Regional Accountability to Affected Populations Specialist, APRO, Bangkok, Thailand, P-4

The Position:

The Regional Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) Specialist will play a key role in supporting UNFPA’s humanitarian programming to be inclusive, participatory, and responsive to the needs and rights of affected populations. The Regional AAP Specialist will provide technical support and capacity building to UNFPA Country Offices to advance the implementation of accountability frameworks and mechanisms that encourage the active participation of affected communities, foster transparency, and promote responsive service delivery.

The AAP Specialist will work closely with Country Offices, government and other key national partners to support efforts to place communities at the center of programming throughout the humanitarian programme cycle. This includes strengthening systems to adapt programming based on community feedback and ensuring inclusivity for diverse groups, including people with disabilities and those with diverse SOGIESC identities.

You will report directly to the Regional Humanitarian Advisor.

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:

Asia and the Pacific is the most disaster-prone region in the world, affected by frequent and intense natural hazards, disasters and by protracted crises and conflicts. The UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Office works with UNFPA Country Offices in the region to assist governments and civil society partners to reduce disaster risk and to prepare for and respond to emergencies. This is in line with the unique mandate of UNFPA to address SRHR and mitigate and respond to GBV during humanitarian crises. A key component of this is inclusive and transparent programming where UNFPA is committed to ensuring humanitarian programming is accountable to those we work to serve, with a particular focus on addressing the SRH and GBV needs of at-risk groups.

 

The Regional AAP Specialist will play a pivotal role in advancing UNFPA’s accountability commitments, fostering meaningful participation, strengthening communication and supporting the adaptation of programming based on community feedback. This position will also contribute to UNFPA’s efforts in advancing community-centered humanitarian action, addressing vulnerabilities, and driving inclusive approaches to respond to the needs and rights of affected persons. The Regional AAP Specialist will provide technical guidance, operational support and capacity-building to Country Offices to ensure a comprehensive AAP approach across the region.

 

You would be responsible for:

 

A. Technical support, strategic guidance and implementation

• Support the development of AAP action plans and provide technical guidance for their implementation and coordinate the integration and implementation of AAP commitments across key strategies, frameworks, and plans to to scale up UNFPA’s AAP footprint across the region;
• Provide technical assistance to UNFPA Country Offices and partners in implementing AAP action plans (with links to protection and inclusion) by providing technical support and strategic guidance;
• Support UNFPA Country Offices in institutionalizing AAP and inclusion mechanisms, and adapting and implementing global and regional tools and guidance to achieve accountable and inclusive and impactful programming;
• Support the development and facilitation of sustainable capacity-building activities  to strengthen capacities of UNFPA and partners, including government counterparts, to ensure communities and their needs are at the center of preparedness and response programming; 
• Provide technical support to Country Offices in improving community feedback mechanisms, data collection and analysis, and to systematically use findings to inform programming (including resource mobilization plans) and to make course corrections where needed to close the feedback loop; and
• Support UNFPA Country Offices in undertaking consultations to inform programming, including the customisation of supplies for specific at-risk groups including people with disabilities and SOGIESC.

 

B. Data and knowledge management

• Support Country Offices in designing and implementing information management systems  and data responsibility SOP that provide high quality evidence to enable a systematic course correction in preparedness and response programming;
• Analyze and assist in introducing new technologies and tools related to AAP and Inclusion to improve the participation of women and adolescent girls, persons with disabilities and diverse SOGIESC individuals in SRHR and GBV interventions;
• Strengthen evidence generation, document knowledge, and capture good practices and lessons learned to promote learning and adaptation within UNFPA and the wider humanitarian community;
• Provide technical input to internal knowledge-sharing efforts, by contributing to the development of new/revised UNFPA policies, procedures and guidelines aligned with the operational realities and needs on the ground;
• Support the roll out of relevant global and regional tools; and
• Support the documentation and dissemination of good practices and lessons learned by developing and sharing impact stories, outcomes, and good practices. 

 

C. Partnerships and coordination

• Support partnerships and collaborations with relevant stakeholders  with various stakeholders at the global, regional and country levels to complement UNFPA’s capacity in SRHR and GBV advocacy, capacity building, analysis and monitoring, and other relevant areas; 
• Contribute to inter-agency AAP coordination efforts in collaboration with Country Offices in humanitarian action and preparedness setting (where applicable); and
• Support UNFPA participation in regional forums and working groups and inter-agency thematic working groups, advocating for accountability measures and the inclusion of crisis affected populations in decision-making processes to strengthen collaborative efforts in AAP initiatives.

 

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

 

Qualifications and Experience: 

 

Education:  

Advanced university degree in social sciences, international relations, public health, social work, development, communication and community engagement, protection or other related fields 

 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional experience, ideally within the UN or other international organizations, with a focus on accountability, community engagement and protection in humanitarian contexts;
• Strong organizational and coordination skills, an ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and within limited timeframes and being able to work independently is essential;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are required;
• Strong analytical and writing skills, including the ability to conceptualize and clearly synthesize information and to adapt messaging for diverse audiences are required;
• Strong advocacy skills and experience building strategic partnerships is desired;
• Analytical skills to understand intersectional issues and vulnerabilities and translate them into practical guidance is desired;
• Experience in working in humanitarian settings particularly within Asia and the Pacific are strong assets;
• Familiarity with SRHR, GBV, gender equality, disability inclusion and SOGIESC inclusion is preferred;
• Experience in knowledge management is desirable; and
• Familiarity with UN procedures and working methods, particularly with UNFPA’s mandate, policies and procedures, is highly desirable.

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.