Background

The United Nations as an organization has long recognized the strategic role played by parliamentarians and non-state actors, such as civil society, non-governmental and faith based organizations, as well as the private sector in shaping the political and development agendas of the world.

This strategic importance has been underscored through their increasing participation in many United Nations conferences and summits, and in the adoption of Goal 17 of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development which aimed to “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development”.

UNFPA has always recognized this role of Parliamentarians and CSOs and has over the decades invested in advocacy, active outreach with these multistakeholders including facilitating their active participation in the Cairo Conference in 1994, where they played a key part in shaping the
consensus, until the recent Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 held in November 2019.  Given the successful participation and the reinvigoration of the Stakeholders in Nairobi, UNFPA believes it is even more so important to facilitate this active engagement to promote its mandate.  To ensure maximum synergy with foundations and the private sector, it is vital that the fund’s engagement with these actors is consolidated to better maximize impact.

In this regard, and as part of its corporate commitment to strengthening this engagement, UNFPA intends to streamline the organizations approach to working with external partners to build coherence and alignment, by ensuring strong coordination of its parliamentarians and civil society work within the organization.

Tasks and responsibilities:

Under the overall direction of the Partnerships Advisor (Parliamentarians and CSOs), the consultant will assist in developing and operationalizing strategies and policies that will shape UNFPA’s approach to working with Civil Society and Parliamentarians and ensure that UNFPA relationships with these important constituencies contribute to UNFPA’s political and programming objectives. Specifically, the consultant will:

• Generate a mapping of UNFPA’s alliances (CSOs, parliamentarians, youth, FBOs, etc.) at all levels; and identify new alliances for broadening UNFPA engagement; 
• Oversee the development and maintenance of a database that includes CSOs, parliamentarians and parliamentary NGOs, and other Multi-stakeholders, which will serve as a communication channel with partners; 
• Identify best practices in the United Nations system and in other international organizations with a view to identifying new and better ways of interacting with non-governmental organizations and other civil society organizations, including through the SG’s Partnership Initiative;
• Manage the information flow with country and regional offices and other relevant UNFPA business units on the alliances’ activities and interventions and provide relevant inputs to organizational and UN related documents;
• Examine the ways in which the participation of civil society actors from developing countries can be facilitated and coordinate with regions to collate best practice;
• Review of existing guidelines, decisions and practices regarding multi-stakeholder engagement in UNFPA;
• Contribute to the development of new partnerships strategies with regards to the alliances for a conducive environment (CSOs, parliamentarians, youth, FBOs, etc).

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Values/Guiding Principles
• Performance management
• Developing People/Fostering Innovation and Empowerment
• Working in teams
• Communicating information and ideas/Knowledge Sharing
• Self-management/Emotional intelligence and Conflict management/Negotiating and
• resolving disagreements
• Appropriate and transparent decision making;
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking/Results Orientation/Commitment to Excellence

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Creating visibility for the organization
• Global leadership and advocacy for ICPD goals
• Resource mobilization
• Promoting organizational learning and knowledge sharing
• Organizational awareness
• Job knowledge/Technical expertise

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Advanced university in Public Administration, International Relations, Development Studies;
• 6 years of experience dealing with international issues at the national level; 5 years working in an international environment;
• Fluency in English. Knowledge of another UN working language would be an advantage.
• Familiarity with UN development programmes and working methods, and particularly with UNFPA policies

Compensation: This consultancy offers an attractive remuneration, paid in a monthly basis.

Duration:  11 months - Remote work initially

Note to applicants:

UNFPA 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.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fees in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm.

How to Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates can submit their CVs/Resume and Cover Letter to the email:  said@unfpa.org, with  "Consultant:  CSO/Parliamentary" in the subject by  8 February 2021.