The Position:

The post of Multi Country Programme Coordinator is located in the UNFPA Pacific Sub Regional Office in Fiji and will report directly to the International Programme Coordinator. S/he will support the smooth and timely implementation of relevant regional programmes and will be a part of a dynamic inter-disciplinary team that provides integrated programme and technical support within a system strengthening approach that is fundamental to UNFPA’s overall strategy. This position will entail 30-50% travel to Pacific countries.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s global Strategic Plan (2022-2025) focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture UNFPA’s strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action in the last Decade of Action to achieve Agenda 2030 including the SDGs. UNFPA Strategic Plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations, and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of health pandemics and climate crises on women’s and young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction. UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire, and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Multi-country Programme Coordinator will manage relevant programme components implemented by in-country programme teams and regional partners, liaising closely with other programme management staff, as well as the technical advisors at the UNFPA Pacific Sub-regional Office, and across other UN agencies in the Pacific. She/he will work to ensure cohesion in the delivery of the various funded programmes, at both regional and national levels, towards achieving UNFPA’s mandate, particularly the 7^th Pacific Multicounty Programme (MCP7) and the Transformative Agenda programme for Women, Adolescents, and Youth.

All programme management will be in alignment with National Plans Policies/Strategies and UNFPA’s Multicountry Programme for the Pacific, to create an environment conducive to empowering women and men, particularly young women and men and marginalized groups, to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and protect their sexual and reproductive rights and ensure no one is left behind.

The primary role of the Multi-country Programme Coordinator is:

• Regional programme management and coordination of in-country implementation towards results

You would be responsible for:

A. Programme Development, Implementation, and Management

• Coordinate the planning, design, implementation, and management of regional programmes, and ensure compliance with programming and operational policies, procedures, guidelines and tools that meet country level needs while conforming to overall UNFPA and Regional strategies, policies and guidelines;
• Act as focal point for the planning and delivery of integrated programme and technical support to the country programmes and regional partners ensuring complementarity between the various regional programmes and the needs, realities and activities at the country level;
• Provide budget oversight of the programmes, ensuring data integrity to support the team’s financial decision making, and serve as focal person for country programme officers and regional partners regarding budget targets and management;
• Provide guidance and support in the areas of advocacy, resource allocation, resource mobilization, administrative matters and operational aspects of programme management; and
• Liaise with the donors and the relevant Project Steering Committees, ensure compliance with agreed governance processes, and lead formulation and submission of reporting requirements with a strong emphasis on timely, quality monitoring and evaluation.
• Act on behalf of International Programme Coordinator during periods of absence or duty travel.

B. Capacity Development

• Coordinate the development and support the implementation of a capacity development strategy to strengthen overall capacities in the region;
• Provide guidance for capacity building for technical and programme support; and synergy between regional programme and other activities at the country level;
• Coordinate with other UN agencies in the provision of technical and programme assistance in the Pacific sub-region and capacity development initiatives; and
• Provide capacity development support to staff in the priority countries, and to other junior professional staff, associates and consultants.

C. Partnership and Advocacy

• Strengthen relationships with key internal and external partners, and contribute to high quality interactions and clear communications with regional donors, partners and stakeholders;
• Draft briefing notes, statements, talking points and correspondence, and prepare background papers and presentation content with regards to the UNFPA Sub-Regional Programme;
• Assist in advocacy and policy dialogue to further the advancement of ICPD through sub-regional policies and programming frameworks; and
• Lead the development, formulation and facilitation of resource mobilisation efforts in close coordination with the Director, Deputy Director, International Programme Coordinator as well as the technical and country programme teams.

Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or higher) in Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, Economics, International Relations, International Development, Public Administration, Management, or related disciplines.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in programme management and development relevant to sexual and reproductive health, youth, gender, and population and development, including five at the international level;

• Substantive knowledge and practical experience in sexual and reproductive health, youth, population and development, and gender;
• Experience in programme and/or technical assistance with the UN System;
• Experience in resource mobilization
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation, including donor reporting
• Excellent organization skills and attention to detail, deadlines and policy compliance;
• Ability to work independently and as part of an integrated, diverse team and be comfortable in multiple, high varied settings, and tight deadlines with different work and learning styles;
• Proficient in MS Office programmes;
• Familiarity with the Pacific context is an asset.

Languages:

Proficiency in both spoken and written English. Working knowledge of Pacific languages is an asset.

Required Competencies

Compensation and Benefits

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus cost of living adjustment, rental subsidy, education grant, home leave, health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

Disclaimer

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

Notice:

UNFPA is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNFPA does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next phase of the selection process.