Please use this format to ... UN Women Professional Officer (JPO) Job Description

UN Women Professional Officer (JPO)
Job Description
Please use this format to request a JPO for your office. The Job Description should be specific and
comprehensive and UN/UN Women abbreviations should be spelled out in full.
General Information
JPO functional title:
Positions level:
Program officer, violence against women
P2
Unit of assignment:
UN WOMEN country office. Program section
Country and Duty Station:
La Paz, Bolivia
Duration of assignment:
One-year fixed-term appointment, renewable at least once subject to satisfactory
performance, recommendation by respective office and donor agreement
Supervision
Name of Supervisor:
Ms. Asa Regner
Title of Supervisor:
UN WOMEN Country Representative
Content and methodology of supervision:
As part of the UN Women JPO programme overall framework, the JPO will benefit from the following
supervision modalities:
 Structured guidance provided by the supervisor, especially in the beginning of the assignment, with the
purpose of gradually increasing the responsibilities of the JPO
 Establishment of a work plan, with clear key results
 Effective supervision through knowledge sharing and performance/development feedback throughout the
assignment
 Easy access to the supervisors
 Participation in Unit/Team/Office meetings to ensure integration and operational effectiveness
 Guidance and advice in relation to learning and training opportunities within the field of expertise
 Completion of the yearly UN Women Results and Competency Assessment (RCA)
 If more than one supervisor; clear agreement of the roles and responsibilities between the relevant parties
In addition, the following specific supervision arrangements will apply:
Content and methodology of supervision: The JPO will work in the Programme Section in the area of violence
against women, and will be under the direct supervision of the Country Representative. Continuous
performance monitoring is ensured by monthly coaching sessions as well as daily interaction with the
supervisor. The IPP will be developed in collaboration with the supervisor and serve as a benchmark for the
yearly performance appraisal of the programme officer.
The JPO will have opportunities to use his/her skills and abilities fully and to contribute to the work of the
office to the best of his/her abilities.
Supervisors will take an overall interest in the JPO´s development and provide encouragement and advice on
how the JPO can realize his/her potential.
Duties, Responsibilities and Output expectations
(Present the main tasks specific to this assignment and output expectations during the first and second year of
assignment. Include percentages for each duty.)
Under the supervision of the Resident Representative, the Junior Professional Officer shall be responsible for
the following tasks:
Organize and participate in the formulation of projects/programmes required for the implementation of the
Annual Work Plan in his/her areas of concentration. This involves drafting terms of reference, identifying
consultants and funding, arranging their recruitment, backstopping their work and finalizing
project/programme documents, including descriptions, work plans and budgets;
Participate in UN WOMEN-assisted activities and ensure that projects/programs under his/her responsibility
are progressing according to plan. This includes assisting programme/project authorities in problem-solving
and implementing corrective measures, and requires undertaking of frequent monitoring visits to assigned
programmes/projects.
Monitor expenditures under programs/projects for which she/he is responsible, and maintain regular financial
controls of the programs/projects under her/his supervision;
Draft programme/project revisions including adjusting individual programme/project budgets on the basis of
changes in work plans; prepare periodic budget revisions based on delivery targets, and biannual mandatory
budget revisions; coordinate with other colleagues in the Programme section, Programme support and
Administrative Units on all administrative and financial matters; and maintain regular correspondence with
UN WOMEN Headquarters, Regional Office, other UN agencies, government authorities, and other
development partners on program and project under his/her responsibility implementation;
Identify new projects/programme ideas through consultation with the Government, other donors, UN
agencies and NG0s; and participate in relevant working groups.
Serve as the focal point on his/her area of concentration and systematically collect and update information an
related on-going or planned bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental programs.
Undertake Sectoral and/or programme analysis work as required. This could include the drafting preparation
of briefing notes/concept papers and the recording of all substantive matters in notes to the file.
Implement office guidelines and agreements to mainstream gender considerations and promote the
advancement of women within Projects/Programs and other UN WOMEN supported activities;
Assist in promoting the work and image of UN WOMEN by participating in interviews, preparing write-ups for
public information purposes, representing UN WOMEN at various meetings and workshops, draft speeches
for the office management and press releases on project-related issues, etc.
Liaise with other multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, NGOs and private institutions in areas of
responsibility with a view to coordinating activities and obtaining possible cost-sharing and/or co-financing of
projects/programmes;
Coordinate, arrange and backstop as required the mission of UN WOMEN or agency consultants and others
related to his/her areas of concentration.
Actively participate in and contribute to UN system coordination end programming e.g. through joint
programming initiatives, thematic groups, participation in events organized by other UN agencies etc.
Carry out other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.
Qualifications and Experience
Required Education and Work Experience:
 Master’s Degree or equivalent Advanced Degree in a related field of expertise
 A minimum of two years of relevant work experience in Violence against women
 Full Working knowledge of Spanish and English, including excellent writing skills.

Other working knowledge language requirements, if applicable.
Other desirable education and work experience:
Core competences:
 Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity
 Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
 Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative
 Sound judgement, as well as Professionalism and maturity.
 Ability to organize work efficiently and deal with a heavy workload.
