The Position:
The Programme Specialist, Adolescents and Youth, located in UNFPAโs Arab States Regional Office (ASRO), reports to the Adolescents and Youth Regional Advisor and is under the overall supervision of the Deputy Regional Director. The Specialist will lead the implementation of the regional Adolescents and Youth programme, which promotes: youth participation and engagement; adolescent and youth health and wellbeing, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR); Comprehensive Sexuality Education; life skills and education; and youth, peace, and security. This will be carried out in the context of the ICPD+30, adolescents and youth programming and coordination in humanitarian settings, the UNFPA Global Strategy on Adolescents and Youth, the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2022-2030, and regional development processes.
How You Can Make a Difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPAโs new strategic plan (2022-2025) focuses on three transformative results: ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody international norms and standards and defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA seeks candidates who inspire and deliver high-impact and sustained results. We need staff who are transparent, exceptionally manage entrusted resources, and commit to delivering excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
UN Member States reaffirmed that the Programme of Action from the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) is an โunfinished agendaโ still relevant to all countries, and expressed their full commitment to carrying forward the ICPD PoA.
The Arab regionโs current population of approximately 486 million is projected to increase by nearly 40 percent by 2045. The region is characterized by its youthful population, with four in ten people aged below 20 years. In 2023, children under 15 years of age constituted about a third of the regionโs population. The number of youths aged 15 to 24 years increased from 51 million in 1995 to nearly 82 million in 2023 and is expected to reach 108 million in 2050. This young generation represents a major promise for economic development, technological innovation, and social change. Unmet need for family planning tends to be higher among adolescent girls and young women (compared to older age cohorts). First-time and rapid repeat pregnancies among girls are especially risky. Various forms of gender-based violence (GBV) are prevalent, including physical and sexual violence, child marriage (1 in 5 girls), female genital mutilation (FGM) (affecting 50 million women and girls), and concerning trends in technology-facilitated violence. Countries cannot harness the first demographic dividend without investments in adolescents and youth and supportive policies for their human capital.
Against this backdrop, UNFPA ASRO seeks a Programme Specialist who, under the overall guidance of the Deputy Regional Director and direct supervision of the Adolescents and Youth Advisor, will actively support and play a key role in the Regional Officeโs work on the adolescents and youth programme, particularly focusing on CSE, youth-responsive health services, YPS, adolescent girls programming, and youth participation and engagement. The Specialist will assist senior management and country offices with partnership building with government counterparts, bilateral and multilateral donors, UN agencies, and NGO/CSOs on emerging youth-related issues, and lead knowledge management, with a view to supporting a vibrant adolescents and youth community of practice. You would be responsible for: 1.ย Programme Development, Implementation, and Knowledge Management
Lead the creation, documentation, and dissemination of knowledge on adolescent and youth trends in the Arab region, focusing on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender issues, and sustainable development. Develop and monitor regional workplan, ensuring timely implementation and management of youth programme deliverables, in collaboration with regional program associates.ย Strengthen a multidisciplinary approach by integrating population dynamics, reproductive and sexual health, education, gender equality, and poverty reduction. Provide support to country offices on implementing UNFPAโs Youth Strategy (My body, My Life, My World). Support country offices and youth-led organizations in identifying and documenting innovative approaches, lessons learned, and best practices to enhance youth programming. Ensure continuous updating and sharing of technical knowledge to support capacity building, policy dialogue, and advocacy efforts. 2. Capacity Building, Coordination, and Partnerships Assess capacity gaps for youth focal points and facilitate the development of capacity-building plans. Provide technical assistance and guidance on adolescent and youth health, CSE, YPS, and reproductive health to maximize impact. Foster partnerships with the League of Arab States, UN agencies, and other stakeholders to advance youth programmes. Support regional youth coordination forums, including High-Level Meetings on Learning to Earning and the YPS Task Team. Represent UNFPA in relevant UN and humanitarian youth-related working groups and support advocacy efforts. Collaborate with the communications team to document human interest stories and advocacy materials. Foster strategic partnership and collaboration with external counterparts, including research institutions, think tanks, academia, civil society and other development partners for technical cooperation and knowledge sharing in the area of population change and development; Map key events and opportunities at the regional, global and national levels that can be leveraged to advance the youth agenda and policy dialogue, such as national development planning processes and regional intergovernmental convenings.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 3. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting Collect and compile information necessary for monitoring and reporting on youth programme activities. Review and monitor programme/project budgets in consultation with Finance Associates and Operations teams. Support budget revisions, maintain project data, and ensure documentation of youth activities within integrated programmes. Support youth programmes evaluation, including regional CSE program evaluation, and implement mechanisms to assess results, conduct field visits, and participate in evaluation missions. Document and share findings, lessons learned, success stories, and best practices from youth programmes in the region.Carry out any other duties as requested by the adolescents and youthย Advisor or Deputy Regional Director.Qualifications and Experience
Education:
Advanced degree in development studies, youth work, public health, social work, anthropology, political science, sociology, international affairs and/or other related social science fields.Knowledge and Experience:
Fluency in written and spoken English. Good working knowledge of Arabic and/or French language is desirable.Required Competencies
Values:
Exemplifying integrity, Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, Embracing cultural diversity, Embracing changeCore 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 impactFunctional Competencies:
Advocacy/ Advancing a policy- oriented agenda Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships Delivering results-based programmes Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilizationย
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
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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 hereย to learn more.
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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.