Programme Management Officer P4 TA Mexico

Job Description

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

The UNFPA Country Programme in Mexico 2020-2024 contemplates the protection of human rights and the prevention of gender based violence as a strategy for meeting the national and international goals adopted by the country, and achieving sustainable and equitable development at the national and subnational levels. Interventions address implementation gaps in policy frameworks and strengthening institutional capacities at the subnational level, as well as strengthening the capacities of civil society organizations for social monitoring and compliance with international and national mechanisms recommendations on human rights. In order to accomplish this objective, it establishes partnerships with and mobilizes resources from governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGO), academic institutions, media organizations, and private sector partners. 

In collaboration with the German Federal Foreign Office (AA) and the Mexican Government, particularly with the Ministry of the Interior through the National Search Commission (CNB), UNFPA is implementing the project “Human Identification in Mexico (ID-MEX)” that focuses on strengthening capacities for the identification of unknown deceased. 

More than 106,000 individuals are officially recorded as having disappeared in Mexico. Thousands of graves have not yet been exhumed, and there are more than 50,000 unidentified human remains. It can be assumed that these include many of those who have disappeared. 

The project implements technical measures to support the Mexican government to identify unknown bodies in close cooperation with civil society and victim groups. The overall goal is to provide certainty to the relatives of disappeared people about the fate of the missing. 

Within the implemented strategy and policy of the National Search Commission (Comisión Nacional de Búsqueda, CNB) and the Ministry of the Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación, SEGOB), the "ID-MEX" project supports the Mexican government in creating a forensic system that is able i) to identify recently deceased personas and ii) to diminish the backlog of pending identifications. It provides families and victims of disappearances certainty about the whereabouts of their loved ones. 

About the position:

This position is located in the UNFPA Mexico Country Office (CO).  The Programme Officer reports to the UNFPA Mexico Assistant Representative. He/she is responsible for the planning, implementation and evaluation of the project and activities in three pilot states as well as the overall coordination of all UNFPA activities in the area of human identification
 

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:

The coordinator will be guiding a team of up to 12 people in close cooperation with UNFPA senior management, the CNB, international organizations, civil society, state level attorney offices and forensic institutes as well as the Extraordinary Mechanism for Forensic Identification (MEIF). 

Reporting lines:

The person selected will operate under the general supervision of the UNFPA Representative.

You would be responsible for:

The Programme Coordinator for Human Identification will: 

• Provide overall technical and management supervision of the German Funded, Mexico-ID project: 
• Design annual Work Plans for the adequate implementation of the project “ID-MEX” through a results-based management approach;
• Coordinate the implementation of the project “ID-MEX” in close cooperation with Mexican authorities, international community, and civil society; 
• Leads and manages the “ID-MEX” project team consisting of forensic experts, data analysts, human rights lawyers, and administration staff; 
• Designs and carries out technical and financial monitoring activities of the “ID-MEX” project;
• Coordinates the preparation of documents/reports for the German Federal Foreign Office, Government institutions, and UNFPA´s Regional Office/Headquarters;
• Provide technical advice to Mexican authorities on gender and forced disappearance. 
• Identify risks on a timely basis and propose mitigating actions.

General activities on forensic crises and human identification: 

• Coordinates UNFPA´s efforts on forensic crises and human identification and building forensic capacity in Mexico;
• Contributes and actively participates in the planning, organization and supervision processes of MEIF activities, in coordination with the members of the Coordinating Group;
• Incorporates technical-forensic knowledge in the development of the strategic vision and in the fulfillment of the functions of the MEIF;
• Leads the coordination to carry out expert interventions in matters of forensic identification, within the scope of your competence.
• Supports, through expert interventions with the authorities, the generation of evidence of scientific and technical value.
• Represent UNFPA CO at inter institutional mechanisms, and interagency groups/task forces where required, with emphasis on human rights and human identification; 
• Identifies opportunities and act as liaison for the generation of partnerships and mobilization of resources in the forensic area;
• Formulates project proposals on forensic crises and human identification;
• Advises UNFPA on topics of human identification, disappeared people, rule of law as part of the overall strategy to prevent gender-based violence;
• Identifies capacity building needs of partners and leads the coordination of technical assistance, mentoring, training and capacity development initiatives to partners;

Support to the Comisión Nacional de Búsqueda:

• Participates in the technical and political discussions on public policies related to human identification policies as required.
• Regular liaison with the National Centre of Human Identification;
• Performs other duties as required. 

Qualifications and Experience: 

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in public administration, law, human rights, management, social sciences, or other related areas is required.
• At least 7 years of work experience, preferably in international organizations, with a strong focus on project management;of which at least 5 in leading and implementing projects, in development cooperation, human rights or human identification;
• Knowledge of the human rights and forensic crises in Mexico at the national and subnational level;
• Experience in team leadership and management;
• Experience in organizational development, data base development, change management, preferably in the field of forensics, legal medicine and/or public security institutions;   
• Experience at the country level working with governments and/or international organizations;
• Basic knowledge of processes of human identification;
• Network of forensic and/ or public security experts in Mexico is an asset;
• Knowledge of public policy, with particular focus on the country´s regulatory and institutional framework in relation to human rights and human identification issues;
• Experience with Results-based Budgeting/Results-based Management and Monitoring and Evaluation approaches is an asset. 
   

Languages: 

• Fluency in Spanish, English and German are required.

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 Managerial

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy / Advancing a policy-orientated agenda 
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners / building strategic alliances and partnerships 
• Delivering results based programmes 
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

Compensation and Benefits:

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

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 fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.