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 in South Sudan supports the government in implementing commitments to international normative standards on gender equality and womenโs human rights. The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023 -2026) and the corresponding UN Women South Sudan Strategic Note (2023-2026), defining UN Womenโs strategic engagement in South Sudan, focuses on strengthening the national structures and mechanisms for gender mainstreaming in policies, plans and budgets; supporting efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women; promoting womenโs economic empowerment; promoting policies and government investment in womenโs empowerment and resilience building in the context of climate change, humanitarian crisis as well as threats to peace and security. UN Women works with a range of stakeholders in South Sudan, including the government, civil society and womenโs organizations, youth, UN agencies, and donors, to promote gender equality and womenโs empowerment.ย
The South Sudan Womenโs Social and Economic Empowerment Project (SSWSEEP) is a government-led initiative implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare (MGCSW) with support from the World Bank and technical assistance from UN Women. The project aims to strengthen the social and economic empowerment of women in selected locations across South Sudan through capacity development, provision of livelihood support, and expansion of access to gender-responsive services. A critical component of the project is to strengthen the institutional capacities of State Ministries of Gender and State Womenโs Unions to effectively manage Womenโs Empowerment Community Centres (WECCs), implement local development initiatives, and manage contracts and grants efficiently.
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Manager, the Institutional Capacity Development and Contract Management Specialist will provide strategic technical assistance in the assessment of the institutional capacity of the National MGCSW and support the strengthening of the institutional and operational capacity of State Gender Ministries and State Womenโs Unions for the sustainable management of the WECCs. The Specialist will also oversee the development and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs), support contract management processes, and ensure compliance with fiduciary and operational standards.
The Institutional Capacity Development and Contract Management Specialist works in close collaboration with theย Project Management Unit (PMU)/MGCSW at the national and state level, State Womenโs Unions, and women's groupsย to ensure successful implementation ofย the SSWSEEP.
Key Functions and Accountabilities
Under the direct supervision of the SSWSEEP Programme Manager and in close coordination and collaboration with the UN Women South Sudan Programmes and Operations teams, and the PMU/MGCSW, the incumbent will:ย
Institutional Capacity Development
Assessment and Evaluation: Coordinate and provide oversight to service providers conducting comprehensive institutional capacity assessments of the National Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare (MGCSW), State Gender Ministries, and State Women's Unions to identify structural, functional, and operational gaps. Capacity Strengthening Framework: Coordinate and oversee service providers in developing evidence-based guidelines, frameworks, and tools to strengthen the institutional capacity of social workers and gender focal points within the MGCSW and state-level institutions. Policy and Strategic Development: Support the development and refinement of policies, strategies, institutional frameworks, and operational plans to address identified capacity gaps and enhance the effectiveness of gender programming at the national and state levels. Technical Assistance and Mentoring: Provide ongoing technical assistance, coaching, and mentoring to State Gender Ministries and State Women's Unions in key areas including strategic planning, budgeting, program coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and institutional reporting mechanisms. WECC Operationalization: Lead the roll-out and implementation of Women's Empowerment Community Centre (WECC) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), training manuals, and operational guidelines to ensure consistent and effective WECC management across all project locations. Capacity Building Implementation: Design, coordinate, and facilitate the delivery of targeted training programs and capacity-building workshops for WECC management teams, focusing on administrative systems, financial management, leadership skills, and sustainable operations.Contract and Grants Management
Contract Development and Management: Provide comprehensive technical support for the design, drafting, negotiation, and ongoing management of contracts and grant agreements with implementing partners, ensuring alignment with project objectives and compliance requirements. Monitoring and Compliance Systems: Develop robust monitoring tools, performance indicators, compliance frameworks, and reporting templates to track contract performance, deliverable quality, and adherence to fiduciary standards. Local Capacity Building: Build and strengthen the capacity of State Gender Ministries, State Women's Unions, and local partner institutions in procurement processes, financial oversight mechanisms, contract administration, and grant reporting procedures. Performance Monitoring and Risk Management: Continuously monitor the timely and quality implementation of contracts and grants, conduct regular performance reviews, identify implementation bottlenecks and risks, and recommend evidence-based corrective actions and adaptive management strategies. Compliance Assurance: Ensure all contractual arrangements and grant implementations comply with World Bank fiduciary standards, government regulations, and project operational guidelines while maintaining transparency and accountability.Coordination and Quality Assurance
Strategic Partnership and Alignment: Collaborate closely with UN Women's operations and programme teams, as well as counterparts at the Project Management Unit (PMU)/MGCSW, to ensure seamless coordination and alignment of institutional capacity development activities with SSWSEEP strategic objectives and overall project implementation framework. Reporting and Documentation: Lead the preparation and contribute to periodic project progress reports, donor reports, results measurement frameworks, and compliance documentation, ensuring accurate reporting on institutional capacity development outcomes and contract management performance indicators. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination: Actively participate in and contribute to technical working groups, coordination meetings, and strategic consultations with the MGCSW, World Bank, UN Women, government counterparts, and other key stakeholders to facilitate effective project implementation and address emerging challenges. Knowledge Management and Learning: Systematically document, analyze, and disseminate lessons learned, best practices, innovative approaches, and challenges related to institutional strengthening and contract management, contributing to the project's knowledge base and informing future programming and policy development. Quality Assurance and Standards: Ensure all institutional capacity development interventions and contract management processes meet established quality standards, technical specifications, and compliance requirements while maintaining consistency with project design and implementation protocols.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
Key Deliverables
Institutional capacity assessment reports Capacity development plans and implementation schedules Training reports and materials Updated SOPs and operational guidelines for WECCs Regular monitoring reports on contracts and grants under the project Inputs into quarterly and annual progress reportsCompetencies :
Core Values:
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 knowledge of institutional capacity development approaches in fragile settings Demonstrated ability in contract and grant management, preferably in World Bank or similar donor-funded projects Strong facilitation, coordination, and training skills Analytical, communication, and report writing skills Ability to work effectively under pressure in a conflict-affected setting.Recruitment Qualifications
Education and Certification:
Masterโs degree in public administration, Development Studies, Business Administration, Law, or other relevant fields. 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:
A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in institutional capacity building, public sector strengthening, contract and/or grant management. Experience working with government institutions, womenโs organizations, and donor-funded programmes in post-conflict or fragile states. Familiarity with World Bank operational procedures and fiduciary standards is a strong asset.Languages
Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.ย Knowledge of local languages is an advantage. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirableยStatements :
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:
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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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