FTA Programme Coordinator (SIARP), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P-4

The Position and Background:

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) persists in every country in the world and is one of the most systematic and widespread human rights violations. One in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner. The immediate and long-term physical, sexual, and mental consequences for women and girls can be devastating, including death. 
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development places gender equality at its core to achieve the SDGs. In Africa particularly, Agenda 2063 clarifies the continent’s priorities, on unlocking the potential of its population by addressing underlying challenges including gender inequality, violence against women and girls in its different formulations. Across this shared international agenda, the elimination of VAWG remains crucial. To this end, the Spotlight Initiative was launched in 2017 with funding of more than $500 million from the European Union, which constituted the largest global, multilateral effort aimed at ending all forms of violence against women and girls. Through its whole-of-society approach, the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme (SIARP) has achieved transformative results in ending VAWG, accelerating progress against Agenda 2063’s Priority 6 and across the SDGs.

SIARP 1.0 contributed to progress in eliminating violence against women and girls, addressing harmful practices, and promoting gender equality across Africa. It strengthened regional legal and policy frameworks, including the development of Africa’s first Regional Action Plan (RAP) on EVAWG, the establishment of the African Union’s Gender and Youth Observatory and securing commitments from 22 Member States to ratify and domesticate the Maputo Protocol. The programme supported legislative reforms on child marriage in Burkina Faso, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe while enhancing National Action Plans to combat harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). It improved data systems through capacity building and tools such as the Gender-Based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS) and the AU Gender Scorecard, enabling evidence-based policymaking. SIARP 1.0 also empowered civil society by funding grassroots initiatives and establishing the Civil Society Regional Reference Group (CSRRG) to enhance advocacy and accountability of the initiative to civil society. Social norm change was driven through engagement with religious and traditional leaders and regional campaigns promoting gender equality and positive masculinities. Multisectoral partnerships aligned efforts among UN agencies, the African Union Commission (AUC), and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), ensuring long-term sustainability by embedding initiatives into regional policies. These achievements laid a strong foundation for SIARP 2.0 to build upon and further accelerate progress.

SIARP 2.0 represents a dynamic partnership among AUC, RECs, United Nations agencies, civil society, and the European Union. Building on the foundation of SIARP 1.0 (2020–2023), this second phase aims to address violence against women and girls, including to eliminate harmful practices, and strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights outcomes across Africa. With a comprehensive, rights-based, and survivor-centered approach, SIARP 2.0 tackles the root causes of violence and promotes systemic change through continental and regional actions. SIARP 2.0’s strategy aims to enhance legal reforms, prevention strategies, service delivery for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), and institutional capacity development, resourcing and strengthening networks among civil society to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable approach, and is structured around four interconnected outcomes:
1.    Strengthening legal, policy, and institutional frameworks and data systems to address violence against women and girls and harmful practices.
2.    Promoting prevention strategies to address discriminatory gender norms and empowering women, girls, and youth-led movements.
3.    Enhancing access to quality, survivor-centered, and multi-sectoral services for survivors of violence.
4.    Strengthen women’s rights organizations and youth-led movements to advocate for change and hold governments accountable.
Against this background, the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme is looking for a Programme Coordinator to engage with stakeholders and ensure effective delivery and technical coherence of all activities under these four (4) results areas. The Programme Coordinator will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Director of the UN Development Coordination Office (UNDCO), with technical oversight from UNFPA. The Programme Coordinator will manage a programme coordination team. She/He will work in close collaboration with participating UN Agencies, AUC, the European Union, RECs, CSOs and other regional partners.
 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
 

Job Purpose:

NB: The position is a Regional Office position (ESARO), to be based in Addis Ababa.

To successfully coordinate SIARP 2.0, with direct reporting to the Technical Lead Agency UNFPA and convenor of the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) and UNDCO Regional Director on overall programme performance, and serve as the main Focal Point to the Spotlight Initiative Secretariat and all Recipient UN Organisations (RUNOs).

Expected Results

1.    Strengthened Coordination and Strategic Alignment: A unified strategic direction is established among the four implementing agencies (UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women), the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, and Civil Society Organizations, ensuring quality planning, implementation, monitoring, and achievement of programme objectives and results.
2.    Enhanced Technical, Financial, and Operational Management: SIARP 2.0 activities are effectively managed and reported in a coherent manner, fostering collaboration among RUNOs, AUC, RECs, and CSRRG, while supporting the Regional Steering Committee’s oversight and decision-making processes.
3.    Improved Advocacy, Knowledge Management, and Communication: Coordinated efforts among RUNOs, AUC, RECs, the European Union, and CSRRG enhance visibility, strengthen knowledge-sharing, and promote strategic advocacy for the programme’s impact and sustainability.
 

