Background:

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.

In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027), and the UN Women Nepal’s current Strategic Note (SN) 2023-2027, UN Women Nepal has identified “Environmental Sustainability, Climate and Disaster Resilience” as one its key priorities highlighted in Outcome 1.3 that “By 2027, more people, especially women, youth, children, and the most marginalized and poor, increasingly benefit from and contribute to building an inclusive, sustainable, climate-resilient, and green society and reduced impacts of disasters at federal, provincial, and local levels”.

Nepal is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world and this makes the economy especially vulnerable to external shocks. It is estimated that the 2015 earthquake reduced GDP growth to 0.6%. (UNCT CCA 2021). Significant changes in key climatic and environmental parameters are also being observed in Nepal, and the country is experiencing an increase in extreme climate events. Nepal, ranked as the 10th most vulnerable country globally to climate change, faces a dual threat of acute and chronic climate. Recent years have seen a doubling in flood events, accompanied by erosion, and landslides. The devastating monsoon floods and landslides of 2020 and the flash flood of September 2024 resulted in numerous fatalities, displacement of thousands, road damage, and a lasting impact on vulnerable communities. Furthermore, air pollution in Nepal, particularly in Kathmandu, poses a severe public health risk with levels 4.9 times higher than WHO recommendations, making it a leading cause of death and disability in the country[1] .The above humanitarian and climate context has a disproportionate impact on women in Nepal, due to the inequalities in rights, assets, resources and decision-making power that they already face, especially those from impoverished and marginalized caste and ethnic groups. Therefore, it is needed that gender considerations are in the core of humanitarian response in Nepal.

Reporting to the Programme Specialist, the Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Programme Officer will contribute to the effective management of UN Women programmes on disaster risk reduction and humanitarian action in the Nepal Country Office by providing substantive inputs to humanitarian and DRR programme design, formulation, implementation and evaluation.  The Programme Officer will guide and facilitate the delivery of UN Women programmes by monitoring results achieved during implementation and ensuring appropriate application of systems and procedures and develops enhancements if necessary.  The Programme Officer will work in close collaboration with the programme and operations team, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), gender focal points of different clusters, UN Women ROPA, government officials, multi and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation under portfolio. The Programme Officer will be expected to go on missions to the provinces for supporting disaster risk preparedness, and the disaster impacted regions during emergencies.

1. Contribute technically to the development of programme strategies in the area of gender responsive and inclusive disaster risk reduction and humanitarian action 

• Finalize the Nepal Country Office’s Humanitarian Strategy, and lead its timely implementation and monitoring
• Ensure establishing synergies between DRR and humanitarian portfolio, and mainstreaming DRR across the country office programme portfolio.
• Provide substantive inputs to the design and formulation of project proposals and initiatives;
• Identify areas for support and intervention related to the thematic area.
• Provide gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) inputs in emergency preparedness and response plans
• Support regular functioning of inter-agency Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA), when GiHA is activated.
• Provide technical support to foster the implementation of Government of Nepal’s GEDSI Strategic Action Plan.

1. Provide substantive technical support to the implementation and management of the disaster risk reduction and humanitarian assistance programme 

• Provide technical inputs to the annual workplan, project proposals and budget on gender responsive and inclusive humanitarian action and DRR, including anticipatory action, early warning systems and supporting women led organizations;
• Lead the implementation of project activities;
• Lead the coordination of the call/request for proposals, including the organization of technical review committees, and capacity assessment of partners;
• Review, coordinate and monitor the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports;

1. Provide technical assistance and capacity development to project partners 

• Work closely with women’s organizations to implement UN Women’s humanitarian response strategy
• Coordinate and provide technical support in the implementation of project activities;
• Develop technical knowledge products;
• Maintain relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of the disaster risk reduction and humanitarian assistance programme;
• Identify opportunities for capacity building of partners and facilitate technical/ programming support and trainings to partners, as needed.
•  Lead the delivery of capacity-building initiatives for implementing partners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and stakeholders on Humanitarian Action and DRR.

1. Provide technical inputs to the monitoring and reporting of the programme

• Monitor progress of implementation of activities and finances using results based management tools;
• Draft reports on monitoring missions, programme results s, outputs and outcomes;
• Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of donor and UN Women reports.

1. Provide substantive inputs to building partnerships and resource mobilization strategies

• Participate in the implementation, monitoring and periodic updating of the resource mobilization strategy on Humanitarian Action and DRR programme;
• Research and analyze information on donors and relevant resource mobilization opportunities
• Prepare relevant documentation such as project summaries, conference papers, briefing notes, speeches, and donor profiles;
• Participate in donor meetings and public information events, as delegated.

1. Provide technical support to inter-agency coordination on gender in humanitarian action to achieve coherence and alignment of UN Women programmes with other partners in the country

• Provide substantive technical support to the Representative and Deputy Representative on inter-agency coordination related activities by drafting background reports and briefs.

1. Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts

• Develop background documents, briefs and presentations related to gender responsive and inclusive disaster risk reduction and humanitarian action;
• Coordinate and organize advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products;
• Coordinate the development of knowledge management methodologies, and products on gender responsive and inclusive disaster risk reduction and humanitarian action.

1. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

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 Values and Competencies Framework:

Functional Competencies:

• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions and present findings and recommendations
• Good analytical skills
• Good knowledge of the thematic area (disaster risk reduction and humanitarian assistance)
• Ability to identify and analyze trends, opportunities and threats to fundraising

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.)

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements