INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT: Project Coordinator to lead the implementation of the Sahel Women Empowerment and Demographic Dividend (SWEDD) Africa Regional Project

Purpose of consultancy:

The African Union (AU) and the World Bank in 2020 signed an agreement to implement the Sahel Women Empowerment and Demographic Dividend (SWEDD) Africa Regional Project.

SWEDD currently covers 9 countries which are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger and continues to expand to other regions of the African continent.

The regional project will work to strengthen advocacy and political commitment on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health, and Nutrition (RMNCHN) and women’s empowerment at continental, regional and national levels, in particular to: (a) improve capacity to promote and monitor the ratification, domestication and implementation of regional instruments, particularly those relating to girls and women empowerment and, prevention of Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) and harmful practices (including child marriage and female genital mutilation); (b) strengthen capacity of continental, regional and national institutions to prevent and respond to SGBV, harmful practices, and improve women's access to justice and economic inclusion; (c) strengthen data and reporting systems of the African Union Commission on gender related outcomes; (d) facilitate capacity development to track and share best practices across Member States and among non-state actors on youth and women’s empowerment; (e) conduct advocacy and contribute toward continental and regional campaigns that promote women’s empowerment and condemn Gender-based Violence; and (f) inform annual reporting and action at the level of Heads of state and Government

The goal of the SWEDD Regional Project is to contribute towards increasing women and adolescent girls' empowerment and access to quality reproductive, child and maternal health services, improve regional knowledge generation and sharing, and accountability.

Engaging 5 units of the African Union Commission, the regional programme will seek to see expanded girls and women’s empowerment in Africa, with strengthened AU Member States accountability on the elimination of gender based violence and harmful practices; increased girls and women’s financial inclusion as part of the AU Decade (2020 – 2030); and promoted innovation, capacity building and engagement of young people.

Scope of work: (Description of services, activities, or outputs)

• Coordinating and monitoring all project activities outlined in the SWEDD Africa Regional Project Joint Work-plan involving all AUC implementation units: Social Welfare- HHSD Department; Gender, Women and Youth Development Directorate and Office of Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security; Office of the Special Envoy on Youth; ACERWC and AU-CIEFFA, in consultation with key stakeholders, other technical assistance partners to the SWEDD project, including but not limited to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the World Bank,   and ensure coordinated, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;

• Managing and monitoring performance of the Project Management Team (PMT) on all aspects of SWEDD ARP implementation – including convening, facilitating, and compiling all reports, as appropriate, for the PMT meetings.

• Providing regular information to the Project’s Regional Steering Committee (RSC), which is composed by the project’s governing Minister in each of the SWEDD client countries on management issues, which require timely intervention, and coordinate all aspects of convening the PSC – including all working documents, such as reports and briefing notes – and coordinating follow-up, implementation, and reporting on all PSC decisions.

• Coordinating all political and high-level engagements, and meetings to ensure visibility, drafting and facilitating consideration of policy decisions and action pertinent to the project’s work within the African Union’s mandate.

• Preparing quarterly, bi-annually and annual progress reports as required.

• Organizing training and orientation information sessions for the PMT, PSC, SWEDD country representatives and other relevant stakeholders’ and staff at least once every quarter; provide substantive information and orientation on AU role in SWEDD project to candidate countries

• Ensuring that all bidding processes for goods, non-consulting and consulting services are performed according to the Financing Agreement (FA) procedures and guidelines.

• Ensure the preparation and execution of all audits / evaluations / supervision missions and ensure that the recommendations are implemented.

• Collaborate and liaise with potential partners and stakeholders.

• Develop and maintain a team spirit; promote a culture of responsibility, transparency, and accountability among team members.

• Develop, sign and coordinate signature of a code of conduct in respect of girls and women’s rights, in line with those adopted by SWEDD client countries and AU code of conduct.

• Perform additional tasks and assignments given by supervisors that are not already defined herein.