You would be responsible for:

The Programme Coordinator will work under the overall authority and direct guidance of the UNDCO Regional Director and in close collaboration with UNFPA as the technical lead and l RUNOs (UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women), AUC, EU, CSOs and external partners. S/He will ensure solid work relations and information sharing with all stakeholders of the SIARP 2.0.

Duties and responsibilities are as follows:

Ensuring the implementation of a common strategic direction and planning process among the four implementing UN agencies (UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN WOMEN), AUC, RECs, CSOs and achievement of objectives and results, focusing on delivering the following results:

●    Ensure programme coordination, provide common strategic guidance and planning, and oversee a coherent and effective implementation of the programme through adopting evidence-informed and results-based approaches, creativity and innovation according to the needs of the programme. 
●    Coordinate the elaboration of common annual work plans and budgets, ensuring a shared conceptual understanding and technical coherence among the RUNOs. 
●    Oversee the implementation of approved common annual plans and budgets and provide oversight on technical, financial and operational management of the various components of the joint programme in line with the agreed plans and budgets. 
●    In coordination with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, undertake regular monitoring, and organise biennial consultations in close liaison with the four RUNOs, AUC, RECs and CSOs. 
●    Organize and coordinate the secretariat function for the SIARP 2.0 Regional Steering and Technical Committees.  
●    Maintain excellent relations with like-minded regional programmes, including those led by the EU on SRHR and coordinate joint meetings and action.

Ensuring effective and coherent technical, financial and operational management and reporting in close collaboration of participating agencies, focusing on achievement of the following results:

In close collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, analyse reports on programme achievements and results and consolidate narrative and financial reports received from the participating UN agencies according to the planned annual calendar of the programme and in particular:

●    Revise the agencies´ quarterly reports and coordinate the preparation of a consolidated annual report for the programme to be submitted to the global Spotlight Initiative secretariat in close collaboration with the RUNOs.
●    Ensure the development and implementation of the joint annual work plan, monitoring and evaluation plan, and communication strategy and plan. 
●    Ensure programme budget monitoring: expenses monitoring to ensure service delivery in line with the approved programme budget.
●    Undertake monitoring missions and regular meetings with all involved stakeholders, including programme partners, and provide technical advice on the strategy of intervention.
●    Ensure that reports are of high quality and transmitted on time to the Global Secretariat.
●    Ensure the preparation for and facilitate the Technical Committee and coordinate the Secretariat function for the meetings as appropriate.

Effective management of advocacy, knowledge building and communications efforts, in close collaboration with participating agencies, focusing on achievement of the following results:

●    Support the design of accurate monitoring and communication tools: a communication strategy and plan, terms of reference for evaluations (including baseline, mid-term assessment and end of programme), reporting system. 
●    In close collaboration with the Communication officer, review background documents, briefs and presentations related to the elimination of VAWG produced by SIARP 2.0 RUNOs, and facilitate the co-creation of common communication and advocacy materials, ensuring coherence and visibility of the programme. 
●    Synthesize joint programme learnings and best practices, and work with the Advocacy, Communication and Knowledge Management Officer to disseminate learnings.
●    In close collaboration with the Communication officer follow up with agencies´ communication experts to coordinate information on the programme in communication channels – including website, social media and networks, and email newsletters. 
●    Coordinate the drafting of project proposals in line with the common strategic direction and identify additional financial resources to support the programme.
 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

●  Advanced university degree/ Master's degree in international relations/development, management, public administration, public health, gender, communication, economics, sociology, demography, and public policy or equivalent development related area.

Knowledge and Experience: 

●    At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in designing and managing complex multi-stakeholder and multi-year programmes and doing policy research and advocacy for the elimination of violence against women and girls, ideally with some experience in the African region.
●    Demonstrated experience in strategic planning and project management.
●    Experience coordinating joint programmes, working with and building partnerships with governments, donors and civil society organizations internationally and as well as other multilateral platforms.
●    Proven ability to draft, edit and produce written results-focused reports.
●    Excellent analytical, communication and negotiation skills.
●    Experience in leading/managing communications product development and dissemination.
●    Ability to build and motivate / lead cross-cutting teams to produce client-oriented results.
●    Thorough understanding of violence against women and girls and gender equality.
●    Experience working with and understanding of the African Union Commission and the UN is an asset.
 

Languages: 

●    Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

Core Competencies: 

Functional Competencies:

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
 

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.