This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands and is addressed exclusively to people with Dutch nationality.
For criteria see the website of Nedworc Foundation:http://www.nedworcfoundation.nl/Index.htm?hoofdpath=/NL/JPO/General%20Information.htm&hoofdhash
For all other information about the JPO Programme and this vacancy, please go to: http://www.jposc.undp.org/content/jposc/en/home/how-to-join/the-jpo-programme.html
Please read the criteria and FAQ section carefully before considering applying
Background
Bangladesh is the 8th most populous country in the world. According to UNFPA’s Demographic Impact Study (2015), the population will reach 170 million by 2021, including over 50 million aged 10-24, thus young people will account for more than 30% of the population. A key challenge for Bangladesh is how to raise the skills level, both hard and soft, of adolescents and youth both male and female to improve their employability, enable them to find decent work or be employed more productively in self-employment or family work, while being responsible citizens. A related challenge is to address gender norms and practices that restrict female economic participation and harm health and wellbeing. Young people’s unemployment rate is much higher than the national average, and female unemployment is higher than the male’s. Key issues in this regard include the high prevalence of child marriage and limited access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights information and services. Bangladesh has the highest rate of child marriage in Asia and fourth highest rate in the world, and the resulting adolescent fertility rate is the highest in South Asia. To reap a dividend from the demographic window of opportunity arising from the large youthful population that accounts for 30% of the total 158 million people, there needs to be a substantial increase in investments in youth development, especially for education and health, particularly so as to enhance their employability.
Against this background, UNFPA is implementing one of the biggest Country Programmes in the world, in Bangladesh. The 9th CP for 2017-2020, of UNFPA Bangladesh support the Government in achieving the Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals, and the ICPD Programme of Action. Adolescents and youth is one of the four core components of the Country Programme, along with Sexual and Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights, Gender, and Population, Planning and Research. Young people are a key beneficiary of UNFPA’s programme, and the focus cuts across all components.
The Country Office is located in Dhaka, with project offices located in several districts throughout the country. The JPO – A&Y Analyst – will be based in the CO and report to the Chief of the Adolescents & Youth Unit. The A&Y Unit has one international staff member (the Programme Specialist), three national staff and five national UNVs. The A&Y unit has several projects focusing on adolescents and youth to ensure their sexual and reproductive health and rights, prevent gender based violence including ending child marriage and provide life skills education to adolescents and youth. The JPO shall help establish and maintain liaison with other units of the Country Office and with external partners including UNFPA’s Implementing Partners, other UN agencies, donors, civil society, academia and private sector, to ensure the achievement of intended results and impact from the programme.
Qualifications and Experience
Education
- Master degree or equivalent in social sciences or related fields with specialized knowledge in the field of Development Studies, International Affairs, Political Science, Public Health and Gender Studies.
Working experience
- 2 to maximal 4 years relevant working experience in international development or the corporate sector. Prior experience in developing countries is an asset.
Languages
- Fluency in English and the ability to write clearly and concisely in English.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
