The minimum educational requirement for this position is the completion of secondary education. However, a Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, development, business, public administration, or a related field is highly desirable and preferred for candidates applying for this role.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in relevant fields such as procurement, travel, event management, administration, or logistic support services. If the candidate holds a Bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 2 years of experience is required. Experience in gender equality and women's empowerment is considered a strong asset, as is previous administrative support experience in EU or UN projects. Additionally, experience in organizing events and trainings, as well as working with various partners, is beneficial for this role.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Turkish is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but the primary requirement is strong communication skills in both English and Turkish to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and is based in Ankara, Turkey. The role involves working closely with various partners, including governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and other UN agencies. The Programme Assistant will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures, including a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. It is essential for applicants to complete all sections of the application form to avoid disqualification from the recruitment process.