Chief of the UNFPA Representation Office to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, D-1

The position    

The Chief of the UNFPA Representation Office to the AU and the UNECA advises Senior Leadership on opportunities, associated risks, human capital investments and areas requiring additional oversight. The incumbent reports to the Director for the Division for External Relations.

How you can make a difference

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

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 who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, external and internal communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization, including domestic resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results, relate and contribute to partnership strengthening and to United Nations interagency dynamics.

You would be responsible for:

Duties and responsibilities

A. Strategic Advisory and Engagement

• As the main interlocutor for UNFPA to the AU and UNECA, provide advice to Senior Leadership on coordination mechanisms aimed at reducing any potentially fragmented engagement with continental actors including mainly the African Union but also the RECs, AUDA-NEPAD, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Development Bank (AfDB) etc.;
• Remain knowledgeable, active and vigilant on strategies related to inter-governmental processes relevant to UNFPA’s mandate and the advancement of the AU’s Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want” and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
• Assist Senior Leadership in identifying and assessing opportunities for strengthening UNFPA impact in Africa, working closely with the UNECA and including through reduced duplication of efforts and alignment of thematic efforts;
• Represent the Executive Director as requested.

B. Representation

• Represent UNFPA at the highest levels of policy dialogue and events with the African Union (AU), its constituent organs and the UNECA with regards to programming and policy matters, including Member States, major international partners and civil society organizations;
• Interact with AU, UNECA and their organs, including the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Pan African Parliament, to position UNFPA positively and proactively, especially regarding ICPD and related issues;
• Promote the One Africa Leadership team, working closely and conferring with the Regional Directors for the Arab States Region, the East and Southern Africa Region and the West and Central Africa Region;
• Tied to the Decade of Action and ongoing UN reform with an emphasis on sustainable development espoused in the goals and ambitions of the ICPD agenda, network with all relevant partners to ensure a platform for support for UNFPA’s mandate;
• Represent or support UNFPA’s mandate in relevant intergovernmental negotiations to advance the ICPD agenda;
• Lead the preparation of environmental scans on continental issues of relevance to ensure that UNFPA African Regional Offices and senior management at HQ are positioned to pursue policies that promote the cooperation with Africa’s continental bodies and leadership;
• Together with the Regional directors, inform continental wide approach on issues relevant to the ICPD agenda and ensure UNFPA’s mandate and regional coordination within the framework of AU/UN cooperation;
• Serve as the link to UNFPA on communication regarding the AU and UNECA, especially those political and strategic activities and initiatives that will have an impact on possible AU-UNFPA and UNECA-UNFPA cooperation;
• Advise on and facilitate visits by UNFPA’s senior leadership to Addis Ababa and other venues for AU and UNECA meetings and events;
• Serve on the Interdepartmental Task Force on African Affairs (IDTFAA) Director’s level convened by the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), and represent the Executive Director at the Principals level when appropriate;
• Ensure that the UNFPA Office at the African Union represents UNFPA at regional and sub-regional ministerial and expert group meetings with the view to promoting the integration of population related issues into Africa’s development debates;
• Participate in panel discussions, and high-level consultative meetings on AU’s strategies;
• Provide briefings for UNFPA senior officials on AUC and UNECA; conversely, brief the AUC and UNECA and their related organs on UNFPA and its key mandate areas and programmes as relevant in consultation with the Country and Regional Offices.

Education:  

Advanced university degree in one or more of the following disciplines: Public Health, Medicine, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, Management or other related field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• 15 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in public administration and international development of which at least 8 years in the field of population and development at the international level;
• Job knowledge and technical expertise –up-to-date knowledge of issues of population and development, sexual and reproductive health, and gender, and their place in the development agenda;
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve demonstrable results;
• Excellent communication skills in speaking and writing in English; knowledge of French is an asset;
• Strong interest in development work, especially in the mission of the United Nations Population Fund and dedication to the principles of the United Nations; and
• Familiarity with intergovernmental processes.

Languages: 

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is desirable.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity;
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system;
• Embracing cultural diversity;
• Embracing change.

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results;
• Being accountable;
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen;
• Thinking analytically and strategically;
• Communicating for impact. 

Functional Competencies:

• Global leadership and advocacy for ICPD goals;
• Organizational leadership and direction;
• Ensuring operational effectiveness and accountability for result;
• External and internal communication and advocacy for results mobilization.

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus;
• Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders;
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance;
• Making decisions and exercising judgment.

Compensation and Benefits:

 This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

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 - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

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. 

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.