Programme Officer, Gender and Youth

Our Mandate

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the UN's reproductive health agency dealing with population issues and it is responsible for expanding the possibilities for women and young people to lead a healthy sexual and reproductive life. UNFPA works to accelerate universal access to sexual and reproductive health, including voluntary family planning and safe motherhood; and seeks the realization of rights and opportunities for young people.

UNFPA is present in more than 150 countries, improving people's lives as a catalyst for action and advocacy of their issues. Acting through alliances and partnerships with governments, other UN agencies, civil society and the private sector, UNFPA makes a positive difference for billions of people, especially those most in need.

UNFPA also helps countries use population data to anticipate future challenges; offers technical assistance that strengthens and empowers its partners; supports policy formulation and national capacity-building, ensuring that reproductive health and the rights of women and young people remain central issues in the development agenda.

UNFPA is making progress - fewer women are dying during childbirth, more unwanted pregnancies are being avoided, and younger women are having their opportunities expanded. But it is necessary to expand these efforts so that we can reach a healthy and fair world.

UNFPA - Creating a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

The National UN Volunteer Expert will support implementation of the My Future, My Decision Programme and provide technical, innovation, coordination and resource mobilization support to the broader UNFPA gender and youth and SRH portfolio.
My Future My Decision Programme
My Decision, My Future aims to address critical challenges in SRH, CSE, GBV, while fostering a conducive and peaceful environment for youth empowerment. The project targets youth, particularly adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and adolescent boys and young men (ABYM), with interventions designed to empower them to exercise their SRHR, contribute to peace and security, and foster gender equality. Through strategic partnerships with local and national governments, UN agencies, and community organizations, the project strives to build resilient communities by enhancing the capacity of youth and local institutions. The Theory of Change underpinning this project posits that if adolescents and youth are provided with accurate SRH information and services, CSE, and empowered to participate in peacebuilding activities, then they will be better equipped to make informed decisions, avoid early pregnancies, reduce STIs, and contribute to the stability and resilience of their communities. Key interventions include capacity building for local health workers, the establishment of youth-friendly SRHR services, and the integration of CSE into both formal and informal education settings. Additionally, the project promotes gender equality by engaging men and boys in gender-sensitive programming and addressing harmful gender norms.

The National UN Volunteer Expert will be located in the Gender and Youth Unit and will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Youth and Gender Team and SRH Team Leaders and will report directly to the MDMF Programme Manager, with a dotted reporting line to Programme Analyst, Gender and GBV. The National UN Volunteer Expert will undertake the following tasks:

1. Support general implementation, management, monitoring and reporting of the UNFPA gender and youth programmes and specifically the My Future My Decision Programme (MDMF)
● Support implementation including IP management, budget, monitoring and reporting on youth related programme interventions with focus on MDMF activities and initiatives and liaise and follow up
with field colleagues as required.
● Contribute to donor reporting including the joint MDMF annual report to be submitted to Finland as the MDMF donor.
● Participate in and contribute to the MDMF regular meetings as well as other relevant meetings related to the gender and youth portfolio.
● Generate knowledge on ASRHR, CSE and specifically on the MDMF programme including seizing opportunities for the development and publication of articles and social media content.
● In collaboration with the relevant programme staff including at field level, support youth participation, leadership and accountability initiatives including their participation in international, continental
and regional conferences.

2. Provide technical, coordination, innovation and resource mobilization support to the broader UNFPA Gender and Youth portfolio
● Stay abreast of new data, developments, studies/research and innovations related to ASRH, SRHR, S/GBV and youth development and participation – and feed into technical discussions, project and
proposal developments.
● With support from the gender and youth team at large, develop draft innovative concept notes and ideas, and support innovation initiatives with focus on gender, GBV and youth.
● Support the implementation of events and campaigns related to relevant national and UN days including the 16 Days of Activism, International Youth Day / Mozambican Youth Week and the
International Day of the Girl Child etc.
● Support the production of knowledge management products and visibility items in the area of CSE, ASRH and youth empowerment, such as leaflets, factsheets and brochures.
● Participate in and support resource mobilization efforts as requested.
Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.