Job Purpose:

In collaboration with the UNFPA Representative, the Deputy Representative plays a leading role in strengthening the Country’s capacity to implement the ICPD Programme of Action, supporting national development efforts to achieve the SDGs, and ensuring national ownership.

Together with the Country Representative, the Deputy Representative is accountable for the effective development and management of an innovative Country Programme of Cooperation focused on population and development and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including maternal health, family planning, gender, and adolescent and youth empowerment.

The Deputy Representative is responsible for promoting, at the national level, the goals of the programme and ensuring the integration of issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the broader national development agenda. Through engagement with national counterparts, compelling advocacy, and delivery of effective programmes, including in emergency settings, the Deputy Representative serves on the frontline, validating the mandate of the organization and its ability to deliver high quality results.

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

The Position:

The Deputy Representative plays a leading role in the design and delivery of the UNFPA country programme. Through building 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. The Deputy Representative is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Country Office (CO), including supervising assigned Country Office staff.

You would be responsible for:

A. Programme Leadership

Develop, manage and monitor the Country Programme, in line with the strategic plan and on the basis of demographic, socio-economic data and national population policies
Assess and address implications of national trends on UNFPA work in the country
Expand and diversify UNFPA’s portfolio in pursuit of strategic new programme options in UNFPA’s mandate area
Feedback country specificities on policy, procedures and lessons learned to the Regional Office/Sub-Regional Office (RO/SRO) for the development of the global/regional strategic plan
Establish quality standards for project development and delivery
Oversee monitoring and evaluation of the programme, ensuring regular, rigorous monitoring and incorporation of lessons learned and adherence to the country programme theory of change; ensure adherence to corporate reporting requirements on CO results
Take a leading role in ensuring UNFPA’s mandate areas are reflected in the country’s, and the UN country team’s, humanitarian preparedness and response plans, and ensure the country office develops capacities for humanitarian response

B. National Capacity Development

Develop and implement a strategy for developing national capacity to deliver effectively on ICPD commitments; take the lead in identifying capacity gaps and needs among partner institutions; provide technical assistance and leverage resources to support the development of capacities
Promote the capacity of national research and academic institutions to produce, analyse, disseminate and use demographic data and statistics for use in evidence based policy making in support of rights-based development programming
In collaboration with development partners, promote health system strengthening to address the country’s ability to provide universal access to health care including SRHR
Take the lead in articulating strategies to develop the country’s capacity to develop, implement and monitor rights-based policies and laws, focusing on Government entities, human rights institutions, academia and civil society
Engage in a continuous dialogue with national partners to promote an enabling environment for the implementation of the ICPD agenda
Create/improve national capacities to monitor, evaluate and learn from capacity development initiatives
Foster knowledge sharing and innovative thinking in the country office, country and region.

C. Partnership and Advocacy

Build and maintain positive and collaborative relationships with key Government partners in support of shared objectives
Advocate for the inclusion of the ICPD agenda within national policies, plans and strategies, including those focused on humanitarian preparedness and response
Represent UNFPA’s mandate within the UN; ensure inclusion of ICPD issues in common country assessments and UN Development Assistance Frameworks and other strategies; where relevant take the lead/participate in inter-UN theme groups and task forces
Liaise continuously with donors and development partners, contribute to development of joint positions on issues of common concerns, identify allies in advocacy for key UNFPA issues, and articulate UNFPA’s niche areas of value added
Pursue resource mobilization opportunities among traditional and new donors
Support efforts to communicate UNFPA’s mandate issues as well as visibility for UNFPA’s donors, by engaging with media partners, drafting articles and opinion pieces, and engaging on social media

D. Management of resources

Support the UNFPA Representative in the management of the Country Office including formulation of annual work plans and monitoring implementation through consultations and field visits
Support the design and implementation of a resource mobilization and partnership strategy; securing and using mobilised funds and budget allocations for the country programme
Support the Representative in the management of staff, providing them with direction and motivation; fostering empowerment, learning and career management
Facilitate capacity building of national staff by devolving authority for portfolio management; guide programme implementation with substantive oversight and effective programme representation
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
Set standards of performance, and assign responsibilities for achieving results according to the Country Office Strategic Information System
Support the development of a strategic plan for UNFPA’s humanitarian and preparedness actions in-country
Support the staff safety by driving compliance with Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) and Minimum Operational Residential Security Standards (MORSS)

Carry out any other duties as may be required by the County Representative.

Qualifications and Experience

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:

7 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in public administration and international development including programme designing, appraising and management; of which at least 5 years in the field of population and development, sexual and reproductive health or humanitarian at the international level
Demonstrated ability to refine programme design to ensure alignment of organizational programme objectives to national priorities/capacities
Experience at national and international level in advocacy and policy dialogue
Excellent media/communication skills to foster engaged partnerships and to maintain political partnerships in the assigned country
Proven ability to lead teams to achieve demonstrable and high quality results
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 context is an asset.

Languages:

Fluency in English.

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

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

UN Leadership Characteristics:

• Norm-based – grounded in UN norms and standards

• Principled – defends norms and standards without discrimination, fear or favour

• Inclusive of all personnel and stakeholders

• Accountable

• Multi-dimensional

• Transformational

• Collaborative

• Self-applied – modelled in our own behaviour