Deputy Regional Director, WCARO, Dakar, Senegal, D-1

The Position:

The Deputy Regional Director post is located in the West and Central Africa Region (WCARO) and reports directly to the Regional Director. The Region includes Regional Office (RO) and Country Office (CO) structures. The Deputy provides leadership and guidance to the regional team of technical and programme staff
and provides leadership to the RO in the absence of the Regional Director.

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 Deputy Regional Director has primary responsibility for the following key objectives, which impact on all technical and programme operations across the Region of assignment:

• Advisory and strategic support to the Regional Director and Regional Office
• Leadership of and guidance to the technical and programme team
• Oversight of the management of the regional programme
• Representation and Liaison

The Deputy Regional Director is a member of the Regional Director and Deputy Directors Team as well as of the Regional Management Team. The incumbent leads the RO in the absence of the Regional Director.

You would be responsible for:

A. Leadership – Support the Regional Director in the management of the RO, in close collaboration with the International Operations Manager; Provide leadership to the RO in the absence of the Regional Director:

• Contribute a regional perspective to the formulation of UNFPA policies, strategic plans and strategies in close collaboration with the relevant Strategic, Programmatic and Management Committees and in consultation with the Regional Desk Specialist;
• In coordination with the Regional Director, provide strategic guidance to the RO and COs programme and technical teams to ensure the achievement of strategic plans and programme goals; promote the development of region-specific strategies; ensures synergies between regional programme and country level activities;
• Ensure the preparation and clearance if needed of various reports and documents (e.g., annual and progress reports, sitreps, briefing notes for senior management, reports to the Executive Board etc.) by responsible managers / advisers;
• Coordinate review and analysis of Country Office Annual Reports (COARs) and identify critical issues for follow up; and
• Provide leadership to regional programmes and operations in the absence of the Director.
   

B. Operational – Oversees the management of the regional programme, ensures the coherence of all programme activities in the Region with corporate priorities and ensures the integration of results based management in programme activities:

• Provide direction and support to regional technical and programme staff in guiding and overseeing the country (e.g., Common Country Assessment (CCA)/Cooperation Frameworks and Joint Programming) and regional programming processes in all phases to ensure coherence with organizational / national / regional priorities and development frameworks as well as consistency with principles of results based management and achievement of corporate results;
• Enhance the integration of technical and programme support to promote seamless, effective aid assistance
  within the region;
• Provide direction and support to regional programme staff in guiding and supporting COs on programme management ensuring proper application of UNFPA policies and procedures;
• Oversee management of programme resources and advise the Regional Director on allocation of resources; monitor and periodically brief the Regional Director on status of programme implementation; undertake field monitoring visits;
• Support management of UNFPA preparedness and response to humanitarian crises in the region in consultation with the Humanitarian Response Division; and
• Support resource mobilization efforts.

C. Management of Resources – Provides leadership and guidance to the technical and programme team, and, with their support, ensures integrated, adequate, quality and timely support to the COs:

• Support the Regional Director in all aspects of programme formulation, budget, finance and staff management;
• Collaborate with the Operations Manager and relevant committees to consolidate/coordinate the preparation of Regional Annual Office Management Plan (OMP); Coordinate and manage regional output;
• Promote a team-based, harmonious working environment that recognizes initiative, openness and performance;
• Supervise technical and programme staff, providing necessary coaching and quality assurance;
• Promote effective information/knowledge sharing across the region; and promote opportunities for collaboration as well as staff development at all levels;
• In coordination with International Operations Manager, liaise with COs to ensure that Management Audit recommendations are addressed;
• Support the Regional Director in assessment of Resident Coordinator performance and in briefing them on UNFPA; collaborate with DHR/Division Director in obtaining information on the suitability of RC candidates;
• Provide input to the performance appraisals of UNFPA Representatives and Heads of Offices;
• Liaise closely with DHR, the Regional Director and the Operations Manager to ensure that staff management issues are adequately addressed, and are in line with the vision of the HR Strategy and UNFPA policies and procedures; and
• Ensure an ethics-based approach to management of all human and financial resources.

D. Representation – In close coordination with the Director, ensures the Region is represented as one voice:

• Liaise with HQ, primarily with the Regional Desk Specialist and relevant Divisions;
• Serve as a member of the Deputy Regional Director teams and as alternate member in the Executive Committee;
• Represent the Region/participate in various inter-agency and inter-divisional forums; is member of UNFPA standing committees. Represent the Regional Director in key meetings in their absence;
• In coordination with the Regional Director, advocate for new programme initiatives and conduct resource mobilization efforts;
• In coordination with the Regional Director, maintain contacts with key stakeholders including government partners from programme countries, donors, international organizations, UN Missions; and
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Regional Director.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

An advanced university degree (minimum Master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, including Public Health, Sociology, Demography, Gender, International Relations, Economics, International Development, Public Administration, Management or a related field is required.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum of 15 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in public administration and international development is required, of which 10 years should be in the field of population and development at the international level;
• Prior experience in a Representative-type function, preferably within the UN, and in leading complex programmes in humanitarian contexts;
• Strong understanding of UN humanitarian architecture;
• Strong track record of leadership in development programmes;
• Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate a diverse team of technical and programme specialists to achieve demonstrable results at scale;
• Ability to promote operations as an enabler of programme results;
• Extensive network within the development community;
• Field experience is essential.

Languages: 

Fluency in English and French is required. Fluency in any other official UN language 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,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

• Advocacy/Advancing a Policy Oriented Agenda;
• Results-Based Programme Development and Management;
• Leveraging the Resources of National Governments and Partners/Building Strategic Alliances and Partnerships;
• Mobilize Resources;
• Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise;

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus;
• Demonstrated political acumen;
• Programme formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills;
• 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.