National Post: Programme Analyst on Population & Development, NOB, FTA, San José, Costa Rica

The Position

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UNFPA Country Head of Office, the Programme Analyst on Population and Development will be responsible for Population and Development-related interventions of the Country Programme.
The Programme Analyst maintains collaborative relationships with all programme and project staff at the country office. This includes the Head of Office and the programme and operational staff, the Regional Advisor on Population and Development and other colleagues in UNFPA at global and regional levels working on Population issues.
The Analyst substantively contributes to the effective management of UNFPA activities in the areas of population and development. S/he Programme Analyst guides and facilitates the delivery of UNFPA’s programmes by monitoring results achieved during implementation. S/he ensures and guides the appropriate application of systems and procedures and develops enhancements if necessary.
The Programme Analyst substantively contributes to the effective management of UNFPA activities in the area of population and development and population dynamics and demographic adaptability. S/he analyzes and assesses relevant political, social and economic trends and provides substantive inputs to programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, joint programming initiatives, national development frameworks, and
participation of regional networks.
Specifically, s/he will support government and CSO partners on strengthening institutional capacity to mainstream demographic adaptability in selected institutions; and enhancing community capacity to protect LNOB populations’ rights, including contributing to accelerating progress on the ICPD+30 agenda, Consensus of Montevideo, SDGs and the Costa Rica UNSDCF and the Costa Rica UNSDCF.

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:

The Programme Analyst contributes to lead the design, planning and management of UNFPA’s country programme by analyzing relevant political, social and economic trends and providing inputs to formulation and evaluation of the programme activities on Population and Development, joint programming initiatives and national development frameworks and providing technical support to achievement of the SDGs, ICPD PoA, Consensus of Montevideo, and other organizational targets focusing on UNFPA prioritized indicators. The Programme Analyst co-leads the programme implementation by using and developing appropriate mechanisms and systems and ensuring compliance with established procedures, as well as by monitoring results achieved during implementation. The Analyst facilitates the delivery of UNFPA’s programmes by monitoring results and adjusting the implementation approaches, if necessary. S/he ensures and guides the appropriate application of systems and procedures and develops enhancements if necessary.
Working within a Country Office environment and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, S/he will provide overall strategic guidance and inputs in population and development programming and response to the strengthening of the CPD outputs of the country program, and related projects.
S/he will also play a key role in bringing expertise to the data, population and development portfolio and maintaining an integrated, multi-sectoral approach to reach those furthest behind with impact and efficiency. and cultural sensitivity.

You would be responsible for:
● The Analyst facilitates the work of consultants, advisors and experts, establishes, and maintains collaborative relationships with counterparts in the Government, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donor agencies and civil society to address emerging issues.
● Analyzes and interprets the political, social and economic environment relevant to population and development, and identifies opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention for Population and Development programme area. Keeps abreast of policy developments and strategies analyzing policy papers, strategy documents, national
plans and development frameworks and prepares briefs and inputs for policy dialogue and technical assistance coordination.

● In collaboration with Government counterparts, academia and other partners contribute substantially to the formulation and design of the country programme in line with Government priorities, UNFPA Strategic Plan, and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). Ensures quality of programme/project design incorporating lessons learned, newly developed policies and best practices and
establishing appropriate execution and monitoring mechanisms and systems.
● Analyzes and reports on programme and project progress in terms of achieving results, using existing monitoring and evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems; identifies constraints and resource deficiencies and recommends corrective action.
● Monitors projects expenditures and disbursements to ensure delivery is in line with approved project budgets and to realize targeted delivery levels in line with UNFPA policies and procedures.
● Accelerate and coordinates project implementation through establishing collaborative relationships with implementing partners, experts, government counterparts and other UN agencies 

● Helps the country office to create and document knowledge about current and emerging trends in country environment with regard to population dynamics and data issues by analyzing programmes, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned, best practices, and shares with management for use in
knowledge sharing and planning future strategies.
● Assists advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the Country office by preparing relevant documentation, i.e. project summaries, conference papers, speeches, donor profiles and participating in donor meetings and public information events.
● Review project and programme activities by establishing and implementing mechanisms to systematically assess the achievement of results, conducting field visits, participating in review meetings and evaluation missions and preparing regular inputs to status and progress reports. Analyzes factors affecting the achievement of results, recommends corrective actions and follows up on recommendations.
● Performs other duties of relevance to the program as assigned by the UNFPA Head of Office.
● Participate with the Country Office in data related Working Group and any other relevant structure.
● Collaborates with the country office to following up the UNSDCF implementation regarding LNOB, intercultural and intersectional gender approaches, and data management.
● Performs any other duties as assigned by the Head of Office Qualifications and Experience

Education:
Advanced Degree in Public Health, Health Economics, Medicine/Health Sciences or other
related discipline.
Knowledge and Experience:

• 2 years of relevant professional experience preferably in programme/project management in the public sector, international organizations or with non-governmental organizations in the area of demography, population and development are considered an advantage. Prior experience in the field of development and population activities would be desirable.
• Demonstrated understanding of the interrelations between population dynamics, development, and humanitarian issues
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic economic and statistical concepts and methodologies.
• Skills in using statistical software applications is desirable.
• Experience in culturally sensitive programming is essential.
• Experience on leaving no One behind strategies and programmes.
• Experience in advising and supporting initiatives to promote gender equality, humanitarian response, population policies, universal health services, and data management good practices.
• Demonstrated expertise in the substantive area of work, including programme/project planning design, follow-up, monitoring and evaluation;
• Strong track record of technical leadership and proven ability to produce demonstrable results 

Languages:
Fluency in Spanish is mandatory; knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.