Job ID: 2087
Location: Asia and Pacific
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Application Closing Date: 15 October 2012 at 5:00 p.m New
York time
Organizational
Setting
The Technical Adviser post is located in the Regional Office
( RO) in Bangkok, and is under the overall supervision of the Regional Director
and reports directly to the Deputy Regional Director. S/he is the principal adviser at the regional
level for integrated technical and programme advice in population and
sustainable development, with a focus on population ageing and migration
patterns and their implications on national/subnational policies and planning,
poverty reduction, economic and social development, urbanization, migration,
environment, climate change and sustainable development. The Technical Adviser
works in an integrated manner with other programme and technical staff in the
Regional Office and the Sub-regional Office under the coordination of the
Deputy Regional Director.
JOB PURPOSE
The Technical Adviser post provides strategic technical and
programmatic leadership for the region in the area of Population and
Sustainable Development to ensure that the RO and COs remain abreast of the
Fund’s policy and programme policies as
well as current thinking and academic advance in a given substantive areas
affecting the ICPD Programme of Action and the MDGs. S/he maintains primary
responsibility for coordination of provision of technical assistance and
programme support to the countries of the region on the implications of
population dynamics including with UNFPA headquarters and among inter-agency
and other external partners. S/he
analyses regional as well as sub-regional trends and contributes to strategic
action and monitoring of UNFPA substantive areas being firmly placed within
national development frameworks and programmes, including the achievement of
the MDGs.
Responsibilities of the Technical Adviser include: to
support the elaboration of the UNFPA strategic plan and business plan in the
region; to identify new and emerging needs and new delivery modalities for
technical guidance and support; to develop and maintain technical partnerships
in the region; and, to ensure that technical knowledge is updated, generated,
collected and disseminated for effective technical, capacity building and
policy dialogue.
In all activities, s/he works within an inter-disciplinary
team providing integrated programme and technical support to the region. S/he also liaises with other units, such as
the Programme and Technical Divisions and the UNFPA thematic/technical
networks, ensuring the timeliness, adequacy, relevance and quality of technical
support to UNFPA programmes and operations.
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Main Tasks &
Responsibilties
A. Strategic
technical development, monitoring and oversight
Provide technical and related programme leadership, management advice and strategic
support and guidance to the region, in the areas of expertise;
Identify and provide analytical and evidence-based advice,
in the areas of expertise, on UNFPA’s comparative substantive role and specific
contribution in the changing development agenda, and participate in policy
dialogue;
Contribute to the development and implementation of an
integrated strategy, as appropriate, for the delivery of technical assistance and programme support in
the region;
In the area of expertise, manage substantial inputs and
provide support to implementation of a regional programme, grounded in sound
substantive bases and responsive to regional and countries’ priorities;
Contribute to the substantive elaboration of UNFPA Strategic
Plan and Business Plan and to its implementation in the region;
Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring
of regional strategies in the region;
Identify and analyze trends, threats and risks in the
thematic area of work that may affect the ICPD agenda and MDGs and UNFPA’s work
in the region;
Scan the environment in the region to identify tendencies in
the areas of expertise, and ensure that they are appropriately addressed at the
regional and/or sub-regional levels;
Identify requirements for and contribute to the development
of new or updated policies, positioning, frameworks, guidance, standards,
instruments and tools;
Participate in the UNFPA technical network in the
substantive area, maintaining communication and feedback loops on all
substantive work; and
Coach and manage staff/consultants under supervision and
facilitate working groups and task teams.
B. Quality control of
technical support and capacity development
Advise COs on the implementation and proper application
of UNFPA policies, strategies,
guidelines and tools on substantive matters in the region, ensuring consistency
and coherence in addressing priorities for UNFPA;
Ensure that state-of-the-art thinking and research is
integrated in the work of the country offices and partnership networks;
Review products of technical support at key stages of UNFPA,
UN, and national development planning exercises, including the review of the final draft CPDs;
Analyze technical and programmatic and substantive reports
from the field and recommend required follow-up actions;
Organize or contribute to regional and inter-country
training activities in the substantive area for capacity development of
COs/national/regional counterparts;
Support the regional adaptation of training materials,
manuals and tools in the substantive area and ensure their availability and
promote their use for capacity development;
Contribute to the development and implementation of a regional
integrated technical delivery strategy to strengthen capacities in the region,
and guide the management of this system;
Support the development of (sub) regional institutional
capacities for delivering high-quality technical support in select areas of
UNFPA’s mandate;
Monitor the quality of the technical support received at the
country level, in the area of expertise, for effective policy dialogue and
programming;
Initiate, develop, strengthen and monitor substantive and
intellectual regional partnerships in the
area of expertise, including for South-South cooperation and for the
implementation of the regional programme;
Liaise with respective counterparts in TD and PD and other
ROs to identify opportunities for South-South cooperation in the region and
with other regions.
