Programme Specialist for Population & Development Full-Time

Organizational Setting

The Position:

The Programme Specialist for Population & Development (PD) plays a leadership role in coordinating and managing PD and Demographic Dividend (DD) portfolios of the country programme to accelerate progress on the ICPD agenda and associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

S/he provides technical support to integrate PD into UNFPA programming, including overseeing the Country Office’s (COs) strategic response to utilizing Mozambique’s demographic dividend. The Programme Specialist works within an integrated, coordinated, and systems strengthening approach which is fundamental to the CO and UNFPA’s overall strategy. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with CO Technical Advisers, under the direct supervision of the Assistant Representative, and the overall direction of the Deputy Representative and Resident Representative.

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 new strategic plan (2018-2021), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.

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:

The Programme Specialist assesses and analyses PD situations within the context of Mozambique’s political, social and economic environment, and establishes/maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral, and bi-lateral donor agencies and civil society to address emerging gender, human rights and humanitarian issues. He/she must effectively influence counterparts and work with networks, including civil society, to advance the ICPD agenda.  He/she substantially contributes to policy dialogue with relevant external stakeholders, provides support to related sectoral planning and review processes that affect population and development and the DD. S/he is directly responsible for the overall leadership, management, staff supervision, and coordination of the UNFPA programme on PD.

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

The Programme Specialist would be responsible for:

Programme and Project Management:

• In collaboration with government counterparts, NGOs and other partners, provide substantive leadership and inputs into the design and formulation of the Country Programme and response to PD and related areas (such as DD, youth investment, census);
• Ensure effectiveness and efficiency, through timely planning, monitoring and execution of programme/project interventions related to PD and related areas in collaboration with implementing partners. Focus on maximizing programme impact, paying particular attention to the global commitment to Leave No One Behind, through joint approaches to ensuring the availability of high quality disaggregated data, and a stronger focus not just on measuring results but on using results data to inform management decisions about prioritization;
• Advise and report on the achievement of PD interventions and results, and proactively measure substantive progress and the effective utilization of financial and human project resources, using timely and appropriate monitoring and measuring mechanisms and tools;
• Introduce the results from programme reviews and evaluations, best practices, as well as innovative strategies, approaches and policies into the formulation of interventions;
• Develop and disseminate evidence and knowledge, including advising and reporting on achievement of programme results, and proactively measuring project progress and the effective utilization of financial and human resources, using timely and appropriate monitoring and measuring mechanisms and tools;
• Lead PD programme and project implementation, guiding and orienting executing agencies, related partners and personnel and introducing effective modalities and practices of implementation;
• Prepare and manage programme and project budgets.  Monitor programme expenditures and disbursements to ensure delivery is in line with approved programme budgets and to realize targeted delivery levels.  Ensure the timely and accurate reporting of financial information;
• Create synergies between UNFPA programme components (Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), youth, human rights (HR), and gender) and ensure integration of PD and related areas across all programme areas;
• Participate actively in relevant Joint UN Teams, ensure alignment of PD programmes with relevant joint programming initiatives, and support and contribute to all relevant joint programmes/activities among the UN agencies.

Strategic Thinking, Technical Development, Monitoring and Oversight:

• Ensure the strategic alignment of the SDG, UNFPA Strategic Plan with UN Development Sustainable Cooperation Framework (UNSCF) Country Programme Document (CPD) and national policies and strategies, through sound advice and technical support in the area of PD and related areas to UNFPA staff and partners;
• Provide technical and programme leadership, oversight, management advice, strategic support and guidance to the PD team;
• Identify and provide evidence-based advice on PD and related areas, for UNFPA’s comparative substantive role and specific contribution in the changing development agenda and participate in policy dialogue, particularly in building national capacity to manage the demographic dividend;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of an integrated strategy for the delivery of technical assistance and programme support to partners, grounded in, and responsive to national priorities;
• Assess and analyze trends, threats and risks in PD and related areas that may affect the ICPD agenda and UNFPA’s work in Mozambique and the region;
• Identify and provide evidence-based advice, in the substantive areas, on UNFPA’s comparative substantive role and specific contribution in the changing development agenda and participate in policy dialogue;
• Advise and report on inter-linkages between UNFPA programme components (Gender, Human Rights, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR), population and development, youth investments) to ensure that UNFPA programming and approaches are fully aligned and comparative advantages fully harnessed;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of an integrated strategy for the delivery of technical assistance and programme support to partners in the substantive areas, grounded in, and responsive to national priorities;
• Keep abreast of new policy developments and strategies, analyzing policy papers, strategy documents, national plans and development frameworks. Analyze and interpret the political, social and economic environment relevant to PD and related issues and appropriately address them at the national level.