 Demonstrated ability to work in harmony with staff members of different national backgrounds in a
mutually supportive team approach.
 Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to
maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
 Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive
for effective communication
 Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments,
handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others
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Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different
feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.
Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge
Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision
making
Functional competences:
 Advanced computer skills (word processing/spreadsheet) are required.
Training and Learning
As part of the UN Women JPO programme overall framework, the JPO will benefit from the following training
and learning opportunities:
 Participation in a two-week long UNDP Programme Policy and Operations Induction Course in New
York within the first 3 to 6 months of assignment
 Use of yearly JPO duty-related travel and training allocation (DTTA), as per the online DTTA guide
 Other training and learning opportunities, as available in UN Women
In addition, the JPO will benefit from the following specific training and learning modalities/opportunities in
the receiving office: Upon completion of the two-year assignment, the JPO will have/be able to:
A good broad knowledge and analytical skills of development issues in Bolivia, and a more in-depth
substantive knowledge of the specific gender development aspects he/she is handling;
Appraise and prepare good UN WOMEN projects addressing certain gender development problems in the
country. This includes determining funding requirements and preparing budgets;
Prepare other ad hoc reports, monitoring reports, assessment reports, updates on certain development
sectors, important statements, etc.
Negotiate skillfully with governments and donor partners on a variety matters, thereby increasing intercultural communication skills. Will also be able to problem-solve and facilitate certain activities such as donor
meetings.
Background Information
Information on the receiving office:
(Provide basic information on the office: number of international/national staff in the whole office and in the
unit where the JPO will be working, etc. Give a short background of the programme/projects the JPO will be
working on: history, recent and upcoming developments.)
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN), 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. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, the
UN Women leads and coordinate UN system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and
gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership
in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other
relevant actors.
Drawing on the lessons learnt over the past years and in line with Convention on the Elimination of All
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) recommendations (2008), taking into consideration the country´s
CEDAW report (2011), UN Women Bolivia focuses on the following four main areas of work:
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Political participation and leadership: UN Women will foster women´s capacity development to
influence decision making from a women´s rights stand point. Strategically, it will continue
strengthening capacities of women in decision making positions; indigenous women leaders, female
ministers (50% of the Cabinet) and parliamentarian women. Also strategically, it will foster the
strengthening of young women in decision making positions and leadership, particularly young
indigenous women leaders.
Economic empowerment especially of the poorest women: UN Women will support and provide
specific technical support to governmental counterparts in the formulation, planning, implementation
and monitoring of policies and programs that promote women´s economic rights, ensure gender and
ethnic equality in economic policies and the improvement of their means of livelihood.
Elimination of violence against women and girls: UN Women will continue supporting the prevention
of violence against women and girls and the expansion of the access of victims, especially rural
women, to effective and expedite justice systems (indigenous and ordinary justice).
National planning and budgeting: UN Women will continue to work with planning and budgeting from
a gender perspective, at a national, provincial and local level. Actions will focus on building capacity of
public servants at the three levels to incorporate a gender perspective in the planning and budgeting
processes.
Attach an up-to-date organization chart of the office and indicate where the JPO would be assigned.
UN WOMEN BOLIVIA COUNTRY OFFICE ORGANIGRAM
COUNTRY
REPRESENTATIVE
NATIONAL
PROGRAM
OFFICER
(JPO)
PROGRAM AND
FINANCE
ASSOCIATE
COMMUNICATION
AND ADVOCACY
SPECIALIST
Family / Non-family Duty Station:
Family Duty Station
Living conditions at the Duty Station:
The JPO will be based in the UN WOMEN office in the city of La Paz. Adequate housing facilities are readily
available to rent houses, apartments, rooms. The rent of a small apartment varies from 300USD to 700 USD
Food and telecommunication availability and access
The city of La Paz offers 12 supermarkets and a wide variety of local markets with plenty availability of
foodstuff of all kinds. There are four international telecommunications system, easy access to the internet
and modern banking facilities. Public transport is cheap and readily available.
Climate
The climate in Bolivia varies with altitude; from humid and tropical to cold and dry weather at the highland
plateau (Altiplano). The city of La Paz is 3,650 meters above the sea level and the climate varies from o to
25 centigrades according to the season. Warm Clothing is required, especially at night but tropical clothing
is also necessary for travel to tropical lowlands.
Security
Bolivia is under Phase 1 – Precautionary – of the UN Security Plan. This means that normal routine
activities should continue and that in order to account for all the UN Personnel travels to and within Bolivia
the UN Staffs requires a security Clearance from the Designated Officer before travelling. Bolivia has no
military conflicts with neighbouring countries and enjoys democracy since 1982. Even though the crime
rate has gone up during the last two years, it is still considered as low and Bolivia could be rated as a fairly
safe country. Civil unrest, however, is common and strikes and road blockages frequent.
Vaccinations required
Following inoculations are recommended: Diphtheria, tetanus, polio, typhoid, hepatitis A and B and yellow
fever. Oral Dukoral vaccines are also recommended to reduce the incidence of E Coli diarrheal episodes.
Approved by:
Name of the Head of Office:
Ms. Asa Regner
Title of the Head of Office:
Country Representative and Program Manager
Date:
February, 2014