Policy/Advocacy Specialist, P4, Liaison Office, Addis Ababa

The Position:

The position of Policy/Advocacy Specialist is located in the UNFPA Addis Ababa Liaison Office. The position reports directly to the Chief of the Liaison Office.

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 new strategic plan (2018-2021), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and 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, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence.

As a Policy/Advocacy Specialist, you will play a leading role within the Liaison Office in the programmatic aspects and in building and strengthening strategic partnership of UNFPA, mainly by developing and implementing appropriate UNFPA engagement strategies with AUC, Regional Economic Community (RECs) , NEPAD), UNECA, AfDB, the Pan-African Parliament, and other regional and sub-regional institutions.

You will also coordinate and follow up UNFPA/LO inputs in global and regional initiatives and processes such as ICPD, Post-2015 and in Africa common positions. This also includes coordinating UNFPA technical support to AUC, UNECA and other regional institutions, of interest to UNFPA, in relation to implementation of major continental frameworks such as MPoA and CRVs; coordinating UNFPA’s inputs in regional process such as CAMEF, CAMH, APC, AUC Strategic Plan and ensure follow up and implementation. Furthermore, you will also contribute to enhance HQ and Africa Region advocacy efforts by tailoring information and media outreach and will be the interface at the technical level with the Africa Regional Offices.

Qualifications and Experience

Advanced University Degree in Social Sciences.

7 years of relevant professional experience consisting of at least 3 years at the international level and 4 years at national level;

Knowledge of external relations and the UN system: networking and advocacy; reproductive health and human rights including women’s and reproductive rights;

Solid experience in inter-governmental processes;

Dedication to the United Nations principles and demonstrated willingness to work as part of a team;

Excellent interpersonal, communications skills and negotiation skills;

Initiative and sound judgment;

The candidate is expected to have extensive leadership and coordination experience preferably within a UN agency and should have demonstrated political acumen and negotiation skills;

Familiarity with UNFPA/UN country operations and procedures an asset.

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is desirable.