Deputy Representative, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, P-4

The Deputy Representative plays a leading role in the design and delivery of the UNFPA country programme. Through building alliances and partnerships with governments, UN and bilateral agencies, development partners, civil society, academia and the private sector, the programme aims to realize the 2030 Agenda in order to make a positive difference in the lives of millions of people; especially those furthest behind. The Deputy Representative is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Country Office, including supervising assigned Country Office staff.

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

• Develop, manage and monitor the Country Programme, in line with the strategic plan and on the basis of demographic, socio-economic data and national population policies;
• Assess and address implications of national trends on UNFPA work in the country;
• Expand and diversify UNFPA’s portfolio in pursuit of strategic new programme options in UNFPA’s mandate area;
• Feedback country specificities on policy, procedures and lessons learned to the RO/SRO for the development of the global/regional strategic plan;
• Establish quality standards for project development and delivery;
• Oversee monitoring and evaluation of the programme, ensuring regular, rigorous monitoring and incorporation of lessons learned and adherence to the country programme theory of change; ensure adherence to corporate reporting requirements on CO results;
• Take a leading role in ensuring UNFPA’s mandate areas are reflected in the country’s, and the UN country team’s, humanitarian preparedness and response plans, and ensure the country office develops capacities for humanitarian response.

• Develop and implement a strategy for developing national capacity to deliver effectively on ICPD commitments; take the lead in identifying capacity gaps and needs among partner institutions; provide technical assistance and leverage resources to support the development of capacities;
• Promote the capacity of national research and academic institutions to produce, analyse, disseminate and use demographic data and statistics for use in evidence based policy making in support of rights-based development programming;
• In collaboration with development partners, promote health system strengthening to address the country’s ability to provide universal access to health care including SRHR;
• Take the lead in articulating strategies to develop the country’s capacity to develop, implement and monitor rights-based policies and laws, focusing on Government entities, human rights institutions, academia and civil society;
• Engage in a continuous dialogue with national partners to promote an enabling environment for the implementation of the ICPD agenda;
• Create/improve national capacities to monitor, evaluate and learn from capacity development initiatives;
• Foster knowledge sharing and innovative thinking in the country office, country and region.

• Build and maintain positive and collaborative relationships with key Government partners in support of shared objectives;
• Advocate for the inclusion of the ICPD agenda within national policies, plans and strategies, including those focused on humanitarian preparedness and response;
• Represent UNFPA’s mandate within the UN; ensure inclusion of ICPD issues in common country assessments and UN Development Assistance Frameworks and other strategies; where relevant take the lead/participate in inter-UN theme groups and task forces;
• Liaise continuously with donors and development partners, contribute to development of joint positions on issues of common concerns, identify allies in advocacy for key UNFPA issues, and articulate UNFPA’s niche areas of value added;
• Pursue resource mobilization opportunities among traditional and new donors;
• Support efforts to communicate UNFPA’s mandate issues as well as visibility for UNFPA’s donors, by engaging with media partners, drafting articles and opinion pieces, and engaging on social media.

• Support the UNFPA Representative in the management of the Country Office including formulation of annual work plans and monitoring implementation through consultations and field visits;
• Support the design and implementation of a resource mobilization and partnership strategy; securing and using mobilised funds and budget allocations for the country programme;
• Support the Representative in the management of staff, providing them with direction and motivation; fostering empowerment, learning and career management;
• Facilitate capacity building of national staff by devolving authority for portfolio management; guide programme implementation with substantive oversight and effective programme representation;
• Demonstrate performance appraisal and transparent leadership approaches that support a culture of growth and development, where good performance is incentivized and underperformers are held to account;
• Set standards of performance, and assign responsibilities for achieving results according to the Country Office Strategic Information System;
• Provide support to JPOs on career issues and advise managers on the JPO programme;
• Support the development of a strategic plan for UNFPA’s humanitarian and preparedness actions in-country;
• Support the staff safety by driving compliance with Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) and Minimum Operational Residential Security Standards (MORSS).

Carry out any other duties as may be required by the County Representative.

• Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in public administration and international development including programme designing, appraising and management; of which at least 5 years in the field of population and development, sexual and reproductive health or humanitarian at the international level;
• Demonstrated ability to refine programme design to ensure alignment of organizational programme objectives to national priorities/capacities;
• Experience at national and international level in advocacy and policy dialogue;
• Excellent media/communication skills to foster engaged partnerships and to maintain political partnerships in the assigned country;
• Proven ability to lead teams to achieve demonstrable and high quality results;
• Experience in international development, particularly in the mandate of UNFPA and dedication to the principles of the United Nations;
• Field experience is essential; experience from a developing, humanitarian context is an asset.

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

• 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.

• 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.

• Norm-based - grounded in UN norms and standards,
• Principled - defends norms and standards without discrimination, fear or favour,
• Inclusive of all personnel and stakeholders,
• Accountable,
• Multi-dimensional,
• Transformational,
• Collaborative,
• Self-applied - modelled in our own behaviour.

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.