Header

Technical Adviser (Population and Development), Suva, Fiji


MAJOR ACTIVITIES/EXPECTED RESULTS:
A. Strategic technical development, monitoring and oversight
• Provide technical and programme leadership, management advice and strategic guidance and support to the region, including for emergency preparedness, humanitarian assistance, recovery and transition in collaboration with technical and programme staff in the RO and SRO; • Provide advice on UNFPA’s substantive role and specific contribution in the changing development agenda, based on the comparative advantage and analysis of substantive information • Facilitate policy dialogue at the regional level and participate in country level policy dialogue as required; • Contribute to the development and implementation of an integrated strategy for the delivery of technical assistance and programme support in the region; • Manage substantive inputs and support to implementation of a regional programme, in line with the regional and countries’ priorities; • Contribute to the substantive elaboration of UNFPA Strategic Plan and to its implementation in the region; • Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of regional strategies; • Identify and analyze trends, threats and risks in the thematic area of work that may affect the ICPD agenda and UNFPA’s work within the region; • Scan the environment in the region to identify tendencies and ensure that they are appropriately addressed at the regional and/or sub-regional levels; • Identify requirements for and contribute to the development of new or updated policies, frameworks, positioning and guidance documents, standards, instruments and tools;
• Participate in the relevant UNFPA technical / knowledge networks, maintaining communication and feedback loops on all substantive work; and • Coach and manage junior professional staff and associates, direct and oversee expert consultants and facilitate working groups and task teams.
B. Quality control of technical support and capacity development
• Advise RO / SRO and COs on the implementation and proper application of UNFPA policies, strategies, guidelines and tools on substantive matters in the region, ensuring consistency and coherence in addressing UNFPA priorities; • Ensure that state-of-the-art thinking and research is integrated within the work of the RO/SRO and networks; • Review products of technical support at key stages of national development planning exercises supported by UN/UNFPA, including advice to the director on clearance of final draft CPDs; • Analyze technical, programmatic and substantive reports from the field and recommend follow-up actions; • Organize and/or contribute to regional, sub-regional and inter-country training activities in the substantive area for capacity development of SROs/COs/national/regional counterparts; • Support the regional and sub-regional adaptation of training materials, manuals and tools in the substantive area and ensure their availability and promote their use for capacity development; • Contribute to the development and implementation of a regional integrated technical delivery strategy to strengthen capacities in the region, and guide the management of this system; • Support the development of (sub) regional institutional capacities for delivering high-quality technical support in select areas of UNFPA’s mandate; • Monitor the quality of the technical support received at the country level, in the area of expertise, for effective policy dialogue and programming; • Initiate, develop, strengthen and monitor substantive and intellectual regional partnerships in the substantive area, including for South-South support to countries and for the implementation of the regional programme;
• Contribute to providing guidance to COs to include South-South cooperation in the development of Country Programmes; and • Liaise with respective counterparts in TD and PD to identify opportunities for South-South cooperation in the region and with other regions.
C. Evidence and knowledge development and dissemination in the area of substantive expertise
• Play a key role in building up, coordinating and monitoring the regional knowledge platform in the areas of expertise and competency; • Contribute to developing a mechanism to share technical skills and knowledge within and among programme countries and/or other regions; • Facilitate and help maintain and make accessible data bases on good practices, partnerships and consultant rosters and help ensure their accessibility; • Collect, analyze and synthesize information/data evidence and experience on programme and technical issues to be used for the regional and global advocacy and resource mobilization; • Lead the analysis and synthesis of substantive trends, emerging needs and research findings in the region in order to produce new, cutting edge technical knowledge; • Prepare white papers, briefing and materials for evidence-based policy dialogues at regional level, provide similar support at the request of country offices; • Disseminate and promote the use of state-of-the-art technical knowledge, evidence, lessons learned, and success stories and ensure their use to improve the effectiveness of UNFPA operations. • Monitor and analyze reports on humanitarian, economic, political and social factors in development and management of population and development programmes; • Contribute to the advocacy efforts to advance the ICPD agenda and the attainment of MDG targets and indicators at the regional level; and Contribute to generating evidence-based knowledge and regional experiences of working with UN-wide frameworks and instruments in the context of the new aid environment.
D. Management and coordination of knowledge networks in the area of substantive expertise
• Coordinate and facilitate overall provision of technical support to the country offices in the region; • Develop and co-ordinate the substantive elements of partnerships with other UN agencies, particularly with the regional technical arms of these agencies, as well as with regional institutions; • Identify sources of technical knowledge among institutions and consultants; and • Establish and maintain relationships with institutions in the region.
E. Technical representation
• Represent UNFPA on substantive issues in the region and elaborate UNFPA’s substantive regional and global perspectives in the area of expertise; • Participate in policy dialogue, and advocate for substantive issues in international, inter-governmental, U.N., and other policy and technical meetings and fora; • Collaborate on substantive issues with UN agencies, academia, research and training institutions, think tanks, centers of excellence, professional societies in the region and sub-region; and • Act as focal point for inter-agency working groups in the substantive area.
• Carry out any other duties as may be requested by the Office of the Regional Director and the Director of PSRO. 
CORE COMPETENCIES:
• Commitment to UNFPA's Values and Guiding Principles; • Developing People/Fostering Innovation and Empowerment/Performance Management; • Team Work/Communication/Self-Management • Strategic Thinking/Results Orientation and Commitment to Excellence/Decision Making; • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Learning
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:
• Developing and implementing conceptually innovative approaches to the provision of technical expertise - conceptual innovation; • Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners, and building strategic alliances and partnerships - building strategic partnerships; • Job knowledge / technical expertise - expert knowledge of own discipline; • Adaptation and application of knowledge / innovations in different contexts; • Integration in a multidisciplinary environment.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
• Advanced university degree (preferably Ph. D.) in demography, statistics, population studies, economics, or other field directly related to the substantive area identified in the title of the post. • 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the substantive area, of which seven years at the international level; • Population Research, Census DHS and civil registration experience is essential • Experience of linkages between population and poverty, an asset • Experience in population related policy development, an asset • Understanding of Direct Budget Support, an asset • Experience of PRSPs and MTEF analysis, an asset • Understanding of Human Rights dimensions of Population and Development, an asset • Demonstrated expertise in the substantive area of work; and programme experience; • Strong track record of technical leadership, and proven ability to produce demonstrable results; • Strong verbal and written communications skills in English and/or in the relevant language in the region • Demonstrated ability to network within the academic and development community; • Familiarity with management and monitoring tools is desirable; • Familiarity with ICT/ERP is an asset; • Field experience is strongly desirable. • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other languages spoken in the region is an asset.
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender quality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.
We offer an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the position. The package includes a competitive salary plus housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.
How to apply:
Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA athttp://www.unfpa.org/employment/application_guide.doc. Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process.
Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. Notice to applicants: In accordance with the 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, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.
  • No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulations 4.5