UN Women: Re-Advertised: Programme Specialist, Rohingya Refugee Response, Bangladesh, Cox’s Bazar, NOC, Fixed Term Contract
Introduction to UN Women
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) is a global organization dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering women. Established in 2010, UN Women consolidates efforts across the UN system to eliminate discrimination, promote women’s rights, and ensure equal opportunities for women and men in various areas such as development, human rights, humanitarian aid, and peacebuilding.
In Bangladesh, UN Women plays a crucial role in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment by supporting the government in implementing international gender equality commitments. This is done through policy guidance, program implementation, and partnerships with various stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, youth groups, donors, and other UN agencies.
As part of its mandate, UN Women is actively engaged in the Rohingya humanitarian crisis response in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where it works to support Rohingya refugee women and girls, as well as the host communities affected by the refugee influx.
Context of the Positionhttps://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/23616
The Programme Specialist position is a leadership and managerial role responsible for overseeing UN Women’s humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar. The individual will work closely with national and international partners to ensure that women and girls, particularly those most vulnerable, receive protection and have access to essential humanitarian services.
Key Responsibilities and Impact
The Programme Specialist is expected to:
- Develop and Implement Strategic Plans – Lead the formulation of gender-responsive humanitarian policies and program strategies related to the Rohingya crisis.
- Manage Program Implementation – Oversee project implementation, ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with UN Women’s strategic objectives.
- Coordinate with UN Agencies and Donors – Serve as a liaison between UN Women, the Bangladeshi Government, donor agencies, NGOs, and other UN bodies working in Cox’s Bazar.
- Supervise and Manage Teams – Lead a team of humanitarian professionals and gender specialists to implement projects, ensuring high performance and adherence to organizational values.
- Monitor and Evaluate Program Impact – Develop mechanisms for assessing program effectiveness, ensuring that projects achieve desired results and contribute to broader gender equality goals.
- Resource Mobilization – Identify funding opportunities and work on securing financial resources to sustain and expand UN Women’s humanitarian efforts in Cox’s Bazar.
- Knowledge Management and Advocacy – Conduct research, generate knowledge products, and advocate for policies that support women’s rights in humanitarian settings.
Background on the Rohingya Refugee Crisis
The Rohingya crisis is one of the world’s largest and most pressing humanitarian challenges. Since 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar to seek refuge in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, following persecution and violence in Rakhine State. This has led to:
- Mass displacement – Approximately 1 million Rohingya refugees now reside in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar.
- Increased vulnerability of women and girls – Rohingya women and girls are disproportionately affected by the crisis, facing gender-based violence (GBV), lack of access to healthcare and education, and economic hardships.
- Pressure on host communities – The influx of refugees has also impacted local communities, leading to economic, social, and environmental challenges.
As part of its response, UN Women partners with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs of Bangladesh to:
- Ensure protection for Rohingya women and girls.
- Promote gender-sensitive humanitarian assistance.
- Support women’s participation and leadership in refugee camps and host communities.
- Facilitate social cohesion between Rohingya refugees and host communities.
Detailed Responsibilities of the Specialist
1. Designing and Developing Programme Strategies
- Develop and refine UN Women’s response to the Rohingya refugee crisis by formulating programme proposals and initiatives.
- Collaborate with Programme Analysts and technical experts to consolidate knowledge and research findings.
- Draft policy recommendations and strategic frameworks that align with Bangladesh’s national policies, UN Women’s global strategies, and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
2. Managing Implementation of Humanitarian Programs
- Finalize and oversee the annual work plan and budget, ensuring timely and effective project execution.
- Provide technical guidance to project staff and partners.
- Supervise the reporting process, ensuring that implementing partners submit accurate financial and progress reports.
- Promote cross-sectoral collaboration between different teams, ensuring synergies across thematic areas such as gender-based violence (GBV), economic empowerment, and peacebuilding.
3. Coordinating the UN Joint Programme
- Lead UN Women’s engagement in the Joint Programme (JP) supported by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC).
- Establish coordination mechanisms among Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs) to align efforts and maximize impact.
- Monitor program performance indicators and ensure compliance with donor requirements.