C. Evidence and
knowledge development and dissemination
Play a key role in building up, coordinating and monitoring
the regional knowledge platform in their areas of expertise and competency;
Contribute to developing a mechanism to share technical
skills and knowledge within and among programme countries and/or other regions
in the area of expertise;
Facilitate and help maintain and make accessible data bases
on best practices, partnerships and consultant rosters and help ensure their
accessibility;
Collect, analyze and synthesize information/data and
experience on programme priorities to be used in regional and global advocacy;
Lead the analysis and synthesis of substantive trends,
emerging needs and research findings in the region in order to produce new,
cutting edge technical knowledge;
Prepare white papers, briefing and materials for
evidence-based policy dialogues at regional level, provide similar support at
the request of country offices;
Disseminate and promote the use of state-of-the-art
technical knowledge, evidence, lessons learned, and success stories and ensure
their use to improve the effectiveness of UNFPA operations.
Monitor and analyze reports on humanitarian, economic,
political and social factors in development and management of population and
development programmes;
Collect, analyze and synthesize information/data and
experience on programme priorities to be used in regional and global advocacy
and for resource mobilization;
Contribute to the advocacy efforts to advance the ICPD
agenda and the attainment of MDG targets and indicators at the regional level;
and
Contribute evidence and knowledge sharing in the areas of
expertise, and regional experiences of working with UN-wide frameworks and
instruments related to the new aid environment.
D. Management and
coordination of knowledge networks
Coordinate overall provision of technical support to the
country offices in the region in the area of technical expertise;
Develop and co-ordinate the substantive elements of
partnerships and collaboration in the area of responsibility, with other UN
agencies, including in the context of the UNDG, particularly with the regional
technical arms of these agencies, as well as with regional institutions;
Identify sources of technical knowledge among institutions
and consultants; and
Establish and maintain relationships with institutions in
the region.
E. Technical
representation
Represent UNFPA on substantive issues in the region and
elaborate UNFPA’s substantive regional and global perspectives in the areas of
expertise;
Participate in policy dialogue, and advocate for substantive
issues in international, inter-governmental, U.N., and other policy and
technical meetings and fora;
Collaborate on substantive issues with UN agencies,
academia, research and training institutions, think tanks, centers of
excellence, professional societies in the region; and
Act as focal point for inter-agency working groups in the
substantive area.
Carry out any other duties as may be requested by the
Regional Director or the Deputy Regional Director.
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Qualifications and
Experience
• Advanced university degree
(preferably Ph. D.) in demography, statistics, population studies,
economics, or other field directly related to the substantive area identified
in the title of the post.
• 10 years of increasingly responsible professional
experience in the substantive area, of which seven years at the international
level;
• Experience in linking population issues with poverty
reduction, economic development, sector policies and plans, and national
development plans, essential;
• Experience in population related policy analysis, policy
development, policy dialogue and policy advocacy essential;
• Strong knowledge and expertise in migration, urbanization
and ageing essential;
• Experience in population research, census, DHS and civil
registration desirable;
• Demonstrated expertise in the substantive area of work and
programme experience;
• Strong track record of technical leadership, and proven
ability to produce demonstrable results;
• Strong verbal and written communications skills in
English, and advocacy and presentation skills, an asset;
• Demonstrated ability to network with the academic and
development community;
• Familiarity with management and monitoring tools and
computer software desirable;
• Field experience is preferable.
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Required Competencies
CORE COMPETENCIES:
• Commitment to UNFPA's Values and Guiding Principles;
• Developing People/Fostering Innovation and Empowerment/Performance
Management;
• Team Work/Communication/Self-Management
• Strategic Thinking/Results Orientation and Commitment to
Excellence/Decision Making;
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Learning
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:
• Developing and implementing conceptually innovative
approaches to the provision of technical expertise - conceptual innovation;
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and
partners, and building strategic alliances and partnerships - building
strategic partnerships;
• Job knowledge / technical expertise - expert knowledge of
own discipline;
• Adaptation and application of knowledge / innovations in
different contexts;
• Integration in a multidisciplinary environment.
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UNFPA Work
Environment
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values
of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy
balance of work and life. We are
committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore
encourage women to apply.
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Compensation and
Benefits
This position offers an attractive remuneration package
commensurate with the level of the post.
The package includes a competitive net salary plus cost of living
adjustment, housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.
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Closing Statement
Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at
any stage of the application process.
UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or
AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
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Disclaimer
HOW TO APPLY:
UNFPA has established an electronic application management
system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be
updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy.
Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit
System of UNFPA at http://www.unfpa.org/employment/application_guide.doc.
Please print out the Guide for your reference during the
registration and application process.
Notice to applicants: In accordance with the rules of the
United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional
category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their
country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their
appointment. Exceptions to this rule are
very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly
appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization,
when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in
the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on
promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a
temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to
provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.
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* No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff
Regulations 4.5
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