The Position:

The Representative leads the country office team in the design and implementation of a population and development and sexual and reproductive health country programme. Through alliances and partnerships with governments, UN and bilateral agencies, development partners, civil society, academia and the private sector, the programme aims to realize the 2030 Agenda in order to make a positive difference in the lives of millions of people; especially those furthest behind.

A. Strategic direction, planning and management

Lead the positioning of UNFPA on strategic issues in the country on the basis of global, regional and national policies and strategies

Build institutional relationships with government counterparts, civil society, the private sector, the UN community, other international/national organizations, academia and bilaterals that galvanize support for UNFPA’s mandate

Promote UNFPA’s role in the national development agenda, and in the changing aid environment

Establish priorities for the work of the Country Office in line with regional and global UNFPA corporate priorities

Ensure that policies, programming tools, state-of-the-art knowledge and sound business practices are incorporated into UNFPA country operations

Lead and coordinate the development of a strategic plan for UNFPA’s humanitarian and preparedness actions in-country

B.  Management of resources

Manage international and national staff providing them with direction and motivation; fostering empowerment, learning and career management

Demonstrate performance appraisal and transparent leadership approaches that support a culture of growth and development, where good performance is incentivized and underperformers are held to account

Attract and retain the highest calibre of staff for the Country Office

Set standards of performance, and assign responsibilities for achieving results according to the Country Office Strategic Information System

Drive the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive resource mobilization and partnership strategy including donor relations and effective mobilisation of funds; securing and efficiently using mobilised funds and assigned budget allocations for the country programme

Ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of staff by driving compliance with Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) and Minimum Operational Residential Security Standards (MORSS)

C. Programme leadership and representation

Advise senior management of UNFPA on country level issues

Provide leadership in the development and execution of the organization’s country level policy dialogue and programme, including delivery of technical assistance for capacity development and for humanitarian situations

Engage national counterparts through effective advocacy on UNFPA’s agenda; build support for programme objectives and create awareness of the role of ICPD issues in the overall development agenda and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals

Represent UNFPA within the inter-agency United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and the UN Humanitarian Team; support the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) as UNCT leader, promoting integration of population and development, and sexual and reproductive health issues in the development and humanitarian agenda; contribute to the UN reform process including the triple nexus (Development, Humanitarian and Peace) within the UNCT context

Drive UNFPA accountability for the UN Flash Appeal/ Humanitarian Response plan and contribute actively to the achievement of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) common results, including through chairing/co-chairing UNCT Results Groups

Initiate programme and technical support opportunities for South-South cooperation.

D. Programme oversight and coordination

Drive the application of results-based management and quality assurance frameworks for the work of the Country Office;

Enforce financial and monitoring processes to ensure the Country Office complies with UNFPA policies and procedures, corporate requirements and audit recommendations;

Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Regional Director.

Education: 

Postgraduate university degree in any of the following disciplines: Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management or other related field.

 Knowledge and Experience:

15 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in public administration and international development of which at least 10 years in the field of population and development, sexual and reproductive health or humanitarian at the international level;

Current knowledge of issues of population and development, sexual and reproductive health, and their place in the development and humanitarian agenda;

Proven ability to lead teams to achieve demonstrable and high quality results

Experience at national and international level in advocacy and policy dialogue

Experience in media/communication with partners, and public information

Experience in international development, particularly in the mandate of UNFPA and dedication to the principles of the United Nations;

Field experience is essential; experience from a developing, humanitarian or crisis context is an asset.

Languages:

Fluency in English.