Job Description

Job Title
Deputy Regional Director, West and Central Africa Region (WCARO) Dakar, Senegal - D1
Job ID
33522
Location West and Central Africa
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular

Rotation
This post is rotational.
Duty Station: Dakar, Senegal
Duty Station Classification: A (4 years)
Closing Date: 6 December 2020

Organizational Setting
The Deputy Regional Director reports directly to the Regional Director of WCARO.
The post is located in the Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal and covers several UNFPA country offices within the region.
The Deputy Regional Director supports the Regional Director in the day-to-day leadership, programming and representation of the Office.
In addition, he/she directs and guides the regional teams of technical and programme staff and when required, will lead the Regional Office in the absence of the Regional Director.

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.

Main Tasks & Responsibilities

A. Leadership:
Supports the Regional Director in the management of the Regional office, in close collaboration with the International Operations Manager; provides leadership to the Regional Office in the absence of the Regional Director:
• Contributes a regional perspective to the formulation of UNFPA policies, strategic plans and strategies in close collaboration with the Regional Management Team (RMT) and in consultation with the Regional Desk Adviser;
• Promotes the development of region-specific strategies within the Regional Management Team; ensures that the regional programmes and country-level activities the development of region-specific strategies;or the Regional Director’s approval;
• Ensure the preparation of various reports (e.g., annual report, reports to the Executive Board, responses to the Board of Auditors, etc) by responsible managers / advisers;
• Coordinate review and analysis of Country Office Annual Reports (COARs) and identify critical issues for follow up; and
• Provide leadership to Regional programmes and operations in the absence of the Director.

B. Operational:
Oversees the management of the regional programmes; ensures that all programme activities in the Region are in line with corporate priorities and ensures the integration of results-based management in all programme activities:
• Provide direction and support to regional programme staff in guiding and overseeing the country (e.g., CCA/UNDAF and Joint Programming) and regional programming processes in all phases to ensure coherence with organizational/national/regional priorities and development frameworks as well as consistency with principles of results based management;
• Enhance the integration of technical and programme support to promote seamless, effective aid assistance within the region;
• Provide direction and support to regional programme staff in guiding and supporting Country Offices on programme management ensuring proper application of UNFPA policies and procedures;
• Oversee management of programme resources and advise the Regional Director on allocation of resources; monitor and periodically brief the Regional Director on status of programme implementation; undertake field monitoring visits;
• Support management of UNFPA response to humanitarian crises in the region in consultation with HSB; and
• Support and coordinate Country Office resource mobilization efforts through contacts with UN Missions/RMB; facilitates special resource mobilization events.

C. Resource Management:
Provides leadership and guidance to the technical and programme teams. With support from the Regional Team Coordinator, ensures integrated, adequate, quality and timely support to the country offices:
• Support the Regional Director in all aspects of programme budget, finance and staff management.
• Collaborate with the International Operations Manager and Regional Management Team to consolidate/coordinate the preparation of Regional Annual Office Management Plan (OMP);
• Coordinate and manage Regional output;
• Promote a team-based, harmonious working environment that recognizes initiative, openness and performance;
• Supervise the Regional Team Coordinator and the technical and programme staff, providing necessary coaching and quality assurance;
• Promote effective information/knowledge sharing across the region; and promote opportunities for collaboration as well as staff development at all levels;
• Liaise with Country Offices to ensure that Management Audit recommendations are addressed;
• Support the Regional Director in assessment of RC performance; collaborate with DHR/Division Director in obtaining information on the suitability of RC candidates; coordinate briefing/orientation of newly selected RCs;
• Provide input to the performance appraisals of UNFPA Representatives and Deputy Representatives;
• Liaise closely with DHR, the Regional Director and the Operations Manager to ensure that staff management issues are adequately addressed, and are in line with the vision of the HR Strategy and UNFPA policies and procedures; and
• Ensure an ethics-based approach to management of all human and financial resources.

D. Representation:
In close coordination with the Regional Director, ensures the Region is represented as one voice:
• Liaise with HQ, primarily with the Regional Desk Adviser and the Directors of the Technical, Programme and DCS Divisions;
• Serve as a member of the Deputy Regional Director teams and as alternate member in the Regional Director teams;
• Represent the Region/participate in various inter-agency and inter-divisional forums; is member of UNFPA standing committees;
• In coordination with the Regional Director, advocate for new programme initiatives and conduct resource mobilization efforts; and
• Maintain contacts with UN Missions of programme and donor countries
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Regional Director.


Qualifications and Experience
• Advanced university degree in any of the following disciplines: Public Health, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, Economics, International Development, Public Administration, Management or other related fields.
• 15 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in public administration and international development of which 10 years should be in the field of population and development at the international level, preferably with the UN:
• Strong track record of leadership in development programmes;
• Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate a diverse team of technical and programme specialists to achieve demonstrable results;
• Extensive network within the development community;
• Field experience is essential.

Languages:
• Fluency in both French and English, with exemplary communication skills (written and spoken) is a requirement.


Required Competencies

Values:
• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• 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

Managerial Competencies:
• Providing strategic focus
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

UN Leadership Characteristics:
• Norm-based - grounded in UN norms and standards
• Principled - defends norms and standards without discrimination, fear or favour
• Inclusive of all personnel and stakeholders
• Accountable
• Multi-dimensional
• Transformational
• Collaborative
• Self-applied - modelled in our own behaviour

UNFPA Work Environment
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.


Compensation and Benefits
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus cost of living adjustment, housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.


Closing Statement
Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.


Disclaimer
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In accordance with the 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, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.