Mission and objectives

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s goal is to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health, realize reproductive rights, and reduce maternal mortality to accelerate progress on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda, to improve the lives of adolescents and youth, and women, enabled by population dynamics, human rights, and gender equality. UNFPA launched efforts to achieve three transformative results, ambitions that promise to change the world for every man, woman and young person: 1. Ending unmet need for family planning; 2. Ending preventable maternal death; 3. Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA recognizes that innovation is a key accelerator to achieve these results. UNFPA will harness innovation to meet tomorrow’s challenges and boost its impact, especially in addressing furthest behind populations, and leverage opportunities, social capital, funding and technology by (a) strengthening the corporate innovation architecture and capabilities, (b) scaling up innovations that have proven to be effective and impactful, (c) forming new partnerships and connecting with relevant innovation ecosystems, (d) strengthening and leveraging financing for innovation, and (e) expanding communities and culture for innovation.

Context

UNFPA, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA aims to: 1) promote an awareness of social and economic implications of population problems and their solutions, 2) extend aid to developing countries, and 3) coordinate UN and other organizations’ activities to plan and implement population projects, 4) UNFPA works to prevent and respond to gender-based violence through its work with policymakers, justice systems, health systems and humanitarian partners, 5) UNFPA also focuses on eliminating harmful practices, including FGM and child marriage, and helps to engage men and boys to advance gender equality. ESARO is leading the mainstreaming of innovation across the 23 countries in the region. The aim is to accelerate our efforts to achieve the Transformative Results (TR) in the region. The UNV will join the Innovation and Programme Coordination Unit (PCU), within the RO to support provision of integrated programme and technical support within a systems strengthening approach fundamental to UNFPA’s overall strategy. The Programme Assistant will work closely with the PCU and EKI Programme Associates to support operations and administration of the regional innovation programme especially the Zonta Foundation funded Climate Innovation Project. The Programme Assistant will also work in close collaboration with the International Operations Manager (IOM) and his/her team to ensure timely support to the regional programme and COs on operational matters.

Task Description

The Assistant provides programme, administrative and financial support to the programme and technical team, especially to support donor funded projects implementation including support to COs. The Assistant also provides some data and research assistance. Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Regional Innovation Specialist the designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will work to: • Assist the programme team, in collaboration with the IOM office, in providing support to the COs on operational and programme matters; • Support logistical, administrative and financial arrangements required for the organization of technical workshops, inter-agency meetings, panel discussions, round tables, missions, and other events organized by the programme and technical team; • Assist in budget preparation, monitoring and reporting on specific regional initiatives/projects; • Review incoming correspondence, collect and prepare necessary information for reply / action, and draft and finalize response; • Prepare first drafts of responses to inquiries received by the COs and regional programme and technical team for action by supervising officers; • Prepare travel authorizations and make travel arrangements; • Contribute to maintaining the office filing system and assist in archiving; • Maintain and update country, partners and project files, including project progress reports, work plans and budgets in compliance with guidelines for the regional programme; • Prepare requisition request in Quantum and Quantum Plus with input from the programme and technical team members; utilize these platforms to produce monthly reports on the financial status of programmes or projects; create vouchers and payments, as needed; • Apply UNFPA rules, regulations and procedures: • Follow up on the submission of financial and programme reports by COs and partners; • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible; • Carry out any other duties as may be required.

Competencies and values

Analytical skills Active listening skills; Teamwork; Communication skills; Computer skills; Customer service skills; Interpersonal skills; Achieving results; Accountability; Professionalism; Analytical & Strategic Thinker.

Living conditions and remarks

Bigger cities in South Africa can be highly cosmopolitan. In Johannesburg and Pretoria, you will find an abundance of world class gyms, restaurants, bars, recreational classes, galleries, parks etc. The bigger shopping malls host a large selection of international brands. There is a plethora of international cuisine to be sampled, and quirky independent cinemas to be discovered. OR Tambo International Airport is a world class airport, offering highly sophisticated facilities. It is located just outside of Johannesburg, in Kempton Park. It has many international airlines that fly into this airport. Crime rates in South Africa are ranked on the high end, petty theft and opportunistic crimes are common, and armed robberies, smash & grabs and hijackings are also fairly frequent in certain areas. One needs to remain vigilant especially at night and at road intersections. There are usually sign posts that indicate such hot spots. Periodic security information updates are sent via email providing information at national level, with regards to circumstances such as incidents of civil unrest, transport security, computer and networking safety and trends in criminality. UNDSS sends weekly security updates via email. Updates from wardens are on an ad hoc basis, following security related events in your residential area. Updates from UNDSS are provided weekly. UN Volunteers receives the below entitlements: • A Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): R22,926.08 per month; • A once off entry lumpsum of $400 at the start of the assignment; • Medical insurance; Life cover, and annual leave; • Access to all learning platforms; • A once off exit lumpsum at the end of the assignment.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements