The Subregional Office (SRO) located in Kingston, Jamaica has six other offices to the programme in the English-speaking and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries which as MICs have made significant progress in terms of economic and human development. However, the region lacks reliable data and the necessary capacity to analyze and disseminate censuses and surveys results. High unmet need for family planning is one important issue being addressed by the sub regional office as well as adolescent pregnancy, gender-based violence and environmental disasters. Nearly 20 percent of live births in the region occur to adolescent mothers. The sub-region has the second highest adult HIV prevalence rate in the world.
The 22 English-speaking and Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries and territories are classified among the middle-income to high-income countries; they are affected by small physical boundaries and population size, limited resource base, high and rising levels of unemployment, inequality of income and wealth and vulnerabilities to natural disasters. This is exacerbated by accumulated debt, with debt levels surpassing 100 per cent of gross domestic product in some countries.
UNFPA Caribbean is a critical partner of national and inter-governmental entities in the implementation of the Agenda 2030, the Montevideo Consensus and the SAMOA Pathway. Civil society organizations consider UNFPA a critical partner, bringing legitimacy and credibility to their engagement at local, national, regional and global levels. With an increase in frequency and impact of geophysical hazards in the region, such as hurricanes Maria and Irma (20170; hurricane Dorian (2019) as well as the protracted Venezuela crisis and impact to the Caribbean, the Sub-regional Office has become a seasoned and trusted humanitarian partner in the region.
The UNFPA SRO Director plays the leading role in guiding UNFPA work to the priorities and mandate of the organization at the sub-region. Through compelling advocacy and thought leadership, the UNFPA Representative effectively positions UNFPA to be the visible centre of innovation and excellence on issues of population and development, sexual and reproductive health, and gender, human rights and culture. Placing the ICPD issues at the centre of the overall development agenda, the UNFPA Representative plays a significant part in ensuring a coordinated and comprehensive engagement across the UN system, with bilateral donors and civil society, with national counterparts and other partners at the national and sub-regional level. UNFPA Representative provides leadership for the work of UNFPA in the countries of the sub-regional and at the sub-regional level, and is accountable for the UNFPA programme to ensure that no one is left behind.
Key activities include:
- Strategic direction, plannng and management
- Programme leadership and representation
- Programme oversight and coordination
- Resource Mobilization
Our ideal candidate has:
Education:
- Advanced university degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management or other related field.
Knowledge and Experience:
- 15 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in public administration and international development of which at least 8 years in the field of population and development at the international level;
- Job knowledge and technical expertise –up-to-date knowledge of issues of population and development, sexual and reproductive health, and gender, and their place in the development agenda
- Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve demonstrable results;
- Excellent communication skills in speaking and writing in English; knowledge Spanish is an asset.
- Demonstrated commitment in development work, especially the mission of the United Nations Population Fund and dedication to the principles of the United Nations; and,
- Programme and management experience at the field level is essential
Languages:
- Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official prominent regional UN language is desirable.
Other Desirable Skills:
- Strong GBV profile.
FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO APPLY, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
