Deputy Representative, Sanaa, Yemen P-5

Context:

Yemen remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. In 2023, a staggering 21.6 million people require some form of humanitarian assistance as 80 percent of the country struggles to put food on the table and access basic services.

Eight years of conflict, compounded by economic collapse, natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, have taken an inordinate toll on women and girls. The health system has virtually collapsed cutting their access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health services. Today a woman dies during pregnancy and childbirth every two hours from causes which are almost entirely preventable with access to services. In 2023, more than 1.5 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are projected to suffer acute malnutrition – with risks of negative birth outcomes and malnourished infants.

Violence against women and girls, already high before the conflict, has worsened, with displaced women and girls, female-headed households and those with disabilities particularly at risk. Girls are increasingly vulnerable to early, forced and child marriage, Female Genital Mutilations, human trafficking and child labour. As needs soar, protection systems are at best overstretched or entirely absent.

UNFPA’s priority is to ensure that all Yemeni women and girls can access services that are vital to their health, well-being and lives.

The Position:

The Deputy Representative plays the leading role in the design and delivery of the UNFPA  country programme. Through building alliances and partnerships with governments, UN and bilateral agencies, development and humanitarian partners, civil society, academia and the private sector, the programme aims to realize the 2030 Agenda in order to make a positive difference in the lives of millions of people; especially those furthest behind. You are also responsible for day-to-day operations of the Country Office, including supervising assigned Country Office staff.
 

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 strategic plan (2022-2025), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030.
 

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:
 

Under the guidance of the Representative, the Deputy Representative is accountable for effective and efficient programmatic and operational coordination of UNFPA’s humanitarian and development programming while providing strategic leadership and management to the Country Programme. The thematic focus of the humanitarian support is centered on life-saving  GBV services and Sexual and Reproductive Health, and will also ensure close coordination with the country office’s overall humanitarian response and planning / programming related to other areas falling under UNFPA’s mandate, including -but not necessarily limited to- youth and data.
The Deputy Representative is responsible for promoting, at the national level, the goals of the programme and ensuring the integration of issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the broader national agenda. Through engagement with national counterparts, compelling advocacy, and delivery of effective programmes, including in emergency settings, you serve on the frontline, validating the mandate of the organization and its ability to deliver high quality results. Your ultimate accountability is to the people that you serve; the most vulnerable, excluded, or marginalized and for the causes that you serve; human rights, sustainable development and humanitarian relief.
 

You would be responsible for:

Programme Leadership
 

• Develop, manage and monitor the Country Programme, in line with the strategic plan and on the basis of demographic, socio-economic data and national population policies,
• Assess and address implications of national trends on UNFPA work in the country;
• Expand on the range of UNFPA’s portfolio; develop new programme options in UNFPA’s mandate area;
• Feedback country specificities on policy, procedures and lessons learned to the RO for the development of the global/regional strategic plan;
• Oversee technical assistance to partners and stakeholders in the country;
• Establish quality standards for project development and delivery;
• Prioritise the formulation and execution of responses to the humanitarian emergency

National Capacity Development

• Implement a strategy for capacity building within the context of the global strategy; provide technical, material, financial and political support to strengthen national capacity on programmes;
• Facilitate capacity building of national staff by devolving authority for portfolio management; guide programme implementation with substantive oversight and effective programme representation;
• Create an enabling environment for the implementation of the ICPD agenda;
• Create/improve national capacities to monitor, evaluate and learn from capacity development initiatives;
• Foster knowledge sharing and innovative thinking in the country office, country and region.

Partnership and Advocacy

• Pursue innovative ways to maintain and create new partnerships with government counterparts, civil society, the private sector, the UN community, other national organizations, academia and bilaterals on national priorities;
• Advocate for ICPD agenda with national institutions and other UN agencies represented at the national level;
• Promote South-South cooperation for the achievement of ICPD goals;
• Maintain a continuous flow of information with government and donors;
• Advocate for organizational goals with national counterparts and within the United Nations system as part of coordinated development activities to align organizational goals with national priorities;
• Participate in the UN Common Country Analysis and the UN  Sustainable Development Cooperation
• Framework exercises in the country as part of broader UN Reform initiatives.

Management of resources
 

• Support the UNFPA Representative in the management of the Country Office including formulation of annual work plans and monitoring implementation through consultations and field visits;
• Support the design and implementation of a resource mobilization and partnership strategy; securing and using mobilised funds and budget allocations for the country programme;
• Support the Representative in the management of staff, providing them with direction and motivation; fostering empowerment, learning and career management;
• Demonstrate performance appraisal and transparent leadership approaches that support a culture of growth and development, where good performance is incentivized and underperformers are held to account;Set standards of performance, and assign responsibilities for achieving results according to the Country Office Strategic Information System;
• Provide support to JPOs on career issues and advise managers on the JPO programme;
• Support the development of a strategic plan for UNFPA’s humanitarian and preparedness actions in-country;
• Support the staff safety by driving compliance with Minimum Operational Residential Security Standards (MORSS).

Carry out any other duties as may be required by the County Representative, including serving as Officer in Charge in the absence of the Representative, and attending the UNCT/HCT, SMT and other coordination / strategic fora as requested.
 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:
Advanced university degree in any 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:

• At least 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in humanitarian and development programming with focus on result based programming;
• Strong background in operations particularly on humanitarian settings; 
• Political acumen to position UNFPA within the UNCT/HCT, national government, donors and among other development/humanitarian international partners
• Experience in programme oversight including rationalization of funding. IP management. 
• Previous experience as a Deputy Representative or Humanitarian Coordinator will be considered advantageously 
• Demonstrated ability to refine programme design to ensure alignment of organizational programme objectives to national priorities/capacities
• Experience at national and international level in advocacy and policy dialogue
• Excellent media/communication skills to foster engaged partnerships and to maintain political partnerships in the assigned country
• Proven ability to lead teams to achieve demonstrable and high quality results
• Experience in international development, particularly in the mandate of UNFPA and dedication to the principles of the United Nations;
• Field experience is essential; experience from a developing, humanitarian context is an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required. 
 

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,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Managerial Competencies:
 

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging in 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. 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.