Job Description

Job Title
National Post; Programme Specialist, Population Policy, Dakar, Senegal, NOC
Job ID 33317

Location West and Central Africa
ull/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regula

Rotation
This post is non-rotational.
Duty Station : Dakar, Senegal
Position Type : Fixed-Term Appointment
Closing Date : 5 November 2020 (5 PM, GMT)
Duration : One Year (renewable) (*)
* PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VACANCY IS OPEN ONLY TO NATIONAL FROM SENEGAL REPUBLIC.

(*) No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulations 4.5.
Organizational Setting

The Position:

The Population Policy Specialist oversees project formulation and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and national development frameworks and ensures the effective management of UNFPA activities in the areas of population and development with a focus on integration of population dynamics considerations into national and subnational development planning and strategies.

You will report to the Deputy Representative.

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 new strategic plan (2018-2021), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.

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:

Employing your programme management experience, you will oversee the work of the population and development team as well as consultants, advisors, and experts. You will establish and maintain collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies and civil society to address emerging issues, and effectively influence diverse stakeholders to contribute to achieving UNFPA’s mandate.

You will be entrusted with monitoring the programme country’s views and policies on key population issues, tapping from available data and statistics such as population size and growth, population age and sex structure, fertility, reproductive health and family planning, health and mortality, spatial distribution, gender equality, gender based violence, etc. including in humanitarian settings You will do so while identifying opportunities for cross fertilization with other areas of interventions in the CO, namely reproductive health and gender.

You will ensure substantive technical advice on population issues to CO, government, intergovernmental bodies and UN for harnessing the Demographic Dividend (DD) through demographic analysis and projections, building internal (CO) and external capacity on population based data collection (censuses, surveys, etc.), DD, SDGs, ICPDa2015 engagements monitoring and reporting, and effective coordination

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

You will be responsible for:
A. Programme and technical leadership and support
• Provide strategic direction and technical leadership in the development of key population-related thinking and policy documents, including fact sheets, policy briefs and white papers. Ensure coherence and synergy among different interventions/initiatives;
• Generate, analyze and disseminate data to inform program design, implementation and evaluation; Generate quality cutting-edge products on Population and Development, which covers data for development and demographic dividend to enable the CO to contribute to the strategic national discussions, with key decision makers such as Ministers, Parliamentarians, Donors, Private Sector, etc.
• Ensure regular and timely population-related situation analysis and integrated appraisal of population dynamics and impact on poverty, inequality and development in Senegal
• Identify capacity gaps among key ICPD partners and facilitate capacity building and policy dialogue
• Work closely with relevant national entities and provide technical support to the Ministry of Economy, Plan and Cooperation and the National Statistical Office to ensure ready availability of accurate, user-friendly, disaggregated data to monitor ICPD commitments, SDGs, and National Development Plan; this includes facilitating and advising on quality of socio-demographic surveys and the 2023 Population and Housing censuses (planning, implementation, evaluation and documentation) in line with the UN Statistic Division Recommendations;
• Establish clear links between investments in sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, education, young people and the reduction of poverty and reaping the demographic dividend;
• Oversee the design and implementation of the Population and Development component of the country programme, aligning with Government priorities and UNFPA programme policies and procedures, establishing partnerships with executing agencies, experts, government counterparts and other UN agencies to facilitate timely and efficient delivery of project inputs.
• In collaboration with Government counterparts, WCARO advisers, facilitate the integration of Population issues in the formulation and design, of development plans in line with Government priorities and UNSDCF
• Oversee achievement of programme results by ensuring appropriate policies are applied and monitoring and oversight mechanisms are established and implemented.
• Be accountable for financial resources allocated to the population and development Programme; carry out budget projections, closely monitor expenditures, conduct regular budget reviews and analyze related financial reports; ensure proper compliance with UNFPA norms and procedures for the utilization of funds;
• Review the political, social and economic environment relevant to UNFPA programme activities, and pursuing opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention.
• Assess the implications of new policy developments and strategies on programme execution and ensure their integration.
• Ensure effective knowledge management strategies are implemented by the Population and development team, capturing lessons learned and best practices for future planning; addressing training needs of project personnel.

