Back Programme Specialist SROC, P3, FTA, LACRO, Panama City

The Position:

The Programme Specialist post is based at the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office The incumbent will work under the direct supervision and the overall direction of the Deputy Regional Director and technical supervision of the Regional Advisor on Population and Development. S/he is part of an inter-disciplinary team, which provides integrated programme and technical support within a system strengthening approach fundamental to UNFPA’s overall strategy.

Her/his focus is twofold: to coordinate support to and oversight of the Caribbean Subregional Office (SRO); and to provide technical advice to the SRO in areas of population dynamics and projections, population estimates for humanitarian preparedness and response, and population estimates relevant to UNFPA programming.

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.

UNFPA is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Women, individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

Job Purpose:

The Programme Specialist contributes to the facilitation of quality, timely and integrated technical and programme support to and oversight of the SRO, ensuring that the subregional programme is implemented in the context of the ICPD Programme of Action and UNFPA Strategic Plan as well as national development processes, frameworks, and UN reform. She/he will monitor country level technical support progress and needs, and liaise between SROC and Regional Office (RO). She/he will support the production, analysis, and use of population data, and measure the impact of interventions.

As focal point to the Caribbean sub-region, the Programme Specialist ensures that programme assistance and capacity development needs are identified, and technical assistance is managed and delivered effectively. in consultation with the Sub Regional Office

She/he would be responsible for:

1. Support to Policy and Programme Development and Implementation
2. Capacity Development
3. Support to Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Knowledge Management
4. Programme Management Support

   A. Support to Policy and Programme Development and Implementation

   • Assist the Subregional Office in policy dialogue efforts within the sub-region to further the advancement of ICPD through sub-regional policies and programming frameworks;
   • Support the process of development and approval of the subregional programme document (SRPD) and related Country Implementation Plans (CIPs), ensuring alignment to subregional and/or national development priorities, as reflected in subregional and/or national development frameworks and the UN Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework, as well as complementarity with the UNFPA corporate and regional strategies, including the UNFPA Strategic Plan and Regional Programme; Support the planning and delivery of integrated programme and technical support and advice to the Subregional Office to facilitate the effective implementation of the subregional programme as well as country implementation plans.

     B. Capacity development – Ensures an open exchange of state-of-the-art programmatic innovations in partnership with assigned CO Programme/Technical Specialists:

     • Support the Subregional Office and Liaison Offices in the identification and assessment of technical and programme capacity needs and identify sources of knowledge to meet those needs.
     • Coordinate programme support by LACRO to the SRO on population and development, sexual and reproductive health, and gender;
     • Provide technical support to the Subregional Office to meet subregional data needs, facilitating the strengthening of subregional and/or national data systems for the collection, analysis and dissemination of disaggregated data by relevant stratifiers.
     • Contribute to strengthen coordination and strategic partnerships in the area of data, particularly with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), research institutions and/or think-tanks for the generation of data and evidence, including on emerging trends (i.e. climate change, ageing and human mobility)

       C. Support to Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Knowledge Management

       • Coordinate LACRO support to the SRO and Liaison Offices in the development and implementation of results-based indicators, monitoring and evaluation plans and of necessary follow-up.
       • Analyze lessons learned and good practices, ensuring an open exchange of best practices/lessons learned between HQ, RO, LOs, particularly as it refers to population data systems, in partnership with LO Programme/Technical Specialists.

         D. Programme Management Support:

         • Liaise and support subregional coordination efforts, including between regional and subregional office, facilitating engagement with subregional governmental and non-governmental partners, as required, and in close coordination with the Subregional Office management;
         • Support the monitoring of programmatic and financial implementation of the subregional programme for the English and Dutch Speaking Caribbean, supporting the SubRegional Office in the identification of opportunities for resource mobilization and bringing areas of concern to the attention of management.

           Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

           Qualifications and Experience

           Education:

           • Post-graduate university degree or equivalent in the quantitative social sciences, public health, epidemiology, sociology, demography, economics, international relations, international development or other related field, with specialization in data collection, analysis, visualization, dissemination.

             Knowledge and Experience:

             • At least 5 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in management and development relevant to population and development, sexual and reproductive health, or gender, including three at the international level.
             • Substantive knowledge and practical experience in data collection, analysis, visualization, dissemination, including ability to provide advice and guidance on the analysis, interpretation, and application of data from project information.
             • Professional experience in planning, designing and management of development programmes/projects or related subjects.
             • Experience in coordination and liaison with local stakeholders, including partners, organizations, NGOs and communities.
             • Excellent report writing and compelling oral presentations.
             • Demonstrated organizational skills: the ability to work independently and productively with multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.