Planning and Coordination Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an organization grounded in the vision of equality as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Its mission focuses on the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women, and the achievement of 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. Established to advocate for gender equality, UN Women operates in various countries, including Paraguay, where it maintains a program presence in close coordination with the regional office. The organization collaborates closely with the Resident Coordinator’s office and partner UN agencies, funds, and programs to advance women's empowerment under the framework of the UN Cooperation Framework. UN Women is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and ensuring that women's voices are heard in all aspects of development and humanitarian efforts.

Job Overview:
The Planning and Coordination Specialist will report to the Deputy Regional Director and work closely with the Regional Coordination Specialist. This position is responsible for coordinating the normative and coordination portfolio, which includes managing relationships with national partners and stakeholders. The role requires providing technical support to the Regional Office, UN Resident Coordinator (RC), and UN Country Team (UNCT) on inter-agency coordination. The incumbent will participate in joint inter-agency UN planning processes, prepare briefing materials for discussions, and provide analysis and advice on gender dynamics to support inclusive engagement of women in development assistance. Additionally, the specialist will be involved in monitoring and reporting on UN Women’s program experiences and will represent the organization at conferences and meetings, contributing to joint program development and advocacy efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical support to the Regional Office, UN Resident Coordinator (RC), and UNCT on inter-agency coordination, including participation in joint planning processes and preparation of briefing materials.
• Analyze gender dynamics and advise on opportunities for women's engagement in development assistance.
• Prepare inputs for Common Country Assessment (CCA) and UNDAF documents.
• Support UNCT in monitoring and reporting, preparing analytical progress reports on UN Women’s programs.
• Develop strategic partnerships and resource mobilization efforts, managing promotional events to engage donors and civil society.
• Provide guidance on implementing UN frameworks on gender equality and develop capacity among partner organizations.
• Implement advocacy activities related to Gender Empowerment and Women’s Economic Empowerment, focusing on key events like International Women’s Day.
• Manage knowledge sharing and capacity building exercises, ensuring good practices are incorporated into program planning.
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in public administration, law, human rights, gender equality, management, social sciences, or related areas is required.
• A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) is an added advantage.
• Strong program formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills are essential.
• Strong budget and finance skills, along with knowledge of Results Based Management, are required.
• Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports for strategic decision-making is crucial.
• Strong analytical skills and knowledge of UN program management systems are necessary.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as public administration, law, human rights, gender equality, management, or social sciences. Alternatively, 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 (like PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be considered an advantage, enhancing the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in managing complex and multi-component coordination processes with UNCT members and national partners related to women’s empowerment. Experience in planning, coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating development programs and projects is required. Previous experience working within the UN system is desirable, as it provides valuable insights into the organization's operations and collaborative efforts.

Languages:
Fluency in Spanish is required for this position, as it is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the local context. Fluency in English is desirable, as it facilitates interaction with international stakeholders and documentation. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as French, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian, is also desirable, as it can enhance the candidate's ability to engage with a broader range of partners and resources.

Additional Notes:
The position does not specify a deadline for applications, and it is important to note that the role may involve both full-time responsibilities and potential international collaboration. The seniority level is not explicitly stated, but given the responsibilities and required qualifications, it is likely to be a mid to senior-level position. Compensation and benefits details are not provided in the job description, and interested candidates may need to inquire further regarding these aspects.