Project Support Officer

Job Posting Organization:
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the world’s largest UN agency dedicated to population development and sexual and reproductive health. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 140 countries, with a mission to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. The organization empowers individuals, particularly young women, girls, adolescents, and vulnerable populations, to exercise bodily autonomy and access essential health services. UNFPA has been active in the Maldives since the early 1980s, focusing on family planning and population programs, and has established a dedicated country office in the Maldives since 1994, implementing six successful Country Programmes to date.

Job Overview:
The Project Support Officer will play a crucial role in the UNFPA Maldives Country Office’s project aimed at addressing Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C) in the Maldives. This position is vital in supporting the effective and efficient implementation and coordination of the project, which is recognized as a severe violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence. The officer will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Analyst (GEWE) and the overall supervision of the Head of Office. The role involves providing day-to-day operational and administrative support, ensuring that project activities are coordinated among implementing partners, and that communication regarding planned deliverables is timely and effective. The Project Support Officer will also assist in preparing meeting minutes, project reports, budgets, and financial reports, as well as logistical arrangements for workshops and advocacy meetings. The overarching goal is to build a national multi-stakeholder partnership to address FGM/C, leveraging global and regional learning to create a supportive platform for advocacy and collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Support Officer will be responsible for a variety of key duties, including:

• Coordinating project activities among implementing partners, ensuring timely communication and follow-up on planned deliverables.
• Supporting the preparation of meeting minutes, summaries, and project reports to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of planned activities.
• Assisting in the preparation of project budgets and financial reports.
• Providing administrative support and logistical arrangements for workshops, consultations, trainings, and high-level advocacy meetings.
• Ensuring effective documentation and reporting of the project, including compiling progress reports and collecting data and information related to project events and field activities for visibility and reporting purposes.
• Supporting actions to monitor and report to donors as required.
• Performing other tasks assigned by the office or supervisor. The expected outputs include efficient, timely, responsive, and high-quality support rendered to UNFPA Maldives and its beneficiaries, ensuring smooth delivery of planned outputs and systematic data collection and information management.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates should possess strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment. Proficiency in project management and administrative support is essential. The ideal candidate should demonstrate accountability, adaptability, creativity, and professionalism in their work. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are necessary for effective coordination and reporting.

Educational Background:
A bachelor’s degree in social sciences, public health, international development, or a related field is required. Additional training or certifications in project management or administration would be advantageous.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 2-3 years of relevant experience in project support, administration, or coordination, preferably within an international organization or a development context. Experience working on gender issues or health-related projects would be beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, both written and spoken. Knowledge of local languages spoken in the Maldives would be an asset, enhancing communication with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
This position is a national UNV specialist role, meaning the candidate will be a citizen of the Maldives. The role is expected to be full-time, with a focus on supporting a critical project addressing FGM/C in the Maldives. Specific details regarding contract duration and compensation will be provided during the recruitment process.