SROC Liaison Specialist

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 and Organizational Context:

The UNFPA Liaison Officer plays a leading role in strengthening the Country’s capacity to implement the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Program of Action within the context of its national development efforts for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, thus ensuring national ownership. The Liaison Officer substantively contributes to advancing a policy-oriented agenda, leveraging the resources of national governments, building strategic alliances and innovative partnerships with counterparts in government, multilateral and bilateral agencies, civil society, academia and the private sector, while  developing internal and external communication. 

The Liaison Officer proactively supports the resource mobilization strategies at country and sub-regional level and provides the SROC Director or deputy with information on achievement of results in the implementation of the UNFPA initiatives.

The liaison officer carries responsibilities both at the national level and at the regional level as a thematic focal point in gender and human rights. At the national level, s/he is primarily responsible for promoting the strategic goals of UNFPA and ensuring the integration of issues of population, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender in the broader development and humanitarian agenda, taking into account mega-trends such as climate change, demographic change (e.g. aging) and digitalization. At the sub-regional level, role extends the country specific responsibilities through engagement in technical and strategic areas including as the sub-regional thematic focal point for gender and human rights, working across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus to strengthen joint action and integrated programming in the Caribbean.

Key areas of work include:

• Policy Advocacy and Programme Development,
• Capacity Building
• Partnerships & Resource Mobilization
• Management & Coordination

Duties and Responsibilities:

Policy Advocacy and Programme Development:

Advances the ICPD policy agenda in a politically sensitive environment, responding to changing substantive priorities of Governments. Responds creatively to complex challenges and frequently changing demands in terms of a fluctuating resource base, multiple funding arrangements and donor contacts; Facilitates and coordinates the advocacy for public policies with counterparts in government, multilateral and bi-lateral agencies, civil society organizations as well as the private sector, with special attention towards raising funding and making the case for domestic financing for the three transformative goals of UNFPA. He/she contributes to UN systems coordination through participation in policy dialogue and provision of inputs into joint UN system initiatives;

• Facilitates the achievement of programme results by identifying, providing and coordinating technical inputs into work plans, ensuring substantive management, monitoring, and oversight, while coordinating and evaluating the inputs of consultants and technical experts;
• Assesses and addresses implications of national trends on UNFPA work in the country and in the sub-region through evidence-based analysis on megatrends such as climate change, demographic change and digitalization;
• Consults with Government, civil society, academia, private sector, youth and other relevant stakeholders on national priorities and policy frameworks, including population policies;
• Based on the above assessments and consultations, recommends areas of assistance that complement the ongoing formulation, implementation and monitoring of UNFPA supported sub-regional interventions in the country;
• Serves as a sub-regional thematic focal point in gender and human rights in the Caribbean sub-region. For this purpose, coordinates technical assistance at the national and sub-regional levels; designs and promotes joint action and integrated programming that integrates data analytics, innovations and strategic partnerships;
• Provides inputs to the development of the Sub-Regional Programme. Manages Sub-Regional Programme and coordinates Programme implementation in line with the strategic plan, including strategic initiatives in gender and human rights, liaising with sub-regional and technical teams;
• Coordinates technical assistance to partners and stakeholders to address national and sub-regional policy priorities and UNFPA work programmes;
• Ensures quality implementation. Implements UNFPA guidelines, policies, standards, tools and systems; Manages continuous feedback to the Regional Office/SRO on program, technical and operational policy, regulations, procedures etc. as well as lessons learned; prepares program and financial progress reports and feedback to donors; leads knowledge sharing with partners and Sub-Regional office with focus on gender and human rights.

Capacity Building:

• Support national counterparts in strengthening their capacity to implement the ICPD agenda;
• Supports national and sub-regional counterparts in strengthening activities and initiatives with a thematic focus on gender and human rights.

Partnerships & Resource Mobilization:

• Cultivates and maintains strong partnerships with government, UN agencies, civil society, and other stakeholders. Pursues innovative ways to maintain and create new partnerships and to raise financing for the three transformative results of UNFPA. Maintains a continuous flow of information with government and donors;
• Contributes to the development and implementation of a resource mobilization strategy for the country, and mobilizes additional financial resources for the  SRO;
• Advocates for the ICPD agenda with national institutions and other UN agencies represented at the national level. Promotes South-South cooperation for the achievement of ICPD goals;
• Advocates for organizational goals in population and development, sexual and reproductive health, and gender as part of coordinated development activities, demonstrating empathy with national perspectives and the capacity to align organizational goals with national priorities.

Management & Coordination:

• Supports the UNFPA Sub-regional Director in overall accountability for the management and work of the Liaison Office working in close coordination with the Deputy Director, the International Operations Manager and the SROC programme officer in the RO.
• Supports the Sub-regional Director in achieving staff accountability, learning and career management within the office;
• Participates in the formulation of the annual work plans and monitor their day-to-day implementation through consultations, correspondence and field visits;
• Develops and guides an integrated and systems approach to the work of the Liaison Office;
• Communicates standards of performance, and assigns responsibilities for achieving results according to the requirements of UNFPA corporate systems.
• Establishes and maintains a harmonious working environment; seeks to strengthen team-building by encouraging active participation and interaction with the Programme Assistant foster staff motivation, development and empowerment; and lead by example.
• Support the establishment of a Liaison Office security strategy and plan in line with UN procedures and requirements; and
• Ensure ethical and accountable management of human and financial resources.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned by the Supervisor. Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

Required Qualification, Knowledge and Experience:

Qualification:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management or other related field.

Knowledge and Experience:  

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of developmental activities, preferably policy development, advocacy, resources mobilization, appraisal and management.
• At least five years of experience in gender and human rights, and strong understanding and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health or data analysis will be an asset.
• Experience in the United Nations System or a Government institution is desirable.
• Proven ability to manage teams to achieve demonstrable results.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to foster engaged partnerships at a high level of representation and to maintain political partnerships.
• Familiarity and good knowledge of social, political and economic conditions in the country;
• Experience in conducting, participating in and reporting on meetings;

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required. Other official UN languages, preferably Spanish, French and Portuguese, are desirable.

Source: https://www.unfpa.org/jobs/sroc-liaison-specialist-trinidad-and-tobago-noc