Duration and working schedule:

Eleven (11) months renewable

Place where services are to be delivered:

The position is expected to be based in the AU  Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development  in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He/ She shall avail time for any travel pertinent to SWEDD ARP as requested by the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, with due consideration to safety and any travel restrictions during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

• With guidance and supervision of the Head of Division of Social Welfare, Vulnerable Groups and Drug Control, the SWEDD ARP Coordinator will:

• Facilitate the development a 2-year strategic work plan of the project. This will be done by coordinating inputs and consulting with all involved project implementation units named in page 2;

• Report regularly on the status of the regional project, working closely with the PMT, with the oversight of the Project’s Regional Steering Committee and in collaboration with Regional Technical Secretariat (RTS) based in Dakar. Reports will include regular reports to the PMT, quarterly to the RSC and overall project reports on a bi-annual and annual basis;

• Advance strategic policy actions to drive results for girls and women’s empowerment within the mandate of the African Union, Member States and the African Union Commission – focusing specifically in delivering decisions and policy pronouncements (as relevant to SWEDD ARP) at all African Union Heads of State Summits; Specialized Technical Committees (STCs) among other fora;

• Coordinate a targeted advocacy drive, and convene strategic meetings and consultations to promote continental and regional action – taking opportunity to convene particularly high-level political leaders (Heads of State and Government, Ministers, Commissioners, Heads of RECs), regional CSO networks and international organization leaders, and national level actors,

• Ensure increased engagement of stakeholders and partners on a shared goal for girls, women, and youth empowerment in Africa within the project’s mandate.

• Ensure compliance with the Operations Manual and that all donor rules and regulations are respected.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

The African Union Commission seeks the services of a qualified professional to execute the role of SWEDD ARP Coordinator.

The coordinator is responsible for the management of the Project and supervision is provided by the Head of Division of Social Welfare, Vulnerable Groups and Drug Control. (S)he supports all stakeholders in achieving the project objectives.

To this end, the Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the Project both technically, administratively and financially vis-à-vis the African Union Commission and the World Bank as the project donor. (S)he is responsible for strategically coordinating project activities and ensuring that the project is properly carried out in terms of quality, time, cost and in accordance with the Project Operations Manual. (S)he is responsible for achieving the short- and medium-term objectives of the project according to the project document.

Supervisory arrangements:

The coordinator is responsible for the management of the Project and supervision is provided by the Head of Division of Social Welfare, Vulnerable Groups and Drug Control and shall work directly with the End Harmful practices team in the Division of Social Welfare and Vulnerable Groups.

Dotted line to UNFPA through the liaison office based in AU

Expected travel:

The Regional Project Coordinator’s travel expenses in SWEDD Countries shall be covered by the African Union Commission in accordance with African Union Commission rules and regulations.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Education: 

A Master's Level Degree with a focus on Social Sciences, Human Rights, Gender Studies, International Development, or closely related focus.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant and practical experience on:

• Expertise in AU Gender and development particularly expertise in women empowerment and gender-based violence – including harmful practices and conducting in-depth policy analysis; and producing technical writing and reports with a significant geographical coverage is essential.

• Experience working in the UN system or NGO with a knowledge of development context of the African continent with the ability to synthesize multi-country data and evidence, and information to articulate a continental picture is welcome.

• Proven experience in high-level coordination and advocacy on gender, reproductive health, and human rights issues

• Work experience and/ or knowledge of the Sahel region and good knowledge of women's empowerment issues and challenges related to demographic transition

• Demonstrated experience in development communication, editing and ability to synthesize complex documents and information into key messages

• Experience in editing and proofreading African Union documents and familiarity with the African Union Commission house style and editorial manual is highly desirable.

Languages:

Proficiency in at least one of the African Union working languages. Proficiency in one other AU Language is a bonus.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

All Logistical arrangements, and working materials will be provide by AU

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

The Regional Project Coordinator shall be remunerated based on experience, task load and will be guided by AUC considerations on equivalent professional level and rates, as follows:

• The SWEDD ARP Coordinator; paid at a monthly rate of 7,875 USD for up to 11 months annually and a total of 2 years. All products will remain the exclusive property of African Union  and may not be duplicated, shared, published, photographed or used without prior permission.

How to Apply:

Please send your proposals (CV or https://www.unfpa.org/resources/p11-un-personal-history-form and references) duly signed to the email address unfpa.wcaro.recruitment@unfpa.org with mention reference and title of the file. Your proposal must be received no later than April, 13 2022 at 17:00 GMT.