JOB DESCRIPTION

The Position

Under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Representative and in close coordination with the Assistant Representative, the Head of Sub-Office provides overall leadership and management of UNFPA programmes and operations in the Cotabato office covering the humanitarian – development – peacebuilding (HDP) continuum. The position ensures effective programme coordination, strategic partnership, and representation of UNFPA within the provincial and regional context, contributing to the achievement of the 9th Country Programme (CPD9) results and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Head of Sub-Office acts as the principal liaison between the Country Office in Manila and government counterparts, civil society, the UN Country Team, and other development partners at the sub-national level, ensuring that UNFPA’s mandate and programmes are effectively implemented and aligned with local priorities.

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 strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In the Philippines, UNFPA is implementing its five-year 9th Country Programme 2024- 2028. The 9th CP is tightly aligned with the mid- and long-term development goals of the Philippines and Ambisyon Natin 2040, as well as the global Agenda 2030 including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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:

In a complex and evolving operating environment, the Head of Sub-Office provides strategic, technical, and operational leadership to ensure the coherent implementation of UNFPA programmes and operations in Mindanao, with priority and primary focus on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). S/he represents UNFPA in inter-agency coordination fora, strengthens partnerships with provincial and local governments, leads the subnational advocacy initiatives and ensures quality programme delivery, results-based management, and accountability for resources, under the guidance of and in coordination with the CO in Manila.

The position requires a high degree of political acumen, leadership, and ability to operate effectively within multi-stakeholder settings, ensuring UNFPA’s visibility and strategic positioning in line with the CPD9 priorities.

You would be responsible for:

Programme Leadership and Coordination

• Lead the overall planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of UNFPA programmes in the sub-office, ensuring alignment with the Country Programme and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
• Coordinate the results-based management of sub-national workplans and budgets across thematic areas (SRHR, GBV, Adolescents and Youth, Population and Development).
• Ensure integration of humanitarian preparedness and response and peacebuilding into sub-office programming.
• Oversee programme quality assurance, risk management, and performance monitoring, ensuring timely submission of high-quality reports and documentation.
• Promote innovation, knowledge sharing, and replication of good practices across programmes.
• Coordinate the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting of the different projects based in Cotabato.
• Coordinate the Humanitarian Preparedness, Response and Recovery in the area if necessary in consultation with the CO Humanitarian Team.

National Capacity Development

• Provide day-to-day technical support to the implementing partners, which include the BARMM regional authorities, local government units, civil society constituents and academia in the thematic areas of SRHR, adolescents and youth, population and development, and gender equality and GBV.
• Recommend areas of technical assistance in the context of the UNFPA Country Programme and based on continuous review and analysis of demographic and socio-economic data, cultural trends and shifts, national and subnational population-related policies, and analysis of the political context.
• Create knowledge by evaluating on-going programmes and projects; Document lessons learned, best practices and replicable strategies and actively share and apply this knowledge.

Partnership, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization

• Strengthen partnerships with the government, UN agencies (especially in the context of the UN Reform, joint programming, joint programmes), donors, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
• Represent UNFPA in coordination mechanisms, policy dialogues, and advocacy platforms at provincial and regional levels.
• Lead evidence-based advocacy on population and development, gender equality and gender based violence, adolescents and youth, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Support resource mobilization by identifying local funding opportunities and contributing to proposal development and donor reporting.
• Lead, in close collaboration with the CO in Manila, sub-national communications and visibility efforts by generating compelling human-interest stories, field updates, and social media content that highlight UNFPA’s results and impact in Mindanao, ensuring consistent messaging and branding across digital and traditional media.
• Strengthen media and stakeholder engagement by cultivating relationships with local and regional media outlets, journalists, and communication networks to raise awareness and generate public interest in UNFPA’s mandate and key thematic areas, including SRHR, GBV, and youth empowerment. Support organization of media briefings, visibility events, and field visits for partners and donors.

Management of the Sub-Office

• Provide leadership and guidance to programme and operations staff in the sub-office, fostering a results-oriented and collaborative culture.
• Oversee human and financial resource management, including budget oversight, procurement, and logistics in compliance with UNFPA rules and regulations.
• Ensure implementation of internal control systems and accountability mechanisms.
• Oversee safety, security, and business continuity of UNFPA personnel and assets in coordination with UNDSS and the Country Office Security Focal Point.
• Ensure effective coordination between programme and operations functions to enable efficient service delivery.
• Serve as a member of the Philippines Country Office Senior Management Team (SMT), contributing to strategic decision-making, organizational risk management, and cross-functional coordination between programme, communication, and operational areas to ensure coherent implementation of CPD9 priorities and effective positioning of UNFPA in the Philippines.
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced degree in Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management or other related discipline.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in programme management, coordination, and partnership building, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or leadership role, required.
• Experience in development and/or humanitarian contexts, with demonstrated results in SRHR, GBV, or population and development programming, required.
• Proven experience in resource management and team leadership within the UN or other international development organizations required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to foster engaged partnerships at a high level of representation and to maintain political partnerships required.
• Strong understanding of UNFPA’s mandate and familiarity with national and sub-national governance structures required.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Filipino is required; knowledge of other official UN languages and of the major local dialects in BARMM, is desirable.

Required Competencies:

Values:

Exemplifying integrity,
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
Embracing cultural diversity,
Embracing change: Functional Competencies:

Advocacy / Advancing a policy-orientated agenda
Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners / building strategic alliances and partnerships
Delivering results based programmes
Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation

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

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of equality, diversity, integrity, and healthy work life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply.

Appointment, Compensation and Benefits:

The initial fixed-term appointment of a staff member shall be for a period of one year. A fixed-term appointment may be renewed, subject to satisfactory service. A fixed-term appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal or conversion, irrespective of the length of service.

UNFPA offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

Persons applying to positions in the Professional and higher categories who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.