- Facilitate Steering Committee and technical meetings for strategic decision-making.
4. Capacity Building and Technical Assistance
- Provide capacity-building support to implementing partners, including government agencies, civil society groups, and humanitarian organizations.
- Develop technical tools, training materials, and policy guidance to strengthen gender mainstreaming in humanitarian response.
- Identify risks and gaps in service delivery, proposing solutions to address challenges faced by women and girls in refugee settings.
5. Financial and Human Resource Management
- Manage programme budgets, ensuring optimal utilization of resources.
- Conduct financial analysis and forecasting to track expenditures and ensure budget adherence.
- Supervise and mentor a team of 17 personnel, including:
- 5 direct reports (Programme Analysts, Monitoring Analysts, Communications staff).
- 12 affiliate personnel (Field Officers, Volunteers, Consultants).
6. Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization
- Develop partnerships with donors, government agencies, and UN agencies to secure funding and expand programme reach.
- Conduct research on donor trends, prepare funding proposals, and negotiate partnership agreements.
- Represent UN Women at high-level donor meetings and strategic planning forums.
7. Advocacy and Knowledge Management
- Serve as a gender equality advocate by engaging with policymakers, civil society organizations, and humanitarian actors.
- Generate knowledge products such as policy briefs, reports, and research papers.
- Develop and implement communication strategies to raise awareness of gender issues in humanitarian settings.
Competency Requirements
Core Competencies
- Respect for Diversity – Work effectively in a multicultural environment.
- Integrity & Professionalism – Maintain high ethical standards.
- Gender Sensitivity – Demonstrate strong knowledge of gender equality principles.
- Problem-Solving & Decision Making – Apply creative solutions to complex humanitarian challenges.
Technical Skills
- Strong programme management and implementation skills.
- Knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM) and monitoring & evaluation (M&E) tools.
- Experience in humanitarian crisis response.
- Ability to conduct policy analysis and strategic planning.
- Expertise in budget management, financial analysis, and resource mobilization.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in English and Bengali (mandatory).
- Knowledge of Chittagonian or Rohingya (desirable).
- Proficiency in another UN language (French, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, or Russian) is an advantage.
Conclusion
This is a high-impact role that requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and technical expertise in gender-sensitive humanitarian response. The Programme Specialist will play a key role in protecting and empowering Rohingya women and girls, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights upheld in the humanitarian context.
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UN Women Programme Specialist – Rohingya Refugee Response (Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh)
Introduction to UN Women and Its Global Role
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) is a specialized UN agency dedicated to gender equality, women’s rights, and empowerment. Established in 2010, it was formed by merging four UN organizations that focused on women’s issues:
- DAW (Division for the Advancement of Women)
- INSTRAW (International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women)
- OSAGI (Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women)
- UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women)
Since its inception, UN Women has been working across 193 UN member states to:
- Promote gender-responsive laws and policies.
- Address violence against women and girls (VAWG).
- Increase women’s participation in peace and security efforts.
- Improve women’s access to economic opportunities.
- Strengthen women’s leadership in politics, governance, and humanitarian response.
In Bangladesh, UN Women plays a pivotal role in supporting national gender policies and humanitarian responses, particularly in addressing gender-based violence (GBV), economic empowerment, and social inclusion.
The Rohingya Refugee Crisis: Historical Context and Humanitarian Challengevacancy spaces
The Rohingya refugee crisis is one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. The Rohingya people, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority from Rakhine State, Myanmar, have faced decades of persecution, statelessness, and discrimination.
Timeline of the Crisis
- Pre-2017: Rohingya populations in Myanmar experience systematic discrimination, restricted movement, and limited access to citizenship, education, and healthcare.
- August 2017: A brutal military crackdown by Myanmar’s armed forces (Tatmadaw) results in mass killings, sexual violence, and the destruction of Rohingya villages.
- September 2017 – Present: Over 700,000 Rohingya refugees flee to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, joining earlier refugee populations and creating the largest refugee settlement in the world.
Current Situation in Cox’s Bazar
- Total Rohingya Population: Approximately 1 million refugees living in 34 overcrowded camps.
