Jobs - 62578- Junior Professional Officer

Junior Professional Officer - UNFPA Youth Programme Management

Location :

Kabul, AFGHANISTAN

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Jun-2016

Application Deadline :

24-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-2

Duration of Initial Contract :

one year with possible extension of one more year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

one year with possible extension of one more year

UNDP 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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

IMPORTANT: This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the United Kingdom and is addressed exclusively to United Kingdom nationals.

UNFPA JPO Programme

The UNFPA Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme is intended to provide on-the-job training for young professionals who wish to obtain practical experience in development assistance. It gives them an opportunity to acquire professional knowledge in population projects in a developing country.

Background

UNFPA major areas of work in Afghanistan include: (a) the development and implementation of national strategic plan for family planning through the use of strategic family planning information as well as support for improved quality of services and advocacy with religious leaders; (b) reducing maternal mortality based on access to obstetric and neonatal emergency through support to most remote clinics through family health houses, mobile support teams and community midwifery; (c) training of midwives and the initiation of the reform of the training curriculum to enhance the profession through support to universities for higher education in midwifery; (d) the availability of high quality services for obstetric and neonatal care, fistula and humanitarian services; (e) the formulation of the National Youth Strategy, family life education and adolescent reproductive health services and information; (f) multisectoral response to gender based violence; (g) support in the area of population and data for development includes national population policy, integration of data and demographic dynamics into the National Sector Plans and parliamentary advocacy; (g) the conduct of the Socio-demographic economic survey in all provinces;

The JPO will join UNFPA Country office in Kabul at the time of the initial implementation of the fourth country programme of UNFPA assistance to Afghanistan 2015-19. It will contribute to the Afghanistan National Priority Programme and the Afghanistan National Development Strategy by contributing to: (a) reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, (b) improving equitable access to reproductive health; and (c) increasing youth participation (d) reducing gender based violence and (e) integrating population issues into the planning for development and humanitarian assistance

Information about living conditions at the duty station

Duty Station is Kabul, Afghanistan. This is an “E” category non-family duty station, currently with 6 week rest and recuperation cycle. Applicable post adjustment and allowances will complement JPO base salary. Afghanistan is in an ongoing conflict situation with ongoing refugee and humanitarian crises. While international military are withdrawing from Afghanistan, the work of the UN, including UNFPA, is now more than ever required to assist the country to transition to self-sufficiency, resilience and ownership. Current work and living conditions in Afghanistan reflect the overall difficult situation created by insecurity and staff reside in the UNOCA compound, with minimal travel outside the compound for leisure. The native language of the country is Dhari and Pashtoon, but English is widely spoken and understood. Information about Afghanistan is available from the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. http://mfa.gov.af/en/page/3767

Duties and Responsibilities

The UNFPA Office in Afghanistan is supporting implementation of the Fourth Country Programme 2015-19 which is focused on reduction of maternal mortality, promotion of family planning services, promoting youth advocacy, addressing gender based violence and increased access to quality population data. The JPO will join UNFPA Country office to provide overall management support to the portfolio of projects with specific attention to the field of youth focusing on national youth and strategy development, youth participation, elimination of early and child marriage, youth friendly reproductive health services and family life education.

Specific tasks include:

The JPO will support country office in programme management and implementation. Specifically, JPO will facilitate youth component project management by participating in development of projects concepts with Implementing partners (IPs), preparation of annual project workplans, providing guidance to projects and consolidating data or targets and outputs, ensuring results-based planning, management and implementation of annual workplans.
Assist in preparation of the annual and mid-year budgets, recruitment and procurement plans
Support the team in fulfilling the reporting requirements, coordinate with projects and provide guidance in internal financial and substantial progress reporting
Follow-up closely with implementing partners on the substantial progress in project implementation, monitor project activities and prepare periodic monitoring reports, support office and IPs in preparation for the project’s audits and evaluations.
Support office in resource mobilization efforts; assist IPs to convey the needs and opportunities as they emerge. Support may include research and analysis of donor, of implementing partner and capacity of UNFPA to respond to the identified need
Organize workshops and conference as they relate to programme implementation,
Facilitate and contribute as part of the UNFPA country office team to the work of the in UN Joint thematic working group, namely the Inter-Agency Network on Youth and Development, and facilitate implementation of joint projects with UN sister Agencies.
Support the country office in drafting, in close cooperation with communications officer, substantive materials, public relations material, as well as donor and Government briefing notes.
Participate in and support trainings organized within the framework of UNFPA programme for UNFPA staff and/or IPs and partners.

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

Functional Skill Set:

Advocacy/Advancing a policy-oriented agenda,
Delivering results-based programmes;
internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization

Other competencies:

Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members from different national and cultural backgrounds
Ability to work in a challenging ongoing conflict humanitarian environment

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Postgraduate degree in social sciences or related fields with specialized knowledge in the field of social development

Experience

At least 2 years of experience in in project management and development. Prior experience in developing countries is an asset.

Languages

Fluency in spoken and written English.
Knowledge of Persian or Urdu is an asset
Ability to write clearly and concisely

Nationality

This post is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the United Kingdom and is addressed exclusively to United Kingdom nationals.

Requirement related to CV format: Interested candidates are requested to upload a duly completed and signed copy of the Personal History Form (P11 for UNDP) which serves as the equivalent of the CV

More details about the JPO Programme and this vacancy can be found at: http://www.undp.org/content/jposc/en/home.html