The Position:

The Ethics Advisor heads the Ethics Office, an operationally independent office of UNFPA. The Ethics Advisor reports directly to the Executive Director. The incumbent assists the Executive Director in ensuring that all UNFPA personnel observe and perform their functions in consistency with the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and mutual respect.

UNFPA is also committed to the United Nations system-wide harmonization, coordination, and coherence of ethics-related policies. The Ethics Advisor serves as a member of the Ethics Panel of the United Nations and the Ethics Network of Multilateral Organizations.

The Ethics Advisor will be granted an initial appointment for one year. The appointment may be renewed twice for a period of two years each, amounting to a maximum term of five years. The appointment does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal or conversion, according to staff regulation 4.5. The Ethics Advisor’s term of appointment is limited to five full years, exceptionally renewable once. Given the unique role of the Ethics Advisor, the selected candidate will be ineligible to apply for future posts within UNFPA. The selected candidate will be subject to pre-appointment review of conflict of interest, including financial disclosure.

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:

You would be responsible for:

1. Standard Setting and Policy Support – Advocacy role with management to ensure that UNFPA policies, procedures and practices reinforce and promote the highest ethical standards. Substantively contributes to the formulation, review and dissemination of ethics related policies. This includes coordinating with relevant UNFPA divisions/units such as the Division for Human Resources, the Office of Audit and Investigation Services, the Supply Chain Management Unit and the Legal Unit, as well as the Ethics Panel of the United Nations, in order to ensure a uniform and consistent application of ethics-related policies within the United Nations Secretariat and the Funds and Programmes.

2. Training, Outreach and Advocacy – Develop and implement a communication strategy for raising awareness on the core values, ethical standards and expected professional conduct within UNFPA. In close cooperation with UNFPA’s Division for Human Resources, the Legal Unit and the Office of Audit and Investigation Services, the Coordinator for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment and the Office of the Ombudsman the Ethics Advisor also raises staff awareness on ethical behavior and standards within the context of UNFPA’s oversight frameworks as well as its human resources policies and strategies. She/he is responsible for providing ethics training and learning opportunities, in collaboration with heads of offices, for UNFPA personnel through orientations, induction programs, specialized briefings and field-focused training.

3. Financial Disclosure – Accountable for the administration of UNFPA’s Financial Disclosure Programme. The Ethics Advisor ensures understanding of and full compliance with the financial disclosure requirements and objectives. The Ethics Advisor will oversee the annual financial disclosure exercise and the induction filing for newly appointed senior staff. In this context the Ethics Advisor will undertake a review of the filed statements and provide advice to filing staff on preventing or taking remedial action on conflicts of interests. The Ethics Advisor will also arrange for and oversee the completion of annual verification exercises in respect of each filing cycle. The Ethics Advisor will be responsible for facilitating the periodic review and update of UNFPA’s financial disclosure policy and procedures, harmonized with those in the UN system.

4. Confidential Advice – Providing UNFPA personnel with confidential advice and guidance, at their request, on conflicts of interest such as outside activities and the receipt of gifts/benefits, respectful workplace conduct and other ethics-related issues and concerns. The Ethics Advisor is also expected to advise management and staff on preventing and addressing institutional conflicts of interest and mitigating reputational risks.

5. Complaints of Retaliation – In accordance with the UNFPA policy on protection against retaliation, the Ethics Advisor is responsible for receiving complaints of retaliation, conducting a preliminary assessment of whether the allegations warrant further review, refer prima facie cases of retaliation for investigation to the Director of the Office of Audit and Investigation Services, make recommendations for interim protection where appropriate, make a final determination based on the findings of the investigation, and make recommendations to the Executive Director for any restitution measures in cases where retaliation is found. He or she is also responsible for remaining in communication with the complainant and for maintaining all relevant records. The Ethics Advisor will be responsible for facilitating the periodic review and update of UNFPA’s protection against retaliation policy and procedures, harmonized with those in the UN system.

6. Reporting – The Ethics Advisor presents an annual report to the Executive Board. This report is also presented to the UNFPA Executive Director and shared with the Ethics Panel of the United Nations. The Ethics Advisor interacts with oversight bodies and Executive Board representatives as requested, and supports organizational reporting requirements with relevant data and information.

7. Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced university degree in law, criminal justice, social sciences (e.g. industrial psychology, industrial labor relations, sociology), public policy, corporate ethics or other relevant field.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Fifteen years of international professional work experience including ten years of progressively responsible experience in public and/or private institutions in the areas of business ethics and related fields, such as design of ethical standards, ethics and compliance programmes, code of conduct, accountability and compliance frameworks and financial disclosure policies.
• Recognized relevant certification and knowledge of current industry best practices relating to corporate ethics and business conduct/practice would be an asset.

Languages:

Fluency in English. Proficiency in 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:

• Providing assurance and advice on governance, risk management and internal control processes
• Conducting investigations into allegations of wrongdoing
• Addressing the rights and needs of staff members

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus
• Engaging staff and partners
• Leading, developing and empowering people/creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercise judgment.

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.