Deputy Representative, Kenya, P-5 at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Job Purpose:
In close collaboration with the UNFPA Representative, the UNFPA Deputy Representative plays a leading role in strengthening the Country's capacity to implement the ICPD Programme of Action within the context of its national development efforts to achieve the SDGs, thus ensuring national ownership. S/He is primarily responsible for the formulation and delivery of the UNFPA Country programme, projecting the programme of the organization, promoting at the national and sub-national levels the goals of the programme and ensuring the integration of issues of population, sexual and reproductive health, and gender in the broader development and humanitarian agenda. The Deputy Representative plays a leadership role also within the UNFPA country team, providing an example of creative programme development and sharing knowledge and insights with staff to facilitate broad country programme management. Key activities include:

• Programme Leadership, within the humanitarian-development-peace nexus framework
• National Capacity Development
• Partnerships and Advocacy
• Resource mobilization and resource management

You would be responsible for:

• Programme Leadership – Ensures quality development and delivery of integrated technical and programmatic support that meets country needs and achieves the ICPD goals and SDGs:
• Assess and address implications of national trends on UNFPA work in the Country.
• Consult with Government, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders on national and sub-national priorities.
• Recommend areas of assistance based on continuous review and analysis of demographic and socio-economic data and national population policies in the context of the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of UNFPA-supported Country Programme.
• Provide inputs to the Regional Office (RO) based on country-specificities for the development of the global/regional strategic plan.
• Regularly assess resource requirements for the Country Programme.
• Ensure continuous feedback to the RO on programme, technical and operational policy, regulations, procedures etc., as well as lessons learned and import new modalities or directions in thinking into the country office.
• Develop and manage the Country Programme in line with the UNFPA strategic plan, applying the humanitarian-development nexus approach, and liaising with the RO technical and programme teams;
• Implement UNFPA guidelines, policies, standards, tools and systems at the CO level.
• Oversee and direct technical assistance to partners and stakeholders in the Country.
• Catalyze the expansion of the range of UNFPA deliverables and originate new project portfolios in UNFPA's mandate area; develop new programme options and project models in substantive areas.
• Devolve authority for portfolio management to project and national staff facilitating capacity building and guiding programme implementation with solid, substantive oversight and effective programme representation.
• Establish quality standards for project development and delivery in consultation with the Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor assigned to support the CO.
• Coordinate the Preparation of programme and financial progress reports and feedback to donors.
• Take the lead in promoting knowledge sharing within the country office, with partners and with the Regional office, and,
• In collaboration with Humanitarian Programme Coordinator, ensure integration of the development and humanitarian response programme, within the triple nexus approach, including ensuring participation in the relevant clusters and the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) network.

National Capacity Development:

• Implement a strategy for capacity building at the country level, within the context of the global strategy.
• Create an enabling environment for the implementation of the ICPD agenda.
• Provide technical, material, financial, and political support to strengthen national capacity on thematic programmes.
• Create/improve national capacities to monitor, evaluate, and learn from capacity development initiatives

Partnerships and Advocacy – Enhances the capacity of the country office to build reliable and sustainable partnerships and advocate effectively:

• Advocate for ICPD agenda with national and sub-national institutions and other UN agencies represented at the national and sub-national levels.
• Promote South-South cooperation for the achievement of ICPD goals.
• Pursue innovative ways to maintain and create new partnerships.
• Maintain a continuous flow of information with the Government and donors.
• Advocate for organizational goals in population change and data, sexual and reproductive health, gender and social norms and adolescent and youth, with national and sub-national counterparts and within the United Nations system as part of coordinated development activities demonstrating empathy with national perspectives and the capacity to align organizational goals with national priorities.
• Participate in the UN Common Country Assessment and the UNSDCF exercises in the Country as part of broader UN Reform initiatives; and
• Participate in the sector-wide approach (SWAP) activities in the health sector as appropriate.
• Resources Management – Ensures the efficient and effective delivery of day-to-day management support to country operations:
• Support the UNFPA Representative in overall accountability for the management and work of the Country Office.
• Participate in the formulation of the annual work plans and monitor their day-to-day implementation through consultations, correspondence and field visits.
• Propose and secure annual allocations for the country programme and ensure the efficient and effective use of such resources in compliance with UNFPA financial rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Assist in the formulation and implementation of a resource mobilization strategy for the Country, and mobilize, in coordination with RO and HQ, additional financial resources for the Country.
• Support the Representative in managing human and financial resources, with particular attention to ensuring systems of accountability as per UNFPA policies, rules, and procedures.
• Supervise international and national programme staff, providing them with managerial direction and motivation.
• Participate directly in achieving staff accountability, learning, and career management within the office.
• Develop and guide an integrated and systems approach to the work of the Country Office.
• Communicate standards of performance and assign responsibilities for achieving results according to the Country Office Strategic Information System (SIS) and the Performance Appraisal and Development (PAD) system.
• Establish and maintain a harmonious working environment; seek to strengthen team-building by encouraging active participation and interaction at all levels; foster staff motivation, development, and empowerment; and lead by example; Coordinate the provision of administrative services with service providers.
• Provide counseling and support to Junior Professional Officers (JPOs) and United Nations Volunteers (UNVs) on work, training, and career issues and advise managers on all aspects of the JPO and UNV programme.
• Develop and manage UNFPA's internship and young professional programme.
• Advise on and support the establishment of a CO security strategy and plan in line with UN procedures and requirements.
• Ensure an ethics-based approach to the management of all human and financial resources.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned by the UNFPA Representative.

Qualifications and Experience Required:
Education:

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

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of development and population activities, including programme designing, appraising and management.
• Demonstrated ability to refine programme design to ensure alignment of organizational programme objectives to national priorities/capacities.
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve demonstrable results.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to foster engaged partnerships at a high level of representation and to maintain political partnerships in the assigned country.
• Strong interest in development work, especially the mission of the United Nations Population Fund and dedication to the principles of the United Nations; and,
• Field experience is a strong asset.

Languages:

• Fluent in English is required, and Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.