National Consultancy: Programme Analyst – Innovation & Climate Change, Johannesburg, South Africa

Hiring Office:

INNOVATION 

Purpose of consultancy:

Background

UNFPA is the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency committed to delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The East and Southern Africa Regional Office works as an extension of the organization to realize the mandate and goals in the region.

Megatrends such as population changes, migration, and ageing are reshaping the East and Southern Africa region as never before. These trends form societies and are a defining factor for the social and economic well-being and human health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of everyone, now and in future.

While some perceive these trends as threats to societal development, societies can, with the right investments, proactively prepare for a more robust and sustainable future and harness the opportunities of their changing population. However, the need for action is urgent. Emerging issues of climate change and humanitarian disasters are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods in East and Southern Africa, with the impacts most severely felt by those already left behind. For instance, climate-induced disasters exacerbate existing inequalities, vulnerabilities and unequal power relations and differentiate their effects on women and men due to socially constructed gender roles and responsibilities.

UNFPA in ESAR has adopted innovation and digitalisation as an accelerator of UNFPAs Transformative Results (TR), which includes ending preventable maternal death, ending unmet need for family planning and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. This is reflected in the new UNFPA Strategic Plan, the Regional Action Plan, Nairobi Declaration, innovation and digitalization strategies, and assessment report on the iAccelerator Program 2019, among other Programme reports.

Young people the world over are championing social innovation as an accelerator of solutions to the current political, social, and economic challenges they face. With support from the UNFPA East and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) via the Innovation HackLabs project, young people are developing and scaling innovative solutions to support collective efforts to achieve transformative results, create jobs for themselves and others through their social impact projects. UNFPA in ESAR is committed to supporting the development of an enabling environment to grow innovation in the region.

There is need for youth-driven and innovative solutions to the Climate Change Adaptation and SRHR challenges that will ensure that the solutions are through cross-sectoral engagement, building on and scaling up successful models aimed at realising the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all, including contraceptive services, will be integrated and embedded in resilience building to climate change, and be part of local environmental sustainability plans.

UNFPA ESARO is seeking to appoint a Programme Analyst to support regional efforts to leverage innovation and digital transformation as a catalyst to empower women and young people in an effort to build community resilience via 1) support implementation of the ACCF and Zonta Funded Climate Innovation Projects and 2) Support in the development of guidelines and toolkits as well as communication initiatives to promote and encourage community leadership 

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

The purpose of the consultancy is to support UNFPA ESARO on its regional Climate Change and Innovation programme implementation: 

1. Support the implementation of the Innovation components of the ACCF and Zonta Foundation funded climate innovation projects 

• Support the programme implementation of the Zonta and the ACCF Climate Innovation Projects 
• Provide programme support to programme implementing countries including for Madagascar, Mozambique, South Sudan and Kenya 
• Provide communications and knowledge management of the project 
• Support identification and support for youth and women led climate innovation solutions 
• Support in Implementing partner management 
• Provide strategic inputs in operational and programme toolkits and SOPs development 
• Contribute to project proposal development and other resource mobilisation efforts 
• Provide scheduled reports on the projects implementation to the UNFPA and contribute to UNFPA reporting to the project donors 
• Participate in strategic programme meetings including programme designing, planning, monitoring and evaluation 

2. Support the Regional Innovation and digital transformation programme delivery 

• Support in the implementation of the regional innovation and digital transformation strategy 
• Support in providing innovation technical assistance to country offices 
• Coordinate the regional focal points community of practice in their efforts to mainstream innovation at the country levels 
• Support the development and implementation of innovative digital communication strategies to support country offices to tell their innovation story
• Innovation liaison to the operations team to launch the flagship innovation project
• Support resource mobilisation efforts 
• Contribute to the regional programme coordinating unit’s activities 
• Contribute to knowledge products development including the regional newsletter 
• Contribute to any other tasks Analyst is assigned 

Duration and working schedule:

Place where services are to be delivered:

UNFPA ESARO, Sunninghill Place, 9 Simba Road, Sunninghill, Johannesburg.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

The consultant will deliver electronic monthly progress reports by the 25th of each

month to show progress and outline the work plan for the coming month.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

The consultant will be expected to formulate a work plan and work closely with the Regional Innovation Specialist and relevant technical staff. The consultant will participate in weekly meetings with the PCU and Climate Change Teams and also participate in programmatic

meetings convened by UNFPA ESARO.

Supervisory arrangements: 

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of UNFPA ESARO’s Regional Innovation Specialist

Expected travel:

The role will include travels as expected in programme delivery 

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

1. Master’s degree or equivalent in development studies, sociology, economics, social studies, international relations or other related field; 
2. 2 years of experience  in innovation programme design, implementation and management 
3. Experience in stakeholder engagement  and mapping 
4. Project management experience 
5. Excellent report writing skills, analytical skills, and computer skills; 
6. Excellent command in written and spoken English.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

1. Introduction of the consultant to UNFPA ESARO and key partners

2. Mandatory learning courses provided

3. Structured guidance provided by the supervisor with effective supervision

through knowledge sharing and performance/development feedback

throughout the assignment

4. Establishment of a work plan with clear key results

5. Participation in Unit/Team/Office meetings to ensure integration and

operational effectiveness

Payment Provisions: Payment will be made upon presentation of the monthly report

and submission of a completed COP.

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.