What are the responsibilities and job description for the Women-Led Organizations Platform Coordinator - International Consultant position at UNDP Careers?
Background
JOB DESCRIPTION
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.
The Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action programme of the Regional Office for Arab States work closely with United Nations, government, and civil society partners to increase the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 and the inclusion of gender in Humanitarian Action. UN Women has been working with governments, UN partners and civil society to support women’s participation and influence at all levels of decision making to prevent and resolve conflicts in the Arab region and to ensure regional coordination on gender inclusion in humanitarian action. In addition, in support of Syria’s political process, UN Women Regional Office for Arab States has been supporting Syrian women’s leadership in peacemaking since 2013, through it’s Syria portfolio.
WLOP (Women-Led Organizations Platform) is a collective of Syrian non-profit organizations working in the civil and humanitarian fields, led by women in key leadership positions. The platform operates in Northwest and Northeast Syria, as well as neighboring countries, with the aim of reaching all areas. The platform was launched in January 2024 and was founded by ten Syrian women-led organizations, who gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, with the support of UN Women. Since the establishment of the women-led organizations' platform, unique in the context of Syrian civil work, is the most critical stage in terms of regulation and organization, building relationships and strong support networks, strategic planning and guidance, and resource management—while also facing challenges related to developing work policies, decision-making governance, and accurately mapping women-led organizations on the ground—it became essential to consider hiring a full-time coordinator. This coordinator will collaborate with the platform members and its committees to achieve the best results in a short period, ensuring the success and future of the women-led platform.
Against this backdrop, UN Women Regional Office for Arab States is hiring a WLO platform coordinator as a Consultant to support the work of the Syria Programme Team. The platform coordinator will be reporting to the Regional Adviser on Women, Peace and Security/Humanitarian Action Women Peace and coordinate with Syria Programme Manager.
Description Of Responsibilities
Coordination and Communication:
This is a home-based consultancy.
As part of this assignment, the consultant may be requested to travel.
Competencies
Core Values:
Functional Competencies
Education and Certification:
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.)
JOB DESCRIPTION
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.
The Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action programme of the Regional Office for Arab States work closely with United Nations, government, and civil society partners to increase the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 and the inclusion of gender in Humanitarian Action. UN Women has been working with governments, UN partners and civil society to support women’s participation and influence at all levels of decision making to prevent and resolve conflicts in the Arab region and to ensure regional coordination on gender inclusion in humanitarian action. In addition, in support of Syria’s political process, UN Women Regional Office for Arab States has been supporting Syrian women’s leadership in peacemaking since 2013, through it’s Syria portfolio.
WLOP (Women-Led Organizations Platform) is a collective of Syrian non-profit organizations working in the civil and humanitarian fields, led by women in key leadership positions. The platform operates in Northwest and Northeast Syria, as well as neighboring countries, with the aim of reaching all areas. The platform was launched in January 2024 and was founded by ten Syrian women-led organizations, who gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, with the support of UN Women. Since the establishment of the women-led organizations' platform, unique in the context of Syrian civil work, is the most critical stage in terms of regulation and organization, building relationships and strong support networks, strategic planning and guidance, and resource management—while also facing challenges related to developing work policies, decision-making governance, and accurately mapping women-led organizations on the ground—it became essential to consider hiring a full-time coordinator. This coordinator will collaborate with the platform members and its committees to achieve the best results in a short period, ensuring the success and future of the women-led platform.
Against this backdrop, UN Women Regional Office for Arab States is hiring a WLO platform coordinator as a Consultant to support the work of the Syria Programme Team. The platform coordinator will be reporting to the Regional Adviser on Women, Peace and Security/Humanitarian Action Women Peace and coordinate with Syria Programme Manager.
Description Of Responsibilities
Coordination and Communication:
- Ovesee all communications related to the platform internally and externally with the platform's coordination committee, humanitarian actors, and donors;
- Lead the information exchange and enhance networking and collaboration opportunities among member organizations;
- Lead the strategic planning of the platform and ensure effective communication channels between committees and the general assembly, promoting adherence to the platform’s agreed code of conduct.
- Support WLO advocacy efforts by coordinating communication between members and external actors;
- Ensure the platform serves as a space for advancing gender equality and the inclusion of women’s voices in key decision-making processes;
- Represent the WLO platform in coordination meetings, cluster forums, and other relevant external meetings as required.
- Identify and address the capacity-building needs of WLO members and develop capacity building programmes and workshops;
- Provide technical advise to platform members, ensuring they can access and utilize resources effectively;
- Enhance the platform’s capacity to engage effectively with humanitarian mechanisms and funding opportunities.
- Track the progress and activities of women-led organizations within the platform, ensuring their contributions and impacts are documented;
- Develop periodic reports highlighting achievements, and challenges, and provide recommendations for improving the engagement of women-led organizations in humanitarian and development sectors.
- Provide advise to the women-led organizations in accessing funding through coordinating collective proposal submissions or advocating for direct funding streams for these organizations;
- Build partnerships with donors and other stakeholders to enhance funding opportunities for women-led organizations.
- Lead the development of the platform’s strategy and annual work plans in alignment with the needs and priorities of women-led organizations;
- Promote innovations in gender equality and women’s empowerment in local communities;
- Ensure the development and sustainability of operations according to the internal system proposed by member organizations, improving decision-making processes and suggesting effective coordination mechanisms.
- Strengthen partnerships with international NGOs, UN agencies, and local authorities to support collaboration and mutual support for women-led organizations.
- Ensure the integration of women-led organizations into broader humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
This is a home-based consultancy.
As part of this assignment, the consultant may be requested to travel.
Competencies
Core Values:
- Integrity;
- Professionalism;
- Respect for Diversity.
- Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
- Accountability;
- Creative Problem Solving;
- Effective Communication;
- Inclusive Collaboration;
- Stakeholder Engagement;
- Leading by Example.
Functional Competencies
- Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively, and creatively across different constituencies;
- Strong knowledge of the coordination structure and coordination mechanisms in the Syria response;
- Strong understanding and experience in working with women-led organizations and women’s networks and coordination bodies;
- Strong oral and written communication and editing skills;
- Strong communication, networking and advocacy skills;
- Ability to provide advice and be strategic and analytical;
- Strong knowledge of gender issues and women’s rights in the Syria response.
Education and Certification:
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in project management, public relations, social sciences or relevant field 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.
- At least 5 years of professional work experience at national or international level in humanitarian response, project management or coordination and/or any related filed is required;
- Experience and understanding of the Syrian context is highly desirable;
- Experience in advocacy and donor relations is desirable.
- Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
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.)
