International UN Job Opportunity |
Apply Before 7 January 2026
Introduction:
A Rare Senior UN Leadership Opportunity
If you are an accomplished
international development professional with a proven track record in gender
equality, women’s empowerment, and strategic leadership, this opportunity
with UN Women Rwanda represents one of the most prestigious and
impactful UN roles currently available in Africa.
The Country Representative (P5)
position places you at the heart of national policy influence, UN system
coordination, and high-level partnerships in Rwanda, a country globally
recognized for its outstanding progress in gender equality and women’s
political participation.
This role is not just a job. It is a
leadership mandate to shape national transformation, influence policy at
the highest level, mobilize global resources, and ensure that women and
girls are central to Rwanda’s development agenda.
About
UN Women: Mandate, Vision, and Global Impact
UN Women, formally known as the United
Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, was
established in July 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly as part
of the UN reform agenda.
The organization consolidates the
mandates and expertise of four former UN entities:
- Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW)
- Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues (OSAGI)
- International Research and Training Institute for the
Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)
- United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
UN
Women’s Core Mission
UN Women works worldwide to:
- Eliminate discrimination against women and girls
- Empower women economically, politically, and socially
- Advance women’s leadership and participation
- Promote women’s human rights
- Strengthen women’s role in peace, security, and
humanitarian action
UN Women operates in over 90
countries, partnering with governments, civil society, the private sector,
and other UN agencies to ensure gender equality is at the center of
sustainable development.
Rwanda:
A Global Leader in Gender Equality
Rwanda is widely recognized as a global
success story in gender equality.
Key
Achievements
- Highest percentage of women in parliament worldwide
(63.75%)
- Strong constitutional and legal frameworks promoting
gender equality
- Robust national gender machinery
- High-level political commitment to women’s empowerment
International
Commitments
Rwanda has ratified and implemented
major global frameworks, including:
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
- Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
- UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and
Security
National
Frameworks
These commitments are embedded in
Rwanda’s national development agenda, including:
- Vision 2050
- National Strategy for Transformation (NST2)
- National Gender Policy
- National Strategy on MenEngaged
Despite remarkable progress,
challenges remain, particularly around social norms, stereotypes, economic
disparities, and inclusive growth. This is where UN Women’s leadership is
both strategic and essential.
Strategic
Context: UNSDCF and UN Women Rwanda Strategic Note (2026–2029)
The United Nations Sustainable
Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2025–2029) serves as the central
partnership framework guiding UN engagement in Rwanda.
It is aligned with:
- Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2)
- The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- National priorities across economic, social, and
governance transformation
UN Women Rwanda has developed a highly
focused Strategic Note (2026–2029) that:
- Aligns with the UNSDCF and UN Women Global Strategic
Plan
- Emphasizes normative leadership and coordination
- Focuses on upstream policy influence and catalytic
programming
- Prioritizes partnerships with government, private
sector, banking institutions, CSOs, and development partners
- Promotes knowledge generation, thought leadership, and
South-South cooperation
The Country Representative is the chief
architect and leader of this strategic vision.
Position
Overview: Country Representative (P5)
Job Summary
|
Item |
Details |
|
Job Title |
Country Representative |
|
Agency |
UN Women |
|
Grade |
P5 |
|
Duty Station |
Kigali, Rwanda |
|
Contract Type |
Full-time |
|
Initial Duration |
1 year (renewable) |
|
Vacancy Category |
International Opportunities |
|
Posting Date |
17 December 2025 |
|
Closing Date |
7 January 2026 |
|
Languages Required |
English |
|
Languages Desired |
French |
Reporting
and Accountability Structure
The Country Representative operates
under a matrix management model:
- Primary Reporting:
UN Women Regional Director (East & Southern Africa)
- Mutual Accountability: UN Resident Coordinator (as a UN Country Team member)
Performance evaluation incorporates
feedback from the Resident Coordinator, reflecting the Country
Representative’s contribution to UN system coherence and UNSDCF implementation.
Core
Purpose of the Role
As Country Representative, you will:
- Provide strategic leadership to UN Women Rwanda
- Translate global and regional UN Women priorities into
national results
- Lead policy dialogue and advocacy at the highest levels
- Manage people, programmes, budgets, partnerships, and
risk
- Ensure gender equality is fully integrated across UN
system programming
This is a role for visionary
leaders, not administrators.
Key
Functions and Accountabilities (Expanded)
1.
Strategic Country Programme Leadership
You will:
- Define and implement UN Women’s strategic direction in
Rwanda
- Lead formulation and execution of the Country
Strategic Note
- Align programming with SDGs, UNSDCF, and national
frameworks
- Ensure high-quality results-based and rights-based
programming
- Approve annual work plans and budgets
- Oversee monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting
systems
2.
