Current Openings at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Purpose of consultancy:    

The purpose of this evaluation is to provide evidence to support UNFPA’s learning related to what works (and what does not) to accelerate progress towards achievement of the transformative results and inform the design of the next regional programme action plan as a contribution to the strategic Plan and its stated intent to focus on “unfinished business”. 

This formative evaluation is a milestone within an ‘evaluative evidence package’ to inform the next regional programme building s intended to build a foundation of the first and current regional programmes to guide, actions to accelerate progress towards achieving the three transformative results in East and Southern Africa Regions. The evaluation of the RPAP will undertake in coordination with the Global SP formative evaluation and other regional programme evaluations. The ‘evaluative evidence package’ is composed of several thematic and institutional centralized evaluations implemented under the last two Quadrennial Budgeted Evaluation Plans, a summative evaluation of the Strategic Plan scheduled in 2028, and this formative evaluation.

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

• The objective of this evaluation is to assess UNFPA’s organizational readiness and strategic positioning to accelerate the progress towards the achievement of the three transformative results and catalyse a discussion on the design of the next Strategic Plan given the state of progress on the SDGs. New elements introduced in this Strategic Plan will be the focus – namely, the six accelerators for change - and the strategic shifts that were proposed, including flexibility and agility in programming, financing, innovation, and partnerships. The evaluation will focus on the current Strategic Plan period starting in 2022 until the end of data collection in early-2024. A forward-looking perspective will be maintained so that the evaluation results will benefit both the remainder of the current regional programme and the Strategic Plan and the development of the subsequent one.
• The evaluation will cover all the following thematic areas of the Regional Programme Action Plan 2022 - 2023 - sexual and reproductive health, maternal health, family planning, adolescents and youth, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, as well as population and development data, policies and strategies, Humanitarian and Emergencies. 
• In addition, the evaluation will cover cross-cutting issues such as human rights and gender equality, emergencies, humanitarian crises, displacement, and migration status relevant in countries affected by humanitarian crisis in the region; as well as innovation, knowledge management, resource mobilization, communication and organizational efficiency and effectiveness, programme coordination and results-based management, monitoring, and evaluation.

Qualifications, and competencies, including language requirements:    

Qualifications and Experience of the Evaluation Team

Team Leader

The competencies, skills and experience of the evaluation team leader should include:

• Master’s degree in public health, Social Sciences, Demography or Population Studies, Statistics, Development Studies, or a related field.
• 10 years of experience in conducting or managing evaluations in the field of international development and/or humanitarian action].
• Extensive experience in leading complex evaluations commissioned by United Nations organizations and/or other international organizations and NGOs.
• Demonstrated expertise in one of the thematic areas of programming covered by the evaluation (see profiles below).
• In-depth knowledge of theory-based evaluation approaches and ability to apply both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and to uphold standards for quality evaluation as defined by UNFPA and UNEG.
• Good knowledge of humanitarian strategies, policies, frameworks and international humanitarian law, and principles as well as the international humanitarian architecture and coordination mechanisms.
• Ability to ensure ethics and integrity of the evaluation process, including confidentiality and prevention of harm to evaluation subjects.
• Ability to consistently integrate human rights and gender perspectives in all phases of the evaluation process.
• Excellent management and leadership skills to coordinate and supervise the work of the evaluation team.
• Experience working with a multidisciplinary team of experts.
• Excellent analytical skills and demonstrated ability to formulate evidence-based conclusions and realistic and actionable recommendations.
• Excellent communication (written and spoken), facilitation and knowledge-sharing skills.
• Good knowledge of the regional development context of ESAR 
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

SRHR Expert

The competencies, skills, and experience of the SRH expert should include:

• Master’s degree in public health, Medicine, Health Economics and Financing, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, or a related field.
• 7 years of experience in conducting evaluations, reviews, assessments, research studies or M&E work in the field of international development and/or humanitarian action.
• Substantive knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Good knowledge of humanitarian strategies, policies, frameworks, and international humanitarian law and principles as well as the international humanitarian architecture and coordination mechanisms.
• Ability to ensure ethics and integrity of the evaluation process, including confidentiality and prevention of harm to evaluation subjects.
• Ability to consistently integrate human rights and gender perspectives in all phases of the evaluation process.
• Solid knowledge of evaluation approaches and methodology and demonstrated ability to apply both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with a multidisciplinary team of experts.
• Excellent communication (written and spoken), facilitation and knowledge-sharing skills.
• Good knowledge of the national development context of ESARO.
• Familiarity with UNFPA or other United Nations organizations’ mandates and operations will be an advantage.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

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Job Purpose:

The Travel Associate ensures execution of transparent and efficient travel and administrative services and processes in the Regional Office. The incumbent will promote a client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach and work in close collaboration with the operations, programme and projects’ personnel in the Regional Office for resolving travel and administrative-related issues and information exchange. 

