Programme Support Associate (GBV)

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Established to accelerate progress on meeting the needs of women and girls worldwide, UN Women supports UN Member States in setting global standards for achieving gender equality. The organization collaborates with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programs, and services that ensure these standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls globally. UN Women operates in multiple countries, focusing on various initiatives that promote gender equality and empower women.

Job Overview:
The Programme Support Associate position at UN Women South Africa is designed for a young professional seeking practical experience within the United Nations framework. This role involves supporting the implementation of programs aimed at promoting gender equality and preventing violence against women and girls (EVAW). The successful candidate will engage in program coordination, stakeholder engagement, documentation, knowledge management, and administrative support to ensure that activities are delivered efficiently and align with organizational priorities. The position offers exposure to the United Nations Country Team coordination architecture, particularly through support to the Gender Theme Group (GTG). The UN Volunteer will work under the supervision of a designated UN Women supervisor and collaborate with program staff, implementing partners, government institutions, civil society organizations, and other UN agencies. This role is pivotal in contributing to program coordination, monitoring, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and administrative support, thereby enhancing collaboration on gender equality across the UN system. The position also includes structured mentoring and regular coaching to strengthen competencies in program management, coordination, communication, partnerships, and organizational administration.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support programme coordination and implementation: Assist in planning, coordinating, and implementing programs focused on gender equality and the elimination of violence against women and girls (EVAW). This includes coordinating program activities, meetings, workshops, consultations, and field engagements to ensure timely implementation of approved work plans. Provide operational support for effective program delivery.
• Provide administrative support to the Programme Unit: Handle logistical, administrative, and financial arrangements for meetings, workshops, events, and missions. Make travel arrangements for the Programme Team, including travel requisitions and claims. Draft meeting minutes and prepare presentations in collaboration with the Programme team. Organize and maintain filing systems and mailing lists.
• Support monitoring, reporting, and results tracking: Assist in monitoring program implementation by maintaining activity trackers and compiling program information. Contribute to internal, donor, and inter-agency reporting by consolidating information from program teams and partners. Support results tracking and documentation of program achievements.
• Support knowledge management and documentation: Provide administrative support for training organization for office staff and partners. Maintain program documentation and electronic filing systems. Document lessons learned and success stories from program implementation.
• Support communication and visibility: Document program activities and events through summaries and photographs. Compile program information for internal reporting and stakeholder updates. Disseminate program information to stakeholders in accordance with organizational policies.
• Provide general administrative support: Assist with meeting logistics, travel arrangements, procurement processes, and document management. Maintain filing and records management systems and support financial documentation in line with UN Women policies. Perform other program support and administrative duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates should possess strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is essential. Familiarity with program management tools and methodologies is advantageous. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as an understanding of the UN system and its operations.

Educational Background:
A bachelor's degree in social sciences, international relations, gender studies, or a related field is required. Advanced degrees or certifications in relevant areas will be considered an asset.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 1-2 years of relevant experience in program support, administration, or related fields. Experience working in an international organization or within the UN system is highly desirable. Familiarity with gender issues and women's rights is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of additional languages, particularly local languages spoken in South Africa, is considered an asset and may enhance communication with stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a volunteer role with a monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of R7,500.00 (tax-free) to support basic living expenses. The assignment provides access to UNV learning and development platforms to support professional and personal development. The role is based in South Africa, where candidates should be aware of the local living conditions, including safety considerations and the cosmopolitan nature of larger cities.