The Position:
Under the overall supervision of UNFPA Country Office (CO) Representative, and the direct supervision of Deputy Representative and in coordination with the Humanitarian Coordinator of the CO, the incumbent will assist in managing UNFPA response in Gedaref (Al Qadarif), with focus in needs identification, response planning implementation and coordination of humanitarian interventions, including rapid assessments, programme monitoring and evaluation. The Head of Field Office supports the expanded Management Team of UNFPA Sudan country office by providing advice on and taking leadership roles in the overall coordination in Gedaref (Al Qadarif) with all stakeholders in the region, including the government partners, HAC, SARHO and SLM. The incumbent will work closely with field teams of Gedaref (Al Qadarif); and with GBV and SRH state coordinators based inside the country. The position will support the CO to position UNFPA in Gedaref (Al Qadarif) according to its mandate and mission, and build relationships with regional authorities, humanitarian agencies, civil society and local counterparts and donors as needed to provide humanitarian assistance to the crisis-affected communities in a manner consistent with the methodology outlined in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Cluster System and Humanitarian Programme Cycle.
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’s 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. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
A country-wide conflict flared up in April 2023 and has generated major humanitarian needs in the country. The conflict has forced 11 mln people to seek refuge in other parts of the country. The conflict is going through an active phase in various regions of the country and is fragmenting the society along ethnic, social and religious lines.
The food crisis is the result of the conflict that caused major economic loss (at individual and collective level), negatively impacted food production, contributed to price spikes and brought health services to a minimum.The IPC Famine Review Committee (FRC) has detected Famine in at least five areas and projects that five additional areas will face Famine between December 2024 and May 2025. Furthermore, there is a risk of Famine in seventeen additional areas. Half of the population (24.6 million people) is facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Flood and subsequent outbreak of water-borne diseases are recurrent in Sudan. Under the current circumstances when state services are fragilized, these events have greater impact.
The IASC Principals declared an IASC systemwide Scale-Up response in late August 2023. During this period, the EDG appointed a Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator (based in Chad) to oversee the flow of aid into the Darfur region, under the overall leadership of the Sudan RC/HC. From 28 April to 2 May 2024, a mission of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Emergency Directors Group (EDG) was conducted to Port Sudan, which included 11 representatives from UN agencies and partners, including UNFPA. The aim of the mission was to engage with the humanitarian community and local authorities to assess the needs to sustain operations and to identify strategies to overcome access constraints and bureaucratic impediments. The EDG mission found that given the multiplicity of crises and lack of requisite attention to Sudan, the support to date has not been commensurate with the massive scale of the needs and complicated response modalities required. UNFPA, following the EDG mission, highlighted that (1) Gender-based violence/ conflict related sexual violence, including rape used as a weapon of war, is prevalent in Sudan; (2) Many cases of children born out of situations of rape; those women and girls cannot go back to their communities because of the stigma attached to them and by extension cannot access services.
In view of the emerging famine risks, the IASC Scale-Up declaration was extended until the end of December 2024 with updated benchmarks by the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) for Sudan to guide the collective humanitarian response. The startling IPC figures point to the eroded coping mechanisms of so many who have endured a year of immeasurable suffering amid mass killings, widespread displacements, destruction of property, rampant human rights violations, and gender-based violence. The humanitarian response must urgently adapt to the new scale and types of needs, operational realities and aid modalities required, including a prioritized focus on food, cash, and support to local actors.
You would be responsible for:
Programme Development and Implementation: Overall Responsibility For planning, implementing, monitoring and results-based reporting of work plans and budgets Take a lead role in the management of humanitarian response in Gedaref (Al Qadarif) state Ensure UNFPA visibility by documenting the response in coordination with COMMS and timely quality reporting to the CO and donors Advise the CO and Ghedaref (Al Qadarif) field teams on potential implementing partners and localization. Promote knowledge sharing and continuous learning, testing, linking and documenting innovative strategies, approaches, lessons learned and best practices and replicating these strategies and approaches at provincial level. As appropriate, participate in/ ensure inclusion of UNFPA’s core Areas of Responsibility in rapid field/ needs assessments Contribute to UNFPA’s commitment in evidence generation for evidence-based programming. Supervise the conduct of programme monitoring and assessment missions to programme sites, and and assist in establishing a full-fledged monitoring and evaluation system in the field office.2. Partnership and Advocacy
Maintain a continuous flow of information with IPs and local UN partners and pursue innovative ways to maintain and create new partnerships. Participate in the UN system joint initiatives in the province as part of the One UN Localization agenda and take a leading/convening role in areas of UNFPA mandates, including ensuring the provision of technical and programme advice to the selected thematic groups as relevant. Foster strategic alliances and partnerships between UNFPA and local authorities, and national/international NGOs, private sector, and other relevant stakeholders, as necessary, to ensure that UNFPA priority issues and concerns are duly addressed. conduct of evidence-based advocacy and policy dialogue with relevant provincial counterparts and government institutions, and advance UNFPA’s humanitarian agenda and response Contribute to the resource mobilization strategy by analyzing information on potential donors and preparing substantive briefs and project proposals in line with donor priorities. Brief the Senior Management on the socio-economic, political and humanitarian situation in the province3. Coordination and capacity building:
Coordinate UNFPA response across the Ghedaref (Al Qadarif) State by ensuring programmtic consistency Participate in CO, A-HCT and other cluster/ inter-agency meetings and coordination meetings Guide, mentor and coach staff to conduct missions and assessments as appropriate and recommend strategic approaches and to address issues,such as SRH, HIV/AIDS, gender, GBV, mental health and psychosocial issues, data and young people. Ensure effective and timely donor reporting and liaison Liaise with other sectors/Clusters (such as health, protection, WASH, camp management, education, logistics, early recovery) to ensure inclusion of UNFPA’s mandate Provide day-to-day technical support to the implementing partners, which include the provincial government, civil society constituents and IPs in the thematic areas of sexual and reproductive health, and prevention and response to GBV.4. Supplies management:
Oversee the planning and distribution of supplies Work closely with field teams and supplies management units of the CO to ensure timely flow of supplies. Identify any entrusted opportunity to facilitate UNFPA supplies transportation to and within Ghedaref (Al Qadarif) region. Work closely with field teams and implementing partners to strengthen the last mile assurance process of UNFPA’s commodities.5. Effective office management and team leadership:
Supervise field programme and staff, providing them with managerial direction, regular guidance, mentoring and motivation; Support the Representative, Deputy Representative and Operations Manager in the management of UNFPA human and financial resources in the field office, in maintaining appropriate internal controls to safeguard the organization's assets and accountability Ensure staff safety and security, systems of accountability as per UNFPA policies, rules and procedures; Develop and guide an integrated and systems approach to the work of the field office; Establish and maintain a harmonious working environment and seek to strengthen team-building by encouraging active participation and interaction at all levels.6. Any Other Duties:
Perform any other duties as required by the Representative and/or supervisor, RO, and HQ.Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Master’s Degree preferably in public health, gender studies, humanitarian affairs, development studies or other related social science disciplinesKnowledge and Experience:
Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge in other UN languages is an assetRequired Competencies:
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
Embracing cultural diversity,
Embracing change
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,
Functional Competencies:
Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results-based programms
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization
Managerial Competencies (if applicable):
• Providing Strategic Focus
• Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders
• Leadership, developing and empowering people,creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment
• Commitment to Learning
Compensation and Benefits:
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.