Country Representative

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as part of the UN reform agenda to enhance the impact of gender equality and women's empowerment initiatives. The organization merges the resources and mandates 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 is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect, employing individuals regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with its aims and objectives, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination.

Job Overview:
The Country Representative for UN Women in Mozambique plays a crucial role in integrating humanitarian, development, and peace initiatives into the strategic planning and implementation of the country office's activities. This position is vital in ensuring that the humanitarian response is gender-responsive and that women have access to life-saving and recovery services. The Country Representative is accountable to the UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa and collaborates with the UN Country Team (UNCT) to support the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The role involves leading the Mozambique Country Office portfolio, translating UN Women's Strategic Plan into actionable development initiatives, and fostering partnerships with government entities, civil society, and donors to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. The Country Representative is also responsible for managing the office's operational goals, ensuring compliance with UN Women regulations, and providing leadership and guidance to personnel.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Country Representative's duties include managing the strategic country programme planning and development, leading the design and implementation of the Country Strategic Note, providing substantive advice to senior management, overseeing the quality of results-based programming, and finalizing annual work plans and budgets. The representative is responsible for leading the Mozambique Country Office, ensuring operational goals are met, managing personnel performance, and fostering a respectful and inclusive work environment. Additionally, the Country Representative serves as a member of the UN Country Team, collaborating on programming and advocacy to integrate gender equality into UN processes. The role also involves strengthening accountability for gender in humanitarian responses, representing UN Women in various forums, leading resource mobilization strategies, managing knowledge and capacity building initiatives, and overseeing the safety and security of personnel and organizational assets.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree or equivalent in development-related disciplines, economics, public policy, or social sciences. 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. Candidates should have at least 10 years of progressively responsible development experience, including strategic and managerial leadership in development cooperation and humanitarian programming at the international level. Experience in gender and women's issues programming, particularly in developing countries within the UN system, is required. Field-based experience with multicultural teams and experience in leading and coaching staff in international settings are essential. Proficiency in using office software and web-based management systems is necessary, and experience with modern ERP systems, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree or equivalent in development-related fields, economics, public policy, or other social sciences. A first-level university degree may be accepted in combination with additional qualifying experience. Candidates with project/programme management certifications will have an advantage in the selection process.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in development, focusing on strategic and managerial leadership in development cooperation and humanitarian programming at the international level. Candidates should have experience in gender and women's issues programming, preferably within the UN system, and field-based experience working with multicultural teams. Leadership and coaching experience in international settings are also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Portuguese is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish, is considered desirable and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The Country Representative position is a senior-level role that involves leading a team of 34 personnel, including direct reports and affiliate personnel. The role requires a commitment to UN Women’s values and competencies, including integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity. The incumbent will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures, including those related to misconduct and discrimination. The position may involve international recruitment, and candidates should be prepared for rigorous reference and background checks.