Position Summary:

The Technical Adviser provides strategic, technical and programmatic leadership for the region in the area of Adolescent and Youth SRH to ensure that the Regional Office (RO) and Country Offices (CO) remain abreast of the Fund’s policies and programmes as well as current thinking and academic advance in youth-related areas of the ICPD Programme of Action.  S/he ensures that AYSRH is adequately addressed within national development frameworks and programmes, including the achievement of Agenda 2030.

The primary roles of the Technical Adviser in the area of AYSRH are:

• Strategic, technical and programmatic support
• Capacity development
• Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination
• Policy dialogue and technical representation
• Effective programme and project result-based management

Responsibilities of the Technical Adviser include: to support the implementation of UNFPA’s strategic plan in the region; to identify new and emerging needs and optimize delivery modalities for technical and programme guidance and support; to develop and maintain technical partnerships in the region; and, to ensure that technical and programme knowledge is updated, generated, collected and disseminated for effective technical support, capacity building at regional and national level and high level policy dialogue.

The Technical Adviser for Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYSRH) is located in the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office and is a member of the integrated SRHR Unit which receives overall guidance from the Deputy Regional Director.  S/He leads the Adolescents and Youth (AYP) components of the Regional Programme and provides technical advice and support on ASRH and youth development to Country Offices.

Requirements and Qualifications:

Education:  Post-graduate University Degree or equivalent (preferably Ph. D.) in public health, medicine, sociology, social anthropology, health education, health economics, epidemiology, behavioral studies, communication or other related field. The graduate or post graduate degree must be directly related to the substantive area identified in the title of the post.     

Knowledge and Experience:

·         10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the substantive area, of which seven years at the international level;

·         Sound knowledge of medical ethics, an asset

·         Understanding of Gender, Human Rights, and cultural dimensions of Adolescent and Youth SRH is essential

·         Experience in developing and implementing outreach, demand creation, BCC or counseling, a strong asset

·         Ability to work in highly sensitive areas is essential

·         Experience of working with vulnerable population groups and community and traditional leaders, an asset

·         Demonstrated expertise in the substantive area of work; the incumbent is expected to be an expert in the field and recognized authority in the area of assignment;

·         Experience in programming; including evidence of innovative approaches

·         Strong track record of technical leadership, and proven ability to produce demonstrable results;

·         Strong verbal and written communications skills in English and/or in the relevant language in the region

·         Demonstrated ability to network within the academic and development community;

·         Familiarity with management and monitoring tools is desirable;

·         Familiarity with ICT/ERP is an asset;

·         Field experience is strongly desirable.

Please note closing date for this post has been extended: