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Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Project Assistant

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Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Project Assistant

Belgrade, Serbia

Service Contract Holders

2024-03-17

The Position:

The Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Project Assistant is located in the Country Office (CO), and works under direct supervision of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Youth Programme Analyst and overall supervision by the UNFPA Head of the Office.

 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025) reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths, end unmet need for family planning, and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments to accelerating progress toward realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations, and individuals to “build forward better” while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

 

Job Purpose:

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA implements activities addressing sexual and reproductive health of the population, especially those related to achieving three UNFPA transformative results: zero unmet needs for contraceptives, zero preventable maternal mortality and zero violence and harmful practices. Within its unique mandate, UNFPA intensifies activities and advocacy efforts related to the needs and capacities of youth and vulnerable populations, provides data for evidence-based policymaking, and addresses challenges related to demographic changes. UNFPA supports programs promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment and capacity building of national counterparts to prevent and respond to any form of gender based violence and harmful practices. Guided by the 1994 Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), UNFPA partners with governments, civil society and other agencies to advance its mission.

In Serbia, UNFPA’s work is defined by the current Country Programme Document 2021-2025, addressing the needs of  women and girls, youth, and older people, with a focus on persons from vulnerable groups. It is implemented at the national and local levels, in order to achieve the greater impact and improve health, well-being, gender equality, social equity and the human potential of the people. 

The Government of Serbia, led by the Coordination Body for Gender Equality, jointly with four UN agencies in Serbia: UNDP (lead agency), UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA,  and with support from the Government of Sweden, have implemented a number of comprehensive measures to prevent and combat domestic violence at national, provincial, and local level. These measures were implemented through the Joint Project Integrated Response to Violence against Women and Girls in Serbia (2016-2023). The project created partnerships with various stakeholders, including law enforcement, social welfare centers, healthcare and education institutions, helplines, NGOs, local groups, and the media. The Joint Project has contributed to the implementation of laws and monitoring related challenges, ensuring that women who have experienced violence receive appropriate support and that professionals in relevant institutions have the necessary expertise and consultation to provide protection to survivors of violence. 
While the 2016-2023 Joint Project has achieved significant results, through project implementation, It became evident that it is necessary to focus on long-term prevention of domestic violence, change of social norms and women empowerment. Although the legal framework in Serbia acknowledges and promotes gender equality, structural inequalities persist, and progress remains slow. In a variety of domains, including work, money, knowledge, time, power, and health, projections for achieving equality are discouraging. Gender-based segregation in education and the labor market is identified as a significant source of inequality, particularly regarding income disparities and the unequal distribution of unpaid domestic work.

Recognizing that violence against women and girls is a severe violation of their rights and a consequence of gender inequality, the Government of Serbia and UN Agencies, supported by the Government of Sweden, initiated a new phase of the Joint Project that is targeting key areas of vulnerability. It aims to transform norms, practices, and behaviors that hinder the empowerment of women and girls and restrict their ability to make safe and independent decisions about their lives and futures. The Joint Project “Ending Violence, Empowering Change”, aims to accelerate progress by implementing gender-transformative programs, improving institutional responses to violence, enhancing women's health and well-being, and promoting economic and career empowerment. Efforts will also focus on implementing legal regulations, fostering a culture that rejects violence and inequality, and engaging both public and private sectors in integrating a gender perspective. Strengthening women's leadership capacities and advocating for equality in decision-making processes are seen as critical drivers of social change. The ultimate outcome of the project is to create a society where stakeholders work together to establish a gender responsive environment, enabling women and girls to fully exercise their rights and make independent decisions. The Joint Project addresses the root causes of gender inequality, challenges harmful norms and stereotypes, and strives for building a society where gender-based violence and discrimination are deemed unacceptable, women's rights are protected and where women's leadership and voices are valued and incorporated into policymaking, and  women fully participate and contribute to all aspects of social life. 

The Joint Project will be implemented using a four-tier approach reflected in the four key results, ensuring interconnection between the different levels to address the factors that put women and men at risk of gender inequality:

Key result 1: Transformed Gender Attitudes and Roles: Changed attitudes and behaviors in Serbian society related to various aspects of private life, through targeted interventions with boys, men, and girls and young women, challenging traditional gender norms and promoting more equitable attitudes and behaviors, to create a society that embraces gender equality and rejects harmful stereotypes.

Key Result 2: Enhanced Institutional Response: State institutions and CSOs ensure effective prevention and improved access to gender-sensitive quality services for survivors of domestic violence. Strengthened institutional practices and capacities to effectively prevent and address violence against women and girls. 

Key result 3: Economic and career empowerment of women and girls: development leads to equitable access to economic and social opportunities. 

Key results 4: Legal and Cultural Transformation for Gender Equality: Creating an environment where women's leadership and voices are valued and incorporated into policymaking. Supporting the development and implementation of legal regulations and strategic policies that promote gender equality, women sexual and reproductive health and rights, through strengthening women's leadership capacities and advocating for equality in decision-making processes.

