National Post: Programme Associate, Johannesburg, South Africa, GS7

Duty Station: Johannesburg, South Africa

Closing Date: 17 January 2022 (5pm South Africa time)

Duration: One Year (*)

Post Type: Fixed-Term Appointment

Please note that this vacancy is open to Internal/External nationals of South Africa, Permanent Residence & work permit holders.

*No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulation 4.5

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The Position:

The Programme Associate position is located in the East and Southern Regional Office of UNFPA, Johannesburg and reports to a  Programme Adviser. At the G-7 level, the Programme Associate will provide the lead responsibility for programme activities and research & networking.

The Programme Associate is part of the Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Unit, which provides integrated programme and technical support within a systems strengthening approach fundamental to UNFPA’s overall strategy. The Programme Associate also works in close collaboration with the Operations Manager and his/her team to ensure timely support to COs on operational matters.

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. UNFPA’s new strategic plan (2018-2021), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.

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.

Job Purpose:

The Programme Associate contributes to the development and implementation of effective regional and country programmes in the region by providing support in the design, planning and management of UNFPA’s programmes in the following functions:

• Performance Oversight
• Research Support
• Financial Management
• Operations and Procedural Guidance and support.

The Programme Associate establishes and maintain contacts with Programme Associates and Officers at Headquarters, and Country Offices as well as all staff within the Regional Office, and partners involved in the regional programme. Contacts with staff and other personnel promote achievement of common goals and shared objectives, and demonstrate personal commitment to UNFPA’s mandate and organizational vision.  The incumbent responds to non-routine queries and provides explanations on matters which may be complex requiring thorough knowledge of policies and procedures of the work area.

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You would be responsible for:

1.   Performance Oversight

• Contribute to oversight functions of the RO by maintaining schedules of programme and management audits of the region and assisting in the monitoring and follow up of related audit recommendations;
• Contribute to oversight functions related to NEX;
• Support the management of Implementing Partners and related assurance activities;
• Establish programme planning information and schedules on country and regional programme cycles in the region, and including CCA/UNSDCF;
• Contribute to ensuring compliance of programmes/projects with organizational guidelines, as well as with audits and evaluation findings, by benchmarking programme and project performance and transmitting this information to the Programme Adviser/Specialists for corrective action; and
• Coordinate submission of reports, both substantive and financial, on regional and country  programme development, monitoring and evaluation in the region;

2.   Research Support

• Design and manage specialized data banks on (i) Programme/projects profiles, for development, implementation and evaluation purposes and (ii) best practices in programme design/implementation for knowledge sharing; and
• Consolidate and maintain the inventory of pipeline projects for submission to donors for co-financing.

3.   Financial Management

• Review and analyze past and current expenditures including trends in pattern of resource allocation in order to prepare recommendations and proposals for distribution of income and utilization of resources provided to the countries and to regional programme in the region;
• Coordinate submission of financial reports on country and regional co-financing, including the review and finalization of inputs for financial reports for donors; and
• Monitor the overall expenditure targets among countries and regional programme within the region in accordance with UNFPA’s global resource allocation system and annual guidelines.

4.   Operation and Procedural Guidance

• Provide guidance to Regional, SRSO, and country staff on programme operational procedures;
• Works in close cooperation with International Operations Manager to ensure adequate support to the COs on operational matters. and
• Represent the RO in meetings and advice working groups related to programme and financial procedures changes.

5.   Perform any other activity as required to assure the success of the work team.

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
• Embracing diversity in all its forms
• Embracing change 

Core 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 Impact

Functional 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 mobilisation

Other Competencies

• Logistical support
• Managing data
• Managing documents, correspondence and reports
• Managing information and workflow
• Planning, organizing and multi-tasking
• Managing financial processes
• Job knowledge / technical expertise

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This position offers an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the post. The package includes a competitive net salary, annual leave, health insurance and other benefits.
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WARNING TO APPLICANTS:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. Should you feel that you have received a fraudulent notice, letter or offer that makes use of the name or logo of UNFPA, you may submit a report through the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm
 

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. Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process.

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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