Assistant Representative

  • Executive-level
  • Posted on 3 July 2007
  • Somalia
  • Closing on 6 June 2007

Job Description

Assistant Representative, Puntland, Garoowe, Somalia Closing Date: Wednesday, 06 June 2007

Tags: Civil Society; Development Assistance; Equal Opportunity; Executing Agencies; Family Planning; Financial Aspects; Gender-based Violence; Political Conditions; Press Releases; Reproductive Health United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) UN Location: Somalia (Puntland, Garoowe) Closing date: 06 Jun 2007

Job Description

United Nations Population Fund

External Vacancy Announcement

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Somalia Country Office is hereby inviting applications for the following position.

Post Title: UNFPA Assistant Representative in Puntland Type of Contract: Fixed Term (NOD) Period: One year Duty Station: Garoowe, Puntland – Somalia Date of Issue: 23 May 2007 Closing Date:6 June 2007

The United Nations Population Fund is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and direction of the UNFPA Representative for Somalia and under the supervision of Puntland Programme Specialists, the incumbent will work with regional/local authorities, UN system organizations, multi and bilateral international development agencies, civil society and local communities to primarily provide technical and programme assistance to the activities of the UNFPA Somalia Country Office in Puntland.

The Assistant Representative for the UNFPA Sub-Office in Garowe, Puntland will have responsibilities for the day-to-day operations on the ground and oversight of the substantive and technical content of the programme, as well as finance, personnel and office administration matters. The incumbent must have the ability to travel to places outside the duty station, including areas approved by the United Nations Security Coordinator and UN Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS).

The incumbent will perform the following duties: - Oversee and manage the humanitarian, rehabilitation and development component of UNFPA programme operations in Puntland and coordinate the preparation of an overall development assistance strategy and plan of action; - Manage the sub-office staff and oversight for the financial and administrative implementation of projects, in line with UNFPA policies and procedures; - Initiate evidence-based advocacy and policy dialogue with relevant Puntland authorities, line ministries and pertinent institutions and agencies and advance UNFPA’s policy-oriented agenda, including inclusion of issues relating to population and development, reproductive health, adolescent reproductive health (ARH), HIV/AIDS, youth and gender; - Conduct an inventory of humanitarian/development partners, including national and international NGOs and ensure that required actions are taken for the delivery of UNFPA humanitarian- and/or development-oriented assistance to Puntland population. - Provide technical and substantive support to implementing/ executing agencies and regional/local officials, as necessary; - Establish a Reproductive Health (RH) Group, which will coordinate and share information on RH and HIV/AIDS-related issues; the group should meet regularly and include participants from all relevant agencies and organizations working in the health and other relevant sectors providing assistance to post-conflict affected populations, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Puntland population, such as women and girls; - Represent UNFPA and actively participate in various interagency groups, such as gender, HIV/AIDS and youth groups. - Work closely and systematically with key UN and other international stakeholders to take into account reproductive health, ARH, HIV/AIDS, youth and gender issues in their plans, programmes and projects; - Develop project proposals for Puntland, including project execution and funding modalities, within the UNFPA framework for assistance in post-conflict areas; - Monitor and analyze on a continuous basis, substantive, administrative and financial aspects of programmes/projects and organize and participate in regular evaluation exercises; - Track and monitor UNFPA’s reproductive health (RH) commodities by establishing a monitoring mechanism/system that takes into account warehouse capacity, access, utilization rate, coverage and distribution; - Brief UNFPA Representative and Somalia CO staff on the socio-economic and political conditions in the region and their implications to UNFPA-supported activities; - Support Puntland initiatives, together with pertinent development partners, including building/strengthening their organizational, advocacy and programming capacities; - Undertake and collaborate with relevant partners trainings on RH/HIV/STI prevention and gender-based violence; - Maintain solid working relationship and constantly share information with UN partners, such as WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, OCHA, UNAIDS, UNIFEM; - Work with local media agencies to help publicize UNFPA’s work through press releases, radio, articles, documentaries, etc.; - Document the best practices and approaches for deepening the knowledge base for UNFPA and partners as an integral resource for responding to humanitarian and rehabilitation/reconstruction programming in post-conflict areas/countries; and - Perform other functions as may be requested by the UNFPA Representative.

Core Competencies - Values/Guiding Principles - Commitment to the organization and its mandate - Performance Management - Cultural Sensitivity/Valuing diversity - Developing People/Coaching and Mentoring and Fostering Innovation and Empowerment - Working in Teams - Self-Management/Emotional Intelligence/ Conflict Management and Resolving Disagreements - Communicating ideas, information and knowledge sharing - Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making - Analytical and Strategic Thinking and Results Orientation/Commitment to Excellence - Knowledge Sharing/Continuous Learning

Functional Competencies - Advocacy/Advancing a Policy Oriented Agenda - Results-Based Programme Development and Management - Leveraging the Resources of National Governments and Partners/Building Strategic Alliances and Partnerships - Innovation and Marketing of New Approaches - Resource Mobilization - Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Qualifications and Experience Required - Advanced degree in Health or Social Sciences, preferably in Public Health, Population Studies, Sociology, Management or Public Administration; - A minimum of five to seven years of increasingly responsible professional and managerial experience in the field of development and humanitarian operation at the national and international levels, part of which should be in the population field; prior experience in the UN system will be an asset; experience in the field of reproductive health/safe motherhood and family planning, with preferably some experience on gender and development issues; - Initiative and sound judgment; - Dedication to the United Nations principles and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with concerned partners; sound ability for negotiations, communications and decision-making.

Language requirements: Fluent in English and Somali.

Please send a completed UN P-11 form and curriculum vitae, marked “UNFPA Assistant Representative in Puntland” by 6th June 2007 to: UNFPA- Garoowe, UN Compound or e-mail to:

UNFPA will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest. UNFPA keeps the right of recruiting at lower levels. Women and Somali diasporas are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information on UNFPA please visit the site .

Vacancies Contact UN Compound Puntland or e-mail to:

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