13/07/2021
bout the job Programme Officer, MPTF (Closing Date: 18.07.21)
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Programme Officer MPTF
WEE&SL unit – UN Women Country Office, Islamabad
I. Position Information
Job Title
Programme Officer, MPTF
Reports to
Portfolio Manager WEE & SL, UN Women Pakistan
Department
Women Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Livelihood, UN Women Pakistan Country Office Islamabad
Type of Contract
3rd Party Contract
Number of positions
3
Duty Station
Islamabad, Peshawar & Quetta
Duration of assignment
7.5 months – 15 Aug 2021 – 31 Mar 2022
INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND
With the first case emerging in November 2019 in Wuhan City, China, the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (CoVID-19[1]) has spread quickly across more than 199 countries and territories of the world. On March 11, 2020, WHO declared it a pandemic. As of August 20, 2020, there are over 22 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the world. The pandemic has already killed over 796,000 people4 and has generated huge disruptions to health systems, education systems, economies and social structures, which are predicted both to be worsen and be long-lasting. Behind these numbers, there is human cost in terms of mental trauma of death of a relative and fear of encountering the virus and loss of livelihood. Immediate and longer-term needs are changing across countries and are dependent on where countries are in the outbreak cycle.
Pandemics such as COVID-19 adversely impact the livelihoods of individuals, households and communities. In a report, the IMF has stated that while the effects of the disease will be felt worldwide, the vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities are likely to suffer disproportionately from the Pandemic and will continue to be affected long after. Women in these populations and communities are likely to be affected even more as their pre-COVID-19 situation has been exacerbated by the pandemic. These individuals have limited access to healthcare and lack the capacity to protect themselves from financial shocks such as lay-offs and closures of businesses. An ILO report stated that “Women’s employment is at greater risk than men’s, owing to the impact of the lockdown in service sectors women are overrepresented in, combined with their higher informality in them.”
Pakistan has witnessed a 282,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases till August 20, 2020 with over 6000 deaths. In a developing country like Pakistan, where one third of the population is living below the poverty line especially in rural areas, which ranks poorly in terms of gender equality and the implementation of human rights of women, a pandemic is likely to damage the social and economic fabric of society, while compounding existing gender inequalities being faced by disadvantaged groups. The pandemic has profound repercussions on employment and, consequently, people’s livelihoods, food security and nutrition`. Pakistan is already highly impacted by climate change and frequent disasters, which has resulted in low agriculture productivity, loss of livelihoods, productive assets and food insecurity.
UN Women is embarking on implementing a national project “Strengthening Economic Resilience and Food Security for Women Home Based Workers and Women Farmers” whose livelihoods have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, through existing government programs, cash grants, and skills training for initiating micro-enterprises. The project will contribute to mitigating the impact of the pandemic on livelihoods and food security, foster better recovery, and build resilience for future shocks for vulnerable women. The expected outcome is: Economic vulnerability of women and other marginalized groups in the Covid-19 crisis situation is reduced by linkages to social protection schemes, improving household food security and income replacement opportunities. The project includes the gender transformative goal of sensitizing men towards increased responsibilities of women during lockdowns and encouraging them to share the caregiving and domestic responsibilities through attitude and behaviour change.
IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE
UN Women aims at recruiting a Programme officer to support the implementation of its activities related to Women’s Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Livelihoods Portfolio in general and the project “Strengthening Economic Resilience and Food Security for Women Home Based Workers and Women Farmers” in particular. Programme Officer will assist in ensuring effective delivery of the WEE&SL programme by supporting in all aspects of Program Implementation such as planning; maintaining coordination and strategic partnerships, knowledge management, reporting and effective monitoring in accordance with UN Women’s rules and regulations.
Programme Officer will keep a close liaison with provincial offices for ensuring adequate exchange of information, facilitating the timely ex*****on of project/WEE programme workplan and furnish required details as and when required by Portfolio Manager WEE&SL.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Programme Officer will be responsible for assisting/supporting the Portfolio Manager WEE&SL in the following key areas of the programme;
· Support in the formulation of programme strategies and implementation and monitoring of the programme activities related to WEE & SL unit.
· Administrative and programmatic support to the “Strengthening Economic Resilience and Food Security for Women Home Based Workers and Women Farmers”.
· Support in building and maintaining strategic partnerships with key stakeholders and implement resource mobilization strategy of UN Women Pakistan, WEE&SL AWP 2021 with guidance from Country Representative, Deputy Representative and in cooperation with UN Women.
· Work closely and collaboratively with colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues. Provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision-making. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.
· Participate in monitoring and evaluation, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess programmes/projects and to report on required action and interventions at the higher level of programme management.
· Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verifying compliance with approved allocation, goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures, donor commitments, standards of accountability, and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management and stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
· Prepare regular and mandated sectoral programme/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.
· Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing under WEE&SL unit. (development of Terms of Reference's, technical backstopping and managing consultants)
Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, and other material as required.
· Follow up and coordination with programme teams in Punjab, Baluchistan, KP and Sindh on performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of donor reports, quarterly and annual reports.
· Provide support to Portfolio Manager WEE & SL in preparation of programme level internal and donor reports focusing on results, output and outcomes.
· Close coordination with Communication dept in UN Women Pakistan for the adequate and timely provision of data for effective communication/visibility of WEE & SL programme on multimedia platforms (print and electronic).
· Link Women Home Based Workers with the Government’s Ehsaas Social Protection Programme.
· Supporting coordination with other UN Women programmes and/or UN Agencies as part of OPII to facilitate Women Economic Empowerment in the country.
· Support to enhance coordination between UN agencies, public and private sector organizations at the Federal level to improve women’s access to economic opportunities.
· Support development of new project proposals and resource mobilization tasks.
· Document programme activities and manage office records.
Undertake monitoring visits to the project/programme districts periodically to assess the project implementation activities.
· Any other related tasks assigned by the PM WEE & SL or Deputy Country representative.
DURATION OF ASSIGNMEN
10 months
LINK TO SDG TARGET AND OUTCOMES
SDG 5. Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all women and girls.
SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
SDG Indicators
2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity
Experience Scale (FIES)
2.3.2 Average income of small-scale food producers, by s*x and indigenous status
5.4.1 Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by s*x, age and location
8.3.1 Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by s*x
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE & FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES
· Master’s Degree or equivalent in social sciences or relevant fields
· Minimum 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level.
· Experience in collaborating and relationship building with international, or donor organizations will be an asset.
· Ability and willingness to accept and manage multiple tasks with efficiency with own initiative and without supervision.
· Knowledge and dedication to the UN principles required; experience of working with governmental bodies as well as civil society organizations is a must, along with management advisory services and hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
· Experience in the use of computers and office software packages and handling of web-based management systems.
· Knowledge of Government Ehsaas Programme
· Excellent English drafting ability and Documentation Skills.
· Knowledge of ATLAS system will be considered an asset.
Organizational Competencies:
· Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
· Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNWOMEN;
· Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
