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.
UN Women has placed emphasis on improving its strategic planning and managing for results by applying the Results-Based Management (RBM) throughout all the work of UN Women. This requires dedicated efforts to strengthen results culture in the organization. In order for UN Women to communicate impact stories on women and girls at the corporate level with aggregated results and financial data across all the countries and regions, strategic planning with strong emphasis on results management and programme/ project management is pre-requisite to facilitate systematic and effective results monitoring and reporting during the implementation.ย
In the Americas & Caribbean Region, UN Women has a Regional Office based in Panama City, 10 Country Offices, one Multi Country Office in the Caribbean and non-physical presence in 8 countries throughout the region. The goal of UN Womenยดs presence in the region is to support the achievement of gender equality, womenยดs empowerment and the promotion and protection of womenยดs human rights.ย Ending violence against women and girls has been identified by UN Women as a key primary focus area in the region.ย UN Women is working to improve the quality of, and increase accessibility to, coordinated services and responses to violence against women.ย UN Women works with partners to reach a shared understanding at the regional level on the range of services and responses required and the corresponding standards and/or guidelines for the provision of the services that are considered essential to meet the needs of women and girls subject to violence. In addition, UN Women actively participates and contributes to various UN inter-agency processes and collaborates with UN organizations around specific programme areas.ย
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director, the Regional Strategic Planning Specialist is responsible for leading the strategic planning work in the region and lead oversight in planning and strategic Programme Management (PM) across the region.ย
The Regional Strategic Planning Specialist provides strategic guidance and technical support to the RO and Country Offices (COs) to ensure high quality strategic planning documents at regional and country levels, ensuring the alignment with UN Women Strategic Plan and the corporate standard on RBM and PM. They lead the preparation of the Strategic Note and workplan of the RO in close collaboration with RO colleagues and COs in the respective region. Regional Strategic Planning Specialist also provides guidance, technical support and quality assurance to Country Offices (COs) associated with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs), Strategic Notes and workplans from the strategic planning, RBM perspectives, PM initiation, Planning, Assurance, monitoring and implementation, ย Partner lifecycle implementation and management ย . The Regional Strategic Planning Specialist also contribute to HQ-led corporate level initiatives in the areas of Strategic Planning, RBM and Programme, project and Programme Partner Management support.
The Regional Strategic Planning Specialist works closely with the Regional Coordination Specialist, the Regional Monitoring & Reporting Specialist/Focal Point, The Regional PSMU focal point/teamย and the Regional Operation Manager, as well as the rest of RO colleagues and CO colleagues in the region. They also coordinate with other Regional Strategic Planning Specialists in other ROs to facilitate cross-regional learning and peer-to-peer support mechanism. In carrying out the functions, they coordinate and collaborate closely with relevant HQ Divisions and units, including the Strategy, Planning, Resources and Effectiveness Division (SPRED) and the Policy, Programme and Inter Governmental Division (PPID), in order to ensure the implementation of corporate policy, procedures, guidance and systems associated with the strategic planning and results management in their respective region. ย In addition, the Planning team will transition from Coordination and Planning to Planning and Program Strategic Management in 2026 under the leadership of the Regional Strategic Planning Specialist and in close coordination with ACRO PSMU Team. The incumbent will lead a team of affiliate personnel and home-based consultants of approximately 5 members depending on the annual workplan and quarterly needs.ย
Key Functions and Accountabilities:
1.Provide strategic planning and RBM-related guidance and technical support to the UN Country Teams (UNCTs) and UN Women COs in the region for development of UNSDCFs through the inter-agency regional mechanism, such as Peer Support Group (PSG), in close collaboration with Regional Coordination Specialist:
- Substantively support and contribute to the inter-agency strategic planning processes at the regional and country levels, by coordinating with PSG co-chairs and participating in PSG meetings and related activities related to strategic planning, RBM, monitoring and reporting.
- Review draft Roadmaps, Common Country Assessment (CCA) and UNSDCFs from the perspective of strategic planning, RBM and monitoring/reporting, in line with the guidance/standard from DCO, in close collaboration with Regional Coordination Specialist.
- Provide additional technical support to UNCTs and Results Groups, upon request, in relation to UNSDCFs, joint work plans, RBM capacity development, monitoring and reporting.