B. Research, evidence-based, advocacy and policy dialogue
• Interpret, analyze and conceptualize the data/information generated through censuses, DHS, poverty and income and other relevant national surveys (GBV, Labor, Education) to draw concrete policy options and recommendations for UNFPA management for advocacy and evidence-based planning and budgeting
• Advocate with key partners, especially government entities, for the use of population data and related analytical documents for key decision making and budgeting
• Engage in and facilitate effective policy dialogue of UNFPA senior management in related area with policy-makers and parliamentarians for advancement of ICPD agenda and SDGs
• Identify emerging issues and research needs to advance the ICPDa25 agenda
• Ensure the overall quality assurance of the researches commissioned and funded by UNFPA and be actively involved and provide inputs on other national population-related and social surveys and research activities
• Lead economic analysis including studies of national budgets, social protection and safety net measures such as national social security scheme, the universal health coverage, and others. Anticipate and advise on impact of population dynamics in public policies and investments
• Facilitate the management in policy dialogue for positioning ICPDa25 outcomes in the National Development Frameworks both for the Government and for the UN (UNSDCF);

C. Partnerships, coordination and resources mobilization
• Actively seek and maintain strategic partnerships and collaboration with external counterparts, including research institution, think tanks, universities and development partners for technical collaboration, resource mobilization, advocacy and knowledge sharing in the area of population planning and research and data for development
• Actively promote and facilitate communities of practice
• Represent UNFPA Senegal in relevant technical meetings, workshops and conferences as required
• In all activities, work as part of the inter-disciplinary CO team and provide high quality integrated technical support, operational policy, programme and communications support to the CO management and other programme units
• Scan donors’ environment and mapping their presence and interest in the country to support the CO management in resource mobilization;
• Lead P&D portfolio proposals writing and their submission to targeted donors;
• Ensure quality reporting of the P&D projects implementation and in timely submission of reports to Government and donors.
• Actively contribute to advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the CO in related area, by ensuring preparation of relevant documentation, i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles, and participating in related meetings and public events.

D. Supervision and performance management
• Lead the Population and Development Team and ensure high standard of staff management within the team using a participatory style;
• Supervise, mentor and coach team members in order to strengthen or further develop their capacity. This includes the implementation of UNFPA performance management system for his/her direct reports;
• Ensure that regular team meetings take place, with their outcomes and resolutions properly recorded.

E. Carrying out any other relevant activities/responsibilities as assigned by the UNFPA country office leadership

Key Outcomes:

• Strengthened UNFPA strategic capacity on Population Policy to identify opportunities or imbalances for which social welfare policies and or initiatives could be identified and proposed as well as the integration of population dynamics considerations into national and subnational development planning and strategies
• Enhanced visibility of UNFPA as a trusted partner within the UN system and in the context of international development and humanitarian context to promote social, political and economic policies related to population and development.
• Enhanced ability of UNFPA Senegal to fulfil its mission to achieve sustainable, locally owned and concrete results evidenced based solutions to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in economics, statistics, health, population, demography, development studies or other related social science disciplines (preferably with research background).

Knowledge and Experience:
• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of population and development activities, especially in policy development in public, private or academic sector;
• Strong track record of technical leadership and proven ability to produce demonstrable results;
• Demonstrable ability to network with academic and research organizations, and ability to engage in high political dialogue;
• Demonstrable expertise and knowledge on population and development landscape in Senegal;
• Proficiency in data interpretation, research methodology/design and policy analysis;
• Good understanding of human right-based approach and results-based management of development programmes/projects and M&E;
• Experience in programme/ project management including experience in large multi-sector projects, designing and appraising proposals and actively liaising with relevant and potential project partners;
• Proven experience in coordinating/managing a multi-disciplinary team of staff, experts and consultants;
• Proven experience in developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with governments, civil society organizations, the private sector;
• Experience in drafting and implementing policy (legislation) proposals;
• Excellent drafting, communication and interpersonal skills
• Field experience and prior experience with the UN system would be assets;

Languages:
Fluency in French and working knowledge of English are required.

Required Competencies

Values:
• Exemplifying integrity
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
• Embracing diversity in all its forms
• Embracing change


Core Competencies:

• Achieving Results
• Being Accountable
• Developing and Applying Professional Expertise/Business Acumen
• Thinking analytically and Strategically
• Working in Teams/Managing Ourselves and our Relationships
• Communicating for Impact

Required Competencies

CORE COMPETENCIES:

- Commitment to UNFPA's Values and Guiding Principles;
- Developing People/Fostering Innovation and Empowerment/Performance Management;
- Team Work/Communication/Self-Management
- Strategic Thinking/Results Orientation and Commitment to Excellence/Decision Making;
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Learning

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

- Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise
- Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships
- Job knowledge/technical expertise
- Adaptation/application of knowledge in different contexts
- Integration in a multidisciplinary environment

UNFPA Work Environment

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.