- Women & Girls: Around 52% of the refugee population are women and girls, many of whom are survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), trafficking, and forced labor.
- Humanitarian Challenges:
- Limited access to healthcare, education, and livelihoods.
- Worsening security conditions, including trafficking and GBV.
- Environmental degradation and natural disaster risks (e.g., monsoons, cyclones, landslides).
- Tensions between Rohingya refugees and host communities due to resource competition.
Given this complex humanitarian landscape, UN Women’s role is critical in ensuring that the needs of Rohingya women and girls are addressed in humanitarian response efforts.
Programme Specialist Role: Responsibilities & Key Focus Areas
The Programme Specialist serves as a senior-level leader responsible for managing UN Women’s Rohingya humanitarian response. This role requires policy expertise, program management, partnership-building skills, and gender mainstreaming experience.1. Strategic Programme Development & Implementation
The Programme Specialist will:
- Lead programme design by identifying priority areas, setting objectives, and developing action plans.
- Ensure that gender equality principles are integrated into all humanitarian programs in Cox’s Bazar.
- Oversee implementation of multi-year projects related to:
- Gender-based violence prevention & response.
- Women’s economic empowerment (livelihood opportunities, cash-for-work programs).
- Leadership training for Rohingya and host community women.
- Monitor project impact and recommend improvements for efficiency and effectiveness.
2. Gender-Responsive Humanitarian Action
The Programme Specialist will ensure that women’s voices are included in humanitarian decision-making by:
- Supporting women-led community groups to participate in camp governance structures.
- Training humanitarian actors on gender-sensitive programming.
- Advocating for women-friendly spaces (WFS) and safe shelters in the refugee camps.
3. Coordination with UN Agencies, Government & NGOs
The Programme Specialist will serve as a focal point for inter-agency coordination, working closely with:
- UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) – Leads the overall humanitarian response in Cox’s Bazar.
- IOM (International Organization for Migration) – Supports camp management and resettlement.
- UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) – Provides sexual and reproductive health services.
- Bangladeshi Government Agencies (Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief) – Ensures policy alignment.
- Local and international NGOs (BRAC, Save the Children, CARE, Oxfam, ActionAid) – Implements field-level interventions.
4. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL)
The Programme Specialist will develop robust monitoring frameworks to:
- Track progress on gender-focused interventions.
- Measure impact indicators such as reductions in GBV incidents, economic participation of women, and access to services.
- Ensure accountability to affected populations (AAP) by incorporating refugee women’s feedback into program design.
5. Resource Mobilization & Donor Engagement
- The Programme Specialist will lead fundraising efforts, identifying new donor opportunities.
- Develop proposals for bilateral and multilateral donors such as:
- European Union (EU)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
- Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
- USAID (United States Agency for International Development)
- Manage grant reporting, donor relations, and financial oversight of humanitarian projects.
Key Challenges & Considerations
1. Gender Inequality in Crisis Settings
- Rohingya women have limited access to leadership opportunities in camps.
- Cultural barriers often restrict women’s mobility and participation in decision-making.
- High rates of child marriage and GBV require urgent attention.
2. Security Risks in Cox’s Bazar
- Growing criminal activities (trafficking, gang violence, radicalization) pose challenges.
- Women and girls face increased risks of exploitation in the camps.
3. Environmental Hazards & Climate Change
- Flooding, landslides, and cyclones threaten refugee camps, requiring disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies.
Required Qualifications & Competencies
Education & Experience
- Master’s degree in gender studies, social sciences, international relations, or humanitarian affairs.
- At least 7 years of experience in humanitarian response, women’s empowerment, or development programming.
- Expertise in GBV prevention, protection frameworks, and humanitarian coordination.
Skills & Knowledge
- Proficiency in Results-Based Management (RBM) and project cycle management.
- Strong analytical, leadership, and communication skills.
- Fluency in English and Bengali; knowledge of Chittagonian or Rohingya is an asset.
Conclusion
This role is critical in ensuring a gender-responsive humanitarian response in Cox’s Bazar. The Programme Specialist will work at the intersection of policy, program design, and implementation, advocating for women’s rights and leadership in crisis settings.
