Fast Track Procedure: Programme Specialist, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P-3

About the job

The Position:

The Programme Specialist oversees project formulation and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and national development frameworks. You will lead the programme team and collaborate with the Country Office’s operations and administrative support staff.

You will report to either the UNFPA Representative/ Deputy Representative/ Assistant Representative or to the UNDP Representative/ or Country Director.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

Working within a Country Office (CO) environment, you will ensure the effective management of UNFPA activities in the areas of population and development, reproductive health and gender.

Employing your programme management experience, you will oversee the work of the programme team as well as consultants, advisors, and experts. You will establish and maintain collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies and civil society to address emerging issues, and effectively influence diverse stakeholders to contribute to achieving UNFPA’s mandate.

You would be responsible for:

• In collaboration with Government counterparts, NGOs and other partners, overseeing the design and implementation of the country programme and its component projects, aligning with Government priorities and UNFPA programme policies and procedures.
• Overseeing achievement of programme results by ensuring appropriate policies are applied and monitoring and oversight mechanisms are established and implemented.
• Reviewing the political, social and economic environment relevant to UNFPA programme activities, and pursuing opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention.
• Assessing implications of new policy developments and strategies on programme execution, and ensuring their integration.
• Overseeing project implementation; establishing partnerships with executing agencies, experts, government counterparts and other UN agencies to facilitate timely and efficient delivery of project inputs.
• Ensuring effective knowledge management strategies are implemented by the programme team, capturing lessons learned and best practices for future planning; addressing training needs of project personnel.
• Participating in advocacy and resource mobilisation efforts of the CO, by ensuring preparation of relevant documentation, i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles, and participating in related meetings and public events.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced degree in health, population, demography and/or other related social science discipline.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of development and population activities;
• Experience in programme/ project management including experience in large multi-sector projects, designing and appraising proposals and actively liaising with relevant and potential project partners;
• Proven experience in coordinating/managing a multi-disciplinary team of staff, experts and consultants;
• Experience in drafting and implementing legislation;
• Field experience is an asset;
• Prior experience in the UN system is an asset.

Languages:

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is desirable.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results-based programme
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus cost of living adjustment, rental subsidy, education grant, home leave, health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more: https://www.unfpa.org/diversity-equity-inclusion

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee 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

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

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