The Programme Analyst, Youth Empowerment & Engagement analyses and assesses relevant political, social and economic trends, guiding and facilitating the delivery of UNFPA programmes, including project formulation and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and national development frameworks, in the areas of Adolescents & Youth Development as stipulated in the Ghana Country Programme.

You will report to the UNFPA Programme Specialist, Adolescents, Youth and Development.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA strives to find solutions to the problems that humanity faces today. Working along critical pathways, the action will accelerate the fulfillment of unmet needs for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA’s new strategic plan (2022-2025), leads to 2030 and the achievement of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Emerging trends inform the plan, new and expanded priorities add to longstanding commitments, and “how we work” is changing. Yet every step continues to be guided by the ICPD Programme of Action and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

In Ghana, UNFPA has started implementing its new five-year 8th Country Programme 2023-2027. The 8th CP aligns well with national, regional and global priorities including aligning with the UNFPA strategic plan, 2022 – 2025, that seeks to accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal death, unmet need for family planning, and gender-based violence and harmful practices. It fits within two of the three pillars of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), 2022 – 2025, namely: equitable access to social services and promoting a peaceful Ghana. In addition, the country programme aligns to the ICPD Programme of Action, the national voluntary commitment made by the Government at the Nairobi Summit on the 25th anniversary of ICPD (ICPD+25), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Overall, the country programme contributes to national priorities, including creating a wealthy, inclusive, sustainable, equitable, resilient, healthy and disciplined society, encapsulated in the President’s vision of “Ghana Beyond Aid”.

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 large and complex Ghana Country Office environment, you will support the effective management of UNFPA activities in the areas of youth empowerment & engagement in line with the Country Programme Document (CPD) 2023 – 2027 focusing on strengthening national capacity for the provision of high-quality programming in the areas of youth empowerment and engagement, especially for the most vulnerable populations, including women, young people and internally displaced people.

You will provide technical advice and management support to UNFPA’s programme on youth empowerment and engagement. As a stand-alone as well as cross-cutting area of work, s/he will manage the policy and advocacy work of UNFPA on youth empowerment and engagement with the concerned staff and management team and facilitate linkages with other relevant programmes and projects on sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and population dynamics.

You will monitor results achieved during implementation, guiding the appropriate application of systems and procedures, and developing enhancements as required.

You would be responsible for:

• Programme Management
• Policy and Advocacy
• Knowledge Management
• Resource Mobilization

Any other duties assigned by the supervisor in consultation with the management.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

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

Knowledge and Experience:

• Two years professional experience in the field of development and population activities, with experience in programme/ project management.
• 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.
• Practical experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
• Field experience is an asset.
• Prior experience in the UN system is an asset.
• Experience using Microsoft Office software packages, Cloud applications, like Google Suite, and web-based ERP management systems, such as, the Oracle, Quantum, QuantumPlus, Quantum PowerBI, etc.

Languages:

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

Required Competencies:

Values:

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

Functional Competencies:

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

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