Background:
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for 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.
The Uganda Country Office (UGCO) prioritizes Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG), Womenโs Economic Empowerment (WEE), and Womenโs Leadership and Governance, using Gender Transformative Approaches such as social norms transformation. UGCOโs work focuses on prevention, response, and policy advocacy to strengthen legal frameworks, improve survivor services, and shift societal attitudes. These efforts align with UN Womenโs Global Strategic Plan, Ugandaโs National Development Plan (NDP), and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The Programme Management Specialist plays a critical role in implementing EVAWG initiatives, ensuring programmatic coherence, strengthening coordination, and advancing data-driven interventions.
About the Position and Portfolio
The Programme Management Specialist will play a crucial role in aligning the unit's work with these key priorities, ensuring coherence and effectiveness in programme implementation, and achieving the expected outcomes of ending VAWG, while ensuring the empowerment of women and girls and promoting gender equality in Uganda.
Organizational Setting, Reporting, and Collaborators
Based in Kampala, the Programme Management Specialist reports to the Deputy Country Representative. Responsibilities include managing programme development, implementation, monitoring, reporting, budget oversight, partnerships, resource mobilization, and knowledge management. The incumbent collaborates with programme and operations teams, UN Women Headquarters and Regional Office staff, government officials, donors, and civil society organizations to ensure impactful programme delivery. This role requires strong coordination, analytical, and communication skills to align with UN Womenโs broader goals.
Key Functions and Accountabilities
Manage the programmatic development for the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Uganda Country Office (CO), based on the Strategic Note
Provide overall programme advisory support to the Office Management; Guide the development of the CO programme, and provide technical support to the design and formulation of programme/ project initiatives; Review and provide feedback to project/ programme strategies and documents, workplans, case studies and related knowledge products and publications, as needed; Provide technical advice on the development of systems, processes and mechanisms to support programme planning, implementation, monitoring and progress reporting;ย Review and evaluate proposals and oversee the preparation of donor proposals and reports;ย Draft policy documents, briefs and other strategic papers/ materials for the use in the development and presentation of policy and programmatic positions.ย Provide technical support to the implementation of the Country Office programme
Review programme annual work plans to assure compliance with UN Women programme goals and results-based indicators; Analyze and ensure alignment of project budgets with logical framework matrices and work plans; Draft reports on activities, outputs and outcomes; and compile information in preparations of country office donor and UN Women reports; Analyze and ensure alignment of project budgets with logical framework matrices and work plans;ย Manage programme quality control and identification of potential challenges; Align programme activities with operations team in close liaison with Operations Managers; Build and manage relationships with national partners, as necessary.ย Manage the monitoring and reporting for the Country Office integrated programme on EVAWG
Recommend and establish programme monitoring standards, criteria, and other indicators for measuring and assessing progress/results; Manage the monitoring of mutually agreed results frameworks and performance indicators; Coordinate the process of gathering information and preparing progress reports on programme implementation; prepare technical reports; Prepare programme team for audits and monitor implementation of audit recommendations;ย Provide training on results-based management to office staff, as necessary.ยOversee and guide people and budget management for assigned programme teamย
Lead a team, perform staff performance reviews, ensure capacity development of staff members by suggesting development opportunities; Monitor and analyze financial situation on the portfolios and programmes to ensure adherence to delivery rates and utilization of resources to meet agreed upon targets and results; Ensure effective information flow, communication and coordination across the office, between programmes, projects and operations, and with other UN Women offices and units.Build partnerships and provide support in developing resource mobilization strategies
Develop and implement partnerships and resource mobilization strategies; Analyze and research information on donors, finalize substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for resource mobilization and cost sharing; Determine programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UN Women, country needs and donorsโ priorities and develop the relevant partnerships.Manage knowledge building efforts
Manage the process of identifying and synthesizing of best practices and lessons learned that are directly linked to the implementation of the programme and contribute to their global dissemination.Provide oversight for WEE programmes and resources
Develop and implement strategies and programmes to economically empower women, providing technical guidance and support to staff, partners and key actors Advocate for policies and practices that support WEE, and facilitate capacity-building initiatives for staff, partners and relevant stakeholders. Ensure timely and accurate reporting on WEE initiatives, highlighting key achievements and areas for improvement.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:ย
The incumbent leads a team of 5โ10 personnel, including up to 7 direct reports (4 Specialists (with expertise in EVAW; Access to Justice, Social Norms, WEE); 2 Programme Analysts; and 1 Programme Associate personnel), as well as 5 affiliate personnel (SC, consultants, and interns). However, with the anticipated scale-up of the Uganda Country Programme, the team is expected to expand accordingly to meet programmatic needs.
Competencies :
Core Values:
Integrity; Professionalism; Respect for Diversity.Core Competencies:
Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues; Accountability; Creative Problem Solving; Effective Communication; Inclusive Collaboration; Stakeholder Engagement; Leading by Example.Please visitย this linkย for more information on UN Womenโs Values and Competencies Framework:ย
Functional Competencies:
Strong programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on themย Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making Strong analytical skills Strong knowledge of Results Based Management Good knowledge of UN programme management systemsRecruitment Qualifications
Education and certification:
Masterโs degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Political Science, Development, Public Administration, Gender is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A project/programme management certification (such as PMPยฎ, PRINCE2ยฎ, or MSPยฎ) would be an added advantage.Experience:
At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management, including programme design, programme coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building is required. Experience working in the thematic areas of EVAWG is required, with track record in WEE programming as an added advantage. Experience in setting priorities, budgets, work plans, participating in programme development and programme writing is required. Experience in leading teams effectively is desirable.Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish). Working knowledge of a local Ugandan language is desirable.Statements :
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.
Diversity and inclusion:
At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates,ย and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age,ย ability, national origin,ย or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.
If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.
UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere toย UN Womenโsย policiesย and proceduresย andย theย standardsย of conduct expected of UN Women personnelย and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)
Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.
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