Consultant: Evidence-Based Advocacy

The post is located in the Directorate, Policy and Strategy Division (PSD), New York. Under the direct supervision of the Director, the Evidence-Based Advocacy Consultant will support organizational strategic evidence-based advocacy, communication and partnerships efforts with specific focus on civil society, academia and emerging issues. S/He will coordinate efforts within and beyond the Division to ensure a coherent advocacy approach and messaging. Incumbent also will serve as Consultant of the institutional program targeting issues of Afrodescendants and follow-up to the decade on the people of African descent. The incumbent will develop and manage strategic partnerships on behalf of the Division for evidence generation in support of overall ICPD advocacy and positioning, with specific focus on issues as they emerge post Nairobi Summit on ICPD 25.

How Can You 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’s person potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s new strategic plan 2018-2021, focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal death; to end unmet need for family planning; 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 and exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Evidence-Based Advocacy Consultant is responsible for developing strategic analyses of programme arguments developed by UNFPA and their use for global advocacy, organizational positioning and partnerships building. The incumbent supports respective communication with various units in the organization. S/He consolidates evidence-based inputs prepared by the PSD for the use in major advocacy events and collaborates with the respective work stream leads within the institution. The Consultant develops standards, methodologies and technical briefs for informing global and country-level evidence-based advocacy, including programming practices.

You Would Be Responsible For The Following:

Strategic Advocacy Planning

•  Design and implement approaches and methodologies for evidence-based advocacy events and communications in support of ICPD implementation in the context of Agenda 2030, ICPD25, UNFPA50 and respective revisions to the UNFPA Strategic Plan and its periodic reviews;
• Coordinate and consolidate PSD inputs and feedback, including evidential analysis, in support of corporate advocacy initiatives and events in the margins of CSW, CSD, CPD, HLPF, UNGASS and Executive Boards sessions;
• Provide strategic advice to the Directorate in evidence-based advocacy matters, including providing critical updates and follow-up of various initiatives;
• Develop, monitor and report on workplan of major advocacy initiatives including policies and programmes which are designed to respond to the needs of people of African descent;
• Represent the Division in various partnership, communications and advocacy interdivisional working groups.

Evidence-Based Analysis

• Develop, in consultation with partner organizations, including academic institutions, approaches to collection, analysis, reporting, usage and presentation of the evidencebased data supporting ICPD agenda and its implementation;
• Lead and cohere institutional approach to the UNFPA contribution of the implementation of the Decade of People of African descent.
• Coordinate, in collaboration with respective PSD Branches, the conduct of a strategic review of emerging issues and trends in support of UNFPA advocacy event for positioning in the contexts of Agenda 2030 and UN Reform;
• Consolidate evidence-based products and produce technical briefs for informing programmes and policies and advocacy initiatives;
• Produce analytical synthesis, best practices, high-impact strategies, innovative interventions and success stories from global sources, such as think tanks and academic institutions, on the progress towards the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action;
• Provide technical backstopping and quality assurance to evidence-based advocacy instruments and tools.

Strategic Partnerships & Communications

• Develop innovative and diverse partnership strategies to increase organizational visibility, support scaling up of programmes and ensure prioritization of the UNFPA mandate at inter-agency and inter-governmental forums;
• Manage PSD engagements and consultations with strategic external partners, including academia, think tanks, NGO community, etc., for continued evidence-based and political support for UNFPA mandate;
• Develop and oversee the production of divisional advocacy and communication products, including print and media components, including to build awareness across the organization of UNFPA’s engagement in responding to the needs of Afro descendants, working in close collaboration with other HQ units and field offices; ● Articulate a communication and partnership strategy for PSD;
• Support internal and external knowledge repository for UNFPA evidence-based advocacy through producing articles, white papers, speeches, articles, newsletters and other platforms;
• Perform any other duties as may be required.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced or Post-graduate University Degree (master degree minimum or above) or equivalent in communications, journalism, health, international relations, international development, public administration, business administration, management or other fields directly related to the substantive area.
• 10 to 15 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in advocacy and communications, with knowledge of strategic advocacy events planning, with a focus on health and gender issues;
• Demonstrated expertise in the substantive area evidence generation and use in advocacy efforts and positioning;
• Demonstrated expertise in the area of SRH and social programming and advocacy in support of the marginalized and excluded communities, specific knowledge of the needs and programs of addressing needs of Afro descendants
• Demonstrated ability to advocate for ICPD issues in diverse contexts, including research community, and synthesize programmatic evidence into advocacy products
• Strong track record of leadership in organizational or mandate-specific advocacy and communications, and proven ability to produce demonstrable results;
• Demonstrated ability to network within academic, NGO, Philanthropic Foundations and CSO communities;
• Experience with intergovernmental processes and negotiations around social issues and knowledge of the UN systems an asset
• Strong verbal and written communications skills in English and preferably working knowledge of at least one additional official UN language (French, Arabic, Russian or Spanish);
• Familiarity with management and data monitoring tools is desirable;
• Fluency in English, knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the post.

Duration:  11 months

How to apply:

Please send your application and a short letter of motivation with "Evidence-Based Advocacy Consultant" in the subject to Ms. Ivy Jagganarine, jagganarine@unfpa.org  by

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