UN Women Programme Specialist Job 2026 (Home-Based): Apply for IPSA-10 United Nations Career Opportunity

Professionals passionate about gender equality, international development, and programme oversight now have an exciting opportunity to work with UN Women. The organization is currently recruiting a Programme Specialist – Oversight and Quality Assurance (IPSA-10) for a home-based position supporting its programmes in Somalia.

This international opportunity allows experienced development professionals to contribute to improving programme quality, monitoring results, and strengthening accountability systems that support women’s empowerment and gender equality. The role also provides a chance to collaborate with global experts and partners working toward inclusive and sustainable development.

In this article, we explore the job responsibilities, qualifications, work environment, and how interested professionals can apply for this impactful position.

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About UN Women

UN Women was established in 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly to advance gender equality and empower women worldwide. The organization consolidates the work of several former UN entities that focused on women’s rights and gender equality.

UN Women operates in numerous countries and works closely with governments, civil society, and development partners to ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities in political participation, economic empowerment, peacebuilding, and humanitarian response.

The organization’s global mission includes:

• Eliminating discrimination against women and girls
• Promoting women’s leadership in governance and peacebuilding
• Expanding women’s economic opportunities
• Ending violence against women and girls

The Programme Specialist role plays a critical part in ensuring that programmes designed to achieve these objectives are implemented effectively and meet international accountability standards.

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Job Overview

The Programme Specialist – Oversight and Quality Assurance (IPSA-10) position is a full-time international consultancy contract under the International Personnel Service Agreement (IPSA) category.

Key Job Details

• Organization: UN Women
• Job Title: Programme Specialist – Oversight and Quality Assurance
• Grade: IPSA-10
• Location: Home-Based (with travel to Somalia)
• Contract Duration: Initial 1 year
• Agency: UN Women Somalia Country Office
• Application Deadline: 27 March 2026

Although the role is home-based, the selected candidate will be expected to travel to Somalia, including Mogadishu and other field locations, for monitoring missions, evaluations, and coordination meetings. Travel is typically about one week per month, depending on programme needs and security clearance.

Key Responsibilities of the Programme Specialist

The Programme Specialist will play a central role in ensuring that UN Women programmes maintain strong oversight, accountability, and quality standards.

1. Programme Oversight and Quality Assurance

One of the main responsibilities of the position is to strengthen programme planning and oversight systems. The specialist will support programme teams in ensuring that projects follow UN Women’s internal policies and deliver measurable results.

Key duties include:

• Supporting the development of integrated work plans
• Reviewing project proposals, concept notes, and programme documentation
• Monitoring project progress and recommending corrective actions
• Facilitating internal programme reviews and approvals
• Establishing and maintaining standard operating procedures for programme workflows

By ensuring quality control across programme cycles, the specialist helps maintain the effectiveness and credibility of UN Women initiatives.

2. Budgeting and Financial Management

Another important aspect of the role is monitoring financial performance and programme budgets.

The specialist will collaborate with operations teams and programme managers to:

• Review programme expenditure and financial delivery rates
• Identify operational and financial bottlenecks
• Support budget revisions and financial planning
• Facilitate quarterly delivery review meetings
• Ensure effective use of donor funds and cost-recovery processes

Financial oversight ensures that projects remain aligned with donor expectations and organizational accountability standards.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Results-Based Management

Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are essential for understanding whether development programmes achieve their intended impact.

In this role, the Programme Specialist will lead the application of Results-Based Management (RBM) across programmes.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing monitoring indicators and evaluation frameworks
• Ensuring quality and timely reporting on programme progress
• Supporting donor reporting and impact assessments
• Coordinating field monitoring missions and verification visits
• Leading programme evaluations and integrating lessons learned

The specialist will also work with the UN Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Data Working Group to strengthen gender-responsive evaluation practices.

4. Capacity Development and Knowledge Sharing

Building the capacity of staff and partners is another critical responsibility.

The Programme Specialist will support training and coaching initiatives to strengthen programme management skills among staff and implementing partners.

Key activities include:

• Training teams on monitoring, evaluation, and reporting tools
• Developing guidance materials for programme management
• Documenting lessons learned and best practices
• Supporting knowledge-sharing across programme teams

These efforts help improve institutional learning and strengthen long-term programme effectiveness.

5. Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

The specialist will also contribute to strategic partnerships and donor engagement.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting the development of project proposals and concept notes
• Ensuring compliance with donor requirements
• Tracking donor commitments and reporting schedules
• Identifying new funding opportunities aligned with programme priorities

These contributions help ensure the sustainability and growth of UN Women’s programmes in Somalia.

Required Qualifications

Candidates applying for this role must meet a combination of educational and professional requirements.

Education

Applicants should possess:

• A Master’s degree in fields such as:
  • Political Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Economics
  • International Development
  • Gender or Women’s Studies

Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree plus additional relevant experience may also be considered.

A programme or project management certification is considered an advantage.

Professional Experience

To qualify for the role, candidates must demonstrate:

• At least five years of progressive experience in international development
• Experience working in conflict or post-conflict environments
• Strong background in programme management, monitoring, and evaluation
• Proven experience in programme quality assurance and compliance
• Experience writing donor proposals and concept notes

Experience working with international organizations or UN agencies will be considered an asset.

Language Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Fluency in English

Knowledge of another official UN language is considered an advantage.

Core Competencies

UN Women seeks professionals who demonstrate strong values and competencies aligned with the United Nations system.

Important competencies include:

• Integrity and professionalism
• Respect for diversity and inclusion
• Gender sensitivity and awareness
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective communication and collaboration
• Stakeholder engagement and coordination

Candidates must also demonstrate the ability to work in complex environments and collaborate with diverse partners, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and international institutions.

Working Environment and Travel

Although the position is home-based, it includes regular field missions to Somalia. These visits support programme monitoring, evaluation, and partner engagement.

Travel will be conducted in accordance with UN Women security and travel protocols. All official travel expenses will be covered by the organization.

Depending on operational needs, the role may also involve temporary relocation to Mogadishu.

Commitment to Diversity and Ethical Conduct

UN Women is committed to creating a workplace built on diversity, respect, and equal opportunity.

The organization recruits candidates regardless of race, gender identity, nationality, religion, disability status, or other personal characteristics. All staff are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards and adhere to the United Nations code of conduct.

UN Women also maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment, discrimination, and abuse of authority.

Why This Opportunity Matters

This Programme Specialist role offers professionals a unique opportunity to contribute to transformative development programmes that advance women’s rights and gender equality.

By strengthening programme oversight, monitoring impact, and improving accountability systems, the selected candidate will help ensure that UN Women initiatives deliver meaningful results for women and communities in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official UN Women careers portal before the 27 March 2026 deadline.

Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form—including education and employment history—are fully completed to avoid disqualification.