Programme Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance gender equality and the empowerment of women. The organization merges the efforts of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM, which focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women operates globally, with a mission 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 has been active in Afghanistan for two decades, addressing the complex humanitarian crisis affecting millions of people, particularly women and girls who face systematic human rights restrictions. UN Women Afghanistan operates through its main office in Kabul and five sub-offices in Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar, and Nangarhar, focusing on key program priorities such as Integrated Programming and Localization, Women's movement building, Policy and Research, Economic Resilience, and Coordination, Access and Humanitarian/Emergency Response.

Job Overview:
The Programme Specialist will play a crucial role in supporting UN Women’s humanitarian programming efforts in Afghanistan, particularly under the Coordination, Access and Humanitarian/Emergency Response Unit. This position involves providing technical, coordination, and administrative support to enhance the office's capacity to respond to crises effectively. The Programme Specialist will work closely with various stakeholders, including UN Women’s sub-offices, aid actors, and Women-Led Organizations, to ensure a coordinated approach to humanitarian response. The role requires the design and implementation of program strategies focused on gender in humanitarian action, contributing to the overall functions of humanitarian emergency programming, and fostering coherence with other partners in the country. The Programme Specialist will also be responsible for capacity building initiatives and monitoring the implementation of emergency programs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide capacity building support to country office teams and partners on humanitarian programming, specifically on emergency humanitarian programming. This includes developing and strengthening emergency projects/programmes and implementing humanitarian capacity building initiatives at the field level.
• Design, develop, and implement program strategies in the area of gender in humanitarian action, including drafting inputs for country strategy documents and finalizing documentation for resource mobilization.
• Contribute to coordination with aid actors by participating in meetings of aid coordination platforms and maintaining close liaisons with relevant donors and partners.
• Support the overall functions of humanitarian emergency programming, including writing reports, monitoring program implementation, and identifying best practices for program improvements.
• Provide backstopping support to integrated programming partnerships and project implementations, ensuring donor commitments are fulfilled and supporting the closure of humanitarian projects.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field. 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 added advantage. Candidates should demonstrate good program formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills, as well as a strong understanding of administrative and financial procedures within the UN system.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as social sciences, human rights, gender/women's studies, or international development. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with additional qualifying experience may be accepted. A project/programme management certification would enhance a candidate's profile.

Experience:
At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience at the national or international level in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of humanitarian and development projects is required. Candidates should have experience working in humanitarian settings and an understanding of humanitarian coordination mechanisms. Experience in implementing gender in humanitarian action and emergency response projects is desirable, along with proficiency in using computers and office software packages. Familiarity with modern web-based ERP systems, preferably Oracle Cloud, is also desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly those relevant to the regions where UN Women operates.

Additional Notes:
This position is remote, allowing for home-based work with missions to Kabul for in-person coordination with stakeholders. The role is full-time and involves collaboration with various partners and stakeholders in the humanitarian sector. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring a respectful environment for all employees. The organization 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.