- Provide guidance and technical support to UN Women COs in the areas of strategic planning, RBM, monitoring and reporting related to UNSDCFs, Joint Workplans and the UN Info platform, clarifying the alignment and linkage with UN Women Strategic Plan, Strategic Notes, workplans and UN Women corporate results management system, PRISM.ย
2.Provide strategic guidance, technical support and quality assurance to UN Women COs in the areas of strategic planning, results monitoring and reporting, RBM and UN Women Result Management System, PRISM:
- Provide guidance, technical support and quality assurance to UN Women Country Offices in the region to ensure the quality and timely submission and finalization of Strategic Notes, ensuring the full alignment with the respective UNSDCFs and in line with UN Womenโs relevant corporate policies, procedures and guidance.
- Provide guidance, technical support and quality assurance to UN Women Country Offices in the region to ensure the quality and timely submission and finalization of workplans, monitoring and annual reports in line with UN Womenโs relevant corporate policies, procedures and guidance.
- Lead and manage the regional level review and appraisal process of workplans and annual reports from COs, in collaboration with the relevant RO colleagues, to ensure quality in the region to facilitate the approval of those CO workplans and annual reports by Regional Director.
- Provide guidance and support to COs to ensure amendments of Strategic Notes and workplans are completed in a timely manner in line with relevant corporate procedure, in coordination with HQ.
- Provide guidance, technical support and training to strengthen the capacity of COs in the areas of RBM in relation to strategic planning, monitoring and reporting.
- Provide guidance and technical support, upon request, when a CO conducts Mid-Term Review (MTR) of their Strategic Note.
- Provide guidance and technical support to COs to ensure the effective use of PRISM for management and implementation of SNs, workplans and projects
3.Lead and coordinate the strategic planning, monitoring and reporting processes at the regional level:
- Lead and manage the overall processes and coordinate within RO and with COs in the region to develop a new Strategic Note of RO, ensuring the timely submission and quality in line with the relevant corporate policies, procedures and guidance.
- Lead the overall processes and coordinate within the RO to develop and finalize workplans of the RO, ensuring the timely submission and quality in line with the relevant corporate policies, procedures and guidance documents.
- Ensure engagement of Programme Partners at strategic level of results during the CO planning and implementation, including engaging Progrmme partners during the Strategic Note/Biennial Work Planning process.ย
- Lead and manage the amendment process of Strategic Note and workplan of RO in line with relevant corporate procedure and in coordination with SPRED/SPU.
- Lead and manage the overall processes and coordinate within RO for monitoring and reporting exercises against RO SN and workplans.
- Ensure the quality of planning and reporting data against RO Strategic Note before publishing inย UN Womenโs Transparency Portal.ย
- Provide RBM-related guidance and technical support to RO personnel to improve strategic planning, results monitoring and reporting in RO.
- Provide guidance and technical support to personnel in the RO to ensure the effective use of PRISM for ROโs planning, monitoring and reporting processes.
- Provide support to the Regional Operations Manager for matters relating to the Regional Quarterly Business Review (QBR), the Regional Risk Management process and the development of the regional Office Typology and physical presence setup
4. Lead and coordination ACRO PSMU and provide oversight and technical support for program implementation in LAC
- Supervise ACRO PSMU team to ensure program quality control and identify potential challenges.
- Analyze and ensure the alignment of project budgets with logical framework matrices and work plans.
- Provide strategic and specialized technical advice on the development of systems, processes, and support mechanisms for planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting on program progress.
- Review and evaluate CN and proposals and supervise the preparation of proposals and reports for donors.
- Provide technical support in the preparation of Assurance activities and follow up on the implementation of Assurance findings .
- Second line functions to provide oversight information including for Quarterly Business Review in line with the Programme, Project and Programme Partner Management Procedures.
- Develop, coordinate, and deliver training on results-based management to staff in the Regional Office and country offices.
5. Provide coordination and expert guidance for ACRO and Country Officesโ Programsโ Management and implementing partners (internal and external).
- Provide technical support to the regional office and country offices in Programme, Project and Programme partner management and results-based management, relating to ensuring that the region is doing the right projects, projects and programmes are done the right way and are consistently done well by applying corporate standards and tools
- Provide technical support and supervise the technical implementation of program activities with partners.
- Undertake capacity ย assessment and strengthening of UN Women personnel as well as partners on Programme Partner implementation and coordinate and facilitate technical/programmatic support and training as needed.