Policy Dialogue:

• Represent UNFPA on substantive issues in Mozambique and the region and elaborate UNFPA’s national perspectives in PD and related areas;
• Identify requirements and advise for new or updated policies, positioning, frameworks, guidance, standards, instruments and tools;
• Address policy issues and provide substantive inputs to facilitate policy dialogue and the central positioning of PD and related areas within policies, national and international plans and strategies, UN system initiatives, and development frameworks in national and development partners’ coordination mechanisms in line with the new aid environment;
• Participate in the UNFPA technical network in PD issues and ensure that relevant issues are incorporated in national development plans and frameworks;
• Collaborate on substantive issues with UN agencies, academia, research and training institutions, and professional societies.

Quality Control of Technical Support and Capacity Development:

• Ensure compliance to UNFPA policies, strategies, guidelines and tools on all PD related interventions, providing advice to the CO and partners;
• Assess technical assistance needs in these areas and advise on the suitability of programmes and related interventions to meet these needs. Design and implement capacity development interventions leading to increased impact, consistency and coherence of UNFPA programme related to PD;
• Lead the analysis and synthesis of substantive trends, emerging needs and research findings in the country in order to produce new, cutting edge technical knowledge. Create substantive knowledge of PD and related areas in the country by evaluating programmes, lessons learned, best practices, and replicable strategies and approaches;
• Promote capacity development, and scale-up of activities at country, and sub national level on PD, youth investment, demographic dividend and census; build local capacity to working in close collaboration governments, development and humanitarian partners, United Nations agencies, academia and civil society organizations in Mozambique.

Advocacy and Resource Mobilization:

• Identify opportunities to advocate and advance UNFPA’s agenda by participating in public information events;
• Collaborate with and build effective partnerships with other UN agencies, national government and NGOs;
• Ensure reproductive rights are recognized as the basic right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing, and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. They also include the right of all to make decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence;
• Contribute to resource mobilization efforts by analyzing information on potential donors, preparing substantive briefs and proposals in line with donor priorities, creating feedback mechanisms, and providing information on progress of donor funded initiatives;
• Identify opportunities for cost-sharing, leveraging, and collaboration with civil society, government and other partners as well as through joint UN programmes;
• Advise on building strong technical and multi-sectoral programme partnerships for advocacy of the ICPD agenda and the attainment of SDG targets and indicators at the national level through national institutions, networks, alliances and coalitions.

People Management & Leadership:

• Supervise professional staff and associates, direct expert consultants, and facilitate working groups and task teams;
• Proactively ensure that PD programmes and projects remain aligned with the broader aims of the CO and Country Programme;
• Exchange relevant information and maintain an open line of communication with colleagues and his/her supervisor to ensure that synergies across programming activities are obtained;
• Coach and supervise national professional and support staff, responsible for staff performance and advise on development needs.

Other:

When appropriate, undertake other managerial and/or programme implementation duties assigned by the Assistant Representative, Deputy Representative and/or Representative.

Qualifications and Experience

Education: 

• Master’s degree or equivalent in demography, geography, economics, sociology, public health or related discipline.

Knowledge and experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in PD or related areas;
• Ability to provide advice and guidance on the analysis, interpretation, and application of data from project information;
• Field experience in development work is required, preferably in the Africa region;
• Strong track record of technical leadership, including in planning and evaluation, and proven ability to produce demonstrable results;
• Good knowledge of the programme development mechanism of the United Nations country programmes and familiarity with UNFPA programmes and policies would be an asset;
• Demonstrated experience in managing teams and supervising professional staff.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent oral and written communication in English and Portuguese.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency in the latest office software applications;
• IT Ability to familiarize with ERP (Atlas), PeopleSoft, SAP, or other web-based integrated system.

Required Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Integrity/Commitment to mandate, knowledge sharing/continuous learning, valuing diversity;

• Managing Relationships: Working in teams, communicating information and ideas, conflict and self-management;
• Working with people: Empowerment/Developing people/performance management;
• Personal Leadership and Effectiveness: Strategic and analytical thinking, results orientation/commitment to excellence, appropriate and transparent decision making.
• Good financial management skills.

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity;
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system;
• Embracing cultural diversity;
• Promoting innovation and positive change.

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.

Functional competencies:

• Advocacy/Advancing a policy-oriented agenda;
• Results-based programme development and management;
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches;
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/Building strategic alliances and partners;
• Resource mobilization;
• Training and facilitation skills;
• Ability to conduct operational/interventional research.

UNFPA Work Environment

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.

Compensation and Benefits

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance, pension and other benefits as applicable.

Disclaimer

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