National Project Coordinator - Country Lead, Vanuatu

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an organization established in July 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly, with a mission to promote gender equality and empower women globally. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact in the area of gender equality. UN Women works to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. The organization operates in over twenty countries, including Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, and collaborates with various UN agencies and governments to implement its programs. The UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office, based in Suva, Fiji, oversees initiatives across the region, focusing on women's political empowerment, economic empowerment, ending violence against women, and gender protection in humanitarian action and disaster risk reduction.

Job Overview:
The National Project Coordinator - Country Lead for Vanuatu will be responsible for the management and implementation of the Markets for Change (M4C) project at the national level. This role involves overseeing strategic partnerships, financial and human resource management, and knowledge building. The coordinator will work closely with the M4C Vanuatu Team and collaborate with teams across Fiji, Samoa, and Solomon Islands, as well as with other UN agencies, government officials, and civil society organizations. The position requires leading the development of program strategies, managing project activities, providing technical assistance, and ensuring effective monitoring and reporting of the project's progress. The coordinator will also be responsible for building partnerships and resource mobilization strategies, contributing to inter-agency coordination, and supporting advocacy and communication efforts related to the project.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Project Coordinator will lead the development of program strategies for the Markets for Change project in Vanuatu, providing substantive input to the design and formulation of project proposals and initiatives. Key responsibilities include managing the annual workplan and budget, implementing project activities, and supporting the review and monitoring of financial and narrative reports from implementing partners. The coordinator will provide technical assistance and capacity development to project partners, maintain relationships with national partners, and facilitate training and support as needed. Additionally, the coordinator will monitor the progress of project implementation using results-based management tools, draft reports on monitoring missions, and provide inputs for donor and UN Women reports. The role also involves overseeing operational logistics, managing people and finances, building partnerships, and contributing to advocacy and knowledge building efforts.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's Degree (or equivalent) in a development-related discipline, such as gender issues, public policy, social work, or other related social science fields. Alternatively, a first-level University Degree (Bachelor's Degree) combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. The position requires at least two years of progressively responsible work experience at the national and/or international level in project/program formulation, implementation, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, donor reporting, and capacity building. Experience in women's economic empowerment, informal sector support, and facilitating workshops is highly desirable. Proficiency in using computers and office software packages is required, along with experience in web-based management systems and preferably a modern web-based ERP System, such as Oracle Cloud.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's Degree in a relevant field such as gender studies, public policy, social work, or other social sciences. A Bachelor's Degree may be accepted if accompanied by two additional years of relevant experience. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of gender issues and the socio-economic factors affecting women's empowerment.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of two years of relevant experience if holding a Master's Degree, or four years if holding a Bachelor's Degree. This experience should encompass project/program formulation, implementation, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and donor reporting. Familiarity with women's economic empowerment initiatives and experience in training and capacity building are considered assets. Additionally, experience in liaising with government agencies and donors, as well as leading and developing team members, is required.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within the organization and with stakeholders. Additionally, fluency in the local language of Vanuatu is desirable, as it would facilitate better communication and engagement with local partners and beneficiaries.

Additional Notes:
This position is a full-time role with supervisory responsibilities over the M4C Country team in Vanuatu, which includes a Senior Project Officer, Project Officer, and Project Associate. The National Project Coordinator will report directly to the Regional Project Manager and will be involved in all HR-related matters for the country project team. The role requires a commitment to UN Women's values and policies, including adherence to a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the organization's aims and objectives. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history.