State Programme Coordinator - UNFPA (Apply by: 30 Apr 2014)

VACANCY NO. : UNFPA/IND/2014/003

ISSUE DATE : April 16, 2014

CLOSING DATE : April 30, 2014

POST TITLE : State Programme Coordinator, Bihar

POST LEVEL : ICS 10

POST NUMBER : 00034484

DUTY STATION : Patna, Bihar

DURATION : Annual, renewable

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING

The UNFPA State Office will be responsible for incorporation of the principles of the ICPD Programme of Action, in State policies and strategies. It will work closely with the departments mandated for addressing reproductive health (RH), gender, rights, decentralization and other related issues including those on population and development. The State Office will be responsible for providing direct technical support, share international best practices for possible replication and act as the frontline agency on achievement of ICPD and MDG goals.

Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Representative or designated officer, the State Programme Coordinator will be responsible for facilitating implementation of state level RH/HIV, population and development and gender programmes; provide and coordinate inputs for other state level social sector programmes such as education, women and child and youth with a view of integrating RH and ICPD mandate; interface with State Commissions such as for Women and Human Rights and coordinate research and pilots on identified population and development issues; and co-ordinate advocacy programmes such as on sex selection. The State Programme Coordinator will establish and maintain collaborative relationships with counterparts in Government, UN agencies, media, donors and civil society organizations on issues related to UNFPA mandate. The State Programme coordinator will be responsible for managing the State Office and undertaking a representational role for UNFPA on request of the UNFPA Representative.

The State Programme Coordinator will be accountable to the UNFPA Representative in ensuring the implementation of the state component of the Country Programme Action Plan and the subsequent Annual Workplans.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Follow-up on national and state level policies and contribute to state level discussions on RH, gender and population and development issues

• Initiate and contribute to key policy discussions at the State level to ensure that ICPD related issues are addressed.
• Periodically analyze the implementation of policies with regard to reproductive health, youth and adolescents, women, and selected population and development issues such as ageing, urbanization, poverty reduction and empowerment) and identify successes and implementation gaps
• Maintain data bases on RH and population and development, to analyze and draw inferences related to policies and programme implementation
• Be updated on technical issues by following the national and international debates on reproductive health and population and development issues
• Work as an expert group member on thematic issues and also contribute to policy and programme related work in other states.

2. Identify, conceptualize and facilitate implementation of interventions in the context of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)/Reproductive & Child Health (RCH) National Aids Control programmes at the state level.

• Continuously analyze the implementation of the NRHM/RCH and other development programmes related to gender, education, youth, panchayats and social development, by participating in high level review meetings and undertaking field visits.
• Proactively identify implementation gaps and provide necessary inputs for remedial actions as necessary.
• Identify opportunities for mainstreaming a gender and rights perspective in different development programmes
• Provide direct technical inputs for addressing programmatic gaps and improvement of systems and processes
• Conceptualise and design relevant pilot interventions and oversee their implementation in coordination with counterparts and the country office (CO).

3. Identify opportunities for advocating issues related to UNFPA’s country programme, including the sex selection:

• Fulfill advocacy role with state level Government, NGOs and other development partners on UNFPA mandate, including sex selection
• Effectively network with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances with institutions and individuals at the state level, relevant to UNFPA's mandate and strategic agenda
• Design relevant advocacy interventions and ensure effective implementation in coordination with counterparts and CO
• Maintain good liaison with the media, provide appropriate inputs and seek their involvement in advocating issues related to ICPD and MDGs.
• Organize key events such as the release of World Population Report and utilize the opportunity for advocacy.
• Work closely with other development partners in the state, seek and contribute inputs on ICPD and MDG related issues
• Interface with UN partners in the State in seeking opportunities for joint programming, in issues related to UNFPA and ICPD mandates.

4. Management of the State Office

• Manage the financial and administrative tasks of the State Office.
• Manage the human resource tasks of the Office and supervise staff; maintain high morale and efficiency at all times.
• Establish results oriented work plans for the staff and ensure regular reporting on programme and financial matters.
• Design and oversee documentation of the work pursued by the Office and ensure sharing of these with the Government, other stake holders, with State Offices and with the Country Office
• Ensure compliance with UNFPA regulations and rules, coordinate audit and follow-up on audit observations.
• Coordinate, Manage and Monitor the implementation of the entire UNFPA programme with the annual workplans at the state level, ensuring timely and appropriate use of resources.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Values and Guiding Principles: Integrity, Commitment to the Organization and its Mandate; Cultural Sensitivity and Valuing Diversity
• Developing People: Developing people/Coaching and Mentoring, Performance Management, Fostering Innovation and Empowerment
• Building & Managing Relationships: Working in Teams, Communicating Information and Ideas, Self Management/Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Management/Negotiating & Resolving Disagreements
• Personal Leadership & Effectiveness: Analytical and Strategic thinking, Results Orientation/Commitment to Excellence, Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making, Knowledge Sharing/Continuous Learning

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Results-based programme development and management – Ensures achievement of results through effective implementation and monitoring of programme/ project implementation. Identifies opportunities for project development and formulates proposals ensuring substantive rigour in the design and application of proven successful approaches.
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches – Creates and improves processes and products. Devises innovative strategies, best practices and new approaches.
• Leveraging the resources of partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships – Establishes, maintains and utilizes a broad network of contacts to keep abreast of developments and share information. Strengthens and creates strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.
• Advocacy/ advancing a policy oriented agenda –. Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society to lead advocacy efforts, and takes opportunities to advocate UNFPA’s mandate.
• Resource mobilization – Ensures development of approriate resource mobilization strategies, and maintainance of information and databases on donors and project profiles for presentation to donors.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of Masters Degree in health, population, demography, management and/or other related social science fields. A doctoral degree is an advantage.
• 5-8 years of minimum professional experience at senior level in programme/project management, planning, implementation and evaluation of development programmes. Technical knowledge of UNFPA Programming areas, programme monitoring and management, negotiation skills, budgeting and financial analysis is desirable
• Full proficiency in English (including excellent writing and communication skills), knowledge of one of the official Indian languages.
• Proficiency in current office software applications.

HOW TO APPLY 

Please submit your application along with resume to: The Representative, UNFPA, 55-Lodi Estate, New Delhi indicating the post and vacancy number on the envelope. Closing date for applications: April 30, 2014. Applications may also be sent through email at the following email address: jobs.india@unfpa.org indicating the post and vacancy number in the subject line.
Candidates should also complete a United Nations Personal History Form (P.11). The P-11 form is available on the UNFPA website at http://india.unfpa.org/. The completed P-11 form should be submitted along with the application.

UNFPA offers an attractive compensation package commensurate with the level of the position. The package includes competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits.


UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the value of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. 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. UNFPA office is a Smoke Free environment.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or any other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process.

This is a Project funded position open to Indian Nationals only