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.ย UNFPAโs 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 โbuild forward betterโ, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on womenโs and girlsโ 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.
ย ยReceiving
Office/Region:
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) โ EAST & SOUTHERN AFRICA REGION (ESARO)
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Purpose of Engagement:
Support in relation to in-house pro-active governance, risk management and internal controls support activities (GRC) to ESARO and any of the selected country offices in the regionย
The purpose of this engagement is to continue strengthening the GRC in ESARO โthe Regional Officeโ and the selected Country Offices supported by the Region. The Region continues to aggressively respondย to the communications from the Office of Audit and Investigations Servicesโ (OAIS) on the need to take pro-active postures on the GRC and to ensure improvements in the programme delivery and operations of ESAROโs respective offices.ย
In its 2025/2026 Oversight Support Plan, the Regional Office intends to strengthen its oversight support in the areas of programme management with specific reference to risk management, implementing partner management, supplies management as well as the planning and monitoring of country programme activities.
Scope of work:
Working together with the ESARO Support Team members, the GRC consultant will ensure that a comprehensive understanding of the โGRCโ is established and maintained in the Regional Office andย the 23 UNFPA ESA Country Offices. Conduct periodic interaction with the ESARO Management, Country Office Representatives/Head of Offices as well as in-Country focal programme and operations managers on oversight/foresight activities. Assist the Regional Office programme and operations staff in monitoring controls and identifying/mitigating potential non-compliance with policies and procedures in the Region. Develop, implement and periodically monitor a Regional Oversight Support Plan for the Regional Office and the 23 Country Offices located in the Region (based on Business Unit priority). Lead and conduct regular meetings with direct reports to discuss progress of the support plan and accountability. Periodically monitor the governance, programmatic and risk management processes in the Regional Office as well as in the Country Offices and their impact on the delivery of UNFPAโs mandate. Conduct remote and in-country periodic in-house desk reviews (analysis and assessments of governance, programme and operational areas-analyze data and identify trends or patterns and provide insights to the Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director and the International Operations Manager) for selected Country Offices, focusing on areas deemed to be high risk. Produce reports with observations for the Regional Office and Country Office management and ensure to develop implementable recommendations and timelines for their corrective action ensuring to obtain documented/written responses from the Business Units on an agreed action plan and the target dates. Strengthen other oversight functions such as โspot-checks & supplies management reviewsโ and national execution audit reports and any other ad-hoc spot-checking functions as required by the Region and other Business Units. Track events/visibility of UNFPA Country Offices and the risk impact (governance, programme and operations as well as other relationships with stakeholders-donors, implementing partners. In collaboration with the Regional Office management and the Country Office Representatives/Heads of Offices ensure that the Region and its supported Offices are conversant with oversight engagements (assist the Business Units in understanding the importance of audits and their relevance in ensuring the fulfillment of UNFPAโs mandate). Assist the Business Units in robustly preparing and responding to audit engagement/requests (OAIS, Board of Auditors and any other oversight type entity) ensuring that every Business Unit is audit ready. Ensure that Business Units timely respond to issues raised by auditors, the recommendations and their timely implementation and closure. Timely respond to ad-hoc requests by Country Offices related to for example, the application of UNFPA policies and procedures as well as ensuring that Business Units are meeting deadlines as established by headquarter units (HQ). Support and ensure that Business Units are aware of UNFPAโs applicable policies and procedures, rules and guidelines including the issuance of new or the revision of UNFPA policies. Periodically interact and maintain positive interactions and communications with other oversight units more specifically the UNFPA internal auditors (OAIS), including other UNFPA quality assurance units and the Board of Auditors (BOA),ย Perform such duties as might be assigned by the ESARO Management Team. Periodically report to the ESARO Regional Director on the pro-active, foresight and oversight activities conducted.The main topics to be reviewed on a periodic basis and also during Country Office (s) visits by the in-house Consultant-will entail the following:
A. Business Unit Governance Activities
Although improvements have been noted in this area, the internal audit observations are still flagging this area as needing improvement. The work will ensure that the Consultant flags and follows up on the 2024 and 2025 oversight observations, and together with the Regional Officeโs support staff ensure that the recommendations are supported by enhanced improvement activities.ย
The activities to be periodically reviewed in the governance section are:
Office management activities, to include reviews of the office planning processes in place, annual management plans (RRPs), performance plans; organizational structure and staff well-being; Country office oversight activities on programme delivery and operations-and their effectiveness thereof; Ensuring the understanding of risk management and the activities to be undertaken during the risk assessment exercises.ย
B. Business Unit Programme Management Activities
Ensure that the Business Units have put in place strong planning and implementation activitiesโ plans in relation to their Country Programmes; Review and ensure compliance with policies in relation to work-plans (including ensuring that quality assurance processes have been undertaken in formulating, reviewing and completing work-plans); Review of implementing partner management processes (ensure that policies and activities related to implementing partners have been undertaken plus some sampled visits to IPs); -an area that has been flagged as most important when reading the observations from oversight reports. Where applicable-ensure for those country offices receiving supplies that the procurement end-to-end processes have been followed-including up to the last mile activities-including visits to warehouses and service delivery points; and Ensure that the Offices are aware of their functions with the donor community and paying attention to previous findings on the management of non-core funds. This includes the analysis and review of the relationships that the Country Offices have with the donors they work with.C. Business Unit Operations Management Activitiesย
