NATIONAL POST: Assistant Representative (NO-D); Tashkent, Uzbekistan

The Position:

Under guidance and supervision of the Representative, the Assistant Representative is responsible for designing, developing and implementing an innovative and responsive country programme. The incumbent   will lead the programme team, inspiring it to integrate demographic dynamics, sexual and reproductive health, youth, and gender dimensions in the broader development agenda.  They will contribute to strengthening the Country Office's capacity to deliver quality programmes and engage national counterparts, bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate the delivery of the country programme.

Assistant Representative reports directly to the UNFPA Representative. 

 

How you can 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 person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

 

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, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

 

Job Purpose:

Under the leadership of the Representative, the Assistant Representative designs, develops, and manages an innovative and responsive country programme. The Assistant Representative leads the programme team, inspiring it to translate the development goals into specific solutions and results. 

The Assistant Representative will lead the implementation of programmes/projects, and will promote strategic partnership and alliances with government counterparts, multilateral and bilateral agencies/donors and civil society  in the areas of reproductive health, gender equality, youth empowerment, population and development. 

The Assistant Representative will support the UNFPA Representative and contribute to UN system coordination through participating and leading policy dialogue, providing inputs to joint common initiatives, and representing UNFPA in relevant thematic discussions and groups.

You would be responsible for:

 

A. Programme development and management 

• Provide overall strategic direction, technical leadership and management oversight in the development, planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all UNFPA programme and interventions;
• Undertake analysis of national and subnational trends, gaps, challenges in addressing development issues, identify strategic entry points for new initiatives, planning strategies to advance ICPD Agenda ensuring that no one is left behind.
• Ensure coherence and synergy among programme areas, and interventions by using a results-based approach, integrate innovative policies and strategies into the design and formulation of country programmes, program components and projects based on strategic priorities and responsive to the country’s needs.
• Lead the programme team in enhancing national capacities by delivering technical assistance and spearheading capacity-building initiatives, ensuring stakeholders are equipped to leverage data for informed decision-making. Act as a resource person, offering expert guidance and support on population trends, data application, and the development of comprehensive, evidence-based policies. Facilitate the achievement of programme results by identifying, providing and coordinating substantive and technical inputs into programme development and implementation, ensuring substantive monitoring and oversight and coordinating and evaluating the inputs of consultants and technical experts.
• Promote knowledge sharing and continuous learning, testing, linking and documenting innovative strategies, approaches, lessons learned and best practices inside and outside UNFPA and replicating these strategies and approaches. Ensure that programme staff integrate new substantive policies, methodologies and tools. 
• Participate in the United Nations Common Country Assessment and Development Assistance Framework exercises as part of the broader UN Reform initiatives.

 

B. Advocacy and Partnership 

• Guide UNFPA team to conduct substantive policy dialogue with Government counterparts and UN and other development partners to facilitate the incorporation of UNFPA programme priorities and ICPD agenda into national and sub-national plans and strategies, UN systems initiatives and development frameworks.
• Provide strategic inputs towards advocacy efforts of the Country Office by preparing or reviewing relevant documentation, i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles and participating in donor meetings and public information events.
• Translate global and regional strategies into country specific advocacy strategies; Create and deliver effective evidence-based advocacy messages to promote UNFPA programme goals taking into account political and cultural sensitivities.
• Advise on and build strong technical and programme multi-sectoral partnerships for advocacy for the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development through national institutions, networks, alliances and coalitions.

 

C. Management of resources

• Support the Representative in creating a conducive environment, and provide guidance to the country office staff, and consultants in achieving programme results by ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are applied, and appropriate monitoring and oversight mechanisms are established and implemented. Ensures that the high quality implementation, and donor reports are developed and submitted on time.
• Oversee the formulation of the annual work plans and monitor their day-to-day implementation through consultations, correspondence and field visits.
• Initiate and lead the country office efforts to mobilize resources for the country programme; assist in the formulation and implementation of a resource mobilization strategy for the country and mobilize resources to fill gaps.
• Support the UNFPA  Representative in ensuring systems of accountability for the management of Country Office resources as per UNFPA policies and procedures.  
• Coach and supervise national professional and support staff, providing them with managerial direction and motivation; oversee staff performance and advise on development needs; undertake capacity building among UNFPA staff and counterparts for issues pertaining to programme and financial management and advocacy towards the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.

 

Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA Representative and UNFPA leadership. 

 

Qualifications and Experience: 

 

Education:  

 

Advanced university degree in Public policies, Population Studies, Public Health, Management, or related Social Science field.

 

Knowledge and Experience: 

At least 7 years of increasingly responsible professional experience, preferably in programme/project management in the public or private sector; 

• Excellent organization skills, attention to detail, precision and accuracy;
• Demonstrated ability to refine programme design and to ensure alignment of organizational programme objectives to national priorities/capacities;
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve demonstrable results;
• Excellent communication skills to foster partnerships at a high level of representation and to maintain political partnerships in the assigned country;
• Strong interest in development work, especially the mission of the United Nations Population Fund and dedication to the principles of the United Nations;  
• Knowledge of the UN system would be an advantage; 
• Experience in a humanitarian or crisis context is an asset. 

Languages: 

Fluency in English, Uzbek and Russian

 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

Exemplifying integrity, 

Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 

Embracing cultural diversity, 

Embracing change

 

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. 

 

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda,

Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships,

Delivering results-based programme,

Internal and external communication and advocacy for resource mobilization

 

Compensation and Benefits:

 

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

 

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

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. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.