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 the right of every woman, man, and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. The organization emphasizes the importance of reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 aims to end preventable maternal deaths, fulfill unmet needs for family planning, and eliminate gender-based violence and harmful practices. The organization is committed to addressing the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's and girls' access to health services and rights, and it seeks principled and ethical staff who embody international norms and standards.

Job Overview:
The SWEDD Project Director is a pivotal role within the UNFPA, reporting directly to the WCA Regional Director. This position oversees 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 areas in West and Central Africa. The Director will coordinate with various stakeholders, including UNFPA representatives, UN partner agencies, the World Bank, and the African Union Commission, to ensure the integration of the SWEDD initiative with other functional units within the Regional Office. The role requires a strong focus on program coordination, relationship building, and the provision of high-quality technical advisory services, as well as effective management of financial resources and human capital within the project.

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

• Effective program coordination, ensuring policy coherence and integration across various technical teams at both regional and national levels.
• Building and nurturing high-level relationships with implementing partners and participating governments.
• Providing high-quality technical advisory services and managing the Regional Technical Secretariat.
• Overseeing financial resource management and knowledge management within the project.
• Coordinating the development and implementation of annual work plans and budgets for UNFPA-managed regional activities.
• Preparing annual progress reports and ensuring timely donor reporting.
• Representing the project in regional and international forums.
• Developing working mechanisms for integrated approaches to ensure programmatic coherence.
• Attracting and managing a motivated team of qualified staff, ensuring high-quality performance and compliance with UNFPA policies. 1
• Facilitating project audits and maintaining records for technical services provided.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in international development management, public policy or administration, political science, economics, sociology, demography, public health, or equivalent fields. Additionally, a minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in managing complex, donor-funded, multi-partner programs is required, with at least 10 years at the international level. Experience in the public policy sector, particularly in a developing country context in Africa, is desirable. Candidates should demonstrate political acumen, partnership building skills, and a track record of leadership and management in the development sector, preferably with experience in gender, eVAWG, and/or SRHR programming.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in relevant fields such as international development management, public policy or administration, political science, economics, sociology, demography, public health, or equivalent areas is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage and coordinate the SWEDD project.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 15 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in managing complex, donor-funded, and multi-partner programs, with at least 10 years of this experience at the international level. Candidates should have a strong background in public policy, particularly within a developing country context in Africa. Proven experience in leading and managing knowledge product development and dissemination, as well as communications product development, is also essential. A strong track record of leadership and management, with the ability to produce demonstrable results, is crucial 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 desirable, as it may enhance communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders across the region.

Additional Notes:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other applicable benefits. 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. 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.