The Position:

Reporting to the Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator, in the United Nations and Intergovernmental Branch (UNIB) in the Division for External Relations (DER), and working in close collaboration with UNIB staff, as well as the rest of the DER team, the Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist advances UNFPA’s strategic positioning efforts in multilateral and intergovernmental dialogues, formal decision making fora, and processes to advance the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action, by providing authoritative advice, substantiated by compelling, evidence-based political and programme analysis to multilateral and government partners.

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 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:

The Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist contributes to the UNIB core functions with a focus on the following functions:

• Performing robust political analysis of multilateral and governmental actors, their positions, priorities, and decisions:
• Maintaining real-time data and analysis that strengthens and informs the political positioning efforts of the ICPD agenda;
• Maintaining relationships with external counterparts in the UN Secretariat, Permanent Missions and civil society organizations;
• Building and promoting strategic collaborations across the organization  to develop evidenced-based material to support strategic positioning of ICPD in intergovernmental fora;
• Contributing to the branches knowledge management, exchange and sharing that supports political policy dialogues at Headquarters and in the field.

You would be responsible for:

1.Normative Positioning:

• Developing authoritative,  high-quality content for guidance/briefing packages on UNFPA’s engagement to position the ICPD agenda in key prioritized inter-governmental processes in consultation with the representational, regional, and country offices as well as HQ business units;
• Following intergovernmental processes related to the ICPD in the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations, with a particular focus on the ICPD agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, including the Commission on Population and Development;
• Assessing engagement processes against established strategic objectives and recommending corrective measures;
• Preparing relevant evidence-based knowledge materials to support Permanent Mission engagement on key areas of the ICPD agenda;
• Providing substantive, constructive, impartial support to Member States;
• Support Member State delegations on substantive and procedural issues.

2. Political Trends Analysis: 

• Monitoring the external context, identifying trends, analyzing positions, risks and opportunities for key ICPD-related issues and proposing specific remedial actions;
• Analyzing information, reports and documents from across the organization to assess implications of identified trends and changes in the external political context, which will impact the UNIB strategy; and
• Preparing and sharing periodic political trends reports for management consideration in organizational decision-making.

3. Intergovernmental Partnerships Building:

• Recommending approaches for UNFPA engagement with different countries or groups of countries including contributing to developing strategies related to ICPD in the intergovernmental arena;
• Building and maintaining networks with technical counterparts in Permanent Missions, negotiating groupings, the UN system and other intergovernmental organizations;
• Facilitating engagement with Member States to promote the ICPD agenda as central to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global and regional levels, including in relation to global and regional processes and frameworks, in order to move the needle on global standards and norms.

4. Policy Guidance:

• Developing analysis, tools and messaging that supports the integration of normative guidance in programme policy on how to mainstream policy dialogue on the ICPD agenda into programming at HQ/ROs/SRO/COs level;
• Assessing policy, procedures and guidance, incorporating Member States perspectives and data into the policy dialogue.

5. Technical Support :

• Facilitating linkages between national technical experts and government line ministries and regional and country CSOs and global level intergovernmental processes;
• Conducting analysis of positions related to the ICPD agenda and identifying opportunities and risks and developing mitigation strategies;
• Coordinating briefings/sharing institutional knowledge/evidence on ICPD and systematically ensuring the participation of authorities from the capital (line ministries and ministries of foreign affairs).

Any other duties as advised by the UNIB Chief and/or DER Director.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Master’s Degree or equivalent in social sciences, diplomacy, public relations, development studies or related field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Seven (7) years of relevant and increasingly responsible professional experience in development, multilateral and intergovernmental affairs at the international level. Strong knowledge of human rights, gender equality, global health an asset;
• Knowledge of the ICPD agenda and related intergovernmental processes and negotiations essential;
• Strong interpersonal skills, strong public speaking skills; excellent speech writing and report writing skills;
• Knowledge of the substantial content of population and development and sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, is essential.

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

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

Functional Competencies:

• External Relations and the UN system,
• Networking and advocacy,
• ICPD beyond 2014,
• UN operational activity for development.

Compensation and Benefits:

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

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international 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.