Primary functions include:

• Provide support in the implementation of UNFPA Travel Policy and procedures.
• Process travel requests, travel claims and expense reports.
• Provide support to UNFPA ESARO personnel on travel related matters. 
• Assist in the preparation and organization of workshops, conferences, meetings conducted at UNFPA ESARO.

You would be responsible for: 

Support the implementation of UNFPA travel policies and procedures 

• Ensure that all travel is undertaken in strict compliance with policies.
• Manage the processing of Travel Requests (TR) and Travel Claims (TC), ensuring that they are properly formulated in accordance with UNFPA Travel Policies and Procedures and the applicable UN Regulations and Rules.
• Manage travel processing in the UNFPA corporate Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. 
• Verify travel expense reports (F10s) in the online system to ensure compliance to set guidelines.
• Independently interpret and apply all relevant policies to the calculation and disbursement of travel entitlements.
• Stay updated on Travel Policies & Guidance Notes and assist UNFPA personnel in understanding and complying with the policies.
• Verify invoices received from travel agents and ensure payments are timely effected. Keep records of all payments made for reconciliation purposes. 
• Establish and maintain relationships with travel service providers, work with other United Nations Agencies to negotiate common contracts, and obtain favorable rates.
• Monitor the quality of services provided by vendors and address any issues as they arise.
• Respond to country office travel clarifications and queries in a timely manner.
• Produce travel related reports as and when required.
• Make recommendations for improving travel efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Workshop/Conferences/Meetings Support

• Provide support in the preparation and organization of workshops, conferences and or meetings conducted by UNFPA ESARO.
• Maintain an accommodation database including daily rates and the different types of rooms available in the UNDSS cleared hotels. 

Perform other travel-related support functions 

• Undertake audit preparations on travel related activities.
• Liaise with HR, Finance, IT and other relevant parties as needed to resolve travel related issues.
• Act as a backup to the Administrative Associate.
• Perform any other activity as required in order to assure the success of the work team in support of the UNFPA mandate and strategy.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education: 

• Secondary Education with supplemental training in travel services and/or administrative services. First level university degree is desirable.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum six (6) years of relevant experience in administration & travel coordination and management.
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills.
• Experience in roles involving handling competing priorities and time sensitive deadlines is desirable.
• Proficiency in travel management software and expense reporting tools.
• Proficiency in current office software applications and corporate IT systems.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience in handling web based management systems is an advantage.
• Knowledge of data analytics is an asset.

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Job Purpose:

In line with the urgency for reinvigorated multilateralism in line with the UN Charter, the Regional Social Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs Adviser position will support the regional office management to advance intergovernmental, inter-agency, and multilateral processes required for the delivery of the regional programme delivery and strategic positioning of the ICPD Agenda with continental and regional bodies. In particular, the position will ensure political landscape analysis is available on the shifts and impact of the political economy on achieving the ICPD Programme of Action, in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Africa Union Agenda 2063, and Frameworks of Regional Economic Communities. This will guide engagements of the regional leadership with relevant African institutions in collaboration with UNFPA West and Central Africa and Arab States regional offices covering Africa and the UNFPA Representation Office to the African Union and UN Economic Commission for Africa. Guided by the prevailing and evolving landscape of population dynamics, including sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights in the region, the Adviser will ensure UNFPA leverages opportunities and mitigates risks in a timely manner, while also learning from the continued impact of megatrends, multiple threats, geopolitics and polycrises on constrained policy and resource environments. As may be required, the position will also support the regional office management in its contributions to the UN Regional reform aimed at strengthening the value proposition of the UN to member states and regional institutions, including the African Union Commission and its organs, and Regional Economic Commissions. 

You would be responsible for:

Strategic Social Policy Advice 

• Provide policy advice informed by political scanning and multidimensional analysis of the prevailing political environment for the ICPD Programme of Action. These will take into consideration the normative standards and relevant geopolitical dimensions applicable to the region and continent as well as inter-country aspects when required. 
• Undertake sustained monitoring of the political trends and intergovernmental relations, including shifts and impact on the ICPD Agenda with a view to supporting UNFPA regional and country level to sustain further and advance political commitment to the ICPD PoA; 
• Contributes to delivering strategic, timely, and comprehensive analysis, advice, and foresight on social policy to support decision-making at continental, regional, and national levels
• Lead policy research and measurements of change in the political environment with the aim of guiding policy advocacy to advance SRH/RR as an integral part of regional and continental agenda, including political economy analysis. This will also include partnerships with external entities; 
• Support the operationalization of evolving corporate systems for monitoring risks, particularly regarding political sensitivities around SRH/RR, and provide guidance on mitigation measures as may be applicable; 
• Contribute to internal coherence and alignment of approaches across regions as may be required, including the use of reliable sources of evidence to guide corporate recommendations on political positioning and inter-governmental relations, and communicating these in a clear and compelling manner; 
• Lead with the preparation for documentation for global, continental, and regional inter-governmental processes to enable UNFPA’s engagement within and beyond the UN system, continental and regional institutions, member states, and non-state actors. These include support for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), Commission on Population and Development (CPD), Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), and Human Rights Council (HRC), as well as regional fora convened by the African Union Commission and the Economic Commission for Africa. 

