National Project Coordinator, Affirmative Finance

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact in the area of gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women merges and builds on the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization 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. UN Women has a significant presence in various countries, working with public institutions, financial institutions, development partners, and private sector actors to promote gender-responsive economic policies and women's access to productive resources and assets.

Job Overview:
The National Project Coordinator for Affirmative Finance will provide strategic, programmatic, and technical leadership for the implementation, coordination, monitoring, and positioning of the Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Finance project in Senegal. This role involves serving as the technical focal point on women’s entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and affirmative finance. The incumbent will work closely with various stakeholders, including government institutions, financial institutions, donors, civil society organizations, and private sector actors. The position requires translating regional project objectives into a coherent national implementation strategy that aligns with UN Women’s Strategic Plan and national gender equality commitments. The coordinator will lead integrated planning, budgeting, and implementation processes, ensuring timely delivery of results while addressing risks and bottlenecks. The role also involves providing high-level technical advice on integrating affirmative finance principles into policies and financial products, overseeing analyses of systemic barriers to finance, and developing evidence-based policy recommendations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Project Coordinator will be responsible for leading the strategic implementation of the Affirmative Finance project, ensuring coherence with UN Women’s strategic priorities. Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the design and positioning of gender-responsive financing solutions tailored to women entrepreneurs.
• Overseeing the development of high-quality policy briefs and technical notes to inform policy dialogue and advocacy.
• Establishing a robust results-based management framework to monitor implementation progress and ensure accountability.
• Cultivating strategic partnerships with government institutions, financial institutions, and civil society organizations to advance gender-responsive financing.
• Supporting resource mobilization efforts and contributing to funding proposals that demonstrate the project’s strategic relevance.
• Leading knowledge generation and dissemination of good practices and lessons learned on affirmative finance and women’s access to finance.
• Providing programmatic guidance to implementing partners and ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in Economics, Finance, Gender, International Development, Procurement, or a related field. Certification in areas such as Procurement, Gender, Financial Management, or Project Management is considered an advantage. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. The role requires excellent program formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills, as well as the ability to develop operational plans and budgets. Strong networking skills and the ability to negotiate with donors are essential, along with a deep understanding of women's empowerment and gender-responsive financing.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree (Bac+5) in relevant fields such as Economics, Finance, Gender, International Development, or Procurement. Additional certifications in related areas would be beneficial. A first-level university degree may be accepted with additional qualifying experience, demonstrating flexibility in educational requirements based on practical experience.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of progressively responsible experience in development program or project implementation, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and donor reporting. Experience in public policy and strategy to support women's entrepreneurship is essential. Knowledge of gender/public procurement procedures in West and Central Africa is required, along with experience in leading personnel in an international setting. Familiarity with private sector affirmative sourcing practices and experience working with government agencies and donors are desirable. Proficiency in using office software and web-based management systems is also necessary.

Languages:
Fluency in French and English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of local languages is desirable, as is proficiency in another official UN language such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish, which would enhance communication and collaboration in a diverse work environment.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve supervisory responsibilities, providing programmatic coordination and technical guidance to consultants and partners. 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 background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. Applicants must complete all sections of the application form to avoid disqualification.