Programme Specialist

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Job Description

The Position:

EmpowerED, in partnership with Global Affairs Canada, is a programme which aims to ensure adolescents and youth have enhanced and equal enjoyment of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), bodily autonomy, gender equality and a life free from violence. This will be achieved through an enabling environment, inclusive policies, and institutionalised in-school and out-of-school community-based Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programmes linked to SRHR and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) services. A key component of the programme is to support the adaptation of CSE as a transformative contribution to the prevention of GBV.

The CSE Specialist – Communications and Opposition Management will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive communication strategy to address opposition to CSE and enhance UNFPA’s advocacy efforts in line with UNFPA’s Strategy to preempt and mitigate opposition. This will include understanding and addressing how technology is being used to facilitate an opposition movement. This role will involve close collaboration with UN agencies, strategic partners, and ministerial focal points to strengthen communication efforts related to CSE and its role in preventing GBV, within the Gender, Rights, and Inclusion Branch, Programme Division (PD).

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

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 that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The CSE Specialist will support the implementation of the EmpowerED programme, funded by Global Affairs Canada, which aims to ensure adolescents and youth have enhanced and equal enjoyment of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), bodily autonomy, and a life free from violence. This will be achieved through an enabling environment, inclusive policies, and institutionalised in-school and out-of-school community-based Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programmes linked to SRHR and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) services.

The CSE Specialist will be responsible for:

Conduct Continuous Political and Environmental Scanning and Monitoring:

Perform ongoing political and environmental analysis to identify potential allies in comprehensive sexuality education programming.
Monitor resistance to CSE, including online activities and movements, to anticipate and respond effectively to emerging threats.
Partner with youth-led organizations and women-led organizations, coalitions and movements to monitor and mitigate online campaigns of opposition.
Identify technology and online spaces facilitating pushback activities to determine key pressure points at the national level, including identification of organizations working to address this issue.

Encourage Coordination and Collaboration:

Foster coordination and collaboration with youth-led, and feminist organizations, young key populations (YKP), adolescent girls and other left-behind groups to promote CSE.
Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders to ensure cohesive communication strategies and advocacy efforts.
Develop strategies to build safe online communities to promote CSE.
Identify and nurture partnerships with organisations to create networks operating to address opposition to CSE through technology and online spaces.

Foster knowledge management systems through partnerships and networks to support south south learning across programme countries.
Foster digital and non-digital content creation on CSE with and for young people, including adolescent girls and YKP among other marginalised groups.
Based on UNFPA research and Strategy to mitigate opposition, create a comprehensive EmpowerED communications strategy to counter resistance to CSE, gender equality, human rights and GBV prevention, including in online spaces and through social media; tailored to different audiences at the country, regional and global levels.
Work in partnership with the Media and Communications Branch to align the strategy with the SHIELD protocol, overall global communications agenda, ensuring coherence and effectiveness.
Partner with digital education platforms and youth networks to promote CSE content and engage young people effectively in virtual spaces.
Lead efforts to ensure CSE programmes are accessible and engaging on online platforms, working closely with tech, youth and women-led partners.

Develop and Implement a Communications and Visibility Strategy:

Produce a range of communication materials, including digital content, to support CSE, SRHR, and GBV prevention advocacy. This includes social media campaigns, digital storytelling, and multimedia resources that resonate with online audiences.
Support a network of partnerships across business and tech, government, academia and civil society to enable diverse means to address opposition and promote CSE.
Develop key arguments to mitigate pushback to SRHR and CSE, focusing on contentious issues.
Foster continuous communication between country, regional and global levels to ensure consistent messaging and strategic alignment across levels.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in communications, public relations, international development, social sciences, or a related field.

Knowledge and Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in communications, advocacy, technology or public relations, preferably in international development or a related field.
Proven experience in developing and implementing digital communication strategies and managing complex stakeholder relationships.
Experience working with women-led, and youth-led, including adolescent girls groups and young key population organizations, among other marginalized groups.
Strong knowledge of SRHR, CSE, and GBV issues, with experience in addressing opposition and managing sensitive topics.
Experience in communication and advocacy from gender equality and a human rights lens.
A background on or experience in feminist digital rights activism and digital youth engagement is an asset.

Skills:

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messages and narratives.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Ability to think strategically and creatively, with strong problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in data analysis and the use of digital communication tools.
Proven ability to tailor communications strategies from advocacy, human rights and gender equality perspectives.

Languages: