Portfolio Management Consultant

Location : Home Based, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Application Deadline : 29-Sep-23 (Midnight New York, USA)

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : International Consultant

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

01-Oct-2023

Duration of Initial Contract : 6 Months

Expected Duration of Assignment : 6 Months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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.

The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) was established through the UN General Assembly Resolution 50/166 in 1996 with UN Women as its Administrator on behalf of the UN system. The UN Trust Fund (UNTF) is a global multi-lateral grant-making mechanism supporting national efforts to prevent and end violence against women and girls, one of the world’s most widespread human rights violations. The UN Trust Fund provides technical assistance and funding to advance the development of innovative models and strategic interventions in ending violence against women and girls.

Under the overall guidance of the Chief and the direct supervision of the Grants Manager, the EVAWG Programme Consultant will be responsible for coordinating and monitoring a subset of the UN Trust Fund’s portfolio including Monitoring and Grant-management processes for upto 25 grants, including finalizing the award for new grants for the UNTF’s 26th Cycle of grant making, as well as the completion of project closures before the end of the year 2023.

Duties and Responsibilities

Oversee the Monitoring and Grant-management processes for a subset of the UN Trust Fund’s global grants portfolio.

•  Manage and oversee all operational and project management processes related to the grant’s life cycle, including, processing of project modifications and no-cost extensions, budget revisions and disbursements and processing grant closure of up to 25 projects, in close collaboration with the Operations Manager and Finance colleagues. This includes keeping information on internal and external Focal Points up to date for each active grant.
•  Lead the coordination on all aspects related to the assigned grants portfolio with the Grants, Operations and M&E teams, UN Women Regional, Country Offices and others as necessary to ensure the efficient oversight of the portfolio. This includes liaising with external stakeholders to ensure required documentation is received according to timeline agreed upon and the same files are stored in the UNTF shared drive. This also involves consolidating UNTF feedback to the grantee in all aspects of the project.
•  Provide technical assistance to grantees including in the design of their Results and Resources Frameworks (RRFs), in collaboration with the M&E team. Guide grantees in clarifying proposed project outcomes, outputs, indicators of success, methods of baseline and data collection, activities, and budgets.
•  Provide tailored technical support throughout the project life cycle, review up to 50 progress reports and provide feedback to grantees as needed to ensure results-based reports and analysis and capturing of data.
•  Perform a basic review of financial reports and flag inconsistencies between financial spending and project implementation in collaboration with relevant finance staff (within the UNTF or in the field) before final approval for grants and subsequent disbursements.
•  Monitor and assess progress towards overall results based on results framework and monitoring schedules.
•  Undertake monitoring missions and finalize mission reports in accordance with mission report template, summarizing key findings and recommendations.
•  Review and provide technical feedback to grantees to ensure results-based analysis and capturing of data, with the effective use of Grants Management System.
•  Monitor Audit Recommendations and update Action Plans in the system, in coordination with the Operations team, where applicable.

Provide technical support in finalizing project documents of new Cycle 26 cohort of UNTF grantees

•  Review and lead finalization of project documents and Results Resources Frameworks through dialogue with at least 7 new grantees on submitted documents
•  Provide guidance to COs and grantees to ensure adherence to UN WOMEN policies, administrative and financial procedures.

Provide technical inputs into Reporting and Knowledge Management:

•  Maintain centralized portfolio matrix of grants and provide quarterly portfolio updates to the Grants Manager.
•  Prepare written contributions for various purposes, including inputs for the report for the Commission on Status of Women, UNTF annual donor reports, newsletters, fund raising efforts and other reporting needs.
•  Contribute to tracking and synthesizing, on an ongoing basis, developments, tools, emerging or good practices in the field of ending violence against women and girls, including capturing findings and lessons learned from evaluations.
•  Update and maintain UNTF Grant-making and Knowledge Management Tracking database with relevant grantee information.
•  Support the Fund’s communications efforts through direct engagement with grant recipients to gather information about the achievements and impact of the grant, knowledge products, media, etc. and ensure communications accurately reflect grant programmes.
•  Keep systematic track of noteworthy grantee achievements and communicate to colleagues for possible visibility, such as special features on the website.
•  Support and organize knowledge sharing events and identify good and promising models that can be shared widely across grantees and other key stakeholders.
•  Identify challenges and lessons learned across the grants and contribute to a process of institutional learning through documenting lessons learned and contribution to modification of strategies and programmes.

Support other activities as required by the Supervisor.

Oversee the Monitoring and Grant-management processes for a subset of the UN Trust Fund’s global grants portfolio.

•  Manage and oversee all operational and project management processes related to the grant’s life cycle, including, processing of project modifications and no-cost extensions, budget revisions and disbursements and processing grant closure of up to 25 projects, in close collaboration with the Operations Manager and Finance colleagues. This includes keeping information on internal and external Focal Points up to date for each active grant.
•  Lead the coordination on all aspects related to the assigned grants portfolio with the Grants, Operations and M&E teams, UN Women Regional, Country Offices and others as necessary to ensure the efficient oversight of the portfolio. This includes liaising with external stakeholders to ensure required documentation is received according to timeline agreed upon and the same files are stored in the UNTF shared drive. This also involves consolidating UNTF feedback to the grantee in all aspects of the project.
•  Provide technical assistance to grantees including in the design of their Results and Resources Frameworks (RRFs), in collaboration with the M&E team. Guide grantees in clarifying proposed project outcomes, outputs, indicators of success, methods of baseline and data collection, activities, and budgets.
•  Provide tailored technical support throughout the project life cycle, review up to 50 progress reports and provide feedback to grantees as needed to ensure results-based reports and analysis and capturing of data.
•  Perform a basic review of financial reports and flag inconsistencies between financial spending and project implementation in collaboration with relevant finance staff (within the UNTF or in the field) before final approval for grants and subsequent disbursements.
•  Monitor and assess progress towards overall results based on results framework and monitoring schedules.
•  Undertake monitoring missions and finalize mission reports in accordance with mission report template, summarizing key findings and recommendations.
•  Review and provide technical feedback to grantees to ensure results-based analysis and capturing of data, with the effective use of Grants Management System.
•  Monitor Audit Recommendations and update Action Plans in the system, in coordination with the Operations team, where applicable.

Provide technical support in finalizing project documents of new Cycle 26 cohort of UNTF grantees

•  Review and lead finalization of project documents and Results Resources Frameworks through dialogue with at least 7 new grantees on submitted documents
•  Provide guidance to COs and grantees to ensure adherence to UN WOMEN policies, administrative and financial procedures.

Provide technical inputs into Reporting and Knowledge Management:

•  Maintain centralized portfolio matrix of grants and provide quarterly portfolio updates to the Grants Manager.
•  Prepare written contributions for various purposes, including inputs for the report for the Commission on Status of Women, UNTF annual donor reports, newsletters, fund raising efforts and other reporting needs.
•  Contribute to tracking and synthesizing, on an ongoing basis, developments, tools, emerging or good practices in the field of ending violence against women and girls, including capturing findings and lessons learned from evaluations.
•  Update and maintain UNTF Grant-making and Knowledge Management Tracking database with relevant grantee information.
•  Support the Fund’s communications efforts through direct engagement with grant recipients to gather information about the achievements and impact of the grant, knowledge products, media, etc. and ensure communications accurately reflect grant programmes.
•  Keep systematic track of noteworthy grantee achievements and communicate to colleagues for possible visibility, such as special features on the website.
•  Support and organize knowledge sharing events and identify good and promising models that can be shared widely across grantees and other key stakeholders.
•  Identify challenges and lessons learned across the grants and contribute to a process of institutional learning through documenting lessons learned and contribution to modification of strategies and programmes.

Support other activities as required by the Supervisor.

IV. Key Results Areas

•  Accurate analysis, monitoring, and oversight of assigned grants
•  Timely coordination of grants management with UNTF Operations team
•  Issues are raised in a timely manner to appropriate stakeholders
•  Grant’s portfolio well maintained and information easily retrievable
•  Quality of communication and training materials

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: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

•  Knowledge of women’s organizations and governmental agencies working on women’s empowerment and gender equality;
•  Familiarity with UN Women procedures, particularly with regard to project management and more specifically in relation to the development of work plans, budgets, monitoring and reporting plans, purchasing plans and the identification of indicators is an advantage.
•  Good networking skills
•  Good analytical skills
•  Ability to build relationships with, and communicate effectively with clients and partners Demonstrates openness to change.
•  Ability to work in a global multi-cultural setting respecting gender equality and an ability to contribute to team work.
•  Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
•  Ability to use critical thinking, conceptualize ideas, and articulate relevant subject matter in a clear and concise way.

Required Skills and Experience

•  Education:
  •  Advanced University degree or equivalent in Political Science, International Development Studies, Gender/Women’s Studies, or another relevant field.
  •  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:

  •  A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in managing complex and multi-component interventions with various partners and multi-stakeholders.
  •  Experience in working on addressing issues related to violence against women and girls.
  •  Experience in grants and project management is an asset.
  •  Experience with databases and data management is an asset.
  •  Experience in the United Nations, a governmental, other multilateral or civil society organization in a developed or developing country is an asset.

  Language Requirements:

  •  Fluency in English is required.
  •  Knowledge of Spanish and/or French is an asset.

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