Organizational Context 

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. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world.

Albania has made important improvements in advancing the normative and policy framework for gender equality in recent years. Yet inequalities still exist, and currently, capacities, processes and procedures for EU-aligned and consistent gender mainstreaming are not in place, adding to the complexity of the EU accession process and posing a significant challenge to absorbing the EU Gender Equality acquis.^[1] In parallel, the country faces well-documented challenges in implementing gender equality legislation and policy, including the most recent CEDAW Concluding Observations for Albania (2023).^[2] Poverty is reportedly the highest in the Western Balkans^[3], increasingly jeopardizing the livelihoods of a significant share of the population. Women and girls are particularly impacted due to structural discrimination and the intersection of poverty, marginalization, and vulnerability. The economic situation of women residing in rural and disadvantaged areas is further challenged by the impact of climate change.

Prohibition of gender-based discrimination is one of the principles of the Albanian Constitution. International treaties – including those in the area of gender equality (e.g., CEDAW^[4], Istanbul Convention^[5]) – ratified by the Parliament are part of the national legal system and have priority over internal legislation that is not compatible with their provisions.^[6] The specific legal and policy framework for gender equality, the institutional mechanisms, political participation, and non-discrimination on the basis of gender include: the Law on Gender Equality in Society (LGE), the Law on Anti-Discrimination^[7], and the National Strategy on Gender Equality and its Action Plan (2021-2030)^[8]. Equality legislation has contributed to some progress, primarily in women’s representation in decision-making.^[9] Beyond women’s representation, weak implementation of gender legislation and policy and insufficient gender mainstreaming significantly impact on the country’s development outcomes, including limited alignment between laws and policies in key thematic areas including GBV with international standards. For example, the most recent CEDAW Committee Concluding Observations (2023) request the Government of Albania to prioritize the revisions of the Criminal Code to align it with the definitions of rape in the Istanbul Convention, which was adopted by Albania in 2011. Gender inequalities remain prominent in all spheres of public and private life, with women and girls representing the numerically largest systemically disadvantaged group, and disproportional negative effects on women’s socio-economic situation and their well-being.

To address these challenges, UN Women Albania is implementing the second phase of the intervention “EU for Gender Equality” funded by the European Union. The project aims to ensure that Albanian institutions more consistently apply gender responsive governance to strengthen equality and non-discrimination, promote women’s empowerment and human rights in line with the EU Gender Equality acquis.

About the Position and/or Portfolio

Reporting to the Project Management Specialist and in day-to-day coordination with the Research and Data Analyst and Project Assistant, the Project Coordinator is responsible for ensuring timely and quality day to day implementation of the project, work planning, engagement of relevant technical expertise and responsible parties, monitoring and reporting.

Functions
Summary of Key Functions:

• Project Implementation and Technical Support
• Results based monitoring and reporting, knowledge building and communications.
• Finance and Administration
• Other support

Description of Functions:

1. Technical Support in Project Implementation

• Ensure timely and adequate implementation of activities according to the project document and  workplan;
• Prepare a detailed work plan and performance monitoring plan to implement proposed activities in Albania in coordination with the Project Management Specialist and ensure links with UN Women’s commitment under United Nations’ Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and UN Women Albania’s Strategic Note (2022-2026);
• Design, oversee, and coordinate the implementation of relevant project activities with implementing partners, the whole project team, and other UN Women Albania personnel;
• Maintain close communication with national authorities, development actors, civil society organizations and other key stakeholders working on gender mainstreaming and EU integration;
• Provide overall supervision of the work of implementing partners and external consultants engaged as part of the project to ensure the achievement of the expected outputs.
• Ensure proper identification of and follow up with civil society groups, national institutions and consultants who will be involved in the implementation of activities under the relevant project outcome areas;
• Provide technical support and expert advice to implementing partners and key stakeholders on specific issues related to the project component scope;
• Assume responsibility for the smooth functioning of all operational activities related to project implementation;
• Hold consultations with the project partners and other stakeholders in order to ensure timely information about the project implementation;
• Ensure timely implementation of all project component activities and monitor the proper use of funds according to signed agreements and work plans;
• Prepare complete documentation necessary for signing Project Partner Agreements (PAs) with implementing partners, and contracts with individual and other service providers; and
• Provide support to implementing partners to manage related outputs and activities.

2. Results based monitoring and reporting, knowledge building and communications 

• Regular monitoring and contribute to the overall project reporting as well as for timely submission of quality progress reports and agreed-upon monitoring deliverables;
• Regularly review planned activities, and make necessary adjustments when needed in response to any emerging circumstances;
• Review partners’ reports and provide technical support and capacity building for improved results based reporting of project partners;
• Provide evidence-based advocacy inputs to inform UN Women and the project’s advocacy efforts, as well as its communications and partnership strategies for the project;

3. Finance and Administration of the project components

• Support management of the project financial resources in accordance with UN Women rules and regulations;
• Manage project files and support information collection and dissemination;
• Contribute to the development of technical documents, including those needed to initiate and generate momentum, such as implementation/action plans for project activities; prepare terms of reference, etc. ;

 4. Other support

• Foster partnerships with development partners, UN Agencies, government institutions, private sector, academia, media and civil society, etc., on empowerment of rural women to enhance collaboration, resource mobilization and policy agenda setting;
• Draft concept notes and follow-up on resource mobilization efforts at the country level in coordination with the Project Management Specialist, Head of Programmes and the Country Representative;
• Support building partnerships at the country level, coordinate with the relevant stakeholders as deemed necessary;
• Contribute to UN Women bi-annual monitoring reporting and annual reporting;
• Provide programmatic and technical support to UN Women in Albania as deemed necessary.

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality implementation of Project activities against set workplans, timelines, and budgets, in line with the Strategic Note, project document and Joint UN workplans
• Quality and timely reporting
• Strong relationships with partners and stakeholders
• Regular and timely monitoring of activities
• Timely and quality implementation of advocacy events in line with work plan
• Enhanced best practices and lessons learned documented and circulated.

Competencies 

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• 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 Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values

Functional Competencies 

• Strong knowledge on gender equality and gender mainstreaming
• Good knowledge of programme management: programme development, implementation, results-based management, and reporting
• Strong budget formulation and financial management skills
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions, and present findings and recommendations.
• Prior knowledge of EU policies and directives on gender equality as well as EU IPA processes would be an advantage
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
• Strong networking skills with ability to interact with government and non-government partners and build strong relationships with clients
• Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications, e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, internet, etc.

Recruitment Qualifications

Education and certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in human rights, gender, international relations, international development, international law, 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.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressive experience in coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating development and/or humanitarian programmes, with a particular focus on gender equality.
• Proven track record and experience in reporting and communicating results and developing programme and project planning documents.
• Experience or understanding of issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment, including violence against women, inter alia Albanian normative framework, government, and non-government actors working on gender equality in Albania.
• Experience working with, and building partnerships with governments, donors, media and civil society organizations at the country level.
• Experience working with international organizations is desirable.
• Prior engagement in EU IPA processes will be considered an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Albanian both verbal and written is required.

Statements :

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.)