Assistant Representative Job Vacancy at UNFPA Uganda

Job Title: Assistant Representative

Post Title: Assistant Representative

Level: ICS 11 (NO-D)

Duty Station: Kampala

Organizational Context:

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UNFPA Representative, the Assistant Representative assists in the design and development of an innovative and responsive country programme, and directly oversees the implementation of the programme annual work plans.

He/she responds creatively to complex challenges and frequently changing demands in terms of a fluctuating resource base, multiple funding arrangements and donor contacts, and complex programme/project execution modalities. The Assistant Representative advances the ICPD policy agenda in a politically sensitive environment responding to changing substantive priorities of Governments.

The Assistant Representative facilitates and coordinates technical advisers and experts and promotes partnership, synergy and strategic alliances with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies and civil society. He/she contributes to UN systems coordination through participation in policy dialogue and provision of inputs into joint common system initiatives.

The Assistant Representative leads the three programme teams, including Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS, Gender equality, and Population and Development teams, inspiring and guiding these to translate the regional and country goals into specific solutions and results.

The Assistant Representative:

• Conducts substantive policy dialogue with Government counterparts and UN and other development partners to facilitate the incorporation of UNFPA's programme priorities and ICPD agenda into national plans and strategies, UN systems initiatives and development frameworks (e.g. UNDAF, NDP, SWAPs, CAPs, and MDG Reports)

• Promotes a results based approach and integrates innovative policies and strategies into the design and formulation of country programmes, sub-programmes and projects based on strategic priorities and responsive to the countries' needs in the areas of reproductive health, population and development and gender.

• Facilitates the achievement of programme results by identifying, providing and coordinating substantive and technical inputs into programme development and implementation, ensuring substantive monitoring and oversight and coordinating and evaluating the inputs of consultants and technical experts.

• Promotes knowledge sharing and continuous learning, testing, linking and documenting innovative strategies, approaches, lessons learned and best practices inside and outside UNFPA and replicating these strategies and approaches. Ensures that programme staff integrate new substantive policies, methodologies and tools (RBM, gender concepts etc). Ensures that UNFPA procedures and guidelines are followed in all aspects of programme management.

• Participates in efforts to mobilize co-financing resources for the country programme recommending a strategic approach and encouraging Country Office action. Contributes to the development of co-financing initiatives and oversees the implementation and monitoring of UNFPA's role in joint UN or UNFPA specific co-financing agreements for the achievement of expected results as these relate to UNFPA's three thematic areas of work.

• Contributes to the translation of global strategies into country specific advocacy strategies, creates and delivers effective evidence-based advocacy messages to promote UNFPA's programme goals taking into account political and social sensitivities.

• Advises on UNFPA Country Office's participation in national co-ordination, planning and review processes and UNFPA inputs into frameworks, including those involving development partners and UN system co-ordination, especially as these relate to technical and programmatic aspects of the roll out of the Uganda UN Delivering as One strategy.

• Participates on the Senior Management Team of the Country Office, liaising and working closely with Department Heads of Operations Management, Field Support Co-ordination and Policy, Planning, Communications and Monitoring and Evaluation.

Required Competencies:

Functional Competencies

• Advocacy/Advancing a policy oriented agenda
• Results-based programme development and management
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/Building strategic alliances and partners
• Resource mobilization

Corporate competencies

· Integrity/Commitment to mandate

· Knowledge sharing/Continuous learning

· Valuing diversity

· Working in teams

· Communicating information and ideas

· Conflict and self management

· Results orientation/Commitment to excellence

• Empowerment/Developing People/ Performance Management
• Strategic and analytical thinking
• Results orientation and commitment to excellence
• Appropriate and transparent decisions making

Job Requirements:

Master's degree in health, population, demography and/or other related social science field and at least 10 years professional experience preferably in programme/project management in the public or private sector; Fluency in oral and written English and knowledge of another UN language; and Proficiency in current office software applications.

Additional Information:

• UNFPA will respond only to applicants in whom the Country Office has further interest.
• UNFPA offers an attractive compensation package commensurate with experience.
• 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.
• 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.

Application process:

• Applicants should submit their applications electronically through e-mail. Interested persons should send a cover letter and a completed P11 form that is available on the web-link http://unfpauganda.org/docs/p-11.doc . (CVs will not be accepted).
• Application should be sent to UNFPA e-mail address: vacancyug@unfpa.org
• Please make sure that the post title is clearly reflected in the "Subject" line of your e-mail message.
• Deadline for applications: 15 February 2011

IMPORTANT: There is NO application processing or other fees at any stage of UNFPA application processes