Capacity Development on Policy advisory support and intergovernmental mechanisms 

• Provide support to regional and country offices for sustained monitoring, analysis, and synthesis of political and policy environmental scanning across the spectrum of the political economy, through guidance notes, tools, and approaches that are tailored to the regional and continental context 
• Support inclusion of political analysis relevant to the ICPD Agenda into country programme documents, regional programme, and the Strategic Plan, 
• Guided by robust analysis, provide social policy advice and support to regional and country offices to leverage geopolitical positioning by continental and regional institutions as well as member States in advancing the ICPD agenda, including those arising from prevailing multiple threats and geopolitical dynamics in the region; 
• Establish and manage working relations with social policy and research think tanks with the ability to provide external perspectives and capacity to support decision-making by UNFPA management in the region. 
• Support UNFPA regional and country offices with tools and approaches to advancing the positioning of MISP, and GBViE, within humanitarian and emergency settings to ensure adherence to the Leave No One Behind principle

Policy Research, Evidence, and Knowledge Management 

• Develop policy research, evidence, and knowledge management tools to guide regular trends analysis of the policy environment for the ICPD Programme of Action and produce periodic political scanning and policy snapshots of current positions, shifts, and future outlooks of member states, regional, continental, and global intergovernmental bodies; 
• Support documentation on political positioning with potential influence on the ICPD Agenda across the humanitarian, development, and peace contexts to guide regional leadership engagements in policy and intergovernmental processes and mechanisms aimed at advancing the ICPD Agenda; 
• Work with regional, and country offices and the Representation Office to the AU and ECA to generate and share policy evidence and knowledge from within and beyond the region on political influence and agenda shaping for SRH/RR, including through south-south cooperation. 
• Understudy peace and security dimensions for advancing the role of women and youth to ensure equitable access to sexual reproductive health and rights information and services in humanitarian and emergency settings.

Strategic Partnerships and Positioning 

• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships required to further mobilize key partners at global, regional, and national levels in support of the ICPD Programme of Action, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Africa Union Agenda 2063 “The Africa we want”, including the African Union and its organs, Regional Economic Communities, African Union Development Agency, AUDA-NEPAD, Parliamentary bodies, United Nations System, Bilateral and Multilateral institutions, etc; 
• Provide support and inputs to strengthened internal coherence of UNFPA messaging at global, regional, and country levels through coordination with Representation Offices in Addis Ababa, Geneva, Brussels, and Headquarters in New York to mention a few; 
• Manage networks of social policy partners across the humanitarian, development, and peace contexts with roles within intergovernmental processes (Economic Commissions for Africa, African Union Commission and its organs, parliamentarians, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), etc.) to further UNFPA’s mandate. 

Perform any other duties as assigned by the Regional Director. 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Political Science, International Relations; Political Economy, or other relevant fields.  

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum 10 years of relevant and increasingly responsible professional experience in social policy, intergovernmental, inter-agency, and multilateral affairs, of which 4 years is at the continental or regional level. 
• Experience in the implementation of political scanning, policy research, and analysis of complex socioeconomic and human rights dimensions across humanitarian, development, and peace contexts is an asset. 
• Experience with policy advisory support within intergovernmental processes and strong networking and negotiation skills. 
• Strong knowledge of the ICPD Programme of Action. 
• Experience working with engaging civil society, including faith and religious organizations, traditional leaders, women, and youth-led social movements as it relates to the ICPD Programme of Action and the SDGs is desirable. 
• Knowledge of international, continental, and regional development frameworks required to advance the ICPD Programme of Action, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Africa Union Agenda 2063, and relevant regional frameworks of Regional Economic Commissions.
• Understanding gender transformative and human rights approaches will be an asset 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as proven experience in the substantive areas of the role. 
• Demonstrable skills in strategic thinking, agile leadership, tact and diplomacy and Innovation will be desirable 
• Field experience is desirable. 

