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. 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 Female Genital Mutilation (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, within the RO, to support provision of Technical Assistance (TA) to country offices, liaise with UNFPA HQ to align programmes, support CO operationalization of their innovation and digitalization plans, coordinate the Country Innovation Focal Points, support implementation of the regional ENGINE project, assist in dissemination of the Social Innovation Toolkit at the Regional Office (RO) and Country Office (CO) levels and support the implementation of donor supported projects including the Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF) and Zonta Foundation Funded Climate Innovation Projects.

Task Description

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 in implementing various innovation challenges (HackLabs) including that on Youth mental health & Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), harmful practices and assistive and emerging technologies to access reproductive health information and services at the RO and CO levels; • Support in coordinating Country Innovation Focal Points in 23 countries in the region; • Support in TA provision for COs especially in developing and implementing country innovation and digitalization operational framework; • Support implementation of the UNFPA ENGINE virtual incubation hub; • Support communications activities of the regional and CO innovation work including a quarterly innovation newsletter and dissemination of the social innovation toolkit; • Any other tasks including administrative and operational needs; As an active UNFPA team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNFPA and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Assisted the implementation of the regional HackLab programme to identify and support innovation solutions to scale; • Supported regional communication efforts to tell the story of the regional innovation programme internally and externally; • Supported documentation and reporting of regional innovation initiatives including the ACCF and the Zonta Foundation funded climate innovation programme; • Supported the Regional Innovation Specialist on provision of Technical Assistance efforts to UNFPA Country Offices; • Engaged the Country Innovation Focal Points programme to increase the numbers of innovation solutions emerging from country offices; • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment; • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

Competencies and values

Analytical skills Active listening skills; Teamwork and respect for diversity; Communication skills; Computer skills; Customer service skills; Interpersonal skills; Professionalism; Integrity; Commitment to continuous learning; Planning and organizing; Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNFPA ESARO mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

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