UN Women: Country Representative, Kathmandu, Nepal, P5, Fixed-Term Appointment

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.

Under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027), UN Women Nepal’s Strategic Note 2023–2027 advances gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls through its integrated triple mandate of normative support, UN system coordination and operational activities. The programme portfolio places particular emphasis on women’s economic empowerment, including decent work, entrepreneurship, care, social protection and resilient livelihoods, and on women’s leadership and meaningful participation in political and public decision-making, with a strong focus on women and groups experiencing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, and advancing community and nationally owned social norm change. Disaster risk reduction, climate resilience and humanitarian action are embedded as cross-cutting dimensions across the portfolio, strengthening women’s leadership, agency and economic resilience across preparedness, response, recovery and longer-term development, and contributing to inclusive, gender-responsive and resilient institutions and economies.
The Country Representative operates in a matrix management model, primarily accountable and reporting to the relevant UN Women Regional Director on UN Women-specific mandates, activities and results. Additionally, as a UNCT member, under the Management and Accountability Framework (MAF) of the UN development and resident coordinator system, the Country Representative has mutual accountability with the Resident Coordinator for periodically reporting on contributions and support for the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, formerly UNDAF).The Regional Director conducts the performance review of the Country Representative whilst seeking inputs from the RC on the Country Representative’s contributions as a UNCT member.

The Country Representative is responsible for leading and managing the Nepal Country Office (CO) portfolio and for translating the UN Women's Strategic Plan (SP) in line with regional and national priorities, into development initiatives and results by developing, implementing and managing programmes and projects under the Nepal CO; and developing effective partnerships with Government counterparts, UN system agencies and organizations, civil society organizations, and with bilateral and non-traditional donors in order to promote inter-agency partnerships, support for UN reform, and mobilization of visibility and resources to advance gender equality and women's empowerment.

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

1.    Manage the strategic country programme planning and development
•    Develop and implement strategic direction of the country;
•    Lead the design, planning, formulation, preparation and development of the Country Strategic Note in close consultation and collaboration with the government, civil society, donors, UN system partners and the Regional Director, Resident and/or Humanitarian Coordinator in the country and other national development stakeholders and partners, taking into account national priorities , the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Common Country Analysis and UNSDCF; 
•    Provide substantive advice to the Executive Director, Regional Director and Senior Management on the regional strategy, direction and planning of programmes and projects; 
•    Manage and ensure the quality of results-based and rights-based programming for the CO; Finalize the annual work plan and budget;
•    Lead the monitoring of the results-based management approach to programme planning and design.
•    Define and assert accountability for UN Women’ results and its ability to operate as a nimble, innovative and enterprising thought leader, programme and business partner capable of taking and managing risks.

2.    Lead Enterprise Risk Management and Organizational Resilience
•    Establish and maintain the CO's risk management framework in alignment with UN Women's Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) policy and institutional risk appetite
•    Lead regular risk assessments covering programmatic, operational, financial, reputational, fraud, safeguarding, and security risks; ensure risks are identified, assessed, monitored and mitigated
•    Chair or designate the Country Office Risk Focal Point; ensure risk register is regularly updated and escalated to Regional Office as appropriate
•    Integrate risk considerations into strategic planning, programme design, partner due diligence, and resource allocation decisions
•    Ensure implementation of internal control frameworks and compliance with UN Women's policies on fraud prevention, anti-corruption, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA)
•    Oversee business continuity planning and organizational resilience measures to ensure programme continuity during crises or disruptions
•    Monitor external risk factors (political, economic, social, environmental) that may impact programme delivery and organizational operations; develop mitigation strategies
•    Ensure adequate risk transfer mechanisms (insurance, contractual protections) are in place for major programmes and partnerships

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

• 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: 

•    Excellent programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
•    Excellent people management skills in a multicultural environment; ability to deal with individuals from all backgrounds
•    Results-oriented; Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them 
•    Ability to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all
•    Leading, developing and empowering people
•    Ability to advocate and provide policy advice and interact with high level decision makers
•    Excellent knowledge of gender equality and women's empowerment in country
•    Excellent analytical and conceptual thinking
•    Strong knowledge of UN system
•    Ability to envision and lead the strategic direction for UN Women in the country
•    Excellent networking skills
•    Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising and develop strategies
•    Excellent diplomatic and written and verbal communication skills
•    Strong risk assessment and mitigation skills; ability to balance risk-taking for innovation with prudent safeguards
•    Knowledge of enterprise risk management frameworks and internal control systems
•    Ability to make sound judgments on risk tolerance in complex, ambiguous environments
•    Understanding of fraud indicators and prevention mechanisms

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and certification:
•    Master's degree or equivalent in development related disciplines, economics or public policy 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.
•    A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) would be an added advantage.

Experience:
•    At least 10 years of progressively responsible development experience that combines strategic and managerial leadership in development cooperation at the international level is required.
•    Experience in gender and women’s issues programming, at the international level, preferably in developing countries within the UN system, Agencies, Funds or Programmes or UN Mission is required.
•    Field based experience working with multi-cultural teams is required.
•    Experience leading and coaching staff in international settings is required.
•    Experience implementing risk management frameworks, internal controls, or enterprise risk management systems in international development or UN context is required.
•    Demonstrated experience managing organizational risks including programmatic, financial, reputational, and safeguarding risks is required.
•    Experience responding to audit findings and implementing control improvements is desirable.
•    Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
•    Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

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

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.

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.