Organization: UNFPA – United Nations Population Fund
Location: Port Sudan
Grade: Senior level – P-5, International Professional – Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
International Relations
Transport and Distribution
Managerial positions
Closing Date: 2025-02-10

Context:

The continuous military conflict that started on 15 April 2023 in Sudan has caused the worst crises in the world, and unfathomable misery for the People of Sudan. Harrowing levels of violence, including rape, kidnappings and forced and underage marriage, continue to take an intolerable toll on women and children. According to recent estimates, half of the population is in need, with 11 million of them having been displaced and over 2.3 million of them seeking safety outside of Sudan. The war has significantly affected access to sexual and reproductive health care as well as other forms of health care. As stated by WHO,Approximately 80% of medical institutions have some degree of damage. Access to high-quality healthcare has become more difficult as a result of the food crisis. Gender-based violence is a serious issue given the prevalence of violence and the quickly increasing requirements. Due in part to service interruption, about 6.7 million women and girls are vulnerable to gender-based violence. Needs are increasing more quickly than responses as a result of this need spiral.

In regions with a high concentration of internally displaced persons, UNFPA is collaborating with partners to offer reproductive health and protection services that can save lives. In addition to promoting women and girls safe spaces (WGSS) and offering emotional support, this entails deploying mobile teams and supplies to increase capacity for maternal health, particularly emergency obstetric and newborn care, and for the clinical management of rape.

The Job:

The UNFPA Humanitarian Response and national program is designed and implemented under the direction of the Deputy Representative. The Program seeks to prevent and address gender-based violence, provide timely and high-quality reproductive health services, and restore hope and dignity to millions of people by forming partnerships and alliances with governments, the UN, bilateral agencies, development partners, civil society, academia, and the private sector. Along with overseeing designated Country Office employees, you are also in charge of organizing, carrying out, tracking, and reporting on the Country Program and humanitarian response.

Work Goals:

In addition to offering strategic leadership and management to the Country Program, the Deputy Representative is responsible for the effective and efficient programmatic and operational coordination of UNFPA’s humanitarian programs under the direction of the Representative. Gender-based violence services and life-saving sexual and reproductive health care are the main themes of the humanitarian assistance. Additionally, he or she will make sure that the national office’s overall humanitarian response and planning/programing for other areas that fall under UNFPA’s mandate—such as youth and data, but not necessarily—are closely coordinated.
It is the duty of the Deputy Representative to promote,at the national level, the program’s objectives, and making sure that sexual and reproductive health and rights concerns are included into the larger national agenda. By interacting with national counterparts, advocating persuasively, and implementing successful programs—including in emergency situations—you work on the front lines, confirming the organization’s mission and its capacity to provide excellent outcomes. Following the tenets of human rights, sustainable development, and humanitarian aid, your ultimate accountability is to the women and girls you assist, particularly the most marginalized, excluded, or vulnerable.

Responsibilities:
Programme Leadership

• Develop, manage and monitor the Country Programme, in particular the humanitarian programme, in line with the strategic plan and on the basis of demographic, socio-economic data and the humanitarian national response plan (HNRP).
• Assess and address implications of national trends on UNFPA work in the country;
• Expand on the range of UNFPA’s portfolio; develop new programme options in UNFPA’s mandate area;
• Feedback country specificities on policy, procedures and lessons learned to the RO and the Humanitarian Response Division for the development of the global/regional strategic plan;
• Oversee technical assistance to partners and stakeholders in the country;
• Establish quality standards for project development and delivery;
• Prioritise the formulation and execution of responses to the humanitarian emergency

National Capacity Development

• Implement a strategy for capacity building within the context of the global strategy; provide technical, material, financial and political support to strengthen national capacity on programmes;
• Facilitate capacity building of national staff by devolving authority for portfolio management; guide programme implementation with substantive oversight and effective programme representation;
• Create an enabling environment for the implementation of the ICPD agenda;
• Create/improve national capacities to monitor, evaluate and learn from capacity development initiatives;
• Foster knowledge sharing and innovative thinking in the country office, country and region.

Partnership and Advocacy

• Pursue innovative ways to maintain and create new partnerships with government counterparts, civil society, the private sector, the UN community, other national organizations, academia and bilaterals on national priorities;
• Advocate for ICPD agenda with national institutions and other UN agencies represented at the national level;
• Promote South-South cooperation for the achievement of ICPD goals;
• Maintain a continuous flow of information with government and donors;
• Advocate for organizational goals with national counterparts and within the United Nations system as part of coordinated development activities to align organizational goals with national priorities;
• Contribute inputs and proactively participate in the development, implementation and reporting on the Humanitarian National Response Plan.
• Participate in the UN Common Country Analysis and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework exercises in the country as part of broader UN Reform initiatives.

Management of resources

• Support the UNFPA Representative in the management of the Country Office including leading the formulation of annual work plans and monitoring implementation;
• Support the design and implementation of a resource mobilization and partnership strategy; securing and using mobilised funds and budget allocations for the country programme;
• Support the Representative in the management of staff, providing them with direction and motivation; fostering empowerment, learning and career management;
• Demonstrate performance appraisal and transparent leadership approaches that support a culture of growth and development, where good performance is incentivized and underperformers are held to account;
• Set standards of performance, and assign responsibilities for achieving results according to the Country Office Strategic Information System;
• Provide support to JPOs on career issues and advise managers on the JPO programme;
• Support the development of a strategic plan for UNFPA’s humanitarian and preparedness actions in-country;
• Support the staff safety by driving compliance with Minimum Operational Residential Security Standards (MORSS).

Carry out any other duties as may be required by the County Representative, including serving as Officer in Charge in the absence of the Representative, and attending the HCT, UNCT, SMT and other coordination / strategic fora as requested.

Qualifications

Education:

Advanced university degree in any of the following disciplines: International Development Management, Public Health, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, Economics, Public Administration, or other related field.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 10 years of increasingly responsible international, professional experience in humanitarian and development programming with focus on result based programming and human rights principles;
  Strong background in delivering programmes particularly on humanitarian settings;
• Political acumen to position UNFPA within the UNCT/HCT, national government, donors and among other development/humanitarian international partners
• Experience in programme oversight including rationalization of funding. IP management.
• Previous experience as a Deputy Representative or Humanitarian Coordinator will be considered advantageously
• Demonstrated ability to refine programme design to ensure alignment of organizational programme objectives to national priorities/capacities
• Experience at national and international level in advocacy and policy dialogue
• Excellent media/communication skills to foster engaged partnerships and to maintain political partnerships in the assigned country
• Proven ability to lead teams to achieve demonstrable and high-quality results
• Field experience is essential; experience from a developing, humanitarian context is an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required.  Working knowledge of Arabic  or other UN languages are an asset.
Required 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,

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

UN Leadership Characteristics:

• Norm-based – grounded in UN norms and standards
• Principled – defends norms and standards without discrimination, fear or favour
• Inclusive of all personnel and stakeholders
• Accountable
• Multi-dimensional
• Transformational
• Collaborative
• Self-applied – modelled in our own behaviour

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.

How to apply

Simply click on the apply button, fill out of the form, upload your documents

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