UNFPA, together with its partners will directly contribute to achieving the above Key Results 1, 2 and 4.

In order to successfully implement planned activities, UNFPA is engaging in a Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Assistant (hereinafter referred to as Project Assistant) on Service Contract to support the Country office in implementing this Joint Project and related gender responsive activities. 

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office, and direct supervision of the SRH and Youth Analyst, the Project Assistant provides programmatic support in the implementation of project activities. This includes supporting the planning, management and monitoring of Project activities, facilitating regular field missions, and managing relevant contractual matters. Project Assistant will be part of the UNFPA CO team and will ensure that all activities implemented under this Joint Project are delivered in line and contribute to the UNFPA Country Programme Document 2021-2025. The Project Assistant will also work closely with the Joint Project staff of three other UN Agencies implementing this program, i.e., UNICEF, UNDP, and UN Women, and will liaise as required with the Joint Programme Coordinator.

The Project Assistant will also contribute to all other activities in the domain of gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights that are delivered by UNFPA Serbia CO in collaboration with other partners.

The Project Assistant will deliver quality services in administration, finance, and HR to the project needs, mastering all relevant rules, guidelines, processes, and procedures. S/he takes a client-oriented, results-focused approach to interpreting the rules, procedures, and guidelines, providing support and guidance to the CO.

The Project Assistant will contribute to establishing and maintaining good working relationships with related counterparts from the government, civil society, international partners, other UN agencies' representatives, and all other relevant partners for this programmatic area. The expected results have an impact on the efficient, effective, transparent, and accountable implementation of the CO work plans.

The Project Assistant will represent UNFPA at the technical meetings and working groups as per the CO division of labor.

 

You would be responsible for:

 

Program Management Support 

  • Responsible for the implementation of the UNFPA component within the Joint Project “Ending Violence, Empowering Change” by providing support to the CO team and to the Joint Project team in conceptualizing and developing project related documents, such as work plans, budgets and proposals on project implementation arrangements and reports.
  • Responsible for making relevant arrangements and working closely together with implementing partners/consultants of the programme; 
  • Builds and develops partnerships related to the JP and other UNFPA alliances relevant to the gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) programmatic activities, including Government, CSOs, international partners, other UN Agencies etc.
  • Regularly monitors the performance to ensure and measure relevance, efficiency, results, effectiveness, and impacts of the activities; Analyzes basic factors affecting the achievement of results, recommends corrective actions and follows up on recommendations.
  • Engages with a range of partners to ensure effective implementation of the project  activities;
  • Engages in regular coordination meetings and support with targeted spot checks ensuring that activities are implemented, and adjustments are undertaken if needed;
  • Under the guidance of the supervisor, assembles briefing materials and prepares power-point and other presentations for the internal/external meetings related to the JP and other gender/SRHR issues that are relevant to the CO 
  • Assists in the preparation of materials relevant to concept notes, project proposals and draft Terms of Reference for new projects design in the domain of gender and SRHR
  • Provides logistical support to programme activities (project missions, study tours, trainings, conferences and workshops) including travel arrangements, accommodation, collecting supporting documents and organizing the venue.
  • Contributes to communication/advocacy efforts relevant for the project implementation, including the preparation of the marking of the relevant International Days (ie 16 Days of Activism against VaW, IWD).
  • Contributes to the work of the CO beyond the Joint Project and participates in the work of various inter-agency coordination groups/bodies as agreed with the CO relevant to gender equality, SGBV, sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Financial Management Support 

  • Assists in the management of the project budget, monitoring expenditures, and preparing revisions according to the project needs.
  • Supports the monitoring of project finances by providing necessary financial information and analysis, including implementation rate against indicators/results. Detects potential over/ under expenditure problems and proposes remedial action;

Administrative Support 

  • Provides administrative support to implementation of activities under direct UNFPA execution and direct payments. 
  • Provides administrative support to the IPs in implementing project activities and organization of events, meetings and workshops, etc.
  • Develops tools and mechanisms for effective and efficient monitoring of IP project budget, coordinates compilation of financial data and provides accurate and up-dated financial information to Admin/Finance Associate on a continuous basis;
  • Supports in procurement processes and initiates procurement procedures for office and project equipment, supplies and services in a transparent and cost-effective manner. Contributes to the smooth running of the project/office by ensuring provision and maintenance of services and supplies following-up processes and maintaining up-to-date inventory and records;
  • Supports the administrative and financial reporting of IPs in line with segregation of duties and as per internal policy 
  • Supports travel arrangements for the CO team

 

Supports knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO:

  • Contributes to the documentation of lessons learned and best practices related to UNFPA’s work in gender
  • Identifies and participates in communities of practice related to gender equality and SRHR and shares new approaches with CO staff, and national partners. 
  • Acts as primary source of knowledge on gender and SRHR in the office

Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

 

Find out more information and apply via the LINK.