Country Office Management and Leadership
You will:
- Lead the Rwanda Country Office in achieving operational
excellence
- Ensure compliance with UN Women policies, rules, and
procedures
- Oversee audit processes and risk mitigation
- Ensure timely, accurate reporting to headquarters and
donors
- Lead workforce planning, recruitment, and performance
management
- Foster an inclusive, respectful, and safe workplace
culture
- Uphold zero-tolerance standards on misconduct,
harassment, and abuse
3.
UN Country Team (UNCT) Leadership and Coordination
As a UNCT member, you will:
- Contribute to Common Country Analysis (CCA)
- Ensure gender mainstreaming across UNSDCF planning and
implementation
- Lead and participate in UN Results Groups
- Support UN system coherence and reform
- Advance accountability through the UNCT-SWAP Gender
Equality Scorecard
- Engage in UNCT strategic communications and joint
advocacy
4.
High-Level Representation and Advocacy
You will:
- Represent UN Women in intergovernmental and policy
forums
- Lead national advocacy on gender equality and women’s
empowerment
- Engage senior government officials, parliamentarians,
and ministers
- Strengthen UN Women’s public visibility and credibility
- Influence policy reforms aligned with international
commitments
5.
Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
You will:
- Develop and implement resource mobilization strategies
- Build strategic partnerships with donors, government,
private sector, and CSOs
- Negotiate cost-sharing agreements and donor
contributions
- Ensure transparency, accountability, and timely donor
reporting
- Leverage blended finance and innovative funding
mechanisms
6.
Knowledge Management, Innovation, and Capacity Development
You will:
- Oversee communications and visibility strategies
- Promote innovation and evidence-based programming
- Lead production of policy briefs, research, and
knowledge products
- Foster a learning culture within the Country Office
- Strengthen national capacities through technical
assistance
7.
Safety, Security, and Organizational Resilience
You will:
- Ensure compliance with UN security policies
- Serve on the Security Management Team (SMT)
- Lead crisis preparedness and business continuity
planning
- Promote staff well-being and security awareness
Supervisory
and Managerial Responsibilities
You will lead a team of 12
professionals, including 5 direct reports:
- International Programme Specialist (P3)
- National Programme Specialist (NOC)
- Operations Manager (NOC)
- Communication Consultant
- Executive Associate
- Senior Driver
Strong people leadership and
mentoring skills are essential.
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Required
Competencies
Core
Values
- Integrity
- Professionalism
- Respect for Diversity
Core
Competencies
- Gender sensitivity and awareness
- Accountability
- Creative problem solving
- Effective communication
- Inclusive collaboration
- Stakeholder engagement
- Leading by example
Functional
Competencies
- Advanced programme design and management
- Strategic leadership in complex environments
- Policy advisory and advocacy expertise
- Strong analytical and conceptual thinking
- Deep understanding of the UN system
- Excellent networking and partnership skills
Recruitment
Qualifications
Education
- Master’s degree in development studies, economics,
public policy, or social sciences
- Bachelor’s degree with additional experience may be accepted
- Project/programme management certification (PMP,
PRINCE2, MSP) is an asset
Experience
- Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible
international development experience
- Proven leadership in gender equality programming
- Experience within the UN system or international
organizations
- Field-based experience in multicultural settings
- Strong people management and coaching experience
- Proficiency in office software and web-based ERP
systems (Oracle Cloud desirable)
Language
- Fluency in English (required)
- Knowledge of French or another UN language is an
advantage
Diversity,
Inclusion, and Zero-Tolerance Policy
UN Women is committed to:
- Equal opportunity employment
- Diversity and inclusion
- Merit-based recruitment
The organization enforces zero
tolerance for:
- Sexual exploitation and abuse
- Sexual harassment
- Abuse of authority
- Discrimination and retaliation
All selected candidates undergo rigorous
background and reference checks.
Application
Process and Important Notes
- Applications must be submitted through the official
UN Women careers portal
- All sections of the application form must be fully
completed
- Incomplete applications will be automatically
disqualified
- Early application is strongly advised due to high
competition
Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this job open to nationals of
Rwanda?
This is an international P5 position, open to qualified international
candidates.
Is the contract renewable?
Yes, subject to performance and funding availability.
Does UN Women provide relocation
benefits?
Yes, international staff receive UN-standard entitlements.
Is French mandatory?
No, but it is a strong advantage.
Why
This Role Matters
This position offers:
- Global UN leadership exposure
- Strategic influence at national and regional levels
- Competitive UN compensation and benefits
- Opportunity to shape lasting gender equality outcomes
Few roles combine policy
influence, leadership, advocacy, and impact at this level.
Final
Call to Action
If you meet the qualifications and
are ready to lead transformative change for women and girls in Rwanda:
Apply before 7 January 2026.
Competition is extremely high.
Don’t Miss Your Shot!
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