The Position
The East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is accelerating evidence-based interventions towards achieving the Transformative Results in the region, namely (i) ending unmet need for family planning, (ii) ending preventable maternal deaths and (iii) ending gender based violence and harmful practices by 2030. In addition, the region continues to be the epicenter of HIV infections, informing a regional flagship result area of ending sexual transmission of HIV. The ESA Regional Programme Action Plan (RPAP) 2022 – 2025 is therefore positioned to accelerate actions across multiple interdependent pathways that respond to needs in the region. The ESA RPAP provides a holistic framework for regional and country level interventions to scale up thought leadership required to shape formulation and harmonization of rights-based policies complemented by citizen-led accountability mechanisms and enabled by sustainable financing. The RPAP further underpins learning and exchange through South-South and Triangular cooperation within and beyond the region.
In this regard, the Regional SRH Policy and Financing Advisor is expected to complement and enhance UNFPA’s regional technical leadership and support to positioning sexual and reproductive health and rights within relevant policy and financing areas. The position will also strengthen relevant research and analysis on SRH policy and financing required to inform accelerated implementation of the unfinished business of the ICPD Programme of Action in the ESA region. The position will be expected to partner with UNFPA country offices, UN system at regional level, the African Union and its organs, Regional Economic Commissions, SRHR-focused civil society organizations, international financial institutions, multilateral development banks, and academia to mention a few.
The Regional Policy Advisor will be located in Johannesburg, South Africa with direct supervision by the Deputy Regional Director and will deliver the portfolio in close collaboration with Regional Advisers and Specialists within the Regional Office as well as the Country offices in the region.
The Regional SRH Policy and Financing Adviser is expected to contribute to UNFPA’s strategic positioning of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights within the context of evidence-based policy and accountability frameworks and mechanisms that enable rights and choices for all, as well as sustainable financing actions required to ensure SRHR is integrated within systems strengthening and resilience building efforts across the humanitarian, development and peace contexts.
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 Regional Office is committed to addressing the unfinished business of the ICPD Programme of Action in the 23 countries within the region. UNFPA fully embraces the UN Development System (UNDS) reform and its whole-of-system approach on acceleration in the SDG Decade of Action. In particular, UNFPA ESA Regional Office is keenly engaged in the Africa UN Regional reform aimed at strengthening the value proposition of the UN to member states and regional institutions, including the African Union Commission and its organs, and Regional Economic Commissions.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in development financing, social policy, economics or related field is required.
Knowledge and Experience:
- A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible technical leadership and experience in policy advice to countries, financing for development programmes, social policy formulation. This may include forecasting and application of social policy and financing principles to humanitarian and development programmes or closely related areas.
- Additional expertise in social policy and political economy analysis, macroeconomic policies, will be desirable.
- Programme management experience in social and/or sectors is required with experience in programme management for sexual and reproductive health programme being desirable.
- Proven ability to synthesize evidence into tailored presentations/documents by non-technical readers is desirable.
- Strong competencies in oral and writing skills is required.
Languages:
- Fluency in written and spoken English
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