Review of the Country Office (s)โ understanding and application of the human resources policies in place-and their compliance with the said policies-with an emphasis on the recruitment processes, contract awards, contract management, staff entitlements, benefits, well-being, leave etc.-as well as undertaking staff surveys were applicable. Review of the procurement activities (end-to-end) and adherence to procurement policies-as well as understanding the suppliers engaged by the Offices and the relationships thereof. Review of financial management files and the staff capacities in the offices to conduct all the financial management activities. A review of all other general administration activities in the offices such as travel, asset and facilities management activities; The consultant will also look into the security, information & communication management activities in place in the Country Office (s) visited.ย D. Business Unit Spot-Checking Activities
The Consultant will also look into the spot-checking exercises to be conducted by the Country Office (s) and their quality thereof. The Offices will also engage the Consultant when the need arises in relation to conducting spot checks (e.g. last mile assurance activities).ย
ConsiderationAs full consideration for the performance of the services, UNFPA shall pay the IC fees as follows:ย
An amount of US $525 (five hundred and twenty-five United States dollars) per day. Where applicable Travel Costs and a Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA)*ย will be paid (if travel is undertaken). The DSA payment/rate will be based on the location of the engagement (city)-and will be determined using the going-DSA rate as per established rates for that countryโs cities/locations. Eighty per cent (80%) of DSA will be paid at the start of the engagement and the remaining 20%, as well as incidental expenses, will be paid upon submission of expense report by the IC upon completion of missions. All incidental expenses (such as terminal expenses, visa, etc.) will be reimbursed by UNFPA when adequate supporting documentation such as invoices and receipts are provided.ย Payment of amounts above will be made after submission of progress reports (this could be in phases depending on the agreement with the Country Office managements and/or Regional Office management) and the acceptance of all the deliverables.ย
ย ย ย ย 2. 2025/2026 ESARO Support Plan (Regional Office and Business Units)
The Consultantโs activities will also include assisting the Regional Office and her Business Units in responding to OAISโs audit requests to Country Officesโ prior to, during and after the audit field visits.
The following countries/offices have been selected for support-under this scope of work in the last quarter of 2025 and in the year 2026.
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# Country Office/Business UnitNumber of days
(estimated)
Duration and working schedule:
The activities to be undertaken by the Consultant will be conducted starting fromย 14 November 2025 with end date of 13 November 2026-subject to extension and the needs of the various Business Units/ Country Offices as well as the Regional Office.
Place where services are to be delivered:
The support to the Country Office (s) and the Regional Office will be undertaken remotely, in-Country and in the ESA Regional Office.ย
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g.,ย electronic, hard copy etc.):ย
Dates for deliverables: This will be agreed with the Business Units Management. Work will be kept and delivered electronically.
Additional activities to be undertaken during the engagement:
Meetings with Regional/Country Office Senior/ and key supervisors. Timely request information to enable the support for each Business Unit. Review of proposed structure of supporting documentation as indicated in the ESAR Support plan for 2025 and 2026. Interviews with key staff (operations and programme) and walk-throughs of expectations. Review of the quality of information gathered by the CO teams-and ensure uploaded into the requested drives. Review existing business processes for Program & Operations and provide recommendations focusing on streamlining, simplifying, and improving efficiency and effectiveness of CO operations-where applicable. Coordinate and conduct virtual meetings with CO staffย Follow up on recommendations, ensuring implementation.The Consultant working with the ESAR Support Team members will produce Mission Reports for the Country Office ย and the Regional Office as well as conducting entrance and exit meetings with the Country Offices/Regional Office ย focal persons.ย
Consultant will also be responsible for ensuring that the Offices follow up on the mission findings and status of ย follow up will also be presented to ESARO Management on a periodic basis.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
a) Completed Masters degree in accounting, auditing, business administration, commerce or related field.
b) Professional accounting, auditing or related designation (CA/ CPA / internationally recognized national equivalent or CIA). Additional certifications would be considered an asset.
c) Ten years or more of internal audit and/or other directly relevant experience, preferably at the international level.
d) Fluency in English with proven ability to express himself/herself well verbally and in writing (candidates who are not fluent in English will not be selected for the engagement).
e) Strong knowledge of internal auditing standards and practices, audit tools and techniques, financial and internal controls.
f) Previous experience with the United Nations and its agencies, and UNFPA in particular, would be considered an asset.
Supervisory arrangements:
The focal points for the engagements at Country Office level will be the Office Management-namely the Representatives, the Officers-in-Charge and International/National Operations Managers. For the Programme segments, the focal points are the Deputy Representative and the Program Leads. At Regional and Headquarter level these will be the selected Regional and Headquarter leads for the engagements.
Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g., support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:
Background and transactional supporting documents and other relevant documentation to be provided by the UNFPA Country Offices and the Regional and Headquarters staff.
Required Languages:ย
Must be fluent in English. Knowledge of an official UN Language is an advnatage.
Required Competencies:ย
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,ย Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,ย Embracing cultural diversity,ย Embracing changeย
Core Competencies:ย
Achieving results, Being accountable, Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, Thinking analytically and strategically, Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,ย
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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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 - clickย hereย to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.ย
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.ย
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.