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Job Purpose:

Under the overall leadership of the ESARO Regional Director and the direct supervision of the Deputy Director, the Technical Adviser works within an interdisciplinary team providing integrated programme and technical support to the region.  S/he also liaises with other units at the HQ level, such as the Programme and Technical Divisions and the UNFPA Technical Network, ensuring the timeliness, adequacy, relevance, and quality of technical support to UNFPA operations. 

You would be responsible for:

• Contribute to active environmental scanning (in area of expertise and work) at regional levels, in order to identify opportunities and gaps to facilitate timely UNFPA interventions. 
• Contribute inputs into the identification and synthesis of substantive trends in order to produce new and cutting-edge knowledge for programmes. 
•  Assist with analysis of UNFPA HIV prevention strategy for adaptation to the region, ensuring operational integration into regional programmes. 
• Contribute to proposals for UNFPA interventions on HIV prevention in emergency preparedness, humanitarian assistance, recovery and transition and relief efforts.
• Contribute inputs reflecting the HIV prevention perspectives within the lCPD30  agenda, and SDG goals. Through regional strategic planning and policy documents of assistance to intergovernmental organizations, as part of a strategy to spotlight, UNFPA comparative advantage in the global and regional HIV-AIDS response;
• Contribute to maintaining and utilizing of the network of sub-regional and regional experts and institutions as part of the larger objective of capacity building and transfer of skills and programme ownership to beneficiaries.;
• Document and disseminate programme delivery experiences, lessons learned for capacity building, advocacy, policy-making and effective programming; 
• Participate in the implementation of regional collaboration schemes with UN agencies, academia, research and training institutions, think tanks, centers of excellence, and professional societies in furtherance of the UNFPA Strategic Plan and the advancement of the ICPD30 agenda and SDG goals. 
• Collaborate closely on an intra and inter Thematic Unit basis, to communicate and exchange information and situational analysis with concerned parties and stakeholders, as follow-up and programmatic/technical response. 
• Contribute regional perspective into the preparation, revision, adaption of training materials, manuals, and tools, ensuring their availability and monitored use in order to assess their effectiveness for programme implementation;
• Contribute to the development of Theories of change for HIV-related outcomes and outputs of the regional programme and also support country offices to do the same for country-level outcomes and outputs.
• Contribute to the promotion of technical knowledge, programme evidence, lessons learned, and success stories for use in improving programmes, maintaining accessible databases on best practices and innovation.
• Prepare subject matter documents including but not limited to briefing materials, best practices, innovation initiatives, lessons learned, and success stories for policy dialogues at sub-regional, regional, and global levels. 
• Carry out any other duties as may be requested. 
• Within the context of an enhanced ESARO support to Country Programmes 
• Contribute inputs and if assigned, participate in activities to strengthen national capacities, assuring in collaboration with CO, the substantive hands-on involvement of national experts and institutions as an integral part of the programming, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation processes.
• Contribute inputs into the mobilization of social and political actions for national policies and programmes, promoting data for development approaches for policy making, programming, and programme assessment activities. 
• Assist in identifying key entry points, partners and approaches for mainstreaming HIV prevention strategies.  
• Provide tools and work with country programmes to analyze data for anticipating needs for technical, policy and programmatic assistance. 
• Assure familiarization with UNFPA HIV Prevention strategy and broader UN investment frameworks and progamme action areas, ensuring interventions that are integrated into country programmes.
• Provide inputs, as assigned, into the processes for preparation of national development frameworks, national HIV and AIDS strategic plans, country action plans and all related documents as well as assuring in the process, substantive hands-on involvement of national experts and institutions as integral part of the activities. 
• Assist with review and if needed, undertake in collaboration with country offices, preparation of the country-level proposals, and the attendant resource mobilization strategies to assure expected standards and quality. 
• Contribute to the promotion of technical knowledge, innovation, programme evidence, lessons learned, and success stories for use in improving country programmes. 
• Assist with clarification of existing UNFPA policies and UN system-wide agreements as well as in respect of new approaches and techniques where related precedents or guidelines are generally unavailable.
• Provide support inputs into the adaptation and use of programming, monitoring, research evaluation, and reporting guidelines and tools. 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced University Degree in Public health, medicine, sociology, HIV prevention work, demography, gender, economics, international relations, international development, public administration, management, or other field directly related to the substantive areas of the role.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the substantive area, of which at least seven years are at the international level;
• Demonstrated expertise in the substantive area of work; and programme experience;
• Strong track record of technical leadership, and proven ability to produce demonstrable results;
• Demonstrated ability to network within the academic and development community;
• Familiarity with management and monitoring tools is desirable;
• Familiarity with ICT/ERP is an asset;
• Field experience is strongly desirable.