UNFPA: Programme Administrative and Financial Associate – Managua

Organization Mission

Active in Nicaragua since 1974, UNFPA supports the inclusion of issues related to population dynamics, young people, sexual and reproductive health, and gender-based violence into public policies. Nicaragua has successfully incorporated reproductive rights in its health and education laws and policies, and made headway in reducing maternal mortality. But key challenges remain, including a high adolescent pregnancy rate. UNFPA strengthens capacities to provide high quality maternal health and newborn care, comprehensive sexuality education for young people, and investments in the country’s “demographic dividend”. It also backs measures to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

Context

Under the supervision of the GBV-CSE (Gender Based Violence / Comprehensive Sexuality Education) program analyst, the United Nations Volunteer will assist with the implementation of administrative and financial processes related to the execution of the country program at both the central office and partner institutions (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Family and Ministry of Education), ensuring efficient administrative processes, financial monitoring, and the logistical organization of program activities, thereby contributing to the prevention of teenage pregnancy, early marriage, and gender-based violence.

Key Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the CSE/GVB Program Analyst, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

– Provide administrative and financial support to assigned program activities.

– Support financial tracking and verification of expenditures from implementing partners.

– Assist in reviewing supporting documentation, including invoices and financial reports.

– Support accountability and reporting processes with implementing partners.

– Assist in procurement processes, including preparation of requests, comparison of quotations, and follow-up with suppliers.

– Prepare payment requests and ensure proper supporting documentation.

– Provide logistical support for workshops, trainings, and program events, including coordination with service providers, venue arrangements, and materials.

– Support administrative processes related to program implementation and partner coordination.

– Maintain organized records of administrative and financial transactions.

– Support travel arrangements, including preparation of travel requests and related documentation.

– Perform other administrative and program-related tasks as required.

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check‑ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance

Required Skills and Experience

Demonstrated interest or experience (up to three years) in:

– Supporting operational processes such as procurement, coordination with service providers, and basic financial follow-up.
– Preparing routine administrative or financial reports is an asset.

Skills in:

– Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple administrative tasks in a structured and timely manner.
– Working with standard digital tools (e,g., Microsoft Office, Excel and Google Drive/OneDrive) and maintaining organized records.
– Ability to work collaboratively with different teams and external partners.

Core Competencies

Accountability
Adaptability and Flexibility
Commitment and Motivation
Creativity
Ethics and Values
Integrity
Leadership
Respect for Diversity
Self-Management
Working in Teams

Living Conditions

Nicaragua has an estimated population of 6.7 million in 2022, 41% of whom live in rural areas. The country is multi-ethnic and multicultural; 8.6% of the population identifies as indigenous or of African descent (2005 census), and 57.1% of this group lives on the Caribbean Coast, a region with high climate vulnerability and higher poverty rates (39% in 2014). Poverty gaps are significant: while the overall rate fell from 48.3% to 29.6% between 2005 and 2014, rural poverty remained at 50.1%, in contrast to 14.8% in urban areas. Additionally, 10.3% of the population has a disability. Demographically, adolescents aged 10 to 19 make up 19.5% of the total population, representing an opportunity for a demographic dividend if appropriate investments are prioritized.

Nicaragua faces a constant threat from climate change, having been ranked as the fourth most affected country by weather-related events between 1998 and 20171. Despite the recent impacts of hurricanes such as Eta, Iota, and Julia, and a three-year economic contraction caused by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rebounded in 2021 with 10.3% growth. In 2022, GDP per capita stood at $2,327.32, and remittances from migration (Nicaragua is a country of origin and transit) accounted for 22% of GDP3. The human development environment is moderate, with a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.667, which shrinks by 22.6% when adjusted for inequality. The economy is showing post-pandemic resilience, with projected growth of 3.4% by 2026, driven by remittances. However, vulnerability persists in rural areas due to high dependence on subsistence agriculture and inflation in the basic food basket.

Nicaragua’s regulatory framework is aligned with the ICPD and the Montevideo Consensus; it constitutionally recognizes sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and sexual and reproductive rights, comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) and early marriage4. While significant progress has been made in SRH, GBV, and CSE policies over the past decade, access to these services remains uneven. These gaps disproportionately affect women and adolescents in rural areas, Indigenous and Afro-descendant populations, and people with disabilities. The most critical manifestation of these disparities is the high adolescent fertility rate (82 per 1,000 adolescents aged 15 to 19), despite a low unmet need for family planning (5.8%) and a high contraceptive prevalence rate (77.3%). Adolescent pregnancy has multiple causes, and the opportunity cost is estimated at 0.4% of GDP. A key factor is early marriage, with 35% of girls married before the age of 18.