Job description

State Head of Office

Level:   NO-C

Position Number: 34489

Location: Jaipur

Full/Part time: Full-Time

Fixed term/Temporary:  Fixed Term

Rotational/Non Rotational: Rotational

Duration: One year (renewable)

The Position:

The State Head of Office (HOO) ensures the effective management of UNFPA activities across result areas within the respective State to accelerate achievement of the ICPD Programme of Action and Agenda 2030. You will lead the programme and operations staff members within the State and will collaborate with the Country Office (CO) management and technical staff. In close collaboration with the CO Units and Operations Team, the HOO substantively contributes to the management, coordination and quality assurance of planning, implementation, monitoring and results reporting of UNFPA interventions in the State. 

Under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Representative and the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative, you will contribute to expand the range of UNFPA deliverables in your State within the ICPD agenda, based on national/state priorities and in collaboration with state level stakeholders.  

How you can make a difference:

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 who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and 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.

Job Purpose:

India has made significant progress over the past 25 years towards its commitments to the Plan of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, ICPD. However, disparities still persist and large pockets of people still do not benefit from these advances either due to their remote location, social class, gender, disabilities or other. With the right level of evidence-based advocacy and policy dialogue, coupled with an acceleration programme, India is well positioned to close the gaps towards UNFPA Strategic Plan’s three transformative goals by 2030. UNFPA has been a partner of the Government of India and People since 1974 and is now on its 9th five-year Country Programme. UNFPA has a team of committed and driven staff in its main office in New Delhi, and four state-based offices. UNFPA is an integral part of the UN family in India and is fully committed to the UN Reform agenda to make the United Nations a relevant, agile and responsive partner to the Government and People. 

You will ensure the effective management of UNFPA activities in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, adolescents and youth empowerment, and gender equality, women empowerment, and gender-based violence, integrating  demographic resilience into policies and programmes in your  assigned State. Working to advance the ICPD policy agenda in a challenging environment, you will respond to changing priorities of the State Government, promoting partnership and strategic alliances with counterparts in government, multi-lateral and bilateral agencies, civil society organisations and local communities, to address emerging issues, and effectively influence diverse stakeholders towards achieving UNFPA’s mandate in the State, following a life course approach and reaching the furthest  left behind. You will actively contribute to UN Reform through coordination at State level with other UN agencies and participation in policy dialogue and provision of inputs into joint initiatives.


 

You would be responsible for:

A. Programme Management and Coordination:

  • Lead the implementation of the UNFPA country programme in your assigned State, firmly anchored on rights-based, gender centric and results-based approaches, and other relevant, appropriate strategies and interventions.
  • In close coordination with the State Government and collaboration with other partners oversee the management of the UNFPA programme in full compliance with Corporate policies and procedures.
  • Oversee the achievement of programme results applying appropriate monitoring and oversight mechanisms.
  • Continually scan the environment, anticipate, brief and advise UNFPA senior Management on the socio-economic and political conditions in the State and their implications for the UNFPA-supported programmes.
  • Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative and guidance of the Programme and Technical Support Lead and Chief, Policy, Advocacy and Partnership Unit, lead in the formulation of the State level annual work plans.
  • Monitor and supervise day-to-day implementation of the annual workplans in close and regular consultation with implementing partners and stakeholders. 
  • Guide and orient implementing partners on relevant UNFPA policies and procedures, introducing effective modalities and practices of implementation.
  • Analyze progress, technical and other substantive reports from State level implementing partners and stakeholders and recommend necessary follow-up and/or corrective actions. 
  • In consultation with the CO team, lead humanitarian preparedness and response interventions in the State, ensuring adequate attention given to the needs of women and girls during emergencies.

B. Policy Dialogue and Technical Support:

  • Conduct policy dialogue with Government counterparts, UN agencies and other development partners in respective States and advocate for inclusion of ICPD agenda into State plans and strategies, UN systems initiatives and development frameworks.
  • Represent UNFPA, promote and articulate the ICPD Programme of Action linkages to Agenda 2030 in high-level meetings, conferences and fora at State level. 
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of an integrated Country Office strategy considering intersection of SRHR and megatrends including climate change, demographic transition, urbanisation and migration.  
  • Ensure compliance of programme implementation with UNFPA corporate technical and programme policies and guidelines. Assess implications of new policy developments and strategies on programme execution, and ensure their integration as relevant.
  • Provide technical guidance to ensure that programmes are rights-based, gender-responsive and inclusive. 

C. Advocacy, Partnerships and Resource Mobilization:

  • Represent UNFPA at the state level, advocate for policies supportive of UNFPA transformative goals in close collaboration with the CO colleagues.
  • Establish and nurture partnerships with multi-lateral agencies, civil society including academia, research community and community-based organisations, building strategic alliances towards ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning and ending gender-based violence in all its forms including child marriage and gender-biased sex selection.
  • Provide strategic inputs towards advocacy efforts of the Country Office by preparing or reviewing relevant documentation, i.e. white papers, donor and other high-level visitor briefs, conference papers, speeches, fund-raising concept notes and proposals.
  • Create and deliver effective, contextualized and evidence-based advocacy messages to advance UNFPA programme goals.
  • Understand State level budget cycle and advocate for increases in State budgetary allocations and expenditures towards maternal health, family planning and addressing gender-based violence, with special focus on adolescents and youth and vulnerable population groups.
  • Build strong technical and programme multi-sectoral partnerships for effective programme delivery.
  • Contribute substantially and strategically to CO resource mobilization initiatives and lead resource mobilization at state level.
  • Under the guidance of CO Communication and Media team, work with local media agencies to disseminate UNFPA’s work and build community awareness and mobilize community support for ICPD and the sustainable development goals, especially SDGs 3 and 5.

D. State Office Management & Leadership:

  • Manage UNFPA office in your assigned State; establish systems of accountability for effective compliance with corporate policies and procedures in stewardship of  resources entrusted to you, and effective and efficient management of programmes.
  • Role model a culture of accountability, integrity and respect, in line with the UN Leadership Framework and the UN Code of Conduct.
  • Supervise and guide State Office staff and promote a high standard of performance within the team using a participatory and constructive style.
  • Foster a culture of open communication and transparency, and maintain a motivated workforce; promote a learning environment and systematic information sharing among the State Office Staff. 
  • Identify technical knowledge gaps and propose a training to the Country Office management for State-based personnel.
  • Identify talent, develop and implement career development plans through mentoring, coaching and other training  opportunities.
  • Plan and implement capacity building for UNFPA State office personnel and counterparts in programme and financial management procedures, and on ICPD/SDGs in general.

Carry out any other duties as may be required by UNFPA leadership.

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