The Position:
The Programme Associate position is located in the East and Southern Regional Office of UNFPA, Johannesburg, and reports to the Youth Team Lead and SYP Regional Coordinator.
The Programme Associate is part of the Youth Team under the Integrated SRHR Unit, coordinated by the Youth Team Lead and SYP Regional Coordinator, which provides integrated program and technical support within a systems-strengthening approach fundamental to UNFPAs overall strategy. The Programme Associate also works in close collaboration with the International Operations Manager (IOM) and his/her team to ensure timely support to COs on operational matters.
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. UNFPAs 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.
UNFPA in East and Southern Africa has been implementing the Safeguard Young People (SYP) Regional programme since November 2013. The programme aims to empower adolescents and young people aged 10-24 to protect themselves from STIs including HIV, unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, early marriages, gender-based violence and harmful practices while promoting gender equitable norms and protective behaviours in twelve East and Southern African Countries (Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe).
UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire and deliver high-impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, and exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose
The Associate provides programme and administrative support to the programme and technical team, especially to advise and support COs in the region, and to support the management of the Safeguard Young People programme. The Associate also provides some data and research assistance.
The Programme Associate will apply established systems and procedures and assist in the creation of knowledge by compiling, synthesizing, and analyzing relevant information, developing appropriate mechanisms and systems, and ensuring compliance with procedures.
You Would Be Responsible For
- Participating in the formulation of the SRHR programme and component projects, by compiling and analysing information relevant to the UNFPAs role in the country, drafting project documents and work plans and preparing tables and statistical data.
- Assist the technical and programme team, in collaboration with the Operations office, in providing support and advice to the COs on operational and programme matters;
- Undertake all logistical and administrative arrangements required for the organization of technical workshops, inter-agency meetings, panel discussions, roundtables, missions, and other events organized by the programme and technical team;
- Assist ESARO in coordinating the UNFPA technical network in the substantive area;
- Assist in the preparation, implementation and monitoring process of the regional programme;
- Review incoming correspondence, collect and prepare necessary information for reply/action, and draft and finalize response;
- Prepare first drafts of responses to inquiries received by the programme and technical team for action by supervising officers;
- Prepare travel authorizations and make travel arrangements;
- Maintain the team filing system in iDOCs and assist in archiving;
- Maintain and update country, partners and project files, including project progress reports, work plans and budgets in compliance with guidelines for the regional programme;
- Prepare requisition requests in the corporate ERP with input from the programme and technical team members;
- Apply UNFPA rules, regulations and procedures and advise team members as required,
- Follow up on the submission of financial reports by COs and partners;
- Perform research assistance duties including bibliographic and database searches; summarize information and draft contributions to ESARO reports, papers, technical notes, and publications;
- Identify sources, and gather and compile data and information for the preparation of documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers;
- Assemble briefing materials and prepare PowerPoint and other presentations for the technical and programme team members;
- Organize, compile and process information from donors, Regional Offices, programme countries, and country offices, as inputs to various databases and documents; and
- Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Youth Team Lead or the Head of the Integrated SRHR Unit.
Qualifications and Experience:
Completed Secondary Level Education required. First-level university degree desirable.
Knowledge And Experience
- Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in programme/ project management.
- Proficiency in current office software applications and corporate IT systems.
- Strong interpersonal and organisational skills.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably Portuguese and/or French, is desirable.
Values
Required Competencies:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
- 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
- Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
- Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
- Delivering results-based programmes
- Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
