We are pleased to announce the following vacancy
VACANCY NO.: Job ID 2755
CLOSING DATE: 5 January 2015 (5.00 p.m. New York time)
POST TITLE: UNFPA Representative, Mauritania
CATEGORY: ICS-12 (P-5)
POST NUMBER: 00026854
DUTY STATION: Nouakchott, Mauritania
POST TYPE: Rotational
DURATION: One year (renewable)1
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO)
Are you interested in helping improve the lives of women and young people? UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. We have an excellent leadership opportunity to lead the Mauritania Country Office as the UNFPA Representative.
Located partly in Sub-Saharan Africa and partly in the Arab Region of Africa, Mauritania is a multiracial and multiethnic country that is sitting at the crossroads of a strong Islamic culture linked with African traditions. Following unrest in neighboring countries, Mauritania has received an influx of refugees who had sought shelter and assistance while due to internal racial conflicts groups of Mauritanians are either displaced in other parts of the country or refugees in border countries. Mauritania is therefore a complex country in terms of cultural, socio-political and humanitarian challenges that require a leader with deep understanding of social relations, strong management skills, good grasp of UNFPA with its sensitive mandate and a capacity to establish strategic partnerships in a multi-culture and ethnic context.
ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING
Under the guidance of the Director of the Western & Central Africa Regional Office, the Representative post is located in Mauritania and has overall responsibilities for UNFPA representation, policy, programme, finance, staff and office administration. The Representative leads and motivates the UNFPA team in the development of innovative, relevant approaches for engagement on issues related to population and development, sexual and reproductive health and gender.
JOB PURPOSE
In Mauritania, the UNFPA Representative plays the leading role in projecting the programme of the organization, promoting at the national level the goals of the programme and ensuring the integration of issues of reproductive health in the broader development agenda. Through empathetic engagement with national counterparts with effective advocacy on issues of population and development, sexual and reproductive health, and gender, and presentation of valuable, well managed programmes, the UNFPA Representative serves on the frontline of the organization projecting a credible programme and validating both the mandate of the organization and its ability to deliver high quality services. Key activities include:
• Strategic direction, planning and management
• Programme leadership and representation
• Programme oversight and coordination
• Management of resources
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Strategic direction, planning and management
• Lead the positioning of UNFPA on strategic and substantive issues in the country on the basis of global and regional policies and strategies;
• Lead and direct the process of scanning the environment on country level issues and analyzing the implications for the work of the Fund and the Country Office;
• Identify and promote UNFPA’s comparative substantive role and specific contribution in the national development environment and agenda, and in the changing aid environment;
• Provide overall vision, direction and management for the work of UNFPA in the country;
B. Programme leadership and representation
• Act as the principal adviser on country level issues to the Regional Director and senior management of UNFPA;
• Act as senior advisor for the promotion of the organization’s capacity for effective delivery, including on the development of regional and global policies, positioning, strategies, and plans;
• Act as a leading spokesperson within the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), promoting effective coordination on development issues with integration of population and development and sexual and reproductive health issues in the larger development agenda;
• Advocate and engage in policy dialogue for concerted action by the international community, the UN and national counterparts on issues related to sexual and reproductive health, population and development, and gender, human rights and culture, and creates awareness of the critical role of ICPD issues in the overall development agenda and the achievement of the MDGs, including in the development of CCA, UNDAF and other national development frameworks;
C. Programme oversight and coordination
• Oversee the implementation of the country programme using a results-based management approach and quality assurance frameworks and procedures for the work of the Country Office, including in the delivery of technical assistance;
• Ensure that all operational, financial, management and technical processes are in line with corporate guidelines and frameworks
D. Management of resources
• Assume overall accountability for the financial and personnel of the Country Office;
• Direct the formulation and implementation of a resource mobilization strategy for the country, and mobilize, in coordination with relevant divisions and the RO, additional financial resources for the country;
• Ensure an ethics-based approach to management of all human and financial resources; and
Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Regional Director.
WORK RELATIONS
Internal Work Relations: all units in UNFPA; RO and SRO. The Country Office Representative is the primary authority and representative on assigned country programme formulation and delivery. The Representative advocates for the CO programme, including resources, at all levels at HQ, the Regional Office and/o Sub-Regional Office.
External Work Relations: Government officials at all levels, UN agencies Representatives, heads of civil society organizations (national, regional and international), donors, etc. External advocacy and representation substantially affects UNFPA’s image as a reliable, trusted and creative partner.
Required Competencies:
i) Values: Exemplifying integrity, Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, Embracing cultural diversity, Embracing change
ii) 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
iii) Required Skillset:
• Advocacy/Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization
• Strategically positioning UNFPA Programme
QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Advanced university degree or equivalent 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:
10 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;
Strong interest in development work, especially the mission of the United Nations Population Fund and dedication to the principles of the United Nations; and,
Field experience in North Africa or Arab Region is essential
Experience working in a humanitarian setting.
Languages: Fluency in English and in French is required. A working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, 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:
UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy.
Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA athttp://www.unfpa.org/employment
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.
[1] No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulation 4.5
