UN Women: Programme Associate, Women's Economic Empowerment, Bangkok, Thailand, N-PPSA-6, National Partner Personnel Service Agreement

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.

In 2015, on 25 September, the United Nations General Assembly adopted unanimously the Resolution 70/1 Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender equality and women’s empowerment is at the heart of the agenda, as numerous goals and targets address structural barriers to achieve equal rights and opportunities between women and men, girls and boys.  
One of the key areas of concern is the economic empowerment of women. It is expressed in targets and indicators of SDG 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls) and SDG 8 (Promote inclusive and sustainable development, decent work and employment for all). Progress toward it depends not only on the adoption of a set of public policies by governments, but also on the existence of an enabling environment and active engagement of the corporate sector. This is also relevant to the achievement of SDG 1 (Poverty Reduction), SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) and SDG 17 (Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development).  
WE RISE Together (WRT) – Advancing gender-responsive procurement in the Mekong sub-region is a four-year Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP) project developed by UN Women. It sits under MAP’s Economic Resilience Fund (MAP-ERF) and addresses its four drivers of resilience (including macroeconomic, household, business, and government resilience). The project responds to the prioritisation of women’s economic empowerment by expanding market access for Women-owned Businesses1 (WOBs) and Gender Responsive Enterprises1 (GREs) through procurement opportunities.   

WRT tackles the structural gender inequities that exist within the global procurement market in which WOBs secure only one per cent of spending worldwide.2 By introducing and advancing increased market access through gender-responsive procurement1 (GRP), WRT operates with the overall objective to empower more women to equally access, lead, and benefit from expanded market opportunities in the Mekong subregion.   
The project works across the Mekong subregion, namely in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, leveraging the capacity, network and insights build during its phase 1 implementation. The project will work towards three interlinked outcomes:    

Outcome 1: Increased awareness and commitment towards GRP at the ecosystem level & and more gender-responsive institutions through the collection of sex-disaggregated data & improved national data infrastructure  
Outcome 2: Strengthened national policies and public procurement systems that are aligned with Mekong and ASEAN frameworks  
Outcome 3: Increased market connections and opportunities for WOBs and GREs  

Reporting to WE RISE Together Regional Programme Coordinator, with dotted line report to the WEE Regional Programme Finance and Admin Associate, the Programme Associate works with and provides support to the members of the WE RISE Together Regional and Thailand Programme Team in the development and implementation of effective programmes consistent with UN Women rules and regulations, noting that all Thailand related work to be done in consultation and under the leadership of the Thailand National Coordinator. The Programme Associate contributes to research, financial management, and programme implementation including providing necessary operational, administrative and programmatic support. The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and projects’ staff in the RO and UN Women HQs as required for resolving complex finance-related issues and exchange of information.

Scope of Work:

1.    Provide administrative and logistical support to the formulation and management of WE RISE Together Regional programmes coordination and Thailand Programme implemenation:
•     Provide administrative support in the preparation of WE RISE Together Regional and Thailand programme work plans, budgets, and proposals on programme implementation arrangements; 
•     Provide technical guidance to WE RISE Together Regional and Thailand units and executing agencies on routine delivery and reporting of programme supported activities and finances;  
•     Prepare information for the audit of WE RISE Together Regional and Thailand, and support implementation of audit recommendations;   
•     Identify sources, and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers. 

2.    Provide procurement services to WE RISE Together Regional and Thailand units and coordinate with ROAP procurement unit
•     In collaboration with Programme Managers, prepare procurement plans for the programme units
•     Monitor and follow up on the procurement processes with UN Women ROAP procurement units
•     Organize, initiate and support the procurement processes, including preparation and conduct of RFQs, RFPs, receipt and evaluation of quotations, bids or proposals, negotiation of certain conditions of contracts
•     Prepare ToRs and specifications for procurement activities
•     Ensure all required clarifications and clearances are obtained from UN Women ROAP procurement unit. Seek guidance from UN Women ROAP procurement to ensure accuracy and propriety in contracting
•     Prepare purchase orders and contracts, recurring purchase orders for contracting of services

3.    Provide administrative support to the financial management of the WE RISE Together Regional and Thailand units:
•     Create projects in Quantum system, prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds and the operational and financial close of the programme units; 
•     Provide administrative support in monitoring budget preparation and the finances of the programme units; including the finalization of FACE forms; 
•     Review financial reports; prepare non-PO vouchers for the programme units;
•     Process payment for consultants;  
•     Maintain internal expenditures control system;  
•     Create requisitions in Quantum system for the programme units; register good receipts in Quantum system; 
•     Assist in the preparation and follow up of cost-recovery bills in Quantum system. 

4.    Provide administrative support to WE RISE Together Regional and Thailand units:
•     Undertake all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for organization for meetings, workshops, events, and missions; 
•     Make travel arrangements for the WE RISE Together Regional and Thailand Programme Team, including travel requisitions and claims;   
•     Prepare public information materials and briefing packets;   
•     Assemble briefing materials and prepare power-point and other presentations;  
•     Provide guidance and training to Programme Assistants as needed. 

5.    Provide administrative support to Resource Mobilization:
•     Prepare cost-sharing and other agreements; follow up on contributions within the RO resource mobilization efforts; 
•     Organize, compile and process information from donors, RO, and programme team, as inputs to various databases and documents.

6.    Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing:
•     Provide administrative support synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices related to programme management and finance; 
•     Provide administrative support to the organization of training for the office staff and partners on programme and operations related issues

7.    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: 
N/A
 

Competencies :

Core Values:

Core Competencies:

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

•     Good knowledge of programme management; 
•     Ability to administer and execute administrative processes and transactions;  
•     Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats; 
•     Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow;  
•     Strong financial and budgeting skills; 
Strong IT skills.  
 

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

•     Completion of secondary education is required.  
•     Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration is an asset. 

Experience:

•     At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in administration or programme management/support; 
•     Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages is required; 
•     Experience in supporting a team is required;
•     Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Languages:

•     Fluency in English and Thai is required. 
•     Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish). 
 

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, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, 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 to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel 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.