- Maintain relationships and liaison with country offices and headquarters on project/program and programme partner management issues, ensuring smooth exchange of information and data, execution, work planning, and feedback.
- Undertake or participate in missions, as necessary, to support specific projects and programs throughout all stages of the project management cycle.
- Develop in coordination with ROM oversight joint missions, as well as acceleration plans for delayed programs/projects and propose back on track solutions for COs and ROs programs effective and impactful implementation.
6. Contribute to HQ-led corporate initiatives in the areas of Strategic Planning, Results Monitoring, Reporting, RBM and Program Management in close collaboration with HQ to ensure the field perspectives and needs are reflected in those corporate initiatives:
- Contribute to corporate level strategic planning exercises associated with UN Women Strategic Plan, including development of new Strategic Plan and Mid-Term Review of Strategic Plan.
- Contribute to corporate level reporting exercises, including the Executive Directorโs Annual Report (EDAR) to the Executive Board on implementation of Strategic Plan and its data publication in UN Womenโs Transparency Portal, ensuring the quality of data against Strategic Plan indicators and narrative inputs from the region
- Contribute to development, revision and roll-out of relevant corporate policies, procedure and guidance in the areas of strategic planning, RBM and PM.
- Contribute to development/revision of corporate RBM/PM capacity development resources and tools in the areas of strategic planning, monitoring and reporting.
- Contribute to development/enhancement of corporate systems in the areas of strategic planning, results management and program/project ย management and oversight.
- Coordinate and collaborate with HQ to ensure results and financial data and results stories from the region are published in UN Womenโs Transparency Portal in a timely and accessible manner.ย
7. Oversee documentations in the areas of strategic planning, monitoring, reporting, RBM and Programme, Project and Programme Partner Management within the Regional Office and contribute to audits and evaluations:
- Ensure Strategic Notes and workplans. Programme, Project documents, Programme Partner documents, annual reports of RO and COs in the region are fully updated in the corporate systems and documented with amendments, ensuring the readiness for future audits and evaluations.
- Contribute to internal/external audits, corporate/regional evaluations, other assessment/reviews and reporting requirements, by providing necessary data, information and documents associated with UNSDCFs, Strategic Notes, workplans projects ย and programme partners from the region.ย
8.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
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:
- Excellent knowledge of strategic planning and RBM
- Excellent knowledge of Programme Management
- Excellent knowledge of UN system and understanding of inter-agency strategic planning processes
- Excellent knowledge of gender equality ย
- Ability to lead, oversee and monitor the inclusion of gender-specific results, indicators, targets and activities in various planning frameworks
- Good knowledge Latin American and Caribbean gender equality structural barriersย
- Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision.
- Ability to support others to strengthen their knowledge and skills in the areas of strategic planning.
Recruitment Qualifications:
Education and Certification:
- At least an advanced university degree (masterโs or equivalent) in Development-related disciplines, Social Sciences, Political Science, Development Studies, Public Administration, Gender, or a related field is required.ย
- A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- At least 7 years of progressively responsible development experience that combines strategic and managerial leadership in development cooperation, international relations, public administration or a related field is required.
- At least 3 years of experience in Results-Based Management (RBM) and strategic planning, including managing and coordinating the development of strategy, multi-year planning documents, work plans, and/or programme documents at the country, regional and/or international levels is required.
- Experience in providing guidance and technical support to Country Offices, or diverse teams for development of Theory of Change, results frameworks, logical frameworks and indicators for programmes/projects, to ensure the minimum standard of RBM is required.
- Experience in inter-agency strategic planning, Joint UN programmes, UN to UN agreements development or work related to UNSDCFs at the country, regional or international level is required.
- Experience in monitoring gender equality policies, strategies, programmes, projects or initiatives in preferably in the Latin America and the Caribbean is required.
- Experience in regional offices, programme or regional similar structures is desired.
- Experience in conducting PM or RBM training, as a trainer, to personnel and/or external partners to support results-based planning, monitoring and reporting is desirable.
- Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.), spreadsheet and database packages is required.
- Experience in developing RBM, PM or corporate/regional oversight resources and tools is desirable.
- Experience in the use of a modern web-based results management system, is desirable.ย
Languages:
- Fluency in English and Spanish are required.
- Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese or Russian).
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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