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.
Through its regional thematic policy advisers, the UN Women West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO), based in Dakar, Senegal, works to provide strategic guidance and support for mandate implementation to UN Women country offices and programmes. Policy Advisors/Specialists analyze regional trends and emerging issues related to promoting women’s rights and gender equality in West and Central Africa; facilitate UN regional-level coordination activities and partnership-building with regional organizations; and oversee knowledge production and knowledge management to inform advocacy and policy strategic direction.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Regional Director and in close consultation with Ending Violence against Women and other relevant Sections in HQ, the Ending Violence against Women Policy Specialist will oversee and provide high-level technical advice and support to the UN Women country and regional offices working on different areas of Ending Violence against Women programming. The Policy Specialist will provide capacity building to Country Offices (CO), establish and strengthen partnerships, facilitate internal coordination within the relevant divisions of UN Women to ensure delivery of programme results and implementation of policy guidance in Ending Violence against Women programming and link the Ending Violence against Women work of UN-Women with the broader UN reform. They will coordinate UN Women WCARO’s engagement in and implementation of specific initiatives such as Spotlight. The Policy Specialist supervises and leads the Ending Violence against Women unit staff.

Key Functions and Accountabilities
Manage the development of programmes on Ending Violences Against Women to Country Office teams
• Manage the development and implementation of an integrated strategy for the delivery of technical assistance, policy advocacy and programme support in the region;
• Manage the development of regional programme documents on Ending Violence against Women
• Oversee the contextualization/ localization of programme documents, country strategies, and knowledge products, and ensure proper monitoring and reporting in Ending Violence against Women.
Lead the provision of capacity-building support to Country Office teams and partners
• Lead country office and multi-country office programme teams in developing and strengthening policies, projects/ programmes and modalities to support the implementation of global norms and standards; and ensuring proper monitoring;
• Manage the identification of knowledge and implementation gaps and possible solutions;
• Develop, implement and monitor capacity building initiatives;
• Lead the provision of technical policy advice to programme/ project managers/ specialists in the CO.

Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with stakeholders, regional/ international actors and development partners
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships for the advancement of Ending Violence against Women;
• Build and strengthen close liaisons with relevant donors and other actors supporting efforts towards Ending Violence against Women];
• Produce periodic updates and briefs on regional/country development situations to be used by stakeholders, CO and HQ;
• Maintain close contact with relevant staff in UN Women HQ.
Manage the resource mobilization strategy for Ending Violence against Women in the region
• Participate in the implementation, monitoring and periodic updating of the resource mobilization strategy on
• Ending Violence against Women in the region;
• Provide technical support to field- based presences in the region in mobilizing resources for the implementation of Ending Violence against Women
• Research and analyze information on donors; prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation.
Lead the design of Ending Violence against Women initiatives in the region and the development of relevant knowledge products

• Lead the provision of policy recommendations and guidance to strategic planning and positioning on Ending Violence against Women;
• Lead and provide advice to regional/ national bodies; represent UN Women in interagency groups that influence national policies related to Ending Violence against Women
• Contribute substantively and lead existing thematic and gender equality networks to better connect UN Women and partners;
• Lead the research, development, and presentation of analytical reports, research papers, briefing notes, background papers, summaries, correspondence on Ending Violence against Women
• Identify promising practices, technical expertise, and strategic opportunities.
Manage knowledge building and sharing for Ending Violence against Women
• Identify and disseminate lessons learnt and good practices in collaboration with country offices;
• Ensure technical skills and knowledge are shared within and among CO
• Manage and monitor the regional knowledge platform and innovative approaches in Ending Violence against Women
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
The incumbent leads a team of 4 personnel, including 1 P-3, 1G6 and 2 NPSA all under direct report.

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

Functional Competencies
• Excellent knowledge of Ending Violence against Women
• Strong knowledge of region
• Excellent networking skills
• Ability to interact with donors, identify and analyze trends, opportunities, and threats to fundraising.
• Ability to perform qualitative and quantitative policy research
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
• Excellent analytical skills
• Ability to write policy papers, speeches, briefings
• Excellent knowledge of programme development, implementation, results-based management and reporting

Recruitment Qualifications
Education and certification
• Master’s degree or equivalent in gender, human rights, international relations or other social science fields is required.
• 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 progressively responsible experience in designing and managing programmes and
• advocating for Ending Violence against Women ideally with some experience in developing countries is required.
• Experience in programme, policy analysis, and strategic planning is required.
• Experience working with, and building partnerships with governments, donors and civil society organizations internationally and in the field is required
• Experience working with the UN system is desirable.
• Experience working in West and Central Africa is desirable.

Language Requirements
• Fluency in English and French 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.