PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VACANCY IS OPEN ONLY TO NATIONALS OF VIET NAM.

The Position:

The Programme Specialist (Adolescents and Youth) oversees project formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, joint programming initiatives and national development frameworks. You will lead the Adolescents and Youth Programme team and collaborate with the Country Office’s operations and administrative support staff.

You will work under the overall guidance of the Representative and report directly to the Assistant Representative.

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), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and 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. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

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:

Working within a Country Office (CO) environment, you will ensure the effective management of UNFPA activities in the area of comprehensive youth development, including national and sub-national policy development/changes pertinent to adolescents and youth under the broad principles of human rights, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), and Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

You will provide strategic advice, technical assistance and evidence-based advocacy for the development of youth related laws, policies, national strategies and plans, narrowing policy implementation gaps at all levels, and promoting meaningful youth participation in policy formulation and implementation. 

Employing your programme management experience, you will oversee the work of the Adolescents and Youth Programme team as well as consultants, advisors, and experts. You will establish and maintain collaborative relationships with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies, civil society and the private sector to address emerging issues on comprehensive youth development, and effectively influence diverse stakeholders to contribute to achieving UNFPA’s mandate.

You would be responsible for:

• In collaboration with Government counterparts, NGOs and other partners, overseeing the design and implementation of the Country Programme and its component projects on comprehensive youth development, comprehensive sexuality and life skills education for in- and out-of-school youth  aligning with Government priorities, UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Viet Nam (CF), UNFPA Strategic Plan (SP), programme policies and procedures; exploring opportunities for building and strengthening partnership with youth-led organisations; and promoting youth participation, particularly that of the vulnerable youth groups, in policy agenda. 
• Overseeing achievement of high quality and measurable programme results by ensuring appropriate policies, rules and procedures of UNFPA and Government are applied, and monitoring and oversight mechanisms are established and implemented.
• Reviewing the political, social and economic environment relevant to UNFPA programme on adolescents and youth, and pursuing opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention.
• Assessing implications of new policy developments and strategies on programme execution, and ensuring their integration.
• Overseeing project implementation; establishing partnerships with government counterparts, other UN agencies, stakeholders to facilitate timely and efficient delivery of project inputs, effectively involve young people in monitoring and providing feedback on the project result.
• Ensuring effective knowledge management strategies are implemented by the programme team, capturing lessons learned and best practices for future planning; addressing training needs of project personnel.
• Participating in advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the CO and the One UN by ensuring strategic advice and technical assistance, and participating in related meetings and public events.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Advanced degree in public health, population, demography and/or other related social science disciplines.
 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the field of development and population activities, particularly in youth development related areas; 
• Experience in programme/project management including experience in large multi-sector projects, designing and appraising proposals and actively liaising with relevant and potential project partners; 
• Strong track record of technical leadership; proven experience in coordinating/managing a multi-disciplinary team of staff, experts and consultants to produce demonstrable results;
• Proven experience in strategic planning, policy dialogue with national and sub-national partners; 
• Field experience is an asset; 
• Prior experience in the UN system is an asset;
• Excellent communication skills in speaking and writing in English to foster engaged partnerships at a high level of representation and to maintain political partnerships in the country.

Languages: 

Fluency in both oral and written English and Vietnamese.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

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

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
• Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
• Delivering results-based programme
• Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilisation

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 

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.

Please click HERE to apply.

Disclaimer: 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.