Population Development Policy Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is a leading UN agency focused on reproductive health and rights, population dynamics, and sustainable development. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries, working to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The organization is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda, emphasizing the importance of population dynamics in socio-economic development.

Job Overview:
The Population Development Policy Specialist will play a crucial role in developing Rwanda's National Population Policy (NPP) to ensure sustainable population dynamics that enhance the quality of life and human rights of all individuals. This position involves conducting comprehensive reviews of existing policies, contributing to methodological guidance for policy formulation, and ensuring the integration of cross-cutting issues such as gender, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), youth, migration, and environmental sustainability. The specialist will work closely with various stakeholders, including government ministries and international consultants, to contextualize findings and facilitate workshops and consultations. The ultimate goal is to draft and finalize the NPP and its implementation roadmap, aligning population needs with national priorities and global commitments.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a thorough desk review of Rwanda’s policy landscape, including the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and Vision 205
• Contribute to the development of methodological guidance for policy formulation, implementation planning, and monitoring frameworks.
• Ensure the integration of cross-cutting issues such as gender, SRHR, youth, migration, aging, environment, and human capital development into the policy framework.
• Collaborate with the international Lead Consultant and sector experts to contextualize findings and recommendations.
• Facilitate technical workshops, stakeholder consultations, and policy validation sessions to gather input and feedback.
• Draft and finalize the National Population Policy and Implementation Roadmap, including advocacy materials for policymakers.
• Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the policy to ensure alignment with national development goals and international commitments.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in Demography, Population Studies, Economics, or Social Policy.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in population policy development and analysis at the national level.
• Strong understanding of Rwandan demographic trends and global frameworks such as the SDGs, Agenda 2063, and ICPD2
• Proven experience in aligning population policy with socio-economic development agendas.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation, and report writing skills are essential for this role.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in a relevant field such as Demography, Population Studies, Economics, or Social Policy. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of population dynamics and their implications for sustainable development.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in population policy development and analysis at the national level. Candidates should have a strong understanding of Rwandan demographic trends and the ability to align population policies with socio-economic development agendas. Experience in facilitating stakeholder consultations and workshops is also highly desirable.

Languages:
A strong command of the Kinyarwanda language is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in English and French would be advantageous, as it may facilitate communication with international stakeholders and enhance the effectiveness of policy development efforts.

Additional Notes:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary. UNFPA promotes a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. The organization encourages applications from women, individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA is committed to equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all, regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity.