Programme Associate

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead United Nations agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and has a mission to promote the right of every woman, man, and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. The organization is dedicated to addressing the complex global environment through its Strategic Plan for 2026-2029, which aims to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 203

• UNFPA's work is centered around four interconnected outcomes: ending unmet needs for family planning, preventing maternal deaths, eliminating gender-based violence and harmful practices, and adapting to demographic changes through evidence-based policies. The organization values principled and ethical staff who embody international norms and standards, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building, and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development landscape.

Job Overview:
The Programme Associate position is crucial for supporting the Regional Office (RO) in assessing humanitarian situations, identifying needs, and preparing and implementing humanitarian response plans. This role involves close collaboration with various stakeholders, including humanitarian actors, implementation partners, and government entities. The Programme Associate will represent UNFPA in the Access Working Group and other relevant humanitarian coordination efforts. The position requires frequent travel to the field to assess emergency situations and support humanitarian response planning, ensuring that the needs for humanitarian commodities are met based on field assessments and available resources. The Programme Associate will also contribute to interagency assessments and the planning, implementation, and monitoring of humanitarian activities, ensuring that UNFPA's work is documented and improved upon continuously. This role is vital for maintaining effective communication and coordination among partners and ensuring that humanitarian responses are well-organized and executed efficiently.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Programme Associate will have a wide range of duties and responsibilities, including: A. Assessment and Planning: Supporting the assessment of emergency situations by collaborating with sub-office staff and program units to facilitate humanitarian response planning. This includes participating in interagency assessments, contributing to the planning and monitoring of humanitarian activities, and documenting best practices and lessons learned. B. Coordination: Liaising with humanitarian partners to gather information for effective mapping of needs, identifying gaps, and coordinating response activities. This involves monitoring humanitarian risk factors, preparing convoy plans, and coordinating with UNFPA program teams and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security staff to ensure timely preparation of convoys and contingency plans. C. Programmatic and Operational Support: Working closely with various units to identify operational factors affecting humanitarian situations, contributing to procurement and distribution planning, and managing the implementation of emergency activities. D. Communication: Collaborating with the communication unit to produce response reports, recommendations, and proposals for emergency interventions, as well as contributing to the drafting of program/project proposals. E. Partnerships: Maintaining consultations with governments, UN agencies, and NGOs on humanitarian issues and providing necessary technical support. F. Advising on Procedures: Assisting in the development of contingency plans for future emergencies and managing logistics and procurement matters. G. Additional Duties: Carrying out any other tasks as requested by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a secondary level education as a minimum, with a first-level university degree being desirable. Candidates should have at least six years of relevant experience in development and/or humanitarian program/project management and coordination, with a focus on program implementation. Field-level experience in humanitarian settings, particularly in reproductive health (RH), gender-based violence (GBV), and youth programming, is essential. Familiarity with UN procedures and working methods, especially those related to UNFPA's agenda, policies, and procedures, is highly desirable. Knowledge of humanitarian logistics, particularly concerning dignity/hygiene kits and RH kits, is also required. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are mandatory.

Educational Background:
Candidates should possess at least a secondary level education, with a first-level university degree being preferred. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of humanitarian programming and project management.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of six years of relevant experience in development and/or humanitarian program/project management and coordination, with a strong focus on program implementation. Experience in field-level humanitarian settings, particularly in areas related to reproductive health, gender-based violence, and youth programming, is crucial. Additionally, experience in emergency preparedness and response, including conducting needs assessments and designing humanitarian responses, is highly valued.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for effective communication with English-speaking stakeholders, while proficiency in French is desirable to facilitate communication with French-speaking country coordination groups and local organizations in the West and Central Africa region.

Additional Notes:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other applicable benefits. UNFPA is committed to providing 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. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all candidates, regardless of personal characteristics. The selection and appointment process may be subject to background checks, medical clearance, visa issuance, and other administrative requirements. UNFPA does not charge any fees in connection with the application or recruitment process.