Programme Specialist- Youth, Johannesburg, ESARO, P-3 at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Job Purpose:

The Programme Specialist will play an instrumental role in facilitating UNFPA’s Regional programme and project implementation, with a focus on the SYP, supporting design, planning and management, in the area of adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health and rights under the leadership of Youth Team Lead/SYP Coordinator and in collaboration of the SYP team. S/he will apply established systems and procedures and assist in the creation of knowledge by compiling, synthesizing and analyzing relevant information, developing appropriate mechanisms and systems and ensuring compliance with procedures - within the domain of your portfolio and in consultation with the Youth Team Lead/SYP Coordinator and other relevant colleagues.

You would be responsible for:

Localization and Institutionalization of SYP Strategies and Interventions

• Facilitate the institutionalization of the robust interventions that support the goals of the SYP and the broader regional youth programme, by compiling and analyzing information relevant to the UNFPA’s role in the programme countries and the region, drafting programme documents and work plans.
• Supporting the continuous evaluation of programme activities and the related quality, establishing ways to assess achievement and recommending corrective action as required; conducting field visits; participating in review meetings and evaluation missions and preparing regular inputs to status and progress reports.
• Supporting programme countries to formulate and implement strategies to strengthen mechanisms for policy implementation, increasing the role of local stakeholders to foster sustainability of strategic interventions. 

Foster implementation science and documentation

• Facilitating knowledge management and documentation, interpreting and applying the results of operations research for the continuous improvement of the SYP programme implementation in collaboration with the M&E Specialist and under the overall guidance of the Youth Team Lead/SYP Coordinator
• Guiding routine implementation of assigned interventions, in coordination with national counterparts and programme personnel, coordinating the delivery of programme inputs and ensuring participation of national counterparts in training activities and study tours.
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning related to adolescents and young people through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic projects, assisting with measuring programme impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports, and sharing these with management for future planning.

Systems Strengthening and Capacity building

• Leading the design and implementation of capacity-strengthening strategies and plans for the SYP in line with the programme goals, and liaison with the youth programme team
• Facilitate successful implementation of system-strengthening programme activities across SYP programme countries, facilitating capacity development through training, coaching, group interactions, and regular communication via email, telephone, and site visits to the programmes
• Support implementation of programme activities in accordance with agreed work plans and the targets set out in the M&E framework in collaboration with the M&E Specialist and under the overall guidance of the Youth Team Lead/SYP Coordinator.

Resource Mobilization, Partnerships strengthening

• Functioning as the technical liaison for donor administrative and programmatic requests, including participating in relevant technical partner meetings, compiling analytical and narrative reports, and undertaking joint field missions when assigned by the Youth Team Lead/SYP Coordinator.
• Supporting advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the RO, by establishing and maintaining a network of donor and public information contacts. Assisting with organizing and conducting donor meetings and public information events, including preparing relevant background material for these events.
• Participate in resource mobilization and partnership efforts, as required, to further scale up the Regional Youth Programme, in particular the Safeguard Young People Programme.

General support to the SYP programme and undertake any other duties as identified by the Youth Team Lead/SYP Coordinator.

Qualifications and Experience Required: 

Education:  

• Advanced University degree in social sciences or related fields with specialized knowledge in the field of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in development and/or humanitarian work on youth
• issues with experience in youth development. Prior experience in developing countries
• is an asset
• Knowledge and experience of SRHR and/or ASRHR is required
• Experience in delivering technical assistance to countries is required.
• Proven ability to work well in teams is an asset.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely is required.
• Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff
• members from different national and cultural backgrounds is an asset.
• Experience in the use of quantitative and qualitative methodologies to document
• programme results.