SWEDD Project Director

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, 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 reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls. The organization is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda, particularly in the context of the Decade of Action leading up to 203

• UNFPA employs thousands of staff worldwide and collaborates with various partners, including governments, NGOs, and other UN agencies, to implement its programs and initiatives.

Job Overview:
The SWEDD Project Director is a senior leadership role within UNFPA, reporting directly to the UNFPA WCA Regional Director. The Director is responsible for overseeing all project activities related to the SWEDD initiative, which aims to enhance the empowerment of women and adolescent girls and improve their access to quality reproductive, child, and maternal health services across selected West and Central African countries. This position requires a strategic approach to program coordination, ensuring coherence and maximizing impact across various functional units within the Regional Office. The Director will engage with key stakeholders, including UNFPA representatives, UN partner agencies, the World Bank, and the African Union Commission, to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing. The role demands a commitment to integrating the SWEDD initiative with other relevant programs and initiatives to achieve the project's objectives effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Director will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including:

• Effective program coordination: Ensuring substantive coordination and policy coherence across various technical teams and partners involved in the SWEDD project.
• Building and nurturing relationships: Establishing and maintaining high-level partnerships with implementing partners and participating governments to facilitate project implementation.
• Providing technical advisory services: Offering high-quality technical guidance and support to participating countries and partners based on best practices and global research.
• Managing financial resources: Overseeing the financial aspects of the project, including budgeting, monitoring, and reporting.
• Knowledge management: Developing and implementing strategies for capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices from the project.
• Managing human resources: Leading and supervising the Regional Technical Secretariat and ensuring a motivated and effective team.
• Reporting: Preparing timely and comprehensive reports for donors and stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability in project implementation.
• Representing the project: Acting as the main point of contact for technical and programmatic leads at the African Union Commission and representing the project in regional and international forums.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in managing complex, donor-funded, multi-partner programs, with at least 10 years at the international level. Experience in public policy, particularly in a developing country context in Africa, is highly desirable. The ideal candidate should demonstrate political acumen, partnership-building skills, and a proven track record of leadership and management in the development sector, particularly in areas related to gender, violence against women, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Experience in knowledge product development and dissemination, as well as communications, is also essential. Candidates should have the ability to lead cross-cutting teams and produce client-oriented results.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in international development management, public policy or administration, political science, economics, sociology, demography, public health, or related fields is required. This educational background should provide a strong foundation for understanding the complexities of development management and the specific challenges faced in the areas of reproductive health and women's empowerment.

Experience:
The position requires extensive experience, specifically a minimum of 15 years in relevant fields, with a focus on managing complex programs. Candidates should have significant experience working in developing countries, particularly in Africa, and should have held positions of increasing managerial responsibility. A strong background in gender issues, SRHR programming, and partnership building is essential for success in this role.

Languages:
Strong verbal and written communication skills in both English and French are mandatory for this position. Knowledge of other official UN languages is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other benefits. UNFPA promotes a work environment that values gender equality, diversity, and integrity, and encourages applications from women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. The organization is committed to ensuring gender parity and equal opportunities for all employees. Selection and appointment may be subject to background checks, medical clearance, and other administrative requirements. UNFPA does not charge any fees in connection with the application or recruitment process.