The Position:
The Programme Adviser post is located in the Bangkok Regional Office of UNFPA and is under the overall supervision of the Regional Director and reports directly to the Deputy Regional Director. They are the coordinator of programme support functions in the Regional Office, responsible for ensuring that this support and guidance is provided to countries in an integrated and coordinated manner, and with a system strengthening approach which is fundamental to UNFPA’s overall strategy. They lead and guide the Programme Support Team in terms of strategic direction and day-to-day management.
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 Programme Adviser supports the Deputy Regional Director in ensuring the provision of integrated technical and programme support to country programmes which are firmly placed in the context of: the ICPD Programme of Action; national development processes; the global development agenda; the achievement of the SDGs; and the process of UN reform.
Also, they ensure the coordination and integration of knowledge management; capacity building for technical and programme support; and synergy between regional programme and other activities at the country level; overseeing the development of regional strategies; and, advising on technical and programmatic priorities in the region. In all activities, they foster collaboration within the Regional Office, particularly amongst the team providing integrated programme and technical support to countries and with the team managing the regional programme; with the programme and technical staff in the Sub-Regional Offices; with the Programme Division, including the Regional Desk Adviser; and with other HQ Divisions, ensuring the timeliness, adequacy, relevance and quality of programming and technical support to countries.
You would be responsible for:
A. Integrated technical and programme support – Develop working mechanisms for team approach/integrated approach to ensure programmatic and technical coherence and effectiveness:
- Assist the Deputy Director in managing the process of assessing regional trends and perspectives and analyzing their implications for the work of UNFPA in the region, and for the formulation and implementation of corporate policies and organizational strategies.
- Coordinate continuous input to the development of the UNFPA strategic plan, based on country and regional experience and coordinate support for the operationalization of the UNFPA strategic plan in the region.
- Promote integrated programme and technical support to countries by supporting the development of plans of action and tools for the technical and programme team to implement.
- In collaboration with the technical and programme team, provide support and guidance to UNFPA country offices on the design, implementation, and management of country programmes, and on programming and operational policies, procedures, guidelines, and tools, that meet country level needs while supporting overall UNFPA and Regional strategies.
- Ensure support for UN system coordinated programming processes at regional and country levels, including quality assurance for CCA / UNSDCFs, ensuring inclusion of the ICPD agenda, and UNFPA’s mandate areas.
- Support and manage the process of strengthening the capacity of country offices and UNCTs, as appropriate, in results-based programming; new programme-related tools; the new development environment; etc.
- Assist the Deputy Regional Director in coordinating the development, implementation, management and monitoring of the regional programme and in ensuring complementarity between the regional programme and the needs, realities and activities at the country level.
B. Capacity development – Enhances the empowerment / strength of staff and partners, including stakeholders, national institutions, and other implementing partners:
- Ensure the integration of sound programme principles with technical activities, in partnership with the Regional Technical Advisers, to enhance the development and implementation of a capacity development strategy for the Region.
- Coordinate the development and support the implementation of a regional technical delivery strategy to strengthen capacities in the region.
- Coordinate the development and strengthening of substantive and programming partnerships and collaborations in the region with other UN agencies, including in the context of the SDGs, and with regional institutions.
- Contribute to capacity development of RO/SROs, COs, and UNCTs in UN Reform processes.
C. Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination
- Analyze programme interventions in the region to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of country programmes.
- Document programme results, lessons learned and, in collaboration with the M&E Adviser, programme evaluation results in the region and ensure that these are incorporated into the UNFPA knowledge sharing system and in evidence-based policy dialogue.
- In partnership with the Technical Advisers, ensure that state-of-the-art technical and programming knowledge and lessons learned are available for use in countries to improve the effectiveness of UNFPA programmes.
D. Carry out any other duties as may be requested by the Regional Director and the Deputy Regional Director.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Advanced University Degree in public health, medicine, sociology, demography, gender, economics, international relations, international development, public administration, management or other related fields.
Knowledge and Experience:
- 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in development programmes, of which seven years at the international level.
- Strong track record of leadership, and proven ability to produce demonstrable results.
- Substantive knowledge and practical experience in population and development, sexual and reproductive health, and gender.
- Ability to think and work both politically and programmatically.
- Field and service oriented, with deep knowledge of UNFPA country operations ideally from having worked in a country office or in a programme support role from a regional office.
- Ability to work with and adjust to different styles and ways of working of various stakeholders, and to gain the trust of Country Office senior managers.
- Strong collaboration and communication skills.
- Experience in programme and/or technical assistance with the UN System.
- UN inter-agency experience in a strong asset.
- Field experience is required.
- Openness to directly act as desk officer and to directly support needs of country offices.
- Interest in coaching and developing team members.
Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
- Embracing diversity in all its forms
- 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-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 mobilization
- Strategically positioning UNFPA programme
- Providing a technical support system
Managerial Competencies (if applicable):
- Providing strategic focus,
- Engaging in 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.
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.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
