International Consultant – Project Coordinator

The Position:

The purpose of the consultancy is to coordinate the implementation of the Irish Aid Funded Protecting and Empowering Adolescent Girls to Reach their Full Potential ‘PROTECT’ Project in Sierra Leone.  You will work under the direct supervision of the Gender and Rights Unit Lead under the overall guidance from the UNFPA Country Representative.

Project Outcomes:

The consultant will coordinate the implementation of the project to achieve the following expected outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Strengthened national mechanisms for the reduction of adolescent pregnancy and child marriage
• Outcome 2: Strengthened capacity of gender based violence (GBV) service providers to respond to adolescent survivors of GBV
• Outcome 3: Strengthened capacity of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) to deliver comprehensive sexuality education and Radical Inclusion
• Outcome 4: Adolescents have increased access to life skills information, including on sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and GBV).

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The PROTECT Project Coordinator will:

I.   Provide technical support for programming:

• Provide technical inputs to government partners to ensure high quality implementation of the PROTECT project
• Support and advise the country office to enhance current strategies to advance adolescent empowerment programming; build knowledge on best practice in relation to adolescents and youth asset building
• Support increased focus on innovative programming for male engagement
• Provide technical support on Comprehensive Sexuality Education
• Provide technical support to the country office to incorporate disability across programme areas.

II.        Ensure Effective Coordination and Communications:

• Ensure strong coordination of the PROTECT project at national and district levels
• Maintain good communication with the donor, by providing periodic reports, responding to requests in a timely manner and ensuring case studies of project impact and developed and shared

III.       Conduct Monitoring, Evaluation and Documentation:

• Coordinate PROTECT project monitoring and evaluation; including data collection in line with the logframe
• Undertake regular monitoring missions and meetings with relevant actors including project partners in assessing the quality of implementation
• Monitor project expenditures and disbursements to ensure delivery is in line with approved project budgets, including acting as an Implementing Partner (IP) focal point for selected partners
• Ensure lessons learned from the implementation of the PROTECT Project are shared other UNFPA colleagues through participation in weekly team meetings, monthly programmes and operations meeting and other period internal meetings as required.
• Draft narrative progress reports

IV.       Additional Duties:

• Contribute to proposal writing and engage in resource mobilization efforts to support youth and gender programming
• Provide additional support to the Gender and Rights team as required, including; contributing to advocacy and policy development
• As appropriate, undertake other related duties assigned by the Representative.

Deliverables:

The consultant will lead in preparing donor reports for the PROTECT project, specifically;

• Bi-annual written report to donor in line with reporting schedule
• Prepare quarterly presentation on PROTECT project progress
• Develop three case studies

Qualifications and Experience:

Education: 

• Advanced university degree in social work or other social sciences, development studies, public/community health, gender, or other directly related to the adolescent and youth field and/or sexual and reproductive health.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 5 years of increasingly responsible relevant professional experience.
• Knowledge of gender issues in development, particularly as relevant to adolescents, including adolescent pregnancy and child marriage, including relevant international human rights standards,
• Demonstrated experience in coordination and in liaison with government counterparts, nongovernmental organizations, UN agencies and development partners.
• Experience within the United Nations, in relation to gender equality, human rights, disability and sexual and reproductive health.
• Demonstrated strong analysis and excellent report writing and editing skills.
• Experience with Youth sector approach, M&E methods and approaches, logical framework approach and strategic planning.
• Computer literacy including high level of comfort using Microsoft Office programmes and Internet based research; ability to participate effectively in a team-based, information sharing environment.
• Experience working on Comprehensive Sexuality Education.
• Previous experience coordinating Irish Aid projects.

Other Desirable Skills:

• Ability to engage with adolescents and youth is an asset.
• Proven ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to plan, organize and multi-task.
• Ability to manage information and work flow; knowledge of the institutions of the UN system.
• Previous experience working in Sierra Leone.
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Proficient in use of Microsoft applications (especially Word, PowerPoint)

Languages:

• Proficient in spoken and written English

Competencies:

Values:

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

Functional Competencies:

• Strategically positioning UNFPA programme
• Providing conceptual innovation to support programme effectiveness
• Generating, managing and promoting the use of knowledge and information
• Facilitating quality programmatic results.

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

Compensation:

• The compensation for this position is a monthly remuneration at the prevailing UN Consultancy scale.

Vacancy Closing Date:

• The vacancy closes on 30 November 2021,  12:00 a.m. (Midnight) Freetown local time.

How to Apply:

• Interested candidates are invited to apply to the email address:  sierra-leone.office@unfpa.org  
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Documents to Submit:

• Motivational letter
• CV (including working experience and references)
• Copy of advanced university degrees and applicable certificate(s).

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 to promote equal opportunities for all.

We therefore encourage women and persons with disabilities to apply.

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA