Project Officer

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls globally. Founded as part of the United Nations, it works to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, promote their rights, and ensure their full participation in all aspects of life. UN Women has been operational in Sri Lanka since 2014, focusing on advancing gender equality and women's empowerment through collaboration with the government and various partners. The organization has a mission to support inter-governmental bodies in policy formulation, provide technical and financial support to member states, and lead the UN system's work on gender equality. UN Women operates in multiple countries and has a significant number of employees dedicated to various initiatives aimed at empowering women and girls.

Job Overview:
The Project Officer will play a crucial role in managing UN Women projects in Sri Lanka, particularly focusing on the THRIVE initiative aimed at enhancing the resilience of marginalized women. This position involves coordinating project activities, ensuring effective implementation, and monitoring progress towards project goals. The Project Officer will work closely with stakeholders, including government agencies and civil society, to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. The role requires a strong understanding of gender issues in Sri Lanka and the ability to develop and implement strategies that support women's economic empowerment, leadership, and participation in decision-making processes. The Project Officer will also be responsible for providing technical inputs to design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design and evaluation, ensuring that project activities align with UN Women’s mission and objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and implement project activities, ensuring strong stakeholder engagement and timely delivery of project outputs.
• Support assessments and develop interventions to promote positive behavior change and shift harmful social norms.
• Manage project budgets and procurement processes in compliance with UN regulations.
• Conduct monitoring meetings with partners and evaluate technical and financial reports.
• Prepare internal and external reports, including donor reports, documenting project activities and outcomes.
• Develop partnerships with UN agencies, government institutions, and civil society organizations to enhance project implementation.
• Analyze donor information and prepare briefs and proposals for potential collaboration.
• Organize advocacy campaigns and knowledge management strategies to promote project outcomes.
• Perform other duties as required to ensure the efficient functioning of the office.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong technical expertise in gender equality and women's empowerment, with demonstrated experience in project management and coordination. They should have excellent analytical, written, and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders. Familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals and results-based management is essential. Candidates should also have strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently. Proficiency in IT skills and experience with web-based management systems are also required.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or equivalent in Gender Studies, Development Studies, International Relations, Law, Human Rights, or a related field in Social Sciences is required. 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 would be an added advantage.

Experience:
At least 1 year of progressively responsible work experience in gender equality and women's empowerment projects is required. Relevant experience in Sri Lanka related to project implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and donor reporting is essential. Candidates should have experience in providing technical input for program design and national policies, as well as familiarity with multi-stakeholder initiatives involving government and civil society organizations.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, along with fluency in local languages such as Sinhala and Tamil. Fluency in Tamil is highly desirable and will be considered an advantage. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is also desirable.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve working with international and national stakeholders. Specific details regarding contract duration, compensation, and benefits have not been